Queen Charlotte Skips Bridgerton-like Courtship, Jumps into Bed Too Quickly
Early reviews are out, and some fans worry that “Queen Charlotte” is shooting blanks.
Bridgerton, Bridgerton, Bridgerton. Didn’t we learn this lesson already?
After Season 1 of the steamy Netflix show drew criticism for thinking that “showing sex” is the same thing as “being sexy”, Bridgerton backed off for Season 2 and made it all about the foreplay. Instead of people thrusting away in public like they did within the first three minutes (count ‘em!) of S1, we had Anthony and Kate’s slow burn that built the tension all the way up to the penultimate episode.
Although there were some who missed the silly/sexy hijinks of S1, most critics agreed that adding a dash of restraint actually brought the steaminess up a few notches.
But it sounds like all of that is out the window in the Bridgerton spin-off series Queen Charlotte. This new series flashes back to the early days of Charlotte’s marriage when the strong-willed young woman is shipped to England to make a political marriage to the King. Of course, we already know that she and her new husband are going to have a love story for the ages.
Unfortunately, from the sounds of it, Queen Charlotte has forgotten the lessons of Bridgerton (romance and character development first, then sex!) and has our main couple fall in lust – and in bed – long before the end of the first episode.
The Daily Beast says that Queen Charlotte’s lack of a build-up makes it “too sexy for its own good”, while a review from Inews laments that in this spin-off, “The sex is back but the romance is dead.” Other reviewers feel that in spite of all the intimate scenes, the chemistry between the two leads can’t compare to either season of Bridgerton.
While reviews like these have some fans feeling worried, others are waiting to form their own opinion. Redditor DaisyandBella points out: “There are many reviews where people do like the chemistry between [the leads]. Chemistry is subjective.”
Other fans have been quick to counter-post the reviews that have praised Queen Charlotte as a worthy Bridgerton prequel.
Redditor Saffronsc pointed out that of course Queen Charlotte has to get busy gettin’ busy – after all, she and the King have to conceive 15 children before the events of Bridgerton roll around!
Bridgerton’s success hinged on a variety of elements – the candy-floss costumes, the cheeky anachronisms, the music, and of course the sex. Queen Charlotte has turned all of these elements up to 11: the dresses are more elaborate, the music more pop-y, the sex more…well, just more.
When the series officially premieres, it will be up to fans to decide whether that makes Queen Charlotte a hit, or too much of a good thing.
Source: The Daily Beast, Inews, Reddit.