Bridgerton season four ended with a title card that paid tribute to a crucial member of the show’s team
Bridgerton season four has now concluded on Netflix with the final four episodes determining the destinies of Sophie Baek (played by Yerin Ha) and Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). As fans were absorbing the major revelations at the end of the season, they were caught off guard by a title card that surfaced at the season’s close.
The title card read: “In loving memory of Tony Cooper” and viewers have been eager to discover more about his involvement in the show. Tony served as a cast driver on Bridgerton, as well as its prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
He has some remarkable credits to his name, having transported the stars around on set for films like Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Atlas and Downton Abbey: A New Era. He also contributed to the sets of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Damsel and The Batman.
Tony collaborated closely with Netflix for many years, with one of his earlier credits being the historical drama, The Crown. Some of his earliest contributions were on the final three Harry Potter films. He fulfilled a vital role in some enormous franchises over the years, from Marvel to Disney.
Tony was not the sole crew member to have been acknowledged in season four of Bridgerton, as the final episode also paid tribute to Nicholas Braimbridge. Nicholas served as a set decorator for the series, as well as its prequel.
A fundraising page was established in his honour, explaining that he was an “expert faux finisher well known for his exquisite marbling and wood grain finishes, the knowledge of which was built up over years working with very top end interior designers and latterly within the film and TV industries”.
He predominantly worked in the fine decorative painting of large residential properties in London and overseas, before transferring his talents to the film and television industry, working across the art department, set decoration and set design. Title cards serve as a poignant means of acknowledging those who have played a vital role in the production of a film or series, yet have not necessarily appeared on screen.
Bridgerton has paid tribute to many of its cherished crew members throughout the years. Bridgerton’s second series was dedicated to Carole Prentice and Marc Pilcher, with Marc having served as a hair and makeup designer on the show. Carole worked as Covid production manager, ensuring regulations were followed so that filming could proceed safely.
Title card tributes are typically on-screen text graphics that honour actors, crew members, or producers at the beginning or end of a film or television episode. They act as an enduring and respectful acknowledgement of an individual’s contribution to the project. The title cards are especially fitting given the themes explored in the latter half of the season.
Title cards can also be employed to honour individuals not directly connected with production, as was illustrated in Bridgerton’s prequel, Queen Charlotte. The opening episode of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was dedicated to the memory of Jacqueline Avant, who was shot and killed in December 2021.
She was the mother-in-law of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who had a keen interest in Queen Charlotte. Her fascination is what inspired Sarandos to initially approach creator and showrunner Shonda Rhimes about the Bridgerton prequel.
Bridgerton has been renewed for season five as each of the Bridgerton siblings are set to have their love stories told on-screen. There may well be more title cards to come in upcoming seasons.
Bridgerton season 4 is on Netflix