#michael and francesca

[darklinaforever]

It kills me how many people think that the gender of a fictional character doesn't matter.

We are in fiction, where the characters have arcs, or they embody themes. Obviously for some characters gender matters.

Michael is literally named the new heir and freaks out about becoming a new John /basically taking everything he had.

Michaela can't really have this arc... Unless we strangely learn that the laws in Scotland are extremely different from England located in the Bridgerton universe (and I speak for the universe of the series, where we have no idea if they will stick to reality where women in Scotland could inherit), and I doubt it for the moment.

So no, Michaela couldn't necessarily have the same arc as Michael.

I'm not even sure she could be a Merry Rake. Can a woman be called Rake in show Bridgerton universe ?

The fact is that Michaela will necessarily differ at certain times from Michael.

Already there are always drastic differences between the show and the book, this time I think it will be even more emphasized. (I even doubt that we will have as many nods to the book as season 3 dedicated to Polin's story did)

In any case, the very basis of Francesca's story is that despite the loss of true love you can always have a second chance, which is a clear originality compared to the other romances in this series of books ; well, is already changed with the way the end of season 3 happened.

It seems that the marriage to John was a mistake, that the physical aspect of their relationship will not prove pleasant in view of the Fran's reaction to their kiss, and worse, that Fran doesn't feel true love for John.

True love in Bridgerton often results in great passion and similarities to the story of Edmund and Violet, and Francesca literally matches Violet's reaction when she first met Edmund, but this time when she meets Michaela.

Whereas Fran is never supposed to have this kind of reaction around Michael / Michaela as long as John is alive. Because she normaly truly loves him.

So how could the story be the same after such a change to the very heart of the story ?

It's not just the gender change from Michael to Michaela that makes the adaptation of When he was Wicked complicated and uncertain for some viewers, including me too, it is above all a whole.

But for some obscure reason people refuse to accept it.

Beyond that, I repeat, Michael Stirling is a fictional male character who has been around for years.

That people are disappointed, including me, not to see this character, as he is basically on paper, be adapted to the screen is not necessarily homophobic, assumed or internalized.

Yes, some are, but not everyone. Some of us are part of the LGBTQ+ community and no, we do not all suffer from internalized homophobia so as not to 100% validate such a change !

We're talking about an attachment to an image that we have formed in our mind about a FICTITIOUS character for fucking years !

Besides, I didn't even say that I was fundamentally against it, because I have already explained several times that a part of me was happy to see a main romance between two women on screen in the television universe for Bridgerton (and the actresses are magnificent and on top of that, I'm sure, will have very good chemistry). Once again, representation is always cool, but, is this really the right place to do it ? I'm not so sure.

And contrary to what some say, I'm not saying that LGBTQ+ relationships should systematically be secondary in fiction. No way. I'm simply saying that transforming one of the main canon ships of the books without which the Netflix adaptation would not exist is perhaps not the right thing to do, since there is already a community attached behind these characters...

And seriously, if the creators really wanted a main LGBTQ+ romance dealing with the Bridgerton universe, they could easily make a spin off dealing specifically with this part of society and how they live.

I'm sure many, including me, will watch such a spin-off ! And damn I would love for something like that to happen !

You see, the opportunity to have an LGBTQ+ romance at the forefront without changing the kind of characters mostly beloved by an audience that already exists. Not very complicated though.

Do you realize how inappropriate it is to insult someone homophobic for that things ?! I don't know what kind of fucking bubble these people live in...

And it's scary to say that you can be insulted by a community of which you are a part, simply for not conforming to everything that is judged 100% morally correct for them.

If you have the misfortune of delay, sometimes there are those who unleash themselves on you to insult you for things that you don't have, simply for a fictional character...

"You don't 100% validate that a fictional male character who has existed for years and whom you have loved for years, with a fairly precise image in mind as a result, becomes a woman in his adaptation ? Well obviously, it's is that you are, at worst, a homophobe, or at least worse an internalized homophobe, and in any case that is not tolerable and you are not a true ally and you are problematic who deserves to be hated."

I don't know if you realize how STUNNING this is ! There really are people on this app who need to get fucking treatment...

And anyway why am I racking my brains ?

There will always be stupid people to come and tell me that what I say is always homophobic because if I have a problem with the change of gender of a fictional character through an adaptation well I'm the real problem.

As they say, you can't change idiots.

So stay stupid if you want, but at least leave me alone.

[stevenrogered]

The pleasure is mine.

[romanticatheartt]

*Bridgerton Spoilers*

She's already down bad... I mean who wouldn't be?

Happy pride month I guess...

[laremsworld]

*Anthony after finding out that Eloise and Francesca are both gay*

Anthony: So you actually like girls and you actually like girls, too?

Eloise and Francesca: *nodding shyly*

Anthony: great, just great. İs there anyone in this house who actually likes boys?

