For those who have not yet watched the new "Queen Charlotte-Bridgerton" series, I apologize for the spoilers ahead, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the kind of relationship Princess Augusta and Lady Agatha Danbury shared, which I see as having some value in the lives of women. We don't have to like each other in such relationships, but we both respect and need each other to get to where we desperately need to be. Thanks to Shonda Rhimes, Julia Quinn and the rest of the cast and crew did not disappoint in bringing the modern twist of an old story to our screens. Every detail—the costumes, the whole set, and the lines—was delivered.
However, I want to focus on two characters in the series.
Queen Charlotte was the ultimate love story; the purest of an enduring romance that stood the test of time. A series that took us back in time to meet the younger versions of the characters....Queen Charlotte, King George, Lady Danbury, Brimsley, Lady Violet, and more. However, my focus is not on the King and the Queen but on the Queen's in-law, King George's mother; Princess Augusta and the Queen's trusted friend, Lady Agatha Danbury. The type of conversations through each of the six episodes always had some underlined tensions, but those two were the best parts of this particular series. Such an awkward but mutually beneficial relationship is very satisfying, to say the least. It is a reflection of the pinnacle of colliding race, class and culture. It is easy to get caught up in the beautiful love story of Charlotte and George, but I was more fixated on other characters on the side because this time, the throwback meant we could understand where they were coming from.
These two women have had quite a journey, hustling through difficult and almost impossible situations. Agatha with her husband, such a marriage with the silent weight of being locked since childhood to this man who was quite older than her. To this man, she was a child-breeding tool. Hence, there were countless sex romps almost every other night. The worst part is leaving her broke with the children, bringing it to light that Agatha remained in the dark about his affairs. Augusta, on the other hand, was on a journey from dealing with a father-in-law she loathed so much to bear the burden of a son who had to be king and stay a worthy king at all costs. Both women were alike in many ways. As women, many of us can relate to each other's struggle to live and be in a society determined to hold us back. A society that had already determined the fate of many young girls, betrothed to men who could be as old as their fathers or even grandfathers. A society with rooms that say women should be nothing and if at all, a woman should stay in the background. As a woman, you constantly fight. You constantly hustle to be, to get, and to be seen or heard.
Every woman needs this type of dynamic relationship at some point in her life. The thing is, everyone is out to get something, we are constantly searching, which is human nature. Agatha was fighting for her husband to be seen and heard, which meant she was fighting for her children and herself to be visible in a society divided by race and class. Augusta was fighting for King George to be King indeed, but she did not want to be openly seen pulling the strings, and why she needed Charlotte to love George truly (but she needed eyes and ears in Buckingham House without relying on the Queen). Agatha and Augusta needed each other to achieve their goals as voracious seekers. They both genuinely needed that relationship to work, despite the awkwardness. This is why I loved their characters and the sort of relationship they shared. After Lord Danbury passed on, Agatha had to survive and sustain her family's titled lineage as non-commoners and avoid the penury experienced by peasants who had nothing.
Women need such relationships at least once in their lives. There is no pretense about wanting more, something tangible in a world of chaos and cutthroat competition. We need another dependable female ally, whose presence in your life is mutually beneficial. The point is not likeness, but trust. A relationship that strengthens us through the fire and is reliable in seeing valid contracts through....such that you do your part, I do mine, and we both win. Augusta consoled Agatha despite not liking her when she broke down, asking for her son to be titled like his late dad. She needed Agatha, and quitting was not an option on the table. Women need this sort of relationship that reminds us to push through those difficult walls instead of continually sitting in a pool of tears and mess, feeling sorry for ourselves. You can cry, yes, but take your lessons; get your life back together, and finish your end of the bargain. A relationship that reminds us that "we need not be content" and we "do not loose control of our fate" because we can be more and get more. The other interesting thing about their relationship is that you never heard what was discussed between them elsewhere. Despite not liking each other, they needed each other and kept the deepest parts of their dealings discreet.
In the end, Angela chose herself and her happiness, choosing not to marry again despite the charms and promises of Adolphus, the Queen's brother. Augusta finally let go of her grip on her son and how tight she held the crown, knowing Charlotte was enough for George, the country, and the throne. Both women got what they brutally searched for. Their relationship was honest, and productive, with the desired results in the end.