Top line
Fans of the original series that inspired the hit TV show “Bridgerton” on Netflix were shocked in the final minutes of the season 3 finale when Michael Stirling’s character was introduced under another name – Michaela – and played by an actress, a change. this sets the series up to include a lesbian love story down the line and caused the series’ writer to step up and defend the exchange. (Spoilers below.)
From left: Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton, Victor Alli as John Stirling and Masali Baduza as Michaela … (+)
Highlights
The third season of “Bridgerton,” the second half of which was released last week, follows the relationship between Francesca Bridgerton and the Earl of Kilmartin John Stirling, who introduces his new bride to his cousin in the final moments of the season.
This cousin, named Michael in the books, was introduced as Michaela Stirling and is played by actress Masali Baduza.
The exchange probably went unnoticed – and seemed inconsequential – to those who only watched the series, but fans of the books know that Michael Stirling and Francesca fall in love after John Stirling’s untimely death.
With this exchange, “Bridgerton” prepares to tell Francesca and Michaela’s now-lesbian love story, a shift that sparked an online discussion so furious it prompted “Bridgerton” author Julia Quinn to issue a statement Monday.
Quinn said she was “deeply committed to the world of Bridgertons becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen”, and said that, despite the “disappointment” of some fans, she is convinced that the season featuring the duo will be the “most emotional and heartbreaking story of the series.”
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Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Victor Alli as John Stirling in “Bridgerton.”
Crucial quote
“Thank you to readers and fans for your comments. I am grateful for your understanding and touched by your deep commitment to the characters in the world of Bridgerton,” Quinn wrote in her statement. “I ask that you place some trust in me and the Shondaland team as we move forward.”
Key context
The television series “Bridgerton,” which has broken records for Netflix and streaming since its first season released in 2021, is known for its inclusiveness. The series largely features characters of color despite its Regency-era setting and focus on London’s wealthiest families (the Queen of England is played by black actress Golda Rosheuvel) and has already included LGBTQ+ love interests. Most notably, the Bridgerton family’s older brother, Benedict, explores his sexuality in the third season and shares several steamy scenes with a man named Paul Suarez. Male characters Brimsley and Reynolds, secretaries to the Queen and King respectively, share an explicit romance in the spinoff series “Queen Charlotte” and a queer artist named Henry Granville appears briefly in the first season of “Bridgerton.”
Large number
5.5 billion. That’s how many minutes fans spent streaming “Bridgerton” on Netflix in May, according to Nielsen data, making it the most-watched show on all streaming platforms that month. This number includes streams of Season 3, Part 1, released May 16, as well as binge-watching older seasons.
To monitor
Season 4. Netflix has confirmed a fourth season of “Bridgerton” in 2021, but it is still unclear when it will be released and which character will serve as the romantic lead.
Tangent
The debut of the “Bridgerton” series on Netflix caused sales of Quinn’s original eight-book series to skyrocket. In 2020, the year before the show’s release, Quinn sold 77,541 books, according to data from Circana Bookscan. The following year, that number jumped to 1.6 million and remained high with 1.16 million in 2022. The series sold an additional 495,435 books last year and, so far in 2024, has sold 357,493.
Further reading
Gn entert
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