Queen Charlotte

I was late to the Bridgerton book game but I caught up thanks to prodding from my friend, Cynch. But I didn’t read any of the non-Bridgerton siblings books and I know there are lots. So when there was news of a mini-series about Queen Charlotte, I wouldn’t say I was jumping off my chair to catch it.

But then, I’m glad I did. I’ve read a bit about Queen Victoria and absolutely love the movie with Emily Blunt in it, so why not go a couple generations back. And in Shonda we trust. Because Shondaland always brings the hits and I shouldn’t have been skeptical at all.

The casting was quite lovely, too. Sure, it’s loosely based on lots of things, but I love a good retelling. I didn’t realise how much King George suffered and how Queen Charlotte really came into her own supported him along the way. The cast is pretty and they’re funny and the chemistry between them both under the covers (and under the bed) was really palpable.

Did I find myself crying a bit when we find George and Charlotte literally under the bed holding each others hands and bringing this same tradition all the way to present Bridgerton timelines? Yes. I didn’t realise it but I was choking up.

I loved how they had Lady Danbury’s storyline more fleshed out and how she came about and the direction of how she would experience sex with her husband versus Violet Bridgerton’s father (what a reveal!) was also a nice touch. So it was really a nice companion to Bridgerton (if you watch), but also a good stand alone one if you don’t.

The footmen/butler love story was also a nice touch. They had a really intense relationship and that reveal in the end of how things didn’t quite turn out was heartbreaking. Finally present day Queen Charlotte pressuring the kids to have kids was both funny and sad. I get lineage but the pressure is real. Apart from the evil doctor storyline, all the plots were actually really interesting to follow along considering I was on the fence about this. Over-all, I’m really glad I did.