Bridgerton Season 4 Part Two Reveals Major Character’s Heartbreaking Death
Part two of bridgerton season four dropped on Feb. 26 (ET) and brought a sudden, devastating death that upends Francesca Bridgerton’s life and reshapes the family’s trajectory. The episode’s shock is significant now because it alters immediate storylines—Francesca must confront loss and grief at a moment when new romantic and family threads were forming—and it raises questions about which Bridgerton sibling might lead the next season.
Bridgerton Episode Six Turning Point
The sixth episode of season four centers on a quiet domestic moment that turns tragic: John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin, tells his wife he is going to lie down for a nap after saying he has "only a small headache, " then does not wake. Francesca discovers him and her cries bring in his visiting cousin Michaela, but there is nothing that can be done. A funeral scene follows, where Benedict Bridgerton describes the loss: "What makes this death so difficult to bear is not just its suddenness, but the fact that he was a good man, one of the best of us. Always guided by an unshakable sense of integrity, his devotion to his family, to his seat in Parliament, and most especially to my sister, Francesca. " The sequence interrupts the budding Cinderella-like romance between Benedict and Sophie Baek and refocuses the household on mourning and duty.
Francesca’s Grief and Immediate Fallout
Francesca, portrayed in the series by Hannah Dodd, moves through shock and tightly held composure before a public collapse. Initially trying to remain calm for the sake of a suspected pregnancy, she later experiences a devastating meltdown when the pregnancy proves to be a false alarm. Across the next two episodes, viewers see her attempt to navigate loss while concealing deeper emotions, and Michaela remains a steady presence during that process.
Michaela’s Role and the Gender‑flip Storyline
Michaela, introduced as John’s cousin and played by Masali Baduza, had been presented earlier as a gender‑flipped counterpart to the cousin figure from the books. That decision sets up the show’s first central same‑sex couple potential: Francesca and Michaela. The two clash and then bond, and Michaela proposes a joyful celebration of John’s life that brings Francesca a momentary smile. Showrunner Jess Brownell framed the adaptation choice as one rooted in character themes: "Her book is very much about [Francesca] feeling different, and not really knowing why, " Brownell said in a prior interview, adding that as a queer woman she looks forward to telling a story of "queer joy. " Michaela’s later actions—agreeing to stay in London and then secretly fleeing in the finale—complicate what had seemed like a steady support for Francesca.
What This Means for Future Seasons
John’s death has immediate narrative consequences and a potential structural impact on the series’ future. The passing could point to Francesca becoming the focal lead for the next season if the producers choose to adapt her book, When He Was Wicked, rather than another sibling’s story. That path would naturally follow Francesca’s arc from grieving widow toward new love with John’s cousin Michaela, as the series has already established a version of that relationship. Showrunners and the streamer have not confirmed which sibling will lead the next installment, so this remains an open possibility rather than a certainty.
- Key takeaways: John Stirling’s sudden death reframes Francesca’s arc; Michaela emerges as a central emotional anchor; the event increases the likelihood Francesca could headline a future season, though no official lead has been announced.
