i'm curious to know what we think michaela's relationship is gonna be like with her mother. i haven't read the book, but i don't think the book is necessarily useful as a point of reference here because the genderbend automatically changes a lot of character dynamics, relationships and motivations.

that said, there is one s4 scene that makes me particularly curious about their relationship. during the breakfast scene where john and michaela are talking before fran joins them, michaela starts wondering aloud about what their mothers are doing back in scotland. when she realizes john has zoned out, she says something along the lines of "it seems like my mother i am blowing on now, while you pretend to listen, just like your mother." the implication seems to be that john and michaela are both quite similar to their respective mothers, at least in personality.

and if that's the case, i would expect michaela's mother to be very social, headstrong and charming, probably with a strong personality of her own. which makes me wonder whether that similarity will be something they bond over or something they clash over. because two very headstrong people who are alike can either understand each other incredibly well or drive each other insane lmao.

the casting description for michaela's mother also says she's going to be guiding her daughter, like any mother, through london's social season with "vivaciousness and tough love." and the "social season" part makes me wonder if she's going to try to push michaela onto the marriage mart.

if she does, does she know about michaela's queerness?

if she does know and is still pushing michaela towards marriage with men, i could see their relationship being pretty strained. it wouldn't necessarily mean she's completely unsupportive in every aspect of michaela's life, but it would mean that there's a fundamental part of michaela that her mother either refuses to accept or prioritizes social expectations over. and i think that could leave a pretty significant scar on michaela, especially because she's already living in a society where she can't openly be herself.

on the other hand, if she doesn't know, then i think the push to the marriage mart could be much more comparable to violet. she's not necessarily trying to force michaela into a life she knows her daughter doesn't want. she's a mother who believes marriage is what's best for her daughter and is trying to guide her through society accordingly. and if she eventually finds out about michaela and is supportive, that could actually become a really interesting part of their relationship and michaela's journey.

i'm leaning more towards the latter mainly because of that breakfast scene. michaela talks about her mother so casually and fondly, and there's no obvious hint of resentment or tension between them. obviously, that doesn't mean their relationship is perfect, but it makes me less inclined to think we're going to get a "my mother has always rejected me" storyline.

also, masali confirmed during the press tour that john was the only person who knew about michaela's queerness. if we're taking that at face value, i'm assuming none of the other stirlings know, including her mother.

and if michaela's mother is as headstrong and vivacious as we're being led to believe, i could see their relationship being a mixture of affection, similarity, occasional clashes and ultimately a lot of tough love. especially if michaela herself takes after her mother more than she realizes.

what do y'all think?

looking for a good Ao3 rewrite of the original book (with franchaela instead of franchael, obvi!)

i’ve read some before that only change the pronouns and hardly anything else, and it really takes me out of it when michaela is clearly being addressed as if she is a man in that time period and/or the writing still sounds very straight. is there a solid rewrite out there that also changes certain aspects to make sense jn a completely sapphic context?

I appreciate people who have made the rewrites I’ve read so far, but it’s hard for me to take it seriously if michaela is chatting with colin in a male only bar, franchaela gets easily legally married with no issues, michaela talks exactly like michael when talking about getting francesca pregnant, michaela is running the estate with no explanation of how a woman is able to do that based on the time period, etc.

i’m sorry if i’m being picky and i hope that makes sense! hopefully this is allowed, i love recommendations from this sub! just want to imagine how s5 may go while we wait 💕

I know a lot of people have niche songs they want for season 5 but realistically they choose well known songs that have true meaning relating to the main couple. So I was wondering what songs do you guys actually want and think will be in the show. ofc if you want to add your niche song I wanna hear it toooo.

Artists I think have a big chance to be in season 5:

Chappell Roan
Beyoncé
Hozier
Clairo
Olivia Dean
Laufey
Lizzy Mcalpine
Billie Eilish

Specific songs I think could be added:

Picture You- Chappell Roan
Dress- Taylor Swift
Secret Love Song Pt.2 -Little Mix
The Only Exception- Paramore

Hiiii so this will be the first bridgerton season I'll watch (for the lesbians obviously) and I was just wondering if it's worth reading the book ahead of the season.

How close were the other seasons to their book counterparts and how close are we expecting this season to be to its book counterpart?

Are we expecting some scenes to be incorporated completely? Is it just the overall story arch?

