By: Amanda Guarragi
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is worth the watch because of Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and George’s love story. Rhimes and Quinn explore the racial issues at the time by changing history, but they also address mental health and the improper tactics used to treat those suffering. For those who have watched previous Bridgerton seasons, you know about the condition of King George and how he is unfit to be seen in public settings. That’s why Queen Charlotte is the matriarch of England. Not only did she have to face the public scrutiny of the court and her mother-in-law, but she had to endure the emotional disconnect between her and George because of his condition.
In a tight six episodes, Rhimes gives an in-depth explanation of George (Corey Mylchreest) and Charlotte’s (India Amarteifio) love story while showing how Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas) ended up in court with Charlotte as her best friend. Lady Danbury was raised to be wed by Lord Danbury at a young age. She was being shaped by his interests and his love for her. Lady Danbury was treated poorly by her husband and was not seen as anything but an object for his sexual desires. Rhimes showed what Lady Danbury wanted, but she was too afraid to risk her independence because she never had any. It is a choice to have one woman (Charlotte) be forced into something and has a powerful love versus one (Lady Danbury) who was forced and part of a partnership with no love.
It’s hard to even call George and Charlotte’s love story a beautiful one because of how devastating their story is. The way the episodes are structured gives way to the life of Queen Charlotte now with her children, her close friends, and her husband. She was determined to protect the Crown, ultimately protecting her husband and his lineage. This prequel softened Queen Charlotte for many viewers because she genuinely believes in true love. After watching this and going back to season two with being adamant about hosting the wedding between Edwina Sharma and Lord Anthony Bridgerton, you can see her reminiscing about her love story. It’s heartbreaking to see the state of King George and how much he loved Charlotte. He went through trials to heal himself so he could give her the life she deserved, and she fought for the truth because she accepted him no matter what.
Candid Cinema 