The Reel Rejects - QUEEN CHARLOTTE 1x01 & 1x02 REVIEW –THEY THREW HER INTO THIS MARRIAGE?!– FIRST TIME WATCH

Episode Date: April 4, 2026

THIS IS WAY MORE SERIOUS THAN BRIDGERTON?! Queen Charlotte Full Episode Watch Alongs:   / thereelrejects   Gift Someone (Or Yourself) An RR Tee! https://shorturl.at/hekk2 BRIDGERTON 2x1 & 2x2 Reaction:    • BRIDGERTON S2 EP 1–2 REACTION –THEY CLEARL...   BRIDGERTON 2x3 Reaction:    • BRIDGERTON 2x03 REACTION – THAT BEE STING ...   BRIDGERTON 2x4 & 2x5 Reaction:    • BRIDGERTON 2x4 & 2x5 REACTION – SHE IS THE...   BRIDGERTON 2x6-8 Reaction:    • BRIDGERTON S2 EP 6–8 REACTION – ALL THAT T...   Gregory Alba & John Humphrey step into the world of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, giving their Episodes 1 & 2 reaction, recap, commentary, breakdown, analysis, and full spoiler review!! Greg & John react to and break down Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Episodes 1 & 2, the Shonda Rhimes-created Netflix prequel that explores the origins of Queen Charlotte and King George’s complicated marriage — blending romance, duty, and political pressure in a much more grounded, emotionally heavy tone than Bridgerton . Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Here we go, guys. Are you ready to venture into Queen Charlotte? and three. Three. Two and a half. Two and three quarters. Almost at one. Almost one.

We're almost there. What? All right, people, we just watched Queen Charlotte episode one and two. Thank you guys for recommending this show. It is so different in a lot of ways. A lot of ways. How are you feeling about, John?

It's good so far. I like it. appreciate what connective tissue is there, what stuff feels appropriately different, slightly higher, grander stakes than just the personal stakes, you know? This is stakes that'll change the shape of the ton. What's your take on George? Uh, interesting guy. I feel like we're kind of back in, he's got like a simoniness in some ways in that like very charming, but there's also like, something under the surface where you're like, what's your deal, man? What's going on with you? Why can't you just open up? Although, from what it seems like here, you know, something much more physical in nature that will, again, most likely harken to things we know are to come.

But I mean, very charming, very frustrating in the way that he keeps her in the dark about stuff. And until those final moments, yeah, just very much is sort of like, what's it going on with you, dude? but we have a better idea just given what he said to Lady Stark there So In what way Well you know This whole thing about like

I've done all this stuff for you And I've made sure that she doesn't know any The stuff that I'm not going to specifically talk about But I'm going to hint to So that the audience knows that there's stuff You know That's fair He's got leverage

They got leverage on him But what do you think Do you like the new tone Do you like the different vibes I do It's a lot more sad there's a sense of dread that something is coming around the corner

there's like a bit more of like a heightened fun drama to the main Bridgerton run like it feels heightened whereas this feels a little more grounded I would say like it's grounded it's never like not grounded

it feels more like they're going for some semblance of realism you called it more traditional period piece drama I get the sense of a little bit more of a traditional period peace drama and the commentary feels a little heavier in a good way it's dealing a lot with racial divide class in ways that are uniquely explored not quite like how i've seen it in any other film or tv show before especially for my lack of history knowledge it's fascinating to see while it's still being very character-driven.

I mean, I think the testament to the show's biggest strength is that I forget, even though they cut to the present with her, I'll get so pulled into, even though we know certain outcomes that are to happen with some of these characters, I'll get so pulled into the immediacy of the past storyline that I'll forget. Oh, yeah, this is supposed to happen.

Oh, yeah, this is supposed to happen. I'll be so in the moment that I don't want something to happen. I'm like, come on, man, what's going on? even though by all accounts it would stand a reason that they would eventually have a loving marriage and she would grow to really care for him maybe that's kind of what it alludes to or maybe they don't really fall deeply in love but she learns to understand and have a love for him question is it an in love's tale that they have or is it more of a respectful understanding and a care that it developed like there's kind of a difference between

passionately in love and then two people who love each other out of respect and duty and just as people because they're good-hearted people. And yeah, I like the story of the sacrifice that's made. Like you're the queen. It looks like life is just easy, peasy, lemon squeezy. However, this hardship, they do a good job on selling on. Like sometimes I'm watching Bridgetton especially around. It's like, goddamn, you rich folks.

And then here you're like, no, does seem fucking miserable, actually, you know, in a lot of ways. Man, it's hard. So I really liked it a lot. I think it's it's wonderfully melancholic in a way. So it's not as like, you know, pleasantry and delightful in the fun of the drama. Like I take this one a lot more serious. Not that I don't take Bridgett and serious.

I, there's, there's just strikes a much more serious, uh, vibe. What do you think of a Danbury though? Oh, I love watching her. I mean, like, yeah, great casting because I love watching young Danbury. And then, yeah, when we cut back and I'm like, oh, the right, she becomes my favorite characters, you know, like. Yeah.

Yeah. And I like, you know, getting that extra ounce of, okay, yeah, while we're here, we'll see who she was married to. We'll see, you know, her rise, you know, to the status that we know her for now. And I love that with the whole theme of like for so long, the queen cannot get anybody to just like level with her and talk like a normal person. Yeah. And after this, you know, initial awkwardness of them sitting together.

they're having tea, like watching them get that initial rapport going and watching, especially in just the performance of like, you know, as especially Danbury, who seems like, it's like, Charlotte is very poised and she has the presence and she carries herself like, you know, a royal in waiting, but clearly like doesn't know all the stuff. And so like Lady Danbury, it's a nice way to both develop just their friendship. general, but also develop Danbury the way we kind of know her now, where she's the one in the know. She's the one who's been kind of watching and seeing the, you know, progress of society, the progress of these different houses and who can really give you the dual perspective of like,

okay, here's what's really going on here. And here's how everyone has to act in order to uphold the illusion of society that we all participate in every day. So yeah, to see that grow and to see her. It's, you know, her husband is obviously not the most

charming character, but very amusing. I'm sad that their marriage has nothing, has no seeming bond to it at all because she deserves, you know,

someone who sees and hears her. But there's a charming quality to just the kind of humor of their relationship, even if it is also kind of sad. Yeah. Well,

the lady Bridgeting character, when she shows up it's a great example of what she was able to have and her kids to have that Danbury and the queen didn't have Yeah Like they're so

Danbury and the queen and Charlotte are so defined by duty as as women and then even helping out their men in the shadows you know duty in the face of like a little lack of ability

to choose a lot of stuff whereas the Bridgitons, they get a fortunately falling love. You guys can choose most of your life circumstances. Yeah. Or more of them. No, I liked it a lot. I like, you know, the, what's the, God, he said it's the name like a billion times.

The guy who falls are around. Oh, oh, golly, I've had it this whole time and now, uh, uh, blimsie. Brimsley. Brimsley. Brimsley. Brimsley. I kind of felt like he was villainous in the main run of the show. You know, there's something that felt like antagonistic about him and squirmie.

Sure, maybe a little earlier on. I feel like in some of the more recent times, I remember them giving him some slightly more charming moments. But yeah, he's definitely way more prominent here. But yeah, sometimes you feel like he's at odds or especially because of who we're following. He probably is more of an antagonist in the main. timeline. But I love what they're doing with him here, the development of the relationship.

Yeah. It makes it more, it makes more connective when we do come back to the main storyline. I like what they're doing with the main storyline too. Will she repeat like the same things of her generations? Is she becoming the queen that did not approve of her? There's a lot of cool, like generational themes that they're touching on. I feel like the person that plays Charlotte is excellent. Like both, I mean, the main person plays main queen Charlotte. Bridgerton show was also in this is great. But to do the young casting is very fucking like amazingly. Seamless.

Yeah, it's like when you cut back and forth between them, you have to buy it in a way that doesn't distract. And it doesn't distract. It's very believable. It's like getting Wyatt Russell to play Kurt Russell. Yeah. It's more distracting. Some of them are aware of this son. Here you're like, oh, yeah.

It's just really, yeah, I can just see how you could grow into you. Yeah. Yeah, and it's the kind of prequel show that when the inevitable day does come when, you know, Bridgetton season 5 is coming out, then I got to rewatch all Bridgetton that I'm going to be like, oh, I see, like, I'm seeing more of the Queen Charlotte stuff, you know, even though she's made up, like, much more embellished for the show, since she's not really a character in the books. To my understanding. Oh, interesting. I don't know. I think that's how it goes. Interesting.

Damn, so this really is Shonda's baby. Okay. Yeah. I thought it was great. The music is still excellent. Production is still the same quality. I'm glad they didn't skimp on quality. It doesn't feel, it feels like a true exploration and enhancement.

Yeah. It doesn't feel like a cash grab spit off prequel show, which a lot of these can sometimes feel like. This actually, I can see why people really, really, really make. made it clear you should include this in the watch at the time it comes out because it does make it better. It's not some side quest that you can you can that you need to. I know plenty of people who watch all Bridgeton but never seen Queen Charlotte actually because that's just the nature of spin-off shows and stuff. Do we really need it?

But I do see how this actually makes it better. It makes it stronger. And it's a good show so far. Like it's and I like how it feels like Bridgeton. but different, you know, and they don't, they're not such as Bridgeton. It feels like when you're reading a book series

and then the author like, intentionally, like it's knowledge. You're like, oh, the next book in the series isn't like the continuation. It's like a,

yeah, it's a detour for some other context, but it's still like works to read in the tandem. Yeah, it's how it's feeling so far, kind of. Yeah, I like it a lot.

I think it's great. I think it's great stuff. Let's see some questions. Care Bear Your Majesty's Greg and John The spin-off All came from one critical scene In Bridgerton, season one

Or Lady Danbury tells the Duke That a society once divided by color Was forever changed by love So they do fall in love That is that story If you were in Charlotte's position Would you have gone over the wall Or stayed and gamble on a stranger

Uh Where would I have gone? I would have just stayed Where would I've gone? I'm able to go. I'd stand out as a black woman in this dress. Where am I going to go? Where am I going to go?

And like the consequences of abdicating this after so many things would probably be really awful for you. Yeah. Yeah. You'd have to live life on the run. I would just justify and be like, whatever, I'm going to be wealthy for life. And I'm going to be having servants. Screw it. I'll adjust.

I'll adjust this hard life. yes I mean yeah it does seem like society uniquely maneuvers you to the point where you're like I don't I don't I'd have to really be out here trying to yeah like live nomatically in order to avoid this or something or go across the world find a way to become independently wealthy in a place that'll allow for that and then yeah it's like you know you have more mobility in this position if you just do the wedding I suppose absolutely get the means then and then you can make moves Hmm

Big word Tori Jerry Thank you for chiming in This is the only Bridgerton show so far that isn't based on a book Queen Charlotte isn't even In the Bridgeton books as a character

She's completely Ashonda Rhymes creation That's crazy Oh It's like Harley Quinn man Next book she's gonna be in it Do you think this show Has a different energy than Bridgeton

Or do you think it blends in the world blends into the world well I would say yes I'd say most of our talk was dedicated to this exact question so waste of time you should have thought of a better question yeah

yeah you heard us talking you should have asked something different now you're just asking us to repeat ourselves wow dead air but the answer to your dual question is yes yeah yeah it blends well and it has a nice change of energy but appreciate you Tori for always

And for the knowledge, I like some trivia. Good on Shonda. This is cool. This is her baby. She's written both these episodes so far. Maybe the whole six episodes. Who knows? Maybe she was the showrunner.

She was the showrunner. And that one guy is directed the other two. Maybe they're like a duo for this. Maybe they are the Georgie and the Charlotte of this show. Maybe. Yeah. It's really J. Rushton. Woo.

Question, is this bad marriage there? Yeah. No. I don't know. We're not that episode in. It's not going great so far. I think it'll become a better marriage than it is right now. You know, it's not great marriage.

Marriage, mom-in-law. Lady Sansa Stark, man. That's the lady Stark. Yeah, she's great, though. I'm like, yeah, yeah. She's a good foil, good villain, who will probably learn to like her, hopefully. You'll learn to understand. She's a woman.

She's in a position of power, but tenuously, there's going to be some real nuance there. And like the feigning of acceptance, but weaponizing race to look politically progressive. Well, she's good at it. It's more about power in a day. The great experiment that they're calling this interracial marriage. Yeah. Which I mean, I suppose at this point in time, under these circumstances, it is. And I'm here for it.

I'm here for it. I'm here for it too. And experimenting with astronomy. Anyway, guys, that was a great installment. Thank you so much for being here. I'm excited to watch the rest of the show. Yeah. Thanks, John. We'll see you guys soon.

Cheerio.