Queen Charlotte Ending Explained: What Happened to Brimsley & Reynolds?

The prequel to Netflix's popular series about love and rivalry in London's high society has finally been released, taking us on an emotional journey back to the Georgian era with Queen Charlotte. The series finale offered both a sense of warm hope and a torrent of tears.

The latter was particularly evoked by the fate of King George's butler, Reynolds, and Queen Charlotte's secretary, Brimsley. Despite the terrible hardships the Queen endured, she and the King remained together until the very end, with the last years of their lives marked by the comforting birth of the future Queen Victoria. But what happened to their servants?

The series is divided into two timelines: the royal couple's youth, beginning in 1761, and their mature years when they learned in 1817 that their granddaughter and main heir to the throne, Princess Charlotte of Wales, had passed away.

For Charlotte, there was a well-deserved happy ending as the elderly royal couple found solace when Prince Edward and his wife announced they were expecting a daughter.

However, the love story of Brimsley and Reynolds was far more tragic. Throughout the season, they had to conceal their feelings for each other from the public to be together while prioritising their powerful masters. We last saw the younger versions of the pair dancing to a heartbreaking string rendition of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You at the Royal Ball.

But, regrettably, in the 'current' timeline, we see only an old, lonely Brimsley dancing by himself. Although Reynolds' fate remains uncertain, the subtext (as well as the song choice) seems to suggest that he simply didn't live to see it. Pass the tissues, please.

However, actor Hugh Sachs, who portrayed the older Brimsley, shared details about this scene, revealing that there may be more to the story. According to him, there was a scene in the script where the two characters met as adults, but it was cut.

'He was the love of his life, and for whatever reason, they could not stay together. So when they would pass each other in the passageway in the deleted scene, it wasn’t a toxic moment. Because of the world they inhabited, it was still a hangable offence to be gay, and it was just not possible,' he said.

Well, we can only hope to see the older Reynolds again in Season Two if it comes to fruition. Until then, all we can do is sadly reflect on the relationship between the two servants while listening to the show's rendition of the Whitney Houston song.

Source: Vulture.