What You Will Read
So, I was contemplating watching the show. Then a confidant(as you call a friend in the Bridgteron or in a sophisticated society) asked me to watch it since she believed it’s based on pure love. This made me give the series a chance.
Honestly, I barely had any interest in learning about Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton or any of the notable old lady characters. But then I watched the show, and I am amazed. So, how was my overall experience with the show, let’s find out-
Everything I Liked And Disliked From Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
The narrative as the title runs is completely based on Queen Charlotte who was married to the King of England at the age of only 17. She was a free girl in her German house and was living a carefree royal life up until her brother signed an alliance to marry her off.
Her modern mindset in that era was something I must appreciate. She was not into a fairytail life even though she was born with a Golden Spoon. She loved her life and was not at all ready to get locked up.
She struggled a lot in her initial days after her marriage since she was not living a romantic life with her husband. It was a life surrounded by her maids and footmen and rules and regulations that follow a queen normally. She was not able to pick her own orange as well.
The scenes where Charlotte used to sleep all alone in her bed waking up and calling the royal assistants to dress her up and then carry on her day, days after day were genuinely very painful to watch. I totally perceived what Brimsley witnessed and felt.
On the other hand, to be the man, Queen Charlotte deserves the King was fighting his own battle. He had his own struggle working on his mind and neural issues going through strict treatment all by himself just to be healed and be the man he believed Charlotte deserved. I also understood and felt what Reynolds saw and felt. However, his hands were totally tied and he suffered but could not help his King at all.
I loved the subtle Love between the King and the Queen while their men were also madly in love with each other although they maintained a safe distance from each other and kept it very very private.
Moving to Princess Augusta the King’s mother. I did not believe my eyes at first, seeing Lady Catelyn Stark and Harmoine’s mother once again in a Netflix show, was out of my imagination here. Her character appeared very unkind and racist in the initial minutes of the series.
But as we move, we find she has her own scrabble which she is constantly fighting from a very young age. I loved how she sat amongst the conventional male-dominated forum who constantly laid their demanding eyes over the King. I didn’t like Lord Bute and his control over the Princess.
Let us go back to Brimesly. Although he seems to be just a Royal Employee, his fidelity towards the Queen more than the King is something the audience loved. He was there from the moment Charlotte stepped inside the Queendom. He for a moment did not let the Queen struggle alone, he was there struggling in the same pain as her.
The scene where Brimsely unknowingly pulls up his right hand, which signifies his invisible support to Charlotte a gesture that he is with the Queen even though the Queen doesn’t know, she keeps suffering in her own pain crying, was a remarkable example of direction, I adore it.
Now, let’s talk about Reynolds. While we watched the story of Charlotte, I felt disappointment towards Reynolds since his actions were harsh towards the Queen and Brimelsy. But later when we watched George’s story, we very well perceived what Reynolds was laboring with.
It was his commitment and devotion to the King that made him appear so cruel however he had a lot on his plate. But the moment Charlotte took control of the situation he was relieved a lot.
I also appreciated the moment when he raised his voice in front of the queen to advocate the King’s state of mind. Charlotte might be his wife but Reynolds knows the King more than Queen Charlotte which was true.
I enjoyed watching Lady Danbury and Viscountess Bridgerton when they were young. This series showed us the beginning of this relationship and the slow evolution of the dynamics.
Let’s begin with Lady Danbury, her narrative was sad and bad.
She was married to a much older person who used her day and night for his sexual pleasure. She endured since this was her only option. But his sudden death brought a real smile to her face and it was quite deserving.
What I didn’t like about Lady Danbury was her involvement with Lord Ledger, father of Violet, simply because he was a married man. I totally understand, Lord Ledger was seeking companionship which he found in Lady Danbury. But, the kiss and the sex were way too much.
I loved her reasons behind rejecting the marriage proposal of Adolphus, the Queen’s brother. I loved that she chose freedom over anything. However, I didn’t like the fact that she distanced herself from her children.
The children sought shelter, warmth, and comfort in their nannies. Now, I realize they were just like their mother. Agatha was comfortable and friendly with her maid while the kids were happy with their nannies, which makes sense.
Her friendship with the Queen was precious. However, her involuntary entanglement with the Princess was something very political which Agatha also despised.
I wonder what changed Violet over the years. Young Viloet was a replica of Eliose, who was more into knowledge than men and love. Fortunately, she received the love that she deserved from her husband.
However, her curiosity to learn about the world, her non-racist perspective, and her positive and happy nature were a nice young touch to the story.
Now, Queen and King even though they are the pivotal part of the narrative, I believe, I was more fascinated by the side stories. That’s why I wrote so much about the side characters but the pivotal characters.
I simply despised Dr. John Monroe. He appeared very shrewd, toxic, and negative, and about whom, I simply do not want to talk.
I love and simply enjoyed the bond that Charlotte shared with Brimsley, (even not knowing) and Geroge shared with Reynolds. I liked the part when the Queen asks Brimsley about his marriage and Brimsley says his duty is for the King. But the Queen admits that she feels his unconditional and undemanding love.
After that Queen Charlotte sends him off where I sensed that she might have felt sadness that Brimsley devoted his entire life to her while she did not even know whether he is married or not. Also, the painful look on the Queen’s face proves my advocacy.
Cut to the ball scene where every straight couple engages in dancing with their companion, Brimsley, and Reynolds dances in the shadow, and then we are back to the present timeline where Brimsley dances by himself. I don’t know about you all but I genuinely felt bad and disheartened. I cried.
I also loved where the Old Queen Charlotte and Old King George III reunite under their bed just like they did in the past. It was a moment that emanated pure love. The love that the Queen has for the King is clear and that’s the love and the special bond they share with each other which nobody needs to understand.
We watched Queen Charlotte conceiving her first son, and we also watched how her first son admits, that she was not a good mother. Brimsley also remains silent when Charlotte asks him the same question. Next, the queen was unaware of her daughter’s multiple miscarriages.
She was disappointed, however, her confidence to not go down was toxic. Even George the Fourth was sad, that his mother did not console him when his daughter died, the way he wanted to be consoled.
Her nagging to continue their legacy was putting pressure on her children but from her POV it was needed. She struggled with rules and protocols when she was given the duties of Queen however the realm and its responsibilities were enough to change her. Actually, it was contradictory to the character we know from the beginning of her chapter as the Queen of England.
Also, when I heard about Princess Augusta’s story, I totally understood why she was particular about some things such as consummating, bedding, etc. She was abused by her father-in-law the late King George the 2nd, she never got the chance to rule as a queen.
Her story and her time were different and were not merciful to her even though she was a princess. Similarly, Lady Danbury’s fear of losing everything when she became a widow was a genuine fear. You have everything and suddenly you have nothing, this thought itself is killing.
I loved it when King George overpowered his position and went straight inside where Queen Charlotte needed him. It was brave of him. He identified himself as farmer Geroge he would have become the same if he had not been pushed to the edge by the parliament and regal duties.
His unwanted lifestyle caused him a generous amount of pain and made him the ‘Mad King’ who felt safe under his bed and nowhere else. He was understood by his Queen, so he is fortunate.
While Concluding On Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
So this is it on my watch on Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. I liked the show and I would appreciate it if there is any announcement of Season 2 in the making; do let me know.
It’s a one-time watch for me to be honest but I will tell you that, you all go and give it a try.
So, BYE-BYE, for now, hope to meet you all next time very soon, and thank you all for reading till here.
