LONDON, ENGLAND: Season 3 of 'Bridgerton', on Netflix, focuses on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) friends-to-lovers romance.

However, it also throws enough spotlight on other members of the Bridgerton family, taking forward their character arcs.

One notable character that stood out this season is Francesca Bridgerton who makes her debut in society this season and finds a match for herself.

Franseca is played by Hannah Dodd, who replaced Ruby Stokes ahead of Season 3. She is the most introverted member of the Bridgerton family and shies from mingling with people. She enjoys her own company, spending her time playing piano or reading books.

'Bridgerton' fans feel Francesca Bridgerton shares traits of autistic and neurodivergent people

After watching 'Bridgerton' Season 3, which premiered on Netflix on May 16, 2024, fans are convinced that Francesca is autistic-coded.

Autistic-coded means that the character is depicted in a way that the audiences feel they have traits of autism even though it isn't explicitly mentioned.

Someone took to X and wrote, "Francesca and Lord Stirling are so autistic coded and I love every moment of their interactions. My perfect babies who just want to sit next to each other in silence."

"Thinking how John and Francesca are so autistic and ADHD coded. That scene between Fran and John where she tells him her thoughts on a musical piece and John quickly marches away as he looks at the player and later on we find out why he did that and I'm like...baby boy," added another fan.

A similar tweet supporting this theory reads, “I’m sorry you're telling me that Francesca's love interest RAN AWAY mid conversation on the street so he could re-compose music she heard and made comments on and give it to her as a gift??? And she left a ball early to play it??? Autistic. The both of them."

Why do 'Bridgerton' fans think Francesca Bridgerton is autistic?

'Bridgerton' fans who themselves or have a family member diagnosed with autism have explained why they feel Francesca is autistic-coded.

Someone wrote on Reddit, "As a mother to a child on the spectrum, I can see why people are calling Frannie their ND Queen. She does show traits like her hyperfixations with the piano/music theory. She’s an introvert. She feels she doesn’t fit in with her chaotic family. She’s blunt. She’s overwhelmed within large crowds and felt at home when she’s alone or at least one person like that scene with John outside of the ball."

Another fan of the show wrote, "Mom to an autistic daughter and she very much flagged as autistic to me. Her flat affect til she caught social cues for smiling, he sensory issues with noise and crowds, her communication style, and so much more. She is played as incredibly high masking and it seems like she makes eye contact but she really isn’t."

"I'm an autistic and ADHD person, so also very well-researched and sensitive to neurodivergence. An autistic woman who's forced to be highly masking all her life is going to look very different than an autistic child. Francesca very much fits the profile of an autistic woman IMO. We're painfully underdiagnosed for a reason--people see a person like this and say "quirky, shy, and introverted" instead of "autistic," reads another Reddit comment.

Is Francesca Bridgerton autistic in Julia Quinn's book series?

In Julia Quinn’s 'Bridgerton' novels, Francesca is not written as an autistic character. She is only introduced as an introvert character. However, we know that Shondaland isn't religiously following the books and has been taking ample liberties.

So, it wouldn't be surprising if Francesca actually turns out to be autistic in the series.

'Bridgerton' Season 3 is receiving high praise for disability presentation

One of the many reasons why people love 'Bridgerton' is the diversity and inclusivity. Unlike the book series, Netflix show has featured several actors of color in higher levels of aristocracy.

By Season 3, 'Bridgerton' brings the much needed change. Not only it finally introduces a gay storyline as Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) explores his sexuality, it also represents people with disabilities, including debutant Dolores Stowell (Kitty Devlin) who is deaf and Lord Remington (Zak Ford-Williams) who uses a wheelchair.

The inclusivity doesn't go unnoticed. A fan wrote on X, "I like how Season 3 has a person in a wheelchair and a deaf person but they didn't make the characters out to be oddities of society. Just regular members of the ton. Well done Shonda. Well done."

"I see the effort to include inclusivity and diversity in this Bridgerton season. The Lord In the wheelchair, the debutante and her mother with the sign language, the increased number of people of color playing major roles. Not bad, really," tweeted someone else.

How to stream 'Bridgerton'?

'Bridgerton', based on Julia Quinn's book series, is available only on Netflix. The OTT giant has released three seasons of the historical romance so far.

Season 3 made its debut with four episodes on May 16, 2024 while the remaining four dropped on Netflix on June 13, 2024.

A monthly/yearly subscription to Netflix is required to watch three seasons of 'Bridgerton'.

'Bridgerton' Season 3 trailer