On Tuesday, Netflix announced that season 5 of Bridgerton will tell the story of Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling. While the news came as a surprise for those expecting Eloise's story, this season will be emotionally layered, as guilt and redemption are important themes in the book. As established in season 3, the series is also making a major change, transforming Michael Stirling from the books into Michaela Stirling, signalling a queer love story at the heart of the upcoming season.
The show is expected to make a lot of changes from Julia Quinn's When He Was Wicked. But the novel gives us an idea of what to expect from Bridgerton 5.
Season 4 ends with Michaela leaving Francesca after the latter specifically asks the former to be by her side during her period of grief. As per the book, Michael leaves for India and doesn't return for four years, distancing himself from Francesca. The series may not show four years passing by, as they may have to age other characters like Eloise as well.
Francesca re-enters society after four years to remarry, not for love, but for a child. Around the same time, Michael too returns to London, but their dynamics shift. The easy friendship that they once shared becomes heavy with emotions and tension.
While multiple suitors begin pursuing Francesca, Michael burns with envy. Meanwhile, he is also considered an eligible bachelor and is expected to marry. However, the book shows Michael catching malaria, which makes Francesca care for him, redefining their bond and bringing them closer.
As society, and perhaps even Whistledown, speculates upon their relationship, Francesca is met with an inappropriate suitor, who is aggressively confronted by Michael. They then kiss, but Francesca withdraws. She then leaves from London for Scotland to avoid Michael.
Michael chooses to persist and proposes marriage after following her to Kilmartin. A confused Francesca wonders if desire, duty or loneliness is making her pick Michael. But even before marriage, they become physically intimate, pushing Francesca further into emotional conflict.
Finally, Michael chooses to lay himself bare, confessing the feelings he has held in his heart for Francesca for years. While Francesca initially struggles to identify her feelings, she eventually agrees to marry Michaela.
Once they tie the knot, Michael falls seriously ill again. This triggers Francesca's trauma of losing another husband and makes her realise her love for Michael, making her openly declare her love for him. She is finally able to resolve her internal conflict about John's memory, and they stand united, setting aside grief and guilt, having chosen each other after years of suppressing their emotions.
While this is what the book has to overarchingly offer, the makers of the series are known for diverging. More so, with the gender swap and a queer focus, the narrative of the next season is expected to focus even more on societal pressures, homophobia, acceptance, and more. So, change is inevitable, but for now, we have Julia Quinn's novel to read and anticipate.