Queen Charlotte A Bridgerton Story review: Nobody was expecting a prequel to popular series Bridgerton but it came as a big surprise. Not only is Queen Charlotte good, but it is actually better than the sequel.
Netflix’s newest series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story claims to be ‘fiction inspired by fact’ and ‘liberties taken by the author are quite intentional’. Shonda Rhimes’ creation focuses on the early lives of King George III and his wife, Queen Charlotte. It narrates their tragic love story spanning decades and 15 children, tackles issues and challenges.
Its expansive cast with India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest and multiple plotlines have more finesse and better pacing than the main series. It ambitiously tackles the challenge of two different time periods.
Interlude between Bridgerton seasons
Queen Charlotte is a prequel and works as an interlude between Bridgerton seasons. The main storyline happens in the past, focusing on a young Queen Charlotte (played by India Ria Amarteifio) and her arranged marriage to King George (Corey Mylchreest) — and the ramifications that union had for English society.
You remember the main Bridgerton timeline, where Charlotte attempts to pair her children up with respectable matches after her oldest son’s wife dies in childbirth. Familiar characters like Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton make appearances in both the past and present storylines. And ultimately, the two time periods work well together.
Queen Charlotte also features two other women from the Bridgerton universe, Lady Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas as the younger version and Adjoa Andoh as the older one) and Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell).
Exploring untold stories
The show gives more depth to these women than we’ve previously seen just as matriarchs and explores their “untold stories” as well. The other important characters in the series are Princess Augusta (Michelle Fairely) as Charlotte’s racist, overbearing mother-in-law and Brimsley (Sam Clemmett) and Reynolds (Freddie Dennis) as the royal aides and confidantes to the queen and king respectively.
Switching between the past and the future, the historical drama gives a bit of a history lesson on the fate of the royal bloodline.
Writer and executive producer Rhimes also hits upon thorny race issues. The young queen becomes the representation needed for the people of colour who are her subjects. Called ‘The Great Experiment’, titles and privileges are granted to these subjects for inclusivity. Agatha’s storyline also has her championing for their rights as she tries to rise up the society ladder for her family.
Series stands on its own
The world shown in the first two series is larger and more encompassing with so many characters to delve into. Here, the scope is just as grand but it more than stands on its own as we are swept behind the doors into the world of imperial duty and desire to live life for oneself.
While the costumes and production design in Queen Charlotte, like Bridgerton, are top-notch, the casting department deserves a round of kudos for choosing such seamless actors for the younger and older versions of characters like Agatha and George. Newcomers Amarteifio and Mylchreest carry the show quite well as the chemistry between the two is very palpable. The rest of cast from Thomas to Rosheuvel are also standouts.
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