[Filling the Space is a flexible column where our writers could vent, deconstruct, and work their way around the emotions brought on by TV, films, books, music, and key moments in pop culture. This isn’t meant to be analytical, but instead, a way for us to explore our feelings.]
Here’s the thing: after Bridgerton Season 2, I don’t trust writers to honor characterizations even when there are changes to the book. It’s hard not to anticipate more drama in this fictional world, but I suppose such is the case with TV adaptations. And with the way the show seems to throw away stakes, making the romances feel a little less earned, it’s hard for me—an angst girly—to bask in the joy that comes after the rain. But changing Michael Stirling to Michaela Stirling is still exciting, even when I’m more nervous than anything else because of how the adaptations can go.
When He Was Wicked isn’t one of my favorite books, but I wholeheartedly understand why Francesca’s fertility journey is vital to countless readers. It’s an important topic that we rarely discuss in modern times, let alone Regency. Thus, no matter Michael or Michaela, Francesca’s story will always be one that writers need to be careful with. It needs to be thoughtful and sensitive when addressing struggles that viewers could tragically relate to. We don’t know how any of this will pan out in the show, and frankly, I don’t even want to make predictions because they end up being wrong anyway. I just hope and pray that when Francesca’s time comes, the writers honor both characters through nuanced storytelling that allows their arcs to feel relatable and timeless.
Still, we have very little to go off of right now, but Michaela Stirling’s introduction is one of the most exciting moments in the series and in all of Season 3. While there’s very little I could actually analyze given how short the scene is, when looking back at what Violet tells Francesca about the surprising, forceful, quick love, we could get a fantastic sense of the chemistry they’re going to have.
Time matters in their story—the yearning, the grief of losing John and loving him wholeheartedly, too. And again, while there’s no point in making predictions because the show could go in various directions, it’s essential to acknowledge that this story could be profoundly vital on television and in a show like Bridgerton. Queer joy in historical romances matters. Queer joy in all romances matters. And with the vile way the fandom has been behaving, one can only hope that the writers will give these two the kind of beautiful love story that viewers will remember for a long, long time.
More than anything, however, it’s exciting to hope that Bridgerton could give us a lasting sapphic love story between Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling. I don’t trust many shows these days, even when they’re deemed a romance, but one could hope that this one would give us something unapologetically joyful. So, while I have trust issues on TV, I’m going to take a second to be excited about the possibilities.