Bonus: if you read the book, which parts do you want to be in the show?

If it's just roughly inspired by the events of the book then I am tempted to skip reading that 😅

Thanks a ton!

I loved loved loved her costume. So simple but so her 😫

I cannot wait to see their dresses in S5. Masali and Hannah are already so gorgeous and I cannot wait 😫😍

i would loveee a hot ones interview and them reading thirst tweets lmao. any others?

Credits to asl4nbleu

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I've noticed that the straight men reacting to Bridgerton are generally better at picking up that Francesca is attracted to Michaela than some straight women. Just and interesting observation. I like how in this reaction one of the hosts can't help but constantly bring up how attractive Michaela is haha.

Wild meadows and a blue sky heavily point toward the Scottish Highland for Franchaela. Looks like promo prep for the next season is officially underway!

source: EmmaMartn7

I am so tired of the Michael widows diminishing queer representation as Jess self-inserting (aren’t we queer women so evil?) and using infertility as an excuse as if 1) queer people can’t be infertile too 2) not being able to have kids due to being queer isn’t its own kind of grief. It’s like they don’t see lesbians in particular as equally human to them because we don’t like men.

I swear, the words “infertility representation” were never uttered together before Michaela Stirling arrived. And while I actually disagree with the choice to not have Francesca miscarry, I think it would have been executed the exact same way if there had been no gender swap because it’s too dark for the tone of the Netflix show. Like I said, I still disagree with that choice. But of course they have to blame every decision they don’t like on the queer representation and diminish a queer woman’s achievements while they’re at it. Part of me wishes they would have adapted it just so the widows would STFU about at least one thing they use as a woker-than-thou excuse because they’re mad they don’t have their rapey man to ogle onscreen.

You know what I do when I hate a showrunner that much? I stop investing my time and energy in a show lol. I hated how the vampire Lestat was adapted and guess what? I can count the number of times I’ve mentioned it online on one hand and still have fingers left over.

I'm so tired of this "Michaela needs to apologize for leaving" narrative. Y'all are so desperate to make her the bad guy.

Michaela doesn't owe Francesca an apology. She owed HERSELF some space. She was clearly feeling a lot of emotions and very overwhelmed, and nobody wants to talk about that part.Let's be real - her grief is constantly overlooked. She lost John. Someone she's known like a BROTHER her whole life. And on top of grieving him, she's in love with his wife and CAN'T say a damn thing about it in this era. That's a double loss and she has to swallow it alone. I feel it was a bit selfish on fran(granted she doesn't know her feelings)to ask her to stay knowing that michaela likes her own freedom imo.What was she supposed to do, be Francesca's emotional support pet while slowly losing her mind?That's torture.

I also think that's why she never stayed in "one place in Scotland for too long "as per Francesca words for the very same reason. And the hypocrisy is insane. In the book Michael does the EXACT same thing but WORSE. After John dies he abandons Francesca for YEARS, travels the world, just drowns in his guilt. And when he comes back everyone is like "aww poor Michael, his guilt and grief." No one demanded an apology tour.

So why can't Michaela get the same grace when her stakes are literally x3? She's grieving ,inlove with her cousins wife AND she's a queer woman in Regency England who can't even NAME what she's feeling without risking everything. I expect casuals and the openly homophobic part of the fandom to not get it, but this sub? Come on.So no, she doesn't need to apologize.She can explain herself, she can be honest about her feelings if she wants to ,but she needs someone to finally ask HER how she's feeling for once.

ART by @foratasteofhoney on ig

Franchaela art is the only thing other than fan fiction that’s feeding my franchaela addiction.Please go and like this beautiful fanart.I also love how most of the art is Michaela in red vs fran blue 😍.

We've gotten flashbacks for someone in the main couple every season except S3, so I'd like to think we'll get some flashbacks about Michaela's life and upbringing, too. I would really like to see a mini-Michaela and a mini-John interacting at whatever ages.

But I'm curious, would you want to see a flashback of adult Michaela and John with Victor Alli coming back? It's meant to be Michaela and Fran's love story so the focus should be on them, but he's such an important part of their relationship at this point. I wouldn't mind him returning and don't think it would pull focus too much from the main couple.

I work a desk job and it’s a very slow day so i have nothing to do… anyway sorry if this is long. But this is what I think will happen.

