‘Bridgerton’ Author Julia Quinn Addresses a Major Book Change in the Season 3 Finale
Okay, has everyone recovered from that intense Bridgerton season finale? Nope, we haven't either. And if there's one thing many fans are still thinking about, it's the creator's decision to change the character of Michael to Michaela. Enter: Author Julia Quinn, who recently responded to the fan backlash.
Writing on her official Instagram account last night (June 24) Quinn addressed the commentary on Michael's gender change, explaining that she and series showrunner Jess Brownell discussed the swap in detail before committing to it.
The actor also asked her fans to have faith in her and Shondaland (aka the production company behind the series) to tell Francesca's love story as it should be.
See her full statement here:
"Dear Readers,
"Many Bridgerton fans have expressed their surprise and for some some, disappointment in the twist at the end of Bridgerton season three — that Michael Stirling, with whom Francesca eventually falls in love in When He Was Wicked would instead be Michaela.
"Anyone who has seen an interview with me from the past four years knows that I am deeply committed to the Bridgerton world becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen. But switching the gender of a major character is a huge change, and so when Jess Brownell first approached me with the idea of turning Michael in Michaela for the show, I needed more information before conferring my agreement.
"I trust Shondaland’s vision for Bridgerton, but I wanted to be sure that we could remain true to the spirit of the book and of the characters. Jess and I talked for a long time about it. More than once. I made it clear that it was extremely important to me that Francesca’s abiding love for John be shown on screen. When I wrote When He was Wicked I actually had to fight to have the first four chapters, which establish that love included.
"My publisher was worried that writing about Fran’s love for John would take away from Michael’s role as the eventual romance novel hero. But I felt that if I didn’t show how deeply she loved John, and how deeply Michael, his cousin, also loved him, then their feelings of guilt at falling in love with each other after John’s death made no sense. I didn’t want to just to tell the reader that they loved him. I wanted the reader to feel it.
"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 When He Was Wicked has always the been the true tear-jerker of the Bridgerton book series. Honestly, it may pack even more of a punch, since John is getting a lot more time on the screen than he ever did on the page, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve all fallen a little bit in love with him.
"Thank you to readers and fans for your feedback. I am grateful for your understanding and touched by your deep commitment to the characters of the Bridgerton world. I ask that you grant me and the Shondaland team some faith as we move forward. I think we are going to end up two stories, one on page, and one on screen, and they will both be beautiful and moving. Thank you, Julia Quinn."
In case you were too distracted by the Polin of it all, let us refresh your memory. In the season finale of Bridgerton, we are introduced to Francesca's husband John's cousin Michaela, who is played by the incredible Masali Baduza.
If you haven't read the Bridgerton books the TV show is based on, Francesca marries John, and they're very happy up until his death. After he passes, Francesca and his cousin Michael end up falling in love a few years later.
While many fans were delighted with the introduction of Michaela to the series, there were some who expressed their surprise at the gender swap.
Series showrunner Jess Brownell revealed they'd been having conversations about the change since season 1 and emphasized she "didn’t want to just insert a queer character for queer character’s sake," but looked for thematic cues that made the story feel genuine.
Right now, it hasn't been revealed when Francesca's Bridgerton season will take place but we're eagerly awaiting the day when it does drop and we can see the relationship between Francesca and Michaela develop.
'Bridgerton' season 3 is available on Netflix now
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