Benedict:

Everyone:

Benedict: Well, now that you brought it up…

[viavolterra]

"We're changing Francescas story bc queer ppl dont see themselves in the show"

THEN WHY TF DID U TAKE THIS AWAY FROM US

if they keep Eloise with Philip even after changing Francescas

im gonna kill someone

[orangepeelshortbreadcookies]

I'm just... obsessed with this 5-second meet cute we have of Francesca and Michaela. A lot have been said about Frannie's adorable tongue-tied, flustered face, as well it should. But I'm gonna need to draw your attention to Michaela's beautiful little reaction over here:

You see that??? Her. Face. Dropped. This woman 100% thought Eloise was John's wife and was ready to put her flirt on the sister before Frannie clarified her identity. You can practically hear her scream 'Oh no, she's gorgeous. I'm in deep shit.' internally from this face. This is the expression of someone who's already head over heels, lovestruck, down bad. Michaela Stirling's kicking into gear her Subaru on Hopeless Devotion Highway right here. The quiet pining is already starting. It's going to hurt deliciously. I am seated.

[imthefkgsupreme]

I hope the actress has a good support system because i just know she's about to get a whole lot of hate from mostly straight white women

[a-bee-stuck-in-my-shoe]

I for one applaud the decision of not only making one Bridgeton sibling bi curious BUT TWO. And during pride month? We truly keep winning

[weirdlookindog]

Michael Mazur (1935–2009) - The Inferno of Dante:

Canto VII (Paolo and Francesca), 1999

source

[lenoreamidala]

“I’d forgotten how handsome he was,” Kate murmured. Francesca glared at her. “He’s very tanned,” Sophie added. “He was in India,” Francesca said. “Of course he’s tanned.” ... all four of them were just standing there staring at Michael and his bevy of women. “He is handsome.” Sophie sighed. “All that delicious black hair.” “Sophie!” Francesca exclaimed. “Well, he is,” Sophie said defensively. “And you didn’t say anything to Kate when she made the same comment.” “You’re both married,” Francesca muttered. “Does that mean / might comment upon his good looks?” Eloise asked. “Spinster that I am.” - when he was wicked

inspired by

[corporalicent]

when harry met sally + my favorite bridgerton couples

kanthony | benophie | franchel(a)

[darklinaforever]

Listen. One of the things I hope is that Netflix's Bridgerton series will go so far as to adapt volume 6 about Franchael. It's literally the best book of the entire saga for me and the best romance objectively speaking, so what a waste it would be for this one to go by the wayside. Honestly I don't care if Hyncinte and Gregory's books are adapted. I just want Netflix to get to Francesca. I am convinced that we will have season 5 on Eloise. She is far too popular a character for Netflix not to do her season and given the indications with the Pall Mall games which already predicted that season 3 would be about Colin and Penelope, season 4 will be about Bénédicte and if 5 there is Eloise . So once again, I hope the Franchael book is adapted. Wait, Netflix continued Elit until season 7. They can make Bridgerton last until season 6 !

[rantingisalifestyle]

Kicking my legs, twirling my hair, giggeling like a teenager with a crush:

John Stirling, earl of Kilmartin, you are a freaking cutiepie. Oh! I can’t wait for you to die!

[merrygoesaround]

MICHAELA STIRLING OH MY GOD IM ON THE FLOOR WE WONNNNNN 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

[thebubblesoutlet]

The Bridgerton BOOK fandom is a-ok with a genderbent Sophie because they enjoy fetishizing white mlm ships. It makes no sense for Sophie to be genderbent considering that her main internal struggle has to do with her intersecting gender and class identities.

They're ok with making Eloise a lesbian because according to them all angry feminists must secretly be gay. They're also ok with it because they hate her (borderline emotionally abusive) storyline and have a hard time projecting onto her.

The push back against Fran and Michaela has been interesting to say the least. They're trying to justify their homophobia because of "Fran's fertility issues" as if its something exclusive to heterosexual relationships.

Just very eye opening. Anyways, I'm officially excited for Fran and Michaela, my 2 pretty ladies. I hope Netflix at least tries to protect the actresses, and Masali especially.

P.S i totally get being queer and feeling like eloise is a lesbian. I personally shipped Creloise and I'm still hoping that that relationship will come to fruition. I am in no way referring to the accepting, inclusive show fans. I'm instead SPECIFICALLY referring to a section of white straight women on Instagram and Twitter who don't like outspoken eloise as much as their sweet docile little Fran. Its layers of homophobia and internalised misogyny all wrapped up together tbh. The instances I've discussed in this post are all things I've observed/ seen people who are overly invested in those ridiculously mediocre books discuss these last few days. The only straight bridgerton IMO is daphne😭😭😭😭

[misshyacinthbridgerton]

Julia Quinn’s statement regarding Michael becoming Michaela in the show