Bridgerton Fans Disappointed by Season 3’s Significant Alteration to Francesca’s Romance

Francesca’s plot in the third season of Bridgerton remains a central focus, especially with the finale unveiling a significant development in her romantic narrative.

Despite the joy of seeing Francesca and John as a beloved couple, fans were also aware of the tragic turn her love story takes when John passes away shortly after their marriage, as depicted in the books.

Francesca’s love story actually involves John’s cousin Michael. They form a strong bond after she becomes a widow and, without a husband, she starts to embrace her feelings for him.

In Bridgerton Season 3, Michael Sterling will now be portrayed as Michaela Sterling. The Netflix series is changing direction to hint at Francesca’s upcoming LGBTQ+ love story.

In the conclusion, Francesca, who is now married, meets Michaela for the first time and is so overwhelmed that she momentarily forgets her name. Her encounter with Michaela ignites a feeling of love at first sight within Francesca.

During an interview with Glamour, executive producer Jess Brownell explained that they wanted to ensure a happy ending for Francesca and Michaela by incorporating certain aspects of their story. As it was a main queer storyline, it was important for the producers to give them a happily ever after, just like every other couple in the show.

The alteration of Michael’s gender has caused a split among Bridgerton fans regarding what will happen in a future season.

According to one fan on X/Twitter, many bookish people may be disappointed that Michael Stirling is not their favorite man, but the chemistry between the characters is evident. If the writers do not make any mistakes, the storyline and representation have the potential to be excellent.

michael stirling was my favorite man so i totally get the disappointment of bookish people but the chemistry is there and if they don’t mess up they can make a REALLY GOOD storyline and representation #bridgerton pic.twitter.com/TBMy2mOlnN

— mel ʕ•̮͡•ʔ (@hcsiequake) June 13, 2024

One person expressed, “My sole letdown is that it appears Francesca develops feelings for Michaela before he does. The main idea of their tale is that Michael(a) has been in love with Francesca since the very first moment he lays eyes on her, not the other way around. Francesca remains unaware of it until much later, after John’s passing.”

Some people are upset about the series altering a main character, as one person tweeted, “I am not happy with this decision! Why not introduce a new couple instead of changing the love story of Michael and Francesca? I don’t think I can forgive Bridgerton for this.”

However, fans are also feeling less than excited about the change for another reason. In the original book, a significant aspect of Francesca’s story is her difficulty in conceiving and forming a strong bond with Michael.

Another person expressed their curiosity about how the changes will be incorporated and how a good show will be made out of it. They mentioned their love for Michael being Francesca’s friend and secret admirer, but noted that it seems to be reversed here. They also have no idea how the show will spin the topics of abortion and grief. Their comment acknowledged the complexity of the story.

While same-sex love was often kept hidden, the idea of including more LGBTQ+ storylines during this period is greatly appreciated by numerous fans.

“While there may be some individuals who are not pleased by the genderbent version of Michaela Stirling, as a queer girl myself, I am overjoyed. I am grateful to Shondaland, Netflix, and everyone involved for finally providing the sapphic representation that I have always desired,”expressed a delighted fan.

Currently, it is uncertain when Francesca’s plotline will take place in relation to Bridgerton Season 3, as Benedict’s romantic arc has been hinted at as the next major focus.

You can watch Bridgerton Season 3 on Netflix now.