Who is Michela Sterling? Bridgerton season 3 Finale reveals a queer storyline

Bridgerton deviates from the books by introducing Michaela, a female cousin of Francesca's partner John.

Bridgerton Season 3 concluded with a surprising twist, introducing a new character, Michaela Sterling, who replaces the male cousin Michael from the books. 

This change suggests a significant departure from the original storyline and opens the door for a potential queer love story between Francesca and Michaela.

In the finale, Francesca marries John Stirling and prepares to move to Scotland with him and his cousin Michaela. The instant connection between Francesca and Michaela hints at a future romance, a deviation from the book where Francesca falls in love with John's male cousin, Michael, after John's death.

This development aligns with showrunner Jess Brownell's earlier comments about exploring queer love stories in upcoming seasons. The introduction of Michaela could be the first step towards fulfilling this promise and providing fans with the long-awaited LGBTQ+ representation.

While the focus of the next season remains unknown, the chemistry between Francesca and Michaela suggests their relationship could be a central storyline in Season 4. This would mark a significant milestone for Bridgerton, offering a more inclusive and diverse representation of love and relationships.