Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story dropped on Netflix on May 4, with the show quickly reaching the number one spot on the Top 10 TV Programmes in Ireland chart. While many viewers have been raving about the epic love story between the young queen and King George of England, it is the romance between Brimsley and Reynolds that has caught the attention of queer fans.

While there have been minor hints of LGBTQ+ representation in the beloved Bridgerton series, this is the first time that any season of the franchise has featured fully-fledged, explicitly gay characters with significant screen time and their own storylines.

Brimsely, played by Sam Clemmett, and Reynolds, played by Freddie Dennis, are secretaries for the Queen and King, respectively. While plotting ways to match-make their masters, the pair unexpectedly fall for each other, thus igniting a secret and raunchy relationship.

With the Netflix flagship production known for its hot and heavy sex scenes, the prequel delivers equally steamy behind-closed-doors encounters for its gay couple, much to the delight of many (thirsty) viewers.

We had an explicit gay sex scene before any other sex scene oh I know some people are pissed #QueenCharlotte pic.twitter.com/dIIpDJMaSw

— “not Reos” (@NotHreos67) May 4, 2023

Oh my God. We’re 13 minutes into Episode 2 and there’s a gay sex scene which has made even me blush. #QueenCharlotte

— Scott Birrell (@s_birrell) May 4, 2023

the gay butlers in queen charlotte everytime they’re left alone together pic.twitter.com/IoFzALmQTW

— marc (@carriehagshaw) May 5, 2023

thank you #QueenCharlotte for giving the gay couple multiple happy, romantic, and intimate scenes, and not hiding them away like most dramas do. brimsley and reynolds i ain’t ever moving on from you. pic.twitter.com/ZGjfiDgJ61

— ann (@quandromache) May 5, 2023

Speaking to Out about filming the more intimate moments, Dennis said the crew “created such a safe space”. 

“Obviously with all intimate scenes, it requires vulnerability. The conversations we had surrounding the scenes and the fact that they were there on set talking us through and choreographing us just made it actually sort of an amazing, amazing experience,” he continued.

“It just allowed us to be able to throw ourselves into the scene themselves and focus on what we needed to achieve,” Clemmett added. “There’s no way that could have happened without feeling comfortable and safe and respected.”

Alongside featuring Brimsely and Reynolds’ romance, the six-episode season follows Charlotte in 1761 as she overcomes racism to disrupt the traditional structure of the monarchy, falling in love with the King and changing society forever.

Based on the popular novels by Julia Quinn, since premiering in 2020, the original Bridgerton has been praised for its racial diversity, and this addition of gay characters in Queen Charlotte makes the Shondaland production an even greater champion of inclusivity.