Bridgerton season 4 cast a shadow over the romance as John Stirling’s death shocked the family.

The death specifically devastated his wife, Francesca, played by Hannah Dodd.

However, the showrunner Jess Brownell explained why the demise was important to take forward Benedict and Sophie's love story while speaking with PEOPLE.

"Obviously, episode 7 does shift its focus a little bit to Francesca, but I think that John's death plays a major role in Benedict and Sophie's story," Brownell explained. "Because Benedict and Sophie have this giant obstacle between them — which is class — we felt like, in fact, this major loss might be the thing that could allow, particularly Violet and Benedict, to shift their perspective."

The