If you were a fan of the Netflix series Bridgerton you might find the spinoff prequel series, coming May 4th, “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”, just as marathon-watching-worthy. The spinoff series centers on a young Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power.
If you haven’t seen the original series, do not worry. The story stands well enough on its own that you don’t much context into the world of Bridgerton to enjoy Queen Charlotte.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Although there was a real-life Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who was the Queen of Great Britain and of Ireland as the wife of King George III, the series is fictional. If you want historical accuracy, this series is not for you. The series is a fun and exciting love letter to the fantasy and the opulence of kings and queens. It is delightful, filled with bitter-sweet moments, intrigue, and heart.
Young Queen Charlotte and Young King George’s Love Story
India Amarteifio stars as Young Queen Charlotte and Corey Mylchreest as Young King George. The prequel tells the story of how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift. Thus creating the world that the characters in Bridgerton inherited.
You are easily charmed by both characters individually and as a couple. It is easy to see how they fell in love and throughout the series as their love endures all types of trials and tribulations, it is easy to see why they stayed in love. There is great resentment, great pain, and true partnership throughout their story. India Amarteifio shines as the outspoken and clever Young Queen Charlotte. Corey Mylchreest is dashing and swoon-worthy as the Young King George. Their chemistry is as sweet as it is passionate. You can feel the respect and adoration coming off the screen.
Multiple Timelines
One of the fascinating aspects is the use of time jumps between the events happening in the timeline of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and the events happening in the timeline of the Bridgerton series. Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), and Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton) reprising their roles from Bridgerton in this series.
There is a theme of personal reflection that plays out as the characters from the original series look back at what took place in their youth. As well as parallels in both timelines. Making their stories and intentions all the more relatable and their choices all the more human.
Complex Characters
The show does a great job of creating complex characters who even as they grow as people, fall back on old habits or outdated ways of living. There are times when you begin to judge their choices before you realize that they are just doing their best.
Arsema Thomas stars in her television debut as the young Agatha Danbury. Along with Rosheuvel, their roles as Agatha Danbury are particularly fascinating. We see the origins of the friendship between Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte and also the story of how they became such a strong and independent force in a patriarchal society. We come to know those who influenced the person she eventually becomes. As well as how she came to make the decisions she made that led her to such a prominent position among the ‘ton.Â
Despite the fact that we got to know Lady Violet Bridergton (Ruth Gemmell) rather well in the original series, it was lovely to have her reprising her role in the prequel. The introduction of Connie Jenkins-Greig as Young Violet provides us with glimpses into Violet’s childhood and her early days as she comes out into society. Violet’s friendship with Lady Danbury is one of the things I wished I had seen more of in the Bridgerton series and I am happy to see more here.
The story is lovingly told in six episodes but with characters as interesting as these three, you crave more episodes. There is no word if we will see a second season. But another season would allow audiences to get to know even more about the lives of Agatha Danbury, Violette Bridgerton, and Queen Charlotte.
Sexy, fun, and full of twists
Queen Charlotte is sexy and fun in the same way seasons one and two of Bridgerton are. There are passionate scenes between characters who love and sometimes hate one another are plenty. There is also the excitement of the will they won’t they scenarios.
But there are moments where it feels more serious in tone. The societal shift that takes place in the series highlights the inequity and hardships that many of the characters faced. There is a sadness that you feel towards characters who are still longing for inclusivity in this society. As well as that for characters whose illnesses are not properly understood.
Then there are some not-so-passionate scenes that make a clear point about the patriarchy. Hardships for these characters come in many forms, but most seem to stem from patriarchal ideas that are rooted in misogyny. And of course, a major part of the series is the look into the issues rooted in racism and classism.
From the first episode, there are many twists and turns that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” arrives exclusively on Netflix on May 4th.
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