“QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY” – BEYOND EXPECTATIONS OF A SIMPLE ENTERTAINMENT MOVIE
Released to coincide with the time when England was preparing for the Coronation Ceremony of King Charles III, the movie “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” is currently Netflix’s most popular English-language series.
In 2020, the movie “Bridgerton” made waves across movie forums and became one of Netflix’s most popular series. The prequel titled “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” naturally received a lot of attention from the public right from the first days of announcing the project. While some viewers predicted the story would only deal with a few romances, the film, in fact, far exceeded those expectations by focusing on exploring deep and dark themes. than.
This is the story of the young Queen’s marriage to King George III, both a brilliant love story and an important hierarchical change, creating an elite society that was inherited by the kings. character in “Bridgerton”. Each character’s unique perspective, appropriate solutions to issues such as racism, isolation, coping with loss, etc. resonated greatly with the audience. It’s not too surprising that the movie debuted at No.1 “Top most watched shows on Netflix” week from May 1-7 with 148.28 million viewing hours.
So what is it about “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” that makes movie “nerds” so fascinated?
Regency romances often revolve around the journeys of young people making their debuts in high society, as they search for love, ignoring the experiences of their aunts and mothers. Women’s challenges in marriage, losing a partner, and wanting to love again are rarely explored. Female screenwriter Shonda Rhimes skillfully brought those untold stories to light, expressing the struggles and desires of an entire generation of women.
These upper-class women are not only people who have to conform to propriety, but they also have bleeding hearts and yearn for love no less than young people. Lady Danbury’s story is a prime example of the challenges that came with living a solitary life as a woman unattached to a man during that era. And there is another untold story – Brimsley’s love story that is equally profound and worthy of attention. Dedicated to serving the Queen, he never had the chance to start a family of his own, becoming a lonely man who always had to dance alone.
In “Bridgerton,” older women from the upper class are often shown as scheming, fond of gossiping about scandals or throwing parties, but “Queen Charlotte” delves deeper into the situation. These women’s lives go beyond the limits of high society. The nights they lay awake in the cold big bed, mourning their loss, then longing for love and warmth. Viscountess Violet, Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte all have in common their experiences of loss and the challenges they face as women trying to keep their lives intact.
Similar to how Queen Charlotte was kept in the dark about the King’s illness, Lady Danbury was also completely unaware of her husband’s finances and affairs. They are treated no more than “tools” for giving birth and taking care of children. Lady Danbury admitted that she did not know how to breathe if it were not the air exhaled by Lord Danbury. That detail highlights how much control she lacks over her life as a woman.
When the back stories of these women are finally revealed, it’s easy to sympathize as they begin to find ways to take control of their lives. Although Lady Danbury’s relationship with Lord Ledger could be considered wrong, it is still satisfying to see her experience the feelings that were denied her in her loveless marriage.
Likewise, how exciting it was to watch young Queen Charlotte take control the moment she freed her husband from the doctor’s shackles. These women finally stood up, took responsibility for themselves, and realized how strong they could be. There is power when Charlotte stands up to Princess Augusta, just as Lady Danbury begins her fight to establish a lasting position for herself in high society.
