Summary
A brilliant addition to the Bridgerton universe or the Bridgerverse. It shows how the titular Queen contributed to the ton as we know it and how the aristocracy got desegregated in the first place.
We review the Netflix series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which does not contain spoilers.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a prequel to the popular Netflix historical fiction series. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the limited series tells the story of a young Queen Charlotte and her rise to power after marrying the charming but mysterious King George.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Review and Plot Summary
Set several decades before the main storyline, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story centers on the titular monarch as she settles into her new role. Married to the King of England against her will, a young Charlotte (India Amarteifio) has to navigate life in a strange country, hangle her meddling mother-in-law, Princess Augusta (played by Michelle Fairley), and uncover the secrets of her handsome yet distant husband, King George (Corey Mylchreest).
During the six episodes, we get to watch a young Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas) fighting for her rightful place in the ton’s recently desegregated society following the new Queen’s arrival.
We also get to meet the fierce matriarch, Violet Bridgerton (Connie Jenkins-Greig), many years before taking on the mantle of Viscountess.
The story jumps back and forth between the Regency era depicted on the main show and the early days of Queen Charlotte’s reign, centering on the three women and their friendship (with Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh and Ruth Gemmell all reprising their roles).
There’s a lot to love about this story from the Bridgerton universe. At its core, it’s an emotionally complex love story between two monarchs. But it also approaches several serious and contemporary relevant topics such as racial diversity, mental health, and body autonomy with sensitive nuance.
Amarteifio and Thomas stand out with their convincing portrayals of well-known and beloved characters. And Mylchreest’s performance as the mysterious King George helps put in perspective the brief interactions we’ve seen between the two monarchs in the first two seasons of Bridgerton.
Queen Charlotte, as played by Golda Rosheuvel, has been a fan favorite since Bridgerton’s first season dropped on Netflix. Watching the character grow from a naive German princess into that fierce monarch we’ve all grown to love throughout six episodes is nothing short of delightful.
Is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Good or Bad?
This is a brilliant addition to the Bridgerton universe or the Bridgerverse. It shows how the titular Queen contributed to the ton as we know it and how the aristocracy got desegregated in the first place.
While set in a different era from the main storyline, it still features the heartwarming love story, the steamy scenes, and the amazing costumes that made Bridgerton popular in the first place. It also offers insight into the lives of characters like Violet and Lady Danbury, whose stories were somewhat left to the sidelines.
Is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story worth watching?
This series is a must-watch for Bridgerton fans. But, as this is a prequel, it works well as a stand-alone series if you’ve yet to stream the series.
Regardless of whether you’ve seen the first two seasons, this miniseries tells a beautiful story, and this author is not ashamed to admit she was moved to tears by the end.
