Queen Charlotte (Netflix)

Subtitled A Bridgerton Story, this six-part series is not from the Julia Quinn books, which is to its benefit. Considerably darker and sadder than its progenitor, it tells the story of the madness of King George III, from the point of view of his wife. Creator Shonda Rhimes makes it clear from the start that this is not history, but fiction inspired by real people. Good casting beautifully matches the younger versions of Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury and Viscountess Violet Bridgerton with the originals, who also appear in flash forwards. It shares the sumptuous costumes and satirical edge of the first two Bridgerton series, as well as a core belief in true love as the basis of a good marriage. But it also portrays the difficult position of women faced with few choices in how they live their lives. It has more depth and substance than the Bridgerton series, but is just as entertaining. It would be good if there were more such spinoffs.

Godless (Netflix)

All the clichés of the Wild West are given substance and depth in this brutal drama set on the frontier in 19th century New Mexico. The mining town of La Belle has been inhabited and run mostly by women since a tragic accident took out almost all of the men. Everyone has had it tough, but none more than twice-widowed Alice Fletcher, an outsider who struggles to run a horse ranch with her native American mother-in-law and mixed race son. La Belle’s precarious existence is threatened when runaway outlaw Roy Goode stumbles into town, chased down by wrathful criminal boss Frank Griffin. Flashbacks illuminate how the main characters came to be whom and where they are, but are occasionally confusing as to timeline. No character is entirely good or entirely bad; the outstanding cast, including Michelle Dockery and Jeff Daniels, brings nuance and shades of grey to the sunny prairie skies. Complex relationships, an evocative soundtrack and touches of humour leaven the violence of this powerful and moving series.