Tighten your corsets, ladies. Straighten your waistcoats, gentlemen. Adjust your powdered wigs, anyone who has one. Welcome to the Bridgerton extended universe in the gorgeous six-episode romp from Shondaland, written almost entirely by Rhimes herself, that is Queen Charlotte. Before the action begins, we are given stern guidance by Shonda/Lady Whistledown/Julie Andrews, and when that trinity speaks, you listen. “This is the story of Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton. It is not a history lesson – it is fiction inspired by fact. All liberties taken by the author are quite intentional. Enjoy.”
I do love a pre-emptive strike by a writer, even more so when it is clearly the result of a middle-aged woman having had quite enough of your shit. She might as well have written, “It’s a Regency romance, not an AJP Taylor lecture. Either watch it or go and bring me your dirty clothes so I can put a wash on. God, you treat this place like a hotel.” Eyeroll, credits.
