that came to a close today, an entirely different character received quite a bit of hooplah over a big plot twist: Francesca Bridgerton .Season 3 finale, the newly engaged couple Francesca and John Stirling run into a familiar face at a big ball. John’s cousin Michaela Stirling is in attendance andtakes Francesca’s breath away. Francesca is so stunned by Michaela’s beauty that she forgets her own name.
But, wait…aren’t Francesca and John paired up? Well, yes, but in the books (and again, big spoilers ahead, now for futureStirling. Now, that cousin has become Michaela. Although this twist isn’t totally official yet—Francesca and Michaela haven’t sealed the deal—this does seem to signal the first official queer main couple on the show.Showrunner Jess Brownell did clarify what’s going on with Francesca’s upcoming marriage to John.
Some viewers, however, are such fans of the books that they’re unhappy to see such a major change to Francesca’s storyline. Oneviewer slammed the show for scrapping Francesca’s infertility plot for “gay inclusivity.” They continued, “It’s not homophobic, it’s a CRIME.” Well, no, as of 2024, being queer isn’t “a crime.” It’s delightful to see both Francesca and Benedict’s characters have new identities in the serial adaptation of, even if it is a big change for their storylines. We shouldn’t be forcing characters into their straight plots when so many viewers yearn for queer love interests—and