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TheBridgerton Netflix showmay be based on a book series, but the showrunners still make plenty of changes according to their own personal vision. This is why there are many characters that were never seen before, although the main love stories of the titular family remain largely the same.
Yet it might not always be so, at least according to the final episode of Season 3. In it, we see a new character being introduced, someone oddly familiar to fans of the books, but with a slight difference; if you’ve never read the books, however, you might be wondering who this Michaela Stirling is.
Spoilers For The Show And The Books!
Who Is Michaela Stirling?
As her last name might imply,Michaela Stirling is related to John Stirling, Francesca Bridgerton’s husband. WhileMichaela is John’s cousin, they seem as close as brothers, judging at least by the brief interaction we saw between them in one scene.
Said scene also lingered not only on Michaela’s name reveal, but also onFrancesca’s reaction when meeting her, as if everything was hinting at something deeper going on. The last we know of them is that the couple, Michaela, and Francesca’s sister Eloise wereall traveling together to Scotland.
Is Michaela Stirling In The Books?
Technically speaking,there isn’t a Michaela Stirling in the books, but there is aMichael Stirling who is also John’s cousin.Not only that, but Michael is the one thatends up with Francesca in the end, so the Netflix show may be aiming atdoing the same thing with Michaela.
Francesca In The Books
While Francesca also marries John Stirling in the books,she does sobefore the book starts, spending a happy marriage with him for years untilhis untimely death.This means that Francesca’s bookstarts with her already a widow, and deep in grief.
It isn’t clear how John died, he simply had a headache and left to take a nap, dying in his sleep.
Michael met Francesca only a day before her wedding to John, andfell in love with her at first sight.After John dies,Michael still has feelings for Francesca, which makes him feel so guilty thathe leaves for Indiaand spends several years there.
Guilt wasn’t the only reason for his departure, sincehe also didn’t want Francesca to have to leave her home.You see, since her and John never had any children,the new Earl of Kilmartin (John’s former title) is now Michael, which means he’d have to force Francesca to go back to the Bridgerton house.
Francesca was pregnant when John died, but the stress of grief made her have a miscarriage.
Four years after John’s death,Francesca is finally ready to look for a new husband, going back to Londonjust like Michael, who finished his business in India. This is wheretheir love story finally begins, becoming the central focus point of Francesca’s book.
The book ends withFrancesca and Michael getting married, having two children(the male named John after Francesca’s late husband), and leading an all-in-all happy life. They still live in the Kilmartin House, since Michael retains the title of Earl of Kilmartin.
Michaela’s Role In Francesca’s Story
Before the end of Season 3, the only major difference the Netflix show had with the books, as far as Francesca is concerned at least, wasshowing us who John Stirling was in life.We get to see how they met, what they had in common, and how they could lead a happy marriage.
For fans of the books, it was a nice complementary addition to what they had already read, sincethat story is never covered in the books.A big change, however, comes when Michaela Stirling is introduced, sinceshe’s clearly meant to replace Michaelas the final love interest for Francesca when her story is eventually finished.
Francesca’s Children
The first question fans had when Michaela was introduced was aboutthe children Francesca is supposed to have, both named after people she loved in the Stirling family. She could simply not have any, or maybe adopt some kids alongside Michaela, butblood relationships are part of the central conflictof many stories in the Bridgerton series.
The Earl Of Kilmartin
Another plot point that might end up cut altogether isthe role of Earl, and how that came into play in the life of Francesca. The Netflix show is constantly reminding us thattitles are inherited by men, soMichaela wouldn’t be the one inheriting the title of Earl if John dieslike he did in the books.
This is also why Francesca shouldn’t have children with John, at least not a male one, since it removes a great part of the conflict about who inherits the title of Earl.
If Michaela isn’t the new Earl of Kilmartin,part of the conflict is gone from Francesca’s story, since she’s either never kicked out of the Kilmartin House, or immediately kicked out by whoever inherits the title. Either way,Michaela’s role is less than Michael’s was in the books, at least if they keep the story the same.
Of course, even if they change big parts of Francesca’s story, she isn’t living in a society that wouldaccept her relationship with another woman openly.We can see this during Season 3, asBenedict Bridgerton has to sneakily see his male romantic partnerbecause said relationships are frowned upon by his community.
Francesca’s Reaction To Michaela
For some reason,Francesca ends up speechless when first seeing Michaela, as if she was already developing a crush on her at first sight. Even if Michaela had been a Michael, Francesca’s reaction is still unwarranted, sinceit undermines the journey she and John just went through; they got married just days ago, after all.
Still, we are yet to see how Francesca’s story advances, sincethey might make a complete departurefrom how things happen in the books. We are not likely to find out any time soon, since the latest hints suggest thatthe next season will be about either Benedict or Eloise.
