With the Coronation happening yesterday and the Coronation Concert happening tonight, it is a fairly royal weekend. However, the Coronation and associated festivities are not the only royal news items this week- we’ve got a Georgian moment. (And during Georgian History Month, no less!) Queen Charlotte of the Brigderton universe dropped on Netflix on Thursday 4 May. And I think I can say, a lot of us have been waiting a long time for it. Let’s get into my Queen Charlotte review! Spoilers ahead: if you do not want to be spoiled, wait to read this until you have watched the show.
Note: I am holding off on sharing my Sanditon season 3 review until the UK gets an air date! (We are getting spoiled with the 18th and 19th centuries this year.)
Queen Charlotte Synopsis
If you have somehow missed it, this six-episode limited series is set in the Bridgerton world. It follows the story of a young King George III and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the early days of their marriage and starting their large family.
Historical Accuracy is Not the Focus
Much like The Great, Queen Charlotte starts the series immediately with Lady Whistledown informing us that the show is inspired by history but that is it. I have shared my thoughts on inaccuracy in period dramas widely on the blog- I am completely fine with inaccuracy. Period dramas are entertainment, and there are documentaries and non-fiction books if that is more your speed! Onto the show itself…
“Current” Charlotte
I want to get my one issue with the show out of the way, and ironically it does have to do with accuracy. The show is framed by the current, older Queen Charlotte speaking to all thirteen of her adult children because none of them has a legitimate heir to the throne. Why isn’t there an heir? Princess Charlotte of Wales- the only child of the future George IV- has just died after childbirth. George periodically sobs, and Charlotte robotically says, “Sorrows. Sorrows. Prayers.”
I won’t lie, it massively took me out of the episode. Firstly, Charlotte was so horrifically cold, it seems out of character even for her in later life when she has had to largely close herself off. Secondly, historically everyone adored Charlotte, and it was not only George that loved her- they were all heartbroken. This seemed quite an odd liberty to take, and I don’t know it was necessary.
A Tight Six Episodes
The pacing in Queen Charlotte is far superior to both seasons of Bridgerton. (The first season’s pace was not horrible but the second season was brutal.) QC does move at a fairly swift pace but it doesn’t cover a huge amount of time. We were able to explore multiple viewpoints and have quite a lot of plot without feeling like we were being dragged down as audience members. We still had all of the loved Bridgerton hallmarks: a ball, tiaras and crowns, and Vitamin String Quartet-esque covers, but with nothing weighing us down. (I am really hoping that season 3 has taken some notes…) And while I don’t love hopping between two storylines typically, I have to admit that it served Charlotte and George’s characters well.
The Casting… Chef’s Kiss
I think what sold me on Queen Charlotte as the strongest Bridgerton Netflix offering was the casting. Not only do India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest have fantastic chemistry together, but they and Arsema Thomas (young Lady Danbury) have also done an impeccable job of drawing on the established actors’ speech patterns and cadence, physicality, and general delivery while still very much making their performances their own. Mylchreest has a difficult path, as it is easy for mental health issues to become a caricature on the screen but he thoughtfully portrays a struggling George.
Thomas in particular shines as the new Lady Danbury, and she portrays the young woman who has to explain the racial realities that the new members of the Ton face to the young Charlotte. The Lady Danbury we already know is a beloved character, but Thomas brings even more warmth and wit to the role. Between young Lady Danbury and a young Violet, I think that all of my Bridgerton attention will be on them and not on Penelope and Colin in the new season.
The Oppulence of the Georgian Period
Yes, the fashion historians of the internet and social media are raging against the incorrect use of corsets but I don’t care. The Roccoco period makes for luxurious clothing and settings, and I love it all. If I have to pick between the mid-18th century and the Regency, I’m picking the mid-18th century. It is just fun to watch, and it’s not that common to find these days. And the flexibility that inaccuracy offers allowed the creators to be, well, creative. I loved that Charlotte continued to wear her afro, as she has some of the most gorgeous hairpieces and tiaras that would not have otherwise worked.
And yes, the fake Buckingham House and the fake Coronation were just what we all needed in the lead-up to the real-life coronation of King Charles III. It is different enough that we historians aren’t sitting here saying, “hmmm, what is off?”- it is its own opulent entity.
Final Verdict on Queen Charlotte
A fun and luxurious story that handles some incredibly difficult topics with care. It draws on the elements of Bridgerton that we love without bringing in any of the baggage. Queen Charlotte also pushes the boundaries of the Bridgerton universe that we already know and love, making the viewing of all of the iterations better for it. This is absolutely a must-watch period drama of 2023.
What is your Queen Charlotte review?
Cheers,
The Historian
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