While Julia Quinn's readers were surprised by the twist at the end of Bridgerton season 3, the author herself had a heads up that a beloved character was being introduced as a woman rather than a man.
Readers know that Quinn's book followed Francesca as she fell in love with Michael after the death of her husband, John Stirling. However, in the final moments of the season 3 finale, which debuted on Thursday, Francesca was flustered as her husband introduced her to his cousin, Michaela . Bridgerton will depict a queer love story when it comes time for Francesca to lead a season.
She added that the change isn't just for shock value or ticking a box on a checklist. 'I didn't want to just insert a queer character for queer character's sake,' Brownell shared. 'I want to tell a story that accurately reflects a queer experience, and the first time I read Francesca's book, I really identified with it as a queer woman. Maybe not in the way Julia Quinn intended.