Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 teases a different kind of romantic lead in the Bridgerton family as it reintroduces Francesca – the third oldest Bridgerton girl. This time, played by Hannah Dodd, who takes over from Ruby Stokes in the first two seasons, Francesca Bridgerton leaves her mark on these first four episodes through a consistently quiet hum of something new. The musical metaphors write themselves as the character desires – and succeeds – to strike a different chord from her siblings and her parents.
This first batch of episodes hints at the plot from Julia Quinn’s book When He Was Wicked, which focuses on Francesca Bridgerton but leaves plenty to be explored later (If you know, you know.). Most notably, Francesca’s story in that book is set in motion this season by Bridgerton’s introduction of John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin. The anticipation of his proper debut only extends across one episode, but Bridgerton knows what it’s doing.
That excitement is possible because of the pitch-perfect yet stunningly silent meet-cute in Bridgerton 3×03, “Forces of Nature,” and, most importantly, Francesca’s character work.
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 must get to know this character character – really, for the first time. As one of the younger siblings, Francesca’s screen time in the first two seasons is severely limited. There’s more known about her time learning the pianoforte in Bath than anything about her personality. These four episodes take that note and create a recurring beat; they turn the pianoforte into a baseline to build upon. It works from the first scene, expanding the Bridgerton tradition. There’s no enthusiasm for the marriage mart like with Daphne and no rejection like with Eloise. Francesca comes across as more indifferent.
However, Francesca presents an opposing outlook through her passion – the pianoforte.
Unsurprisingly, the most artistically inclined sibling, though he’d argue differently this season, notices this hidden message. Benedict Bridgerton immediately registers that Francesca is playing Mozart’s “Funeral March” when her family finds her and parades her to be presented to Queen Charlotte. That somber tone follows Francesca to Lady Danbury’s ball when suitors’ overwhelming examination of her clouds Francesca’s wish to find someone kind. There’s no wonder Francesca tells Penelope Featherington, “I expected conversation. I did not expect to be inspected as if I were some rare insect writing under a microscope,” in Bridgerton 3×01, “Out of the Shadows.”
It’s no wonder that Francesca finds comfort in the stability of the wall and its resident yet blossoming wallflower, Penelope. This conversation is when Bridgerton makes a pointed effort to differentiate Francesca from her siblings. She doesn’t like the notice that the Bridgerton name attracts. Anthony’s knowledge and consideration of this (His comforting hand on hers when they enter the scene!) is specifically moving – and not only because it reflects Anthony’s development. It acknowledges that Francesca has a different relationship with the social world than Daphne, Anthony, and Colin.
Francesca also stands out from those siblings who haven’t led a season, like Benedict or Eloise. Even Hyacinth voices interest in the big feather and the Queen’s pick.
Francesca is less interested in the fanfare and more invested in finding what suits her because she has an acute awareness that it’ll never be what the people in her life have. She even tells Violet in “Out of the Shadows:” “What you and Father, and Daphne, and Anthony all have is enviable, but it is also rare.” So, she puts her efforts and passion into music – the pianoforte, specifically – rather than love. She embraces practicality and order, like her mother and the Viscountess Kate Bridgerton notice.
The Netflix series finds a brilliant reflection of this when Francesca asserts that she doesn’t engage with the feeling behind music, only the chord progression, in Bridgerton 3×02, “How Bright the Moon.” It’s convenient and emotionless that way. It’s safe for Francesca that way, which makes it all the more meaningful that a man appears and surprises her in his careful interest in doing nothing near disrupting or inspecting her.
Just when she feels pressured by the marriage mart and all its noise, Francesca finds peace and quiet with a man who lets the fire flicker between them.
It’s an understated meet-cute as far as Bridgerton is concerned (so far), but that uniqueness is what makes it special, proving romance is not one-note. It caters so well to the show’s iteration of Francesca; it fits her rather than her having to morph into a man’s ideal. Not to mention, this meet-cute harnesses notes of Quinn’s When He Was Wicked.
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 introduces John Stirling with the kind of gravitas required for such a vital character from the books. The scene when he walks into Bridgerton House’s drawing room supports this through the score swelling until he says his name and makes it all official. It’s pretty dramatic for those who aren’t privy to the character’s importance, but it winds up working because of Francesca’s reaction to his arrival on Bridgerton 3×04, “Old Friends.” Francesca Bridgerton lights up to sit in silence with John Stirling.
It’s a starkly different sight than what the Bridgertons are used to when it comes to grand romances in their family, which ties together with Francesca’s comment during “Forces of Nature.” She tells Lord Samadani, the Queen’s pick for her, “I love my family dearly, but it can be rather lonely to be among them all at once, can it not?” Francesca’s distinctions from her family members are all but spelled out by “Old Friends,” and they come into even sharper focus when she is genuinely tickled by the romantic notion of simply sitting with John. So, sorry, but Lord Samadani doesn’t stand a chance after that.
Lord Samadani may get ahead when Francesca misunderstands John’s abrupt exit from their conversation as disinterest, but once she realizes it’s the opposite, John is it for her. He is kind and practical and orderly, and he swoops in with a romantic gesture that causes Francesca’s heart sing and makes even Violet Bridgerton rethink what an epic love can be.
Of course, book readers will know that Francesca saying, “A song like this would be sweeter if it were played in ¾ so one could, in fact, feel the music,” lands as all too symbolic of their relationship. Therefore, John’s gesture becomes all the grander.
Still, even without that context, it matters that John tells Francesca, “I am not a man of many words. And the words I do have, I am afraid they are not very good. But I do believe in the power of a gesture.” His gesture is perfectly in tune with Francesca’s language – music. Her journey with the pianoforte in these first four episodes starts with Mozart’s “Death March” and ends with the hopeful sound of what could be a love match.
So, Francesca’s story serves as a reminder that big, bold loves can co-exist with the more slow, steady builds. No matter what, romance can create music worth cherishing. Ideally, Bridgerton will continue to explore that from Francesca’s perspective during the rest of Season 3 and whenever she becomes the lead of her Bridgerton season.
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What do you think of Francesca Bridgerton’s reintroduction on Bridgerton? Let us know in the comments below!
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 is streaming on Netflix now.
CATCH UP ON ALL OUR SEASON THREE COVERAGE
REVIEWS
- EPISODE 1 REVIEW
- EPISODE 2 REVIEW
- EPISODE 3 REVIEW
- EPISODE 4 REVIEW
- EPISODE 5 REVIEW
- EPISODE 6 REVIEW
- EPISODE 7 REVIEW
- EPISODE 8 REVIEW
EDITORIALS
- PLUS-SIZE WOMAN PORTRAYAL
- MIRROR SCENE
- PENELOISE CONFLICT
- PLUS-SIZE WOMEN WOUNDS
- CRESSIDA
- QUEEN CHARLOTTE & BRIMSELY
- FRANCESCA REINTRODUCTION
- LORD DEBLING OR COLIN BRIDGERTON?
- LORD DEBLING
- BENOPHIE SEASON 4
INTERVIEWS
