Bridgerton Season 4 Has A Major Queen Charlotte Problem (Unless King George Returns) (2024)

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Bridgerton, season 3

After Bridgerton season 3, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has a major hurdle to overcome, and its resolution relies on one royal character. In 2023, Netflix's Bridgerton franchise put out its first spinoff series called Queen Charlotte. The six-episode show follows the romance between Queen Charlotte and King George III. Although Queen Charlotte takes countless creative liberties with the true story of Queen Charlotte and King George, the series is just as steamy and entertaining as any regular season of Bridgerton. The only problem is, the spinoff's future may not be so bright.

While the Bridgerton franchise is set up to have eight seasons, each based on a book by Julia Quinn, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story doesn't have that luxury. The spinoff was an original story created by Shonda Rhimes. Therefore, it has no sequel books to adapt to television. Worse, Shonda Rhimes has made some disappointing comments about Queen Charlotte's future. Rhimes told Variety that, when it comes to Queen Charlotte, she doesn't "want to tell a story that doesn't need to be told." Unfortunately, Queen Charlotte's potential fate looks even worse after Bridgerton season 3.

Bridgerton Season 3 Ended Queen Charlotte's Biggest Story

Lady Danbury & Violet's Story Got Its Ending

If the chances of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story season 2 were already slim, Bridgerton season 3 made them slimmer. In the third installment of the Bridgerton franchise, one of Queen Charlotte's biggest storylines came to an end. During their youth, Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton had a strange and surprising connection. Agatha had an affair with Violet's father, Lord Ledger. During Queen Charlotte, Violet discovers this relationship. She finds one of her father's paper crowns among Agatha's things. Despite this revelation, Violet says nothing and Queen Charlotte ends without a resolution.

However, Bridgerton season 3 gives Lady Danbury and Violet the ending they truly needed. After Violet develops feelings for Agatha's brother, Marcus, Violet asks for permission to court him. Lady Danbury kindly tells Violet she does need her blessing, especially since Agatha did not get Violet's blessing all those years ago. For the first time, Agatha and Violet acknowledge Agatha's relationship with Lord Ledger. Violet implies that she forgives them, while Lady Danbury shows her gratitude for their friendship. Where Queen Charlotte left their storyline hanging, Bridgerton finally allows the women to move forward truthfully.

Although this final chapter of Violet and Agatha's Queen Charlotte story is satisfying, it causes a huge problem for the future of the spinoff. Now that Bridgerton season 3 has given the pair closure, there is one less storyline that Queen Charlotte season 2 would need to cover. Unfortunately, Queen Charlotte wrapped up most of its plots anyway. In this way, there may not be enough of a reason for Queen Charlotte to return. As Shonda Rhimes already said, it would be pointless to make a second season of Queen Charlotte if there is no story to tell.

Queen Charlotte Still Has A Major Story Left To Tell

Queen Charlotte Must Follow Up On George

Bridgerton season 3 ended one Queen Charlotte storyline for good, but there is one more character that still needs an ending: King George. In Bridgerton, audiences got a hint at what was wrong with King George III, explaining why he was never really around during the series. Yet, Queen Charlotte went even further by delving deep into George's character. In the spinoff, audiences see George struggle with his mental health, and the horrific ways in which the royal court tried to "fix" him. The end of Queen Charlotte sees George successfully become king, but that is where his story ends.

If there is one reason why Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story should come back, it is George. While audiences can assume how Charlotte became the fierce ruler she is in Bridgerton, it is harder to bridge the gap between the George of Queen Charlotte and the George of Bridgerton. Viewers really get no insight into George beyond the end of Queen Charlotte. Since George is not hugely significant in Bridgerton, it would only make sense to see more of his future in Queen Charlotte season 2.

Bridgerton season 3 makes this need even more important. While the third season offered an ending to Agatha and Violet's story, there was no sign of King George in Bridgerton season 3. Where the monarch has appeared sparsely in past Bridgerton seasons, he didn't even get a mention in Bridgerton season 3. This gives the franchise all the more reason to continue George's story in Queen Charlotte season 2. George may not be a Bridgerton, but he still deserves some sort of happily ever after, whatever that may look like.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

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Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is the first spinoff series in the Bridgerton franchise from Netflix. The limited series was created by Shonda Rhimes and focuses on a 17-year-old Queen Charlotte as she rises to power and marries King George.India Ria Amarteifio plays the young Queen Charlotte, who was originally played by Golda Rosheuvel in Bridgerton.

Cast

India Amarteifio , Adjoa Andoh , Michelle Fairley , Ruth Gemmell , Golda Rosheuvel , Corey Mylchreest

Release Date

May 4, 2023

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Franchise(s)

Bridgerton

Writers

Shonda Rhimes , Nicholas Nardini

Showrunner

Shonda Rhimes