Michael Stirling - Blog Posts
The Ton in the Bridgertons
We do not see much politics in the Bridgertons but as sexism exist you cannot brush over or make racism disapear in what 40 years ? I try to be sensible about but as I am a white individual I might make mistake and apologise if so and will correct it.
At first we would still keep the same hierarchy of power than the one in real life and, I assume, in the show.
Secondly let's talk about THE thing that changes everything in the Bridgertons : the Great experiment.
The Great experiment appeared for the same reason than show in Queen Charlotte but it's a bit more subtle. It was introduced mostly so Charlotte could marry the king George but never did the royal councils intended to actually give more power to the "other side" of the society. Even if people could now get invited and participate in activity didn't mean they'd be invited or treated well.
Queen Charlotte is actually the one who shacked things up, after mostly focusing on her marriage at first she slowly woke up and saw that despise what was said her own were still being rejected and treaded unfairly. By attending Lady Danbury ball, she shoke things up. When some titles were left without any heir she would think first of giving it to the "other side" (that's how Simon's dad became Duke) etc.
Even thought the Queen Charlotte promoted tolerance things didn't completely work out that way. The "original" Ton felt jealous and left alone and while they couldn't reject the other side at the more little scandal possible they would directly reject a familly. And while young did marry racized Lord it was almost UNFATHOMABLE that an eligible white Lord would marry a girl of colour. It got a little better but there is still a lot of pression on racized people. A few Lord did actually mary girls from the "other side" the most known one being St-Clair, Abernathy and the Sterlings leaving a lot of preassure on their children because they represent this new kind of union and must be perfect. So it is a big deal that so many of the Bridgertons will have union with people of the other side as they are one of the most old and respected familly.
Spoilers for Bridgerton 3x08 under the cut
THIS IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING I THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN. MY FRIEND AND I HAD A FEELING THAT WE'D SEE MICHAEL, BUT MICHAELA??????? I LOVE HER SO MUCH.
SHE SAID JUST HER NAME AND FRAN WAS HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE. I CAN'T WAIT FOR HER STRUGGLE WITH HER FEELINGS, BOTH BEING BI AND BEING IN LOVE WITH HER HUSBAND'S COUSIN.
The only thing that really bothers me about this Michaela storyline is that it seems they’re going to use it to show that Francesca wasn’t truly in love with John… the way Violet said oh I thought love was forgetting your words and bold passion! Then she finally concluded that there are other ways to show love only for Fran to stumble over her words and have this sudden passion for Michaela? Like what was the point of my cute autistic coded couple then???
Gender discourse aside for one moment, am I the only one angered they made Francesca seem the bessoted one while meeting Michael/Michaela and not the other way around. That completely ruins her character. The entire point of the story is that Michael has been in love with Francesca for years knowing full well she would never, ever betray John, emotionally or otherwise. Ironically that's what Michael admires her for, he tells her so himself. That's what makes it tragic and beautiful.