5 Shows To Watch After Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Queen Charlotte’s six episodes go by fast. Here are 10 more costume dramas to enjoy while waiting for the next Bridgerton world adventure.
Now that Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is finished, here are 10 other series that will appeal to fans of the Bridgerton spin-off. Queen Charlotte, a spin-off of the wildly popular Bridgerton series based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels, follows the titular monarch’s story as she navigates court politics and interpersonal drama. Like the original series, Queen Charlotte keeps viewers’ attention with a diverse cast, dazzling costume design, and an intricate web of royal intrigues and steamy romances. The unique combination of historical Regency manners, reimagined modern music, and masterful storytelling that make Bridgerton so compelling comes through in Queen Charlotte as well and sets the standard for future Bridgerton stories.
However, Queen Charlotte’s six episodes were over all too soon, leaving viewers hungry for more costume dramas. Fortunately, the last decade or so has seen a resurgence of this genre, and there are numerous excellent series to choose from. From the scheming intrigues of the Palace of Versailles to the stories of the English royal family, there are several ways to satisfy the craving for royal drama while awaiting the next Bridgerton installment. Here are the 10 best series to stream once finished with Queen Charlotte, each offering its own unique blend of court intrigue, romance, and dramatic history.
1. The White Queen
The White Queen is a 10-episode limited historical drama series based on Philippa Gregory’s bestselling novel series, “The Cousins’ War.” The series centers around the complex and tumultuous events that led to the Wars of the Roses, a series of bloody battles that lasted for over 30 years and saw the House of Lancaster and the House of York fight for control of the English throne. The show focuses mainly on Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner who married King Edward IV. Their marriage had incredible consequences for the monarchy and the country as a whole.
2. The White Princess
The eight-episode The White Princess picks up right where The White Queen ended. The show follows the marriage between Henry VII, son of Margaret Beaufort and Henry Tudor, and Elizabeth of York, the niece of the defeated Richard III. The marriage between Henry VII and Elizabeth of York united the Houses of Lancaster and York, which ended the Wars of the Roses. The only problem is that Henry VII and Elizabeth of York initially hate each other. However, they are forced to marry for political reasons, and the show explores how their relationship navigates their complex and often turbulent relationship in the following years.
3. The Spanish Princess
The Spanish Princess is the 16-episode sequel to The White Princess that follows the rise of Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was initially intended to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, but his untimely death threw her future into uncertainty. Fortunately, she and Henry VIII, Arthur’s younger brother, were attracted to each other, and they were able to marry, despite objections from the church and some members of Henry’s court. The show’s focus is the early years of Catherine and Henry’s marriage. The couple is deeply in love and committed to each other, and their union seems like a beacon of hope for a country that has suffered through years of political instability.
4. The Tudors
The Tudors is a four-season historical drama that follows the reign of King Henry VIII from his early years as a young man married to Catherine of Aragon to his later years as an old man married to Catherine Parr. The show spans several decades and covers many significant events in English history, including the rise of Protestantism and the formation of the Church of England. The main focus of the show’s first few seasons is Henry’s tumultuous relationship with Anne Boleyn. The show explores their courtship, marriage, and Anne’s eventual downfall, providing a glimpse into the personal and political struggles that define the Tudor era.
5. Reign
Mary Queen of Scots was a prominent figure in English and Scottish history. The three-season Reign captures her decade-long colorful rule of Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots remains an infamous figure in history for her alleged involvement in the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley. Despite the controversy surrounding her personal life, Mary’s political career was equally eventful. As a Catholic monarch in a predominantly Protestant country, Mary faced numerous challenges and political obstacles throughout her reign. Her claim to the English throne was a constant source of tension between her and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, who ultimately ordered Mary’s execution.
