After watching Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, it’s clear that young Charlotte and Eloise have a lot in common, but the show also proves that Eloise’s Bridgerton story had to have a different ending. First released in 2020, Bridgerton is a period drama that took Netflix by storm when it debuted and has been captivating audiences ever since. Over the course of three seasons, Bridgerton has followed one of the Bridgerton siblings as they find love. So with each season, viewers have wondered what the other siblings will be like in their own seasons.
However, Bridgerton isn’t just about the main series. In 2023, Netflix released a prequel spin-off series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which tells the love story between Queen Charlotte and King George III. This one-season series was as successful as a regular Bridgerton season, and even better, it made some new connections between Bridgerton’s past and present. It answered questions about Charlotte’s marriage, Lady Danbury’s position, and Violet’s past. However, just by following specific storylines, Queen Charlotte also raised some concerns about the future of certain characters.
At first glance, it might not seem like Queen Charlotte and Eloise have much in common, but Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story shows that the two characters have some notable similarities. Most importantly, both Charlotte and Eloise resented Regency society. Charlotte was frustrated with society’s expectations because she was forced into a marriage she didn’t want, and worse, she was easily abandoned by her new husband because he had more power than she did. Likewise, Eloise also dislikes the pressure to get married and desires a more complex and interesting life.
Charlotte and Eloise may be in different places, but their issues follow similar themes. Both women crave more from their lives and must find the strength within themselves to make serious changes. For Charlotte, this happens in her series, as she demands the truth from George and defends him when the court tries to abuse him. Eloise hasn’t really made a change yet, but she certainly tries. Her secret meetings with Theo and her trip to Scotland are both attempts to enjoy life beyond what society offers.
Charlotte and Eloise may have similar qualities, but that doesn’t mean their stories will end the same way. While Charlotte was first introduced as a stubborn and opinionated character in Queen Charlotte, Bridgerton proves that she has eventually assimilated into court culture. She may have incredible power and influence, but her life is still dominated by the tragedies of the upper class. There is certainly still time for Charlotte’s story to change, but at this point, she no longer shows signs of being the passionate young woman she once was. This change should never have happened to Eloise.
If Bridgerton had ended her story the way they ended Charlotte’s, they would have lost what made Eloise so refreshing.
Eloise has always stood out throughout Bridgerton because she is different from everyone else. Every Bridgerton character has struggled with society during their season, but Eloise is the only one who openly questions why things are the way they are. She openly desires more for herself than marriage and socializing. If Bridgerton ended her story the way they ended Charlotte’s, they would lose what makes Eloise so refreshing. It’s clear that Eloise can’t live a normal Regency life, so Bridgerton needs to give her a different ending.
