You probably know him as the guy screaming about the colonies in Hamilton or the frail, confused man wandering the halls in the later seasons of Bridgerton. For a long time, the "Mad King" was a caricature. A punchline. But lately, TV has been obsessed with a different version: the young, vibrant, and deeply troubled man before the history books wrote him off.
If you’re looking for tv shows with young king george, you're likely chasing that specific mix of 18th-century swagger and heartbreaking vulnerability. It's a niche, but a powerful one.
The Corey Mylchreest Revolution in Queen Charlotte
Let’s be honest. Most of us are here because of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Before this 2023 prequel dropped on Netflix, "young George" wasn't really a thing in the cultural zeitgeist. Corey Mylchreest basically redefined the role. He didn't play a king; he played a guy trying to hide a shattering mind while falling in love.
It's "Farmer George" with a glow-up.
In this series, we see George III in 1761. He’s 22. He’s just ascended the throne after his grandfather died, and he’s terrified. The show leans hard into his interest in astronomy and agriculture—real traits of the actual king—but it anchors everything in his romance with Charlotte. The "will they, won't they" isn't about whether they'll marry (they do, immediately), but whether his mental health will let them stay together.
What the show gets right (and wrong)
The series uses the "Great Experiment" as a backdrop, which, historically speaking, is total fiction. There was no sudden decree of racial equality in 1760s London. However, the depiction of George’s medical "treatments" under Dr. John Monro is horrifyingly accurate. The real King George was subjected to straitjackets, blistering agents, and ice-cold baths.
The show suggests he was dealing with these issues right at the start of his marriage. Historians usually argue his first major break didn't happen until 1765, but the tension makes for better TV.
Beyond Bridgerton: Where Else is He?
While Queen Charlotte is the heavyweight champion here, there are a few other spots where a younger George III pops up.
- Turn: Washington's Spies (AMC): Paul Rhys plays George here. He isn't the lead, and he isn't quite as "young" as Mylchreest’s version, but it’s a fascinating look at the King during the American Revolution. He’s depicted as someone deeply invested in the minutiae of the war, someone who is clearly starting to crack under the pressure of losing the colonies.
- John Adams (HBO): This is a brief but legendary cameo. Tom Hollander (of The White Lotus fame) plays the King in the scene where he first meets John Adams. It is arguably the most historically accurate portrayal of his mannerisms. He’s formal, slightly awkward, but undeniably regal. He isn't "mad" here; he’s a man who has just lost a massive chunk of his empire and is trying to maintain his dignity.
- The Prince Regent (BBC, 1979): If you can find this in the archives, Nigel Davenport’s performance is the gold standard for older fans. It focuses on his son (the future George IV), but Davenport captures the transition from a capable ruler to a man lost in his own head.
Why We’re Suddenly Obsessed With Young George
For decades, we only cared about the end of his life. The Madness of King George (the 1994 film) was brilliant, but it focused on the 1788 crisis. By looking at his younger years, writers are tapping into something more relatable: the fear of a looming shadow.
George III wasn't born "mad." He was a diligent, pious, and highly educated young man who wanted to be a good king. Watching that potential get eroded by a condition he couldn't control—likely bipolar disorder, though some still argue for porphyria—is a classic tragedy.
It also helps that modern TV has moved away from the "villain" trope. In Hamilton, Jonathan Groff’s King George is a hilarious, spit-flecked antagonist. It's great fun. But Queen Charlotte asks us to care about him. It turns the "Mad King" into a person.
The Actor Behind the Crown
Corey Mylchreest's casting was a gamble that paid off. He was a RADA graduate with almost no screen credits—just a tiny part in The Sandman (he played Adonis in the first episode).
He reportedly spent weeks researching the King's real letters and journals. That effort shows. There’s a specific twitchiness he brings to the role, a sense that George is constantly "masking" his symptoms to keep the court happy.
Actionable Takeaways for History Buffs
If you've finished the shows and want to know what actually happened, here is the reality check:
- Read the Georgian Papers: The Royal Archives have digitized thousands of George III's personal letters. You can see his frantic handwriting during his "episodes" versus his precise, neat hand when he was well.
- Visit Kew Gardens: If you're ever in London, go to Kew Palace. It’s tiny compared to Buckingham, but it’s where George was basically "imprisoned" during his worst bouts of illness. You can see the actual chair he was restrained in.
- Check out "The Madness of King George" (1994): It’s a movie, not a TV show, but it is the essential companion piece to Queen Charlotte. It shows where the story eventually ends, with Nigel Hawthorne giving the performance of a lifetime.
George III reigned for 59 years. That’s a massive chunk of time. TV is finally starting to realize that those first few decades were just as interesting as the tragic end.
For your next watch, start with the John Adams miniseries for the political weight, then re-watch Queen Charlotte to see the man behind the crown.
To dive deeper into the real history, check out the Georgian Papers Programme, an online archive that lets you read the King's actual medical reports and personal notes from his physicians.
