In the final episode of Bridgerton season three, newlyweds Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John (Victor Alli) are preparing to travel to their home in Scotland, alongside Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and John’s cousin: Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). In Francesca’s book, she falls in love with a character named Michael Stirling after John tragically dies. Michaela, then, marks the first time the Bridgerton Netflix show is deviating from the endgame romances of Julia Quinn’s novels in a major way. By genderbending the character of Michael to Michaela, Francesca’s storyline becomes a queer one, and beginning her story in season three was important to the Bridgerton team. “I’m confident now that when Francesca has her Bridgerton season, it will be the most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show, just like has always been the true tear-jerker of the Bridgerton book series,” she explained.