Netflix’s adaptation of Julia Quinn’s romance series ​​​​​​Bridgerton features a different sibling’s love story every season. Francesca is the sixth child in the Bridgerton family tree and the third daughter. Francesca’s book When He Was Wicked features Michael Stirling as her primary love interest, although she was married to his cousin John Stirling for two years before suddenly dying of a brain injury. Francesca unexpectedly falls in love with Michael after grieving for John, but Michael has always secretly loved her.

Of all the new stories set up by Bridgerton season 3, the eighth episode, “Into The Light,” introduces a very unexpected character – Michaela Stirling, a gender-bent version of Michael. This astonishing twist suggests that Francesca Bridgerton will be gay, or at the very least bisexual, which was not a factor in When He Was Wicked. Since this shocking reveal, it has been a mystery about what elements Bridgerton will keep or discard from Francesca’s book. However, there are several critical elements that the show must employ to execute Francesca’s story properly.

10John Stirling Haunts The Narrative

John’s Lingering Presence After His Death Is Critical For Francesca And Michaela

One of the most significant parts of When He Was Wicked was John Stirling’s lingering presence despite his abrupt death. He haunts Francesca and Michael for different reasons: Francesca feels guilty for moving on with John’s cousin, while Michael has always felt guilty for secretly loving Francesca, including when John was alive. John Stirling will die before Francesca’s season, but that does not mean his importance ends there. Bridgerton must include his presence in a way that haunts Francesca and Michaela. John never leaves their hearts in When He Was Wicked; the show should not change that.

9The Time Jump After John Stirling’s Death

Four Years Pass Without Francesca And Michael Seeing Each Other

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Bridgerton must include the four-year time jump between the tragedy of John’s death and Francesca and Michael’s reunion. During those four years, Michael ran to India to escape his guilt for loving Francesca while grieving for John, and Francesca tended to the Kilmartin estate. Michael and Francesca grieve alone, which is critical for how the narrative frames their love story. Although it will be impossible for Bridgerton to portray all four years, the show should still address this passage of time with a clear explanation of what Francesca and Michaela were up to during that time.

When He Was Wicked Timeline
Book Year

Francesca marries John Stirling
1818
1815

John Stirling dies, Francesca miscarries, Michael leaves for India
1820
–

Michael returns from India, Francesca goes to London for the season
1824
–

Francesca and Michael’s love story, ends in their marriage
1824
–

Francesca gives birth to John II
1829
–

Francesca gives birth to Janet II
1830
–

It is also important for Francesca and Michaela to keep minimal contact with each other so that when they reunite, it is a complete surprise. However, Michaela does not need to travel to India to escape Francesca – simply traveling around Britain or staying away from Francesca will do. Britain’s brutal colonization of India is at its height in the 19th century. Including the colonization of India just to normalize how Britain treated the nation will go against everything that Bridgerton stands for. Bridgerton prides itself on diversity and acceptance, which is incompatible with Michael’s India trip.

8Francesca And Michaela In The Thunderstorm

An Intimate Scene That Has The Perfect LGBTQIA+ Setup

Shortly after Francesca and Michael return to Scotland, they run into each other while horseback riding. However, they get caught in a thunderstorm, forcing them to run to the gardener’s cottage since they cannot make it back to the Kilmartin estate. This event sparks a heated chemistry between Francesca and Michael, leading them to come together intimately. Although it is not their first time making love, it is a significant scene because it is the first time they make love without rushing, really getting to know each other intimately.

It provides the same intimacy that Michael and Francesca experience in When He Was Wicked while adding a new spin, adjusting the narrative for Francesca and Michaela without taking away the essence of the scene—there is no one else alive that Francesca would trust so intimately.

This scene is an excellent opportunity for Bridgerton to adapt it for a gay perspective. During this scene, Michael teaches Francesca how to be more dominant while making love. The show can translate this part into Michaela teaching Francesca how to really be intimate with a woman. It provides the same intimacy that Michael and Francesca experience in When He Was Wicked while adding a new spin, adjusting the narrative for Francesca and Michaela without taking away the essence of the scene – there is no one else alive that Francesca would trust so intimately.

7Francesca and Violet’s Conversation About Second Love

Bridgerton Would Have To Adjust This Conversation To Include Marcus Anderson

While Francesca is in London during When He Was Wicked, she asks Violet why she never remarried after Edmund’s death. Francesca and Violet have a heartfelt conversation, and Violet opens up about not having time while raising her children. After many years, Violet found that her life was already complete without romance. Violet reassures Francesca that her situation is different and that she can fall in love again because no two relationships are ever the same. It is an important scene to include since it honors John’s memory, even though Francesca is ready to fall in love again.

However, the show would have to slightly alter this scene because Bridgerton introduces a new love interest for Violet – Marcus Anderson, Lady Danbury’s brother. Instead, Violet could talk about how she was not looking for a new partner when she unexpectedly found Marcus. Their conversation can portray the parallel that Violet’s romance creates for Francesca’s story. It is also important for Violet and Francesca’s conversation to include that Violet’s life was already complete without Marcus; she just happened to fall in love again.

6Michaela And Francesca’s Floral Courtship

Courting Is Important To Francesca—And So Are Flowers

In When He Was Wicked, Francesca decides she is ready to look for a husband again, and courting becomes very important to her. Although she does not expect to fall in love again, she still wants to find a suitable husband and properly court him before becoming betrothed. After the ton realizes that Francesca Bridgerton is looking to marry again, she wakes up one morning to find the drawing room filled to the brim with floral bouquets. Francesca is utterly surprised and a little overwhelmed, but not necessarily in a bad way.

Although it is a small detail in When He Was Wicked, it would be lovely for Bridgerton to pay homage to Francesca’s love for flowers, especially regarding her future relationship with Michaela.

This scene portrays how much Francesca loves the floral aspect of courting, so much so that she wishes society could be different so that women could send Michael flowers too. At the end of the book, Michael decides to court Francesca properly and initiates their courtship by presenting her with flowers. Bridgerton has Francesca’s struggles with her debut, but the show can still pay homage to Francesca’s love for flowers, especially regarding her future relationship with Michaela.

5Michaela and Francesca’s First Kiss

Francesca And Michaela’s First Kiss Should Elicit The Same Results (With A Twist)

Francesca and Michael’s first kiss does not even occur until more than halfway through When He Was Wicked, but it is incredibly satisfying. It was so iconic that Francesca’s reaction was to run back to Scotland afterward. The circumstances leading up to their first kiss are pretty delightful, too—Michael protects Francesca from a man trying to make a pass at her and then goes home to stew in his anger. When Francesca arrives, she attempts to talk to Michael, but he feels so guilty for wanting Francesca that he does not want to talk at all.

4When He Was Wicked‘s Titular Quote

The Quote Can Represent Queer Love In A Different Light

The Bridgerton books have specific reasons for their titles. Francesca’s book is titled When He Was Wicked because it refers to an inside joke between Michael and Francesca. When John was alive, Michael was known as “the merry rake,” which always prompted Francesca to ask him to “tell her something wicked.” However, when things start heating up between Michael and Francesca, they begin using their inside joke to seduce each other. However, as Francesca falls in love with Michael, she eventually realizes her love for him.

Bridgerton can even adapt this quote to fit Francesca and Michaela in a gay context. It would most likely have to occur before they get married since Francesca only realizes her love for Michael after they are married in the book, but it is essential to include it, nevertheless. Francesca’s epiphany has a gay interpretation, as she no longer believes it is a bad thing to love a woman, and it does not negate her love for John. This moment helps Francesca accept that she is in love with Michaela and that it is okay for her to fall in love with men or women.

3Francesca and Michaela Meet at John’s Grave

Francesca Confesses Her Love After Talking To John

The most critical scene in the book occurs when Francesca brings flowers to John’s grave and “confess” her love for Michael. Francesca realizes that John would have loved Michael and Francesca together, the same way Michael loved John and Francesca. Michael overhears her, and they walk away hand-in-hand. However, he turns back to mouth a thank you to John for allowing Michael to love Francesca. Bridgerton cannot eliminate this moment. It does not have to be the last scene of Francesca’s season in Bridgerton, but it is the defining point that would set up Francesca’s grand love confession for Michaela.

2Francesca’s Infertility Storyline

Francesca’s Struggles With Fertility And Her Desires For Children Are Inherent To Her Character

Of course, Francesca and Michaela are not just representation for LGBTQIA+ women; Francesca is already important representation for women that struggle with fertility. Bridgerton must honor Francesca’s infertility storyline and take it a step further. Francesca’s infertility must not only remain in her narrative, but the show must highlight it even more. When He Was Wicked only mentions Francesca’s struggle with fertility once.It is primarily a storyline in the book’s second epilogue, which was released much later. Bridgerton should expand Francesca’s infertility plot further and portray the struggles that infertile women endure rather than include it as an afterthought.

1Janet Stirling’s Letter

John Stirling’s Mother Writes A Powerful Letter That Wraps Up The Narrative

When He Was Wicked‘s first epilogue features a short letter from Janet Sterling, John’s mother. This letter is not pertinent to the narrative, but Francesca’s story cannot end any other way. Janet appears throughout the novel, supporting Francesca and her happiness. After Michael and Francesca are married, Janet addresses this letter to Michael, offering her blessing and thanking Michael for “letting John love [Francesca] first.” Bridgerton should end Francesca’s season with a montage of Michaela and Francesca, while Janet’s letter is a voiceover in the background. It brings the narrative full circle and cements Francesca’s love for John and Michaela.