Key Takeaways:
• Netflix's popular series, Bridgerton's season three focused on Colin Bridgerton's romance with Penelope and introduced Michael's gender-swapped character, Michaela.
• Fans expressed their disappointment upon discovering the gender swap at the end of Season 3.
• Showrunner Jess Brownell had sought author Julia Quinn's approval for this change, with Quinn expressing her confidence in the storyline's emotional resonance.
• Julia Quinn supported the decision, asking fans to trust in Shondaland's vision and praised the show for embracing diversity.
• Hannah Dodd, playing Francesca Bridgerton, shared her experiences of life imitating art.
Season Three Wrap Up: Romance, Revelations, and a Gender Swap
With the end of its third season, the hot Netflix series Bridgerton based on Julia Quinn's romance novels once again captured viewer's hearts. This season deals chiefly with Colin Bridgerton's budding romance with Nicola Coughlan's Penelope Featherington. The plot also intertwines elements from another book in Quinn's series, When He Was Wicked, which centers on Francesca Bridgerton's growing affection for Michael Stirling, following her husband John's death.
Not all aspects of this season were well received by fans though. The most controversial plot twist involved the change from male character Michael to female character Michaela Stirling, portrayed by Masali Baduza. Unhappy fans even petitioned to reverse the change, expressing their disappointment with this drastic shift in the character.
Bridging the Author's Vision and Fans' Expectations
Following the backlash, Bridgerton author Julia Quinn addressed the issue on Instagram. Quinn shared that the showrunner, Jess Brownell, had consulted her about the major character transformation. After learning about Brownell and Shondaland's vision for the series, Quinn expressed confidence in the emotionally charged direction Francesca's season was headed towards.
Quinn stated, “When Jess Brownell first approached me with the idea of turning Michael into Michaela for the show, I needed more information before conferring my agreement. 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 been the true tear-jerker of the ‘Bridgerton' book series.”
Quinn urged fans to believe in the producers' vision and applauded their efforts to enhance diversity. The introduction of Michaela signifies the series' first queer romance, possibly in season 4.
An Unforgettable Debut for Hannah Dodd
Season three of Bridgerton also introduced viewers to another Bridgerton sibling, Francesca, played skillfully by Hannah Dodd. Dodd revealed in a Netflix Tudum interview her real-life nerves mirrored Francesca's during her debut. She prepared for her role by observing other performances, just like Francesca learns from those around her.
The end of season three leaves Francesca in a hopeful spot. As the next season likely deals with the When He Was Wicked storyline, Francesca may take the central role. Viewers will have to wait to see how the makers navigate this narrative in upcoming seasons.
Despite the mixed fan reactions to the latest season, Bridgerton continues to be a popular title on Netflix, and all three seasons are available for binge-watching. As we wait in anticipation for the next season, the controversy and drama of Bridgerton's third season will undoubtedly keep conversations lively.
