Bridgerton is finally celebrating a lesbian romance – the homophobic reactions are gutting
Bridgerton is finally celebrating a lesbian romance – the homophobic reactions are gutting
Upon learning that Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela (Masali Baduza) would headline Bridgerton Season 5, I was ecstatic. However, the broader Bridgerton fandom swiftly tempered my elation with waves of dismayed responses. Scrolling through social media, it’s easy to spot a flood of horrified reactions, often falling into two distinct categories: disappointment over Eloise’s narrative being delayed or fierce homophobes vowing to shun the series for daring to feature a sapphic romance.
Why Eloise’s storyline feels like a loss
Most of the heartbreak centers on the perceived slight to Claudia Jessie’s Eloise, who has long resisted the marriage market. While some fans claimed Francesca needed more time to mourn John, the two-year time jump already gave ample room for emotional exploration. Yet, the argument that Eloise’s love story deserves equal attention feels compelling, especially as her character has grown stagnant in recent episodes, repeating her defiance of her mother’s marital pressures.
The legacy of narrative shifts in Bridgerton
Franchaela’s romance isn’t the first time the show has diverged from its source material. The swap of Colin and Benedict’s arcs in earlier seasons allowed for deeper character development and resolved lingering tensions, much like the dynamic between Francesca and Michaela. This creative choice proved rewarding, suggesting the show’s willingness to adapt for storytelling purposes.
Nevertheless, the backlash against this change has escalated, with some fans accusing the series of undermining the infertility plotline central to Francesca’s journey in *When He Was Wicked*. This argument seems disingenuous, as the struggle of infertility is universal and would not exclude same-sex couples. In fact, the 1800s setting adds layers of complexity, offering a richer narrative for diverse relationships to flourish.
“Why can’t they just stick to the ‘tradition’ of relationships in that period?”
“We do not have to make everything we watch gay.”
These comments highlight a broader pattern of intolerance, fueled by misogynoir and a preference for heteronormative narratives. LGBTQ+ characters have long been part of the Bridgerton universe, often as secondary storylines such as Benedict’s bisexuality or Brimsley and Reynold’s romance in the Queen Charlotte spin-off. Yet, the reaction to Franchaela feels disproportionate, contrasting sharply with the overwhelmingly positive responses to other queer moments in the series.
For me, the emotional weight of Eloise’s arc is still intact. Her relationship with Sir Phillip Crane, the love interest and eventual husband from the books, remains a promising direction. While I would have loved to see her involved in another women-loving-women storyline, the current narrative offers a meaningful opportunity for growth. Let’s hope the fervor over her romance will ease, so that Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza can face fewer accusations of diluting the show’s traditional elements.
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