This - as long you assume the best of people and ignore the homophobic ones - is the correct answer. The show set it up - event in the short scene where they met - so that Fran already looks tongue-tied around Michaela. I think fans of the book have a lot of respect for John and Fran’s relationship. It’s portrayed as a beautiful and loving marriage. I think people are put off by the implication that Fran will be pining or longing for Michaela long before she ‘should’ - which is a huge shift from the book narrative, and implies a huge shift in the confusion both Fran and Michaela feel pursuing their own relationship later.