Executive Producer Shonda Rhimes has blessed us again with her spectacular work! This time with the limited series Queen Charlotte, A Bridgerton Story, a prequel to the Emmy Award-winning series, Bridgerton. In the newest series, we explore the life and love of Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) and King George III (Corey Mylchreest). As we’ve seen in the first two series of Bridgerton, we’re introduced to the show’s main characters in the dreamiest of ways and swept right into the romance of Great Britain’s whirlwind Royal Wedding and all that is to come with it.
The series addresses the realities of a black woman taking the throne in the 1700s and the layers of hierarchy and race within the Royal Family. While traveling to London, Charlotte pushes for a proper explanation of why she must wed the King of England, and after inquiring, Adolphus gives us a gut-wrenching speech stating:
“We had no choice. I had no choice. There is no good reason. In fact, the reason might be terrible. I know that no one who looks like you or me has ever married one of these people ever, but I cannot question because I cannot make an enemy of the most powerful nation on Earth. It is done. So shut up, do your duty to our country, and be happy.”
Prince Adolphus, Netflix (Shonda Rhimes). (2023). “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” – Season 1 Episode 1.
Charlotte’s loyalty to her family and country causes her to immediately agree with Adolphus and continue on to London. Looking stunning, though, nonetheless. All of this sparks a societal shift and creates what we now know as the Ton, made of the characters we know and love in Bridgerton.
One front-row seat to Farmer George’s abs, please!
Instead of following along the traditional “social season” that we are so accustomed to, we are given a front-row seat to how Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), and of course, Charlotte herself (Golda Rosheuval) dealt with their marriages, friendships, and life hurdles as young women.
We also get an inside look at King George III’s mental health struggles, his fight against the stigma of his illness, and his standstill support system built by his mother, Princess Augusta (Michelle Fairley), Queen Charlotte, and his right-hand man, Reynolds (Freddie Dennis). Although the show is full of intense drama, love, heartbreak, and loss, it is full of fun and quirky moments where we learn the little things that make each character who they are and who we’ve come to love.
A Queen Meant For the Crown
Queen Charlotte represents true patience and virtue both in her life, in her reign as Queen, and in her marriage. The relationship she and King George III share represent so much more than we could understand in Bridgerton alone, and this series does a beautiful job of telling us their story.
The series touches on navigating societal issues, coming-of-age and coming-to-power for young black women raised in a society made to reject them, widowhood, sexuality in later adulthood, and so much more. Although it lacks the steamy romance of the Bridgerton series, it is still sexy and fun, and pulls at all of your emotional heartstrings.
Now if only we were as patient as Queen Charlotte as we wait for Season 3 of Bridgerton.