Brazil’s answer to Bridgerton is giving the gays plenty to be excited about

The telenovela 'Madam Beja' features a closeted gay character whose hot garden hook-up has caught the internet's attention.

Mark Mark
Mar 9, 2026 - 20:00
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Image Credits: ‘Madam Beja,’ HBO Max

Sure, we complain that subscribing to multiple different streamers these days costs way more than paying for cable ever did, but the upshot is that we have so many options from all over the world—you never know where your next binge-watch obsession will come from!

Case in point: The Brazilian period-piece telenovela Madam Beja, which quietly premiered on HBO Max last month, yet is now making a whole lot of noise on our gay corner of the internet, thanks especially to a hunky hook-up scene set in a garden…

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But to back up a bit, the series is a reboot of the 1986 Portuguese-language telenovela Dona Beija , which dramatized the true story of an early 19th Century woman, born Ana Jacinta de São José.

As the story goes, Ana (played in the series by Grazi Massafera) was a beautiful woman living in Araxá who was deeply in love with her fiancé Antonio (David Junior) when she was kidnapped by an officer of the royal court, then subjected to his whims—and brutalities—for over two years.

When Ana finally managed to escape, she attempted to return to her life Araxá, only to find that her dear Antonio had taken another wife. Meanwhile, the conservative society didn’t quite welcome her back with open arms; instead of seeing her as a victim, they treated her as a seductress who got what she deserved.

Distraught and with nowhere to turn, she decided to reinvent herself as the eponymous Dona Beja and opened an upscale brothel called Chácara do Jatobá, regaining her power as an in-demand courtesan and madame of the house. After all, as Beyoncé once said: the best revenge is your paper.

So, wait, where does that steamy, garden-set man-on-man sex scene fit into all of this, you might ask?

Well, Madam Beja is all about how Ana bucks the conventions of the strict social code of early 19th Century Brazil, and she’s far from the only person on that mission. Running parallel to her story is that of Fortunato (João Villa), a young man from a prominent lineage who is set to marry the wealthy Siá Boa (Rita Pereira) to further his family’s name.

But Fortunato is quietly struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, while harboring feelings for the town’s inspector, Mauricio. Though his subplot has been quietly simmering in the background of Dona’s Beja’s, it came to a head (literally) in the latest batch of episodes that dropped last week.

After a scene that sees him fantasizing about skinny-dipping with another man, Fortunato finally has his moment with another man. Outside, barely covered by the surrounding tall grasses, he drops trou and gives his handsome suitor a moutful.

“Finally, someone gave Fortunato a great reason to smile,” shared HBO Max Brazil’s X account, noting that the pained, closeted character was well-overdo for some sweet relief. Though, we’ll admit, the fact that it happened out in the open air gives us pause—what if someone saw?

While very, very hot, the moment underscores just how treacherous it could be to live authentically during that time in Brazil. It’s just one of many ways this new take on Ana/Madam Beja’s story sets itself apart from the original, broadening its scope to showcase the lives of a number of queer characters.

In addition to Fortunato, there’s also the inclusion of the trans character Severina, played by nonbinary actor Pedro Fosaro (best known for their fantastic work in the 2021 Brazilian film Private Desert), who proves to be an important confidante to our protagonist.

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And even Madam Beja’s explored a queer romance of her own: Earlier in the season’s run, she consummated her affections for another woman named Maria (Indira Nascimento), a plot point that highlights how her journey as a courtesan isn’t just about revenge, but a total liberation from what polite society tells her she should & should not be.

In other words, Madam Beja might just be Brazil’s answer to Bridgerton—and the best part is, there’s still plenty more to come! The telenovela drops 5 new episodes every Monday on HBO Max, and the season is currently slated to run through March 23, so don’t worry, you’ve got time to catch up!

And, in the meantime, check out a few more photos of João Villa to whet your appetite:

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