Queen Charlotte takes place during a King George, ruled Britain, as well as a current-day Bridgerverse, the show tells the story of how an integrated society came to be with old and new characters.
The series follows a 17-year-old Queen Charlotte, played by India Amarteifio, as she embarks on her life-changing marriage to a young King George, played by Corey Mylchreest.
We meet young Charlotte as she embarks on her life-changing marriage with young King George and enters a ton very different from the one seen in Bridgerton. The marriage of Queen Charlotte to King George is called at court the “Great Experiment,” which seeks the integration of British society and the elevation of people of color into the ton. Naturally, a fearless leader like Charlotte is the one spearheading a societal shift that will lead to generations of change in the Bridgerton world.
The spin-off follows the life of Lady Danbury, who’s married to a much older man, and already shows the fierce attitude known to the Bridgerton fans. Viewers will discover how the two women started their friendship.
Queen Charlotte is the best Bridgerton yet, it has the typical Bridgerton aspects we came to love combined with Rhimes writing.
Shonda Rhimes is the creator and the main writer of the series, she wrote 5 of the 6 episodes, while she is only the role of executive producer on Bridgerton. If you have been a viewer of her previous shows such as Scandal or Grey’s Anatomy it’s obvious she’s the mind behind this series. The show has every typical aspect of a Shondaland show: strong, smart, complex, straightforward lead women, exceptional fast-speaking monologues, romance, and a right dose of drama. Some dialogues and matters have been inspired by real-life royal drama occurred in the last couple of years. Rhimes creates for Charlotte and George an intricated and profound marriage that touches matters of race, mental health, passion, and long-term partnership.
In Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story we still find the voiceover of Lady Whistledown in every episode, the scenes with Lady Violet Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Danbury in the modern-day Bridgerton take place right after Anthony and Kate’s wedding and end at the beginning of Spring when ideally Season 3 should reprise. Lady Violet let us know Anthony and Kate are on their honeymoon and Eloise and Penelope are still not speaking.
Vitamin String Quartet pop covers are a must in the spin-off too, with an extra surprise befitting its royal subject: each and every pop cover in the prequel is in homage to a Black artist’s song.
I came to love Lyn Paolo’s work on Scandal, here she creates the most gorgeous and intricate embroidered costumes you’ll ever see. The set designs are sumptuous and astonishing as well.
The casting directors have outdone themselves. To cast young Charlotte, Rosheuvel gave a photo of when she was young, in order to find the perfect actress, they chose Amarteifio. India Amarteifio not only is aesthetically similar to the mature Queen Charlotte but even her posture, and speaking cadence recall the acting of Rosheuvel, and how she performs the mature Queen Charlotte. The chemistry between Amarteifio and Mylchreest is wonderful to watch, it’s captivating and palpable. Arsema Thomas as Lady Danbury has been another great casting choice.
Can you watch the series if you never watched the original Bridgerton? Yes, you can enjoy Queen Charlotte and King George’s love story without any prior knowledge.
Queen Charlotte is shorter and has fewer characters than Bridgerton, keeping the leading story more focused and truly at the center of the show. Rhimes was still able to create room for supporting characters like Charlotte’s footman Brimsley, and a young Agatha Danbury.
Queen Charlotte has less drama and intriguing stories than Bridgerton, instead love, its different types, how evolves and romance are at the main center of this spin-off, which enriched the whole Bridgerton universe. It’s definitely worth the watch.
CAST
- India Amarteifio as young Queen Charlotte
- Corey Mylchreest as young King George III
- Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
- Arsema Thomas as young Agatha, Lady Danbury
- Adjoa Andoh as Agatha, Lady Danbury
- Ruth Gemmell as Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton
- Michelle Fairley as Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales
- Freddie Dennis as Reynolds, the King’s secretary
- Sam Clemmett as young Brimsley, the Queen’s secretary
- Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, the Queen’s secretary
- Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown