Queen Charlotte is the key to Bridgerton season 2's success. Based on the popular period romance novels by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton is a bold vision of Regency London that - unlike traditional period dramas - focused on a matriarchy in which the women occupy positions of power. Golda Rosheuvel plays the ultimate matriarch, Queen Charlotte, and she will be key to the success of Bridgerton season 2.
Ironically, Queen Charlotte doesn't actually appear in the Bridgerton books. She was added into the narrative to deepen the historical setting, adding a fresh degree of dynamism to Bridgerton season 1. "What really struck me with the books from the beginning is that this was an opportunity to marry history and fantasy in a really exciting, interesting way," showrunner Chris Van Dusen explained in an interview with OprahMag. "So in Queen Charlotte, that was the history. And then it was thinking of these fantastical scenes and situations to put her in that were really fun to write, too." Julia Quinn herself is delighted at the edition, particularly impressed by Rosheuvel's portrayal. Netflix is even working on a spinoff series that will tell Queen Charlotte's backstory.
Queen Charlotte will play a crucial role in Bridgerton season 2. Each of Quinn's novels focused on a different couple, meaning season 2 will move away from Phoebe Dynevor's Daphne and Regé-Jean Page's Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. The change in focus will be even more pronounced in the Netflix series, however, because Regé-Jean Page isn't returning for Bridgerton season 2; unhappy with becoming a secondary character, he instead chose to move on. That means Shonda Rhimes and her creative team will need to look elsewhere to emphasize the continuity between the first two seasons - and Queen Charlotte will undoubtedly be at the heart of this. She, after all, is a major returning character whose vendetta against Lady Whistledown is certain to continue. Given the importance of Lady Whistledown to the overall plot, Queen Charlotte's role can become even more significant as the series develops.
Bridgerton season 1 revealed the true identity of Lady Whistledown - Penelope Featherington. It did so much sooner than in Julia Quinn's books, where the truth about Lady Whistledown wasn't revealed until book four - as the focus was on Colin Bridgerton, with Penelope as his love interest. It's easy to understand why the showrunners chose to reveal Lady Whistledown's identity so quickly; viewers would have been easily able to find out the information online after watching season 1, so it was best to drop it straight away. This reframes Lady Whistledown's story in Bridgerton season 2, meaning the series can have a B-plot game of cat-and-mouse between Penelope Featherington and Queen Charlotte. This could see Queen Charlotte grow in stature from a popular supporting character to a central figure in the drama.
The characters of Queen Charlotte and Lady Whistledown will give Bridgerton the ongoing narrative it needs, ensuring each season feels like a continuation of the same story even as the romantic leads change. It's a smart approach to storytelling, one that's all the more necessary given Regé-Jean Page's decision not to return. Fortunately, season 1 demonstrated the skills of the entire production team, and Bridgerton season 2 looks set to build on the saga's strong opener.