The stars spill all the thirsty behind-the-scenes tea.
What is it about the world of Bridgerton, including its prequel series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, that has so captured fans’ imaginations? Is it the lavish costumes and sets? Shonda Rhimes’ storytelling? The abundance of bodice-ripping sex? Dearest gentle readers, it’s a combination of all three—but there’s no denying that the show’s sex-positive love scenes, as shot from the female gaze, have enraptured viewers.
Although Season 2 of the flagship series was criticized as lacking in the lovemaking area, spinoff Queen Charlotte brought the sex back in full force, with the greatest number of love scenes of all the Bridgerton seasons so far. Notably, the nudity was toned down, with only a few bare male bottoms to speak of. The chemistry and passion among the characters are evident in this series, focusing not only on the titular young queen (India Amarteifio) and her husband, King George III (Corey Mylchreest); but also the relationship between their two head footmen, Brimsley (Sam Clemmett) and Reynolds (Freddie Dennis); and a young Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas) as she experiences unfulfilling sex with her husband, then later takes control of her sexuality with a lover.
All the sex scenes in Queen Charlotte
Let’s take a look at every Queen Charlotte sex scene, complete with timestamps for your viewing pleasure.
Agatha Danbury grins and bears it, Episode 1 (20:50)
The first sex scene of Queen Charlotte is not very, well, sexy. Young Agatha Danbury is clearly not enjoying her “wifely duties” as her much older husband (Cyril Nri) thrusts into her, declares it a “good ride” and then takes out his teeth before falling asleep. His performance in the bedroom definitely leaves something to be desired, setting the scene for Agatha’s future sexual escapes in later episodes. At this point in her life, though, she really doesn’t know any better.
“I was almost frustrated. I’m like, ‘Girl, say something!’” Thomas told Pride of her character’s unfulfilling relationship. “And you see her and she kind of takes it and takes it. And I realize it’s not because she’s angry or bitter. It’s the fact that she did not know that there was another option. She’s never been given that other option.”
Bridgerton’s first gay romance, Episode 2 (12:18)
Brimsley and Reynolds, the queen’s and king’s footmen respectively, have the first full gay love scene of any Bridgerton series (one was only hinted at in Season 1). As Charlotte makes a surprise evening visit to her husband’s home (yes, they have separate houses), the two servants take the opportunity to sneak to Reynolds’s room to engage in some energetic and passionate lovemaking—all while discussing the royal couple and their failure to perform the same act.
“In the intimate scene that Sam and I share in Episode 2, I find it very interesting that they’re still discussing the affairs of the king and queen, despite the fact that this is a moment of lust and passion,” Dennis told Yahoo. “I think it just shows how intense and actually difficult their jobs are. They can never switch off, even in moments where they try and steal a couple of minutes just to be present and grounded with each other.”
Agatha’s tea time is interrupted, Episode 2 (19:15)
Poor Agatha is enduring more of her husband’s unromantic exertions. Apparently the old man’s sexual appetite has increased, as she was in the middle of tea and embroidering a pillow when he came to her. “What if he puts another one of his gigantic babies inside me?” she exclaims to her maid during her post-sex bath. This line is a reflection of how she views intimacy, as Thomas explains. “In her mind, this is something that you do to make babies, this is what you do as a wife. It’s like embroidering pillows and chatting about tea,” she told told Variety.
Lady Danbury daydreams during sex, Episode 2 (30:20)
We are really starting to sympathize with Lady Danbury. Her husband’s advances are becoming nearly as tedious to viewers as they are to her. And as her eyes wander, we get the sense that she’s not fully present—which may be the case for Thomas as an actor as well. Her love scenes with Lord Danbury “were actually quite fun because it was a moment where I got to zone out,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “As an actor, you always have to be so on, so to be able to daydream and think about, ‘Oh, I wonder what I’m going to eat when I get home. Do I actually have groceries? F—, there’s no more pasta.’”