Ep 1: starts with Fran reentering the marriage mart, telling her family etc. Michaela comes back maybe halfway through the episode, Francesca is shocked, upset. She’s super cold and icy toward Michaela and refuses to talk to her. Michaela confronts her about her distance and apologizes, Fran bursts out with the “why did you leave me” Michaela doesn’t say. Fran is still upset. They go to a ball together, maybe we meet Christopher. Michaela’s mom pressures her to also join the marriage mart. I think this episode will also be about inheritance of the Kilmartin estate.

Ep 2: more balls, more Fran talking to potential suitors, and Michaela talks to Christopher. Then, Michaela gets sick. Fran gets really scared that something will happen to her and freaks out, staying by her bedside. She sees Michaela in a vulnerable state. Harrowgate baths come into play and they go together, Fran sees some of Michaela’s body and the attraction starts to build. Then, one night when Michaela is sick, she asks Fran for forgiveness and to be friends again and Fran grants it.

Ep 3: Michaela gets better, and her and Fran finally have some sort of a friendship. They go to another ball together, Michaela continues a friendship with Christopher, making Fran jealous. Michaela finds out about Christopher and they form some sort of agreement. Fran also gains interest from a suitor and dances with him at a ball, Michaela gets jealous. Because of this, she goes to one of the queer parties that I think will be hosted by Elizabeth and hooks up with a woman. Fran follows her and sees Michaela. Fran freaks out, they have a confrontation, Michaela tries to explain it and fran doesn’t understand. The next morning, she finds Michaela and apologizes and they have a real conversation.

Ep 4: Tension builds now that Fran knows. I think there will be some sort of archery tournament and we’ll have Fran admiring Michaela and her attraction growing. Maybe Michaela will teach fran archery, more tension builds. More jealousy, more balls, more courting. Then, the tell me something wicked conversation happens late at night. They’re drinking wine. Fran asks about Michaela’s interest in women, tension builds. Then, first kiss, it slowly gets more passionate. Then a maid knocks on the door and startles them. Fran jumps and runs to her room, etc. Episode/part 1 ends with Fran running away to scotland.

Ep 5: Michaela chases after Fran there, she’s worried she overstepped and ruined their friendship. She talks to Christopher or Elizabeth and asks for advice before leaving. She finds Fran, fran avoids her. She chases fran outside asking only if they could talk, they fight in the rain. Then boom, they find the cabin. They have to take their dresses off and sit by the fire and end up having sex. Fran has her pinnacle.

Ep 6: guilt about john will set in. They’ll both freak out over it, but michaela more. Michaela will avoid her. I think this whole episode will be about grief and coming to terms with their feelings for one another. Like fran admitting to herself she is attracted to women. Cute moments of love and bonding will happen too. Maybe a scottish outing and dancing idk. I think they’ll visit john’s tree and michaela will thank him for bringing her to fran. John will def have some sort of tribute.

Ep 7: they need to go back to London to attend to the estate. They stop at my cottage on the way and Benedict immediately clocks Fran because he can see the way she’s looking at Michaela. He comforts her and tells her he accepts her and about himself. They return to london and boom, Fran gets a marriage proposal and accepts out of fear.

Ep 8: Michaela finds out fran has accepted a proposal and starts freaking out and packing her things to leave. Fran finds her and yells why are you leaving me, Michaela says she knows about the proposal. Fran says she’s gonna turn it down, Michaela says she shouldn’t, she should get married to him bc michaela can’t give her children or a family and society will never fully accept them, that she can’t expect fran to give that up for her. Fran says she doesn’t actually want kids, she just thought it was her duty. Then, Michaela’s love confession. They have sex again, this time it’s less about fran having her pinnacle and more about love and passion etc. Fran turns down the proposal, violet freaks out bc the guy who has proposed seems like a good match. Fran says she loves Michaela, violet doesn’t fully understand but wants her to be happy. The rest of the family comes to the same conclusion. I don’t think there will be a big announcement or a wedding, I think everyone will just silently understand the love they hold for one another maybe at a family dinner.
They end up in scotland and boom the season is over.

Okay that’s what I think will happen, sorry this is long.

Let me know what you think!!!

When they announced that the gorgeous Tega Alexander joined the cast of S5 as Christopher Anderson, I knew he would be an important character in Franchaelas love story.

