With this, 'Queen Charlotte' treads ever so lightly into territory where 'Bridgerton' barely dips a toe, making the highly fictionalized version of this royal's Blackness central to the story.Ĭharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and George III were real, prominent historical figures, the latest in a very long parade of notable people to star in dramas whose creators take ample liberties in telling their stories.įew of these kings and queens are embroidered into fables focusing on the star-crossed nature of their love, ignoring actual matters of governance whose effects impact reality even now.

Then comes the move that distinguishes 'Queen Charlotte' from 'Bridgerton': Augusta swipes her thumb across Charlotte's cheek to see if her complexion rubs off. Augusta evaluates her eventual daughter-in-law as if she's a broodmare: checking her teeth, her childbearing hips and her hands. The pair meets for the first time on their wedding day, but the Dowager Princess Augusta (Michelle Fairley) is even more surprised to see Charlotte than her son is. India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte in 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' (Liam Daniel/Netflix)Īmarteifio's queen-to-be is headstrong, cultured and refined, and resistant to marrying King George III (Corey Mylchreest). Hence the romantic exploits of the imaginary Charlotte's 1761 version, played by India Amarteifio, star in her spinoff. But her multiple pregnancies hint that their majesties got along well enough to get it on frequently. The factual king and queen contended with many issues other than that of the royal variety, starting with George III's mental illness. The real Charlotte had 15 children with her George, 13 of whom lived to adulthood. In the early 1800s timeline that coincides with the main series, Rosheuvel's Charlotte obsesses over the lack of a royal heir from any of her remaining bumbling children – there are more than 10 of them. In 'Queen Charlotte' we're treated to not one version of her, but two.

Rosheuvel's dazzling sour candy rendition of the titular monarch in 'Bridgerton' commands attention to such a degree as to make her secondary character worthy of ascension to her own show. Between Shonda Rhimes' Regency-style fantasy, ' The Crown' and the 'Harry & Meghan' business, Netflix wants to be known as the ruler of all monarchy-related entertainment.īesides, in a popularity contest, Golda Rosheuvel's Queen would defeat the King on any day. Counterprogramming ' Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' against the coronation of King Charles III can't be an accident.

See me after class by meghan quinn