Summary
- Francesca and Michaela’s subtle flirtation hints at a future romance.
- Bridgerton may follow Julia Quinn’s book series, which finds Francesca widowed and later comforted by another love interest.
- Michaela’s character, a gender-swapped Michael Stirling, may become Francesca’s love interest in future seasons.
This article contains spoilers for Bridgerton season 3 and Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels.The tail-end of Bridgerton‘s season three finale sneaks in a short but sweet interaction between Michaela Stirling and Francesca Bridgerton that foreshadows their future romance twist in the best way. Bridgerton season 3 primarily focuses on the romance between Colin, the third-eldest sibling of the Bridgerton family tree, and Penelope Featherington, with an epic friends-to-lovers story. Yet, as their fiery love affair commanded screens, another sibling’s love match played out quietly by comparison in the background. Throughout the latest season, Francesca, the sixth Bridgerton progeny, courts and marries John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin.
Francesca’s love story is lowkey compared to all the Bridgerton siblings who’ve found their happily ever afters, but it aligns with the leisurely romance Francesca argued is fitting for her. The Bridgerton series seemingly develops Francesca and John’s romance as a secondary story to yield to her wishes. However, the quiet course of events is more likely a major indication that Francesca’s epic love story has still yet to unfold. If the show intends to coordinate with Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series, Francesca will acquire her own focal season, exploring a romance between her and an unexpected Stirling family member.
Michaela Stirling Was Flirting With Francesca… Before Realizing Who She Is
The Subtly Flirtatious Exchange Foreshadows Their Future Romance
Francesca had just agreed to let her sister Eloise accompany her to the Kilmartin Estate at the end of Bridgerton season 3 part 2, when the show’s new character, Michaela Stirling, is introduced. John presents Michaela as his cousin and confirms to the Bridgerton sisters that she, too, will join them in Scotland. Before Francesca can contribute to the conversation and reveal her identity, Michaela appears to take interest in her. Michaela confidently directs her introduction at Francesca and assumes, out of her and Eloise, that she isn’t John’s wife, almost as if hoping that it wasn’t the case.
The entire interaction plays out in under a minute, but it is a great detail that solidifies their shared attraction and foreshadows their big romance twist developed by Quinn’s sixth
Bridgerton
novel,
When He Was Wicked.
Francesca isn’t an innocent bystander in the interaction, even though she is struck speechless by Michaela. The newlywed is clearly flustered by the instant attraction she experiences for John’s cousin and even hesitates to disclose that she is indeed John’s wife. When Francesca finally musters the courage, both she and Michaela look visibly crestfallen. The entire interaction plays out in under a minute, but it is a great detail that solidifies their shared attraction and foreshadows their big romance twist developed by Quinn’s sixth Bridgerton novel, When He Was Wicked.
What Will Happen With Francesca & Michaela Stirling In Bridgerton’s Future?
Francesca And Michaela Will Likely Enjoy An Epic Romance In A Future Bridgerton Season
The following section includes spoilers for Julia Quinn’s When He Was Wicked.Since Bridgerton’s season 3 finale, Michaela has been revealed to be a gender-swapped version of Michael Stirling, a principal character in When He Was Wicked, who is not only John’s cousin but a close friend of Francesca. In the novel, following two years of being happily married, Francesca and John’s future is cut short by an unfortunate turn of events that sees John suddenly succumbing to a cerebral aneurysm. After his death, the mourning Francesca finds comfort and companionship with Michael, and vice versa, which leads to them falling in love.
John and Francesca’s marriage does not occur on the page in Julia Quinn’s novel series.
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Related
Oh, I’m So Not Ready For Francesca Bridgerton’s Story After John Stirling’s Introduction
Bridgerton season 3, episode 4 properly introduces John Stirling, but the tease of his and Francesca’s story hides a heartbreaking future.
Given season 3 part 2’s brief tease, it’s to be expected that Bridgerton will replicate Francesca and John’s book storyline, placing Michaela in the role of Francesca’s next love interest. That said, Bridgerton has focused on developing John and Francesca’s relationship onscreen – something that the novel series largely skirts over – so it may be quite a while before viewers see the life-changing course of events transpire. According to Quinn’s Bridgerton book series, Francesca and John still have two years of a happy marriage to enjoy, and thankfully, the TV series seems to be affording audiences the chance to witness it.
Bridgerton
From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.
- Cast
- Will Tilston , Rege-Jean Page , Ruth Gemmell , Luke Thompson , Isabella Cortese , Martins Imhangbe , Julie Andrews , Phoebe Dynevor , Ruby Stokes , Ruby Barker , Claudia Jessie , Adjoa Andoh , Nicola Coughlan , Golda Rosheuvel , Charithra Chandran , Ben Miller , Jonathan Bailey , Florence Hunt , Polly Walker , Shelley Conn , Joanna Bobin , Luke Newton , Simone Ashley
- Release Date
- December 25, 2020
- Seasons
- 3
- Writers
- Julia Quinn , Chris Van Dusen , Jess Brownell , Abby McDonald , Joy C. Mitchell
- Directors
- Tom Verica , Tricia Brock
- Creator(s)
- Chris Van Dusen