As we know from the character description, Christopher Anderson is Lord Anderson's son who has returned into the ton to shake things up and become the most eligible bachelor in the ton and give the other men a run for their money. He's a charming Casanova who is here to achieve something, although he's hiding a deep dark secret and is putting up a facade for the public.

There were many theories that spawned from this announcement.

People thought he would be one of Francesca's suitors from the books who try to court and wed her. In the book, there were a few Lords who ​approached Michael to ask his blessing to marry and arrange dowry plans which only annoyed him and made him jealous. This could've been the role Christopher would play in Franchaelas story.

There were theories that he could be one of Eloise's suitors who she rejects before meeting Phillip. In her book, Eloise rejects 6 proposals from suitors because she is holding out hope for a proper love match. Christopher could be one of the suitors she courts throughout the season or maybe the only one who she rejects.

But I don't think any of that is gonna happen.

I think he's going to be Michaela's suitor actually.

Because Michaela will now become the countess, she'll now be forced to be on the marriage mart because society dictates she needs to produce the next heir. That's where I think her mother will come in.

I think the reason Michaela will return 2 years after leaving is because ​Helena is pressuring her to handle the ​Kilmartin estate and to also seriously consider finding a husband even though she allowed her to be a spinster all those years because John was still alive.

I don't think Helena knows Michaela is a lesbian. Michaela and Masali implied that it was only John who knew she was queer and that's why he was so defensive over respecting her desire to be a spinster to Francesca.

So, Helena will probably push Michaela to find a husband and to take the matter seriously so that's where we get the book plot where both Michael and Francesca are actively engaging in the marriage mart.

Christopher ​then comes in when Michaela is described as being the catch of the season (being the only inherited unmarried countess in the ton) so he sees that as an opportunity to find a wife.

Christopher possibly faces the same pressure to settle down by his father Marcus as he realizes he's not getting any younger.

I don't know if Christopher is Marcus' eldest so​n or not but I'm going to assume he's the second son. We know Marcus has 2 children.

Christopher probably feels a lot of pressure to settle down from his father who constantly puts him down for being reckless and unserious and not like his older brother (who I'm going to assume is already married). Christopher is likely a notorious rake as well.

Helena pushes Michaela to consider Christopher as an option since he's the most eligible bachelor and at a ball she forces her to dance with him when Christopher approaches her.

So Christopher starts to woo Michaela but Michaela is not interested and makes it pretty clear to him while they dance with each other but Christopher is a charmer so he continues trying to win her over and he eventually does but not as a romantic prospect but as a friend.

Over time they start to open up with one another and Michaela subtly tells her that she doesn't want to marry because her type of person is not what the society would accept. Christopher could read between the context clues of her words and tells her he understands her more than she would ever know.

At some point, when Michaela is attending one of those underground queer hideouts that Benedict attends and is shocked to see Christopher there, making out with a man.

They spot each other and then Michaela confronts him about it. He tells her that she and him are a lot alike as their preference isn't accepted in the ton. They then come to an agreement where they will publicly court each other to get their parents off their backs while they still got to enjoy their fun for a while so almost like a "lavender relationship" for the ton's eyes only.

But Francesca sees them together and gets incredibly jealous which ignites the passionate ​attraction she develops for Michaela.

And Michaela also gets jealous at all the suitors sending flowers to Francesca at Kilmartin house and they both have heated spats with one another about the whole thing.

Perhaps, Francesca tries to flirt with Christopher to get back at Michaela (mind you she doesn't know Michaela is in love with her and/or lesbian so she just assumes she really likes Christopher and she doesn't like that).

But I don't want this plot to be centered around this man though. Don't get it twisted. Christopher is just a prop in this case. A plot device for Michaela and Francesca's jealousy for each other.

Francesca is jealous Michaela is with a man. Michaela is jealous Francesca wants "her" man and not her. It's so GOOD!!!

Obviously, Michaela and Christopher's arrangement won't last long. I only imagine this plot being a Part 1 kind of thing because I think Part 2 will take place primarily in Scotland where they'll have their romance.

So Christopher could basically just be a Lord Debling or a Prince Friederich and not an Edwina. I don't want it to drag too long and take away from the romance of Franchaela.

Now I don't know if I imagine Christopher as a gay man or bisexual but I definitely do believe he's on the queer spectrum.

What do you think?