There is power in love Powerful enough to turn a period romance into a blockbuster franchise, Bridgerton has become one of Netflix's most popular shows thanks to its bubbly mix of romance and intrigue, snappy dialogue from engaging actors, and gorgeous costumes and production design

And now Shonda Rhimes and friends are applying that formula to the prequel spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Netflix's latest best show The spotlight shifts from the young and talented Bridgerton siblings to their breakout royal character Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rochevell in the flagship series, is a venomous, dignified gossip hound But what was she like in her younger days?

Enter India Amarteifio, the teenage Charlotte, strong-willed and stubborn, but also naïve and uncertain Especially when it comes to love Her marriage to George III (Corey Mylcrest) puts her at the top of the social ladder, but as the show reveals, even the most powerful woman on earth can be lonely

This "Queen Charlotte" review contains mild spoilers

The show begins with Charlotte (Amarteifio), a 17-year-old Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who is promised in marriage to King George III of England (Millcreast) And she is not too happy about this situation

Upon arrival, Charlotte's fears are compounded when she is told that her future mother-in-law, the haughty Princess Augusta (Michelle Fairley), must inspect her as a breeding mare and begin producing an heir

Her first meeting with her future husband goes much better They meet in the garden, and George reveals himself to be handsome and charming When they marry, however, George is a completely different man Charlotte is left mostly alone to run her new life as Queen of England

Their relationship was already troubled by Princess Augusta's meddling and the obvious skepticism from the Prime Minister and other politicians Bridgerton does not explain how the high society was integrated, but the prequel describes it as a "great experiment": in order for the king to facilitate interracial marriages, people of color were given titles and land

One of the new nobility was Lady Danbury (Alcema Thomas) She is as cunning and fierce as her older self, played by Adjoa Ando in both the prequel and OG Bridgerton Lady Danbury quickly befriends Queen Charlotte, gains the favor of Princess Augusta, and uses her connections to elevate her family and other nobles of color

But the show does not stretch this political thread for long Lady Danbury's ascendancy is quickly swallowed up by romantic intrigue Queen Charlotte has taken up the issue only once Her own love story takes precedence

It is a tale of true love, though plagued by obstacles, heartache, and tragedy And sex Lots and lots of sex Even when at odds, George and Charlotte cannot deny their attraction to each other No wonder they would later have 15 children together

The show moves back and forth between the two eras In later years, Charlotte ponders the future of her husband's family Despite the large number of family members, there are no legitimate heirs

In her bridal year, Charlotte despairs of having a good marriage However, she and George make it work However, they had to face the elephant in the room - George's mental illness The treatment offered by the doctors of the time was terribly barbaric Charlotte and George lived hundreds of years earlier in search of safer and more effective methods

Young Charlotte finds the love she craves, but it comes at a price The elder Charlotte pays that price, but she gets the heir she desires (spoiler alert: it's Queen Victoria)

Bridgerton could have spun off any number of supporting characters for their series, but it was no surprise that the one chosen was Queen Charlotte Her Charlotte had nuance and shading that made me want to dig deeper

But this prequel would not have been as successful without the luminous Amarteifio Her Charlotte is tough yet vulnerable, stubborn yet sweet And Amarteifio displays breathtaking chemistry with Milecrest, making Charlotte and George's romance very believable and rooting

Ando was the next breakthrough after Rochevell Thomas is perfect as the young Lady Danbury, who has just embarked on a journey to become a cool operator in her later years

The prequel focuses a bit more on the support staff Hugh Sachs makes a welcome return as the elder Brimsley, the Queen's long-suffering secretary Sam Clemmett is excellent as young Brimsley, whose personal life is as interesting as the rest of the aristocracy

As a spin-off of "Bridgerton," "Queen Charlotte" simply had to follow the original recipe It accomplished this brilliantly and with flair It has all the right ingredients: a charming and engaging cast, a dash of romance and sex, history and politics, gorgeous costumes, sumptuous sets, and wonderful, anachronistic pop songs played as orchestral numbers

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story may be mostly foam and steam, but beneath the frills, corsets, and wigs is a beating heart This love story will bring a smile to your face and maybe even make you fall into the hole in Wikipedia's history Dear readers, it is a great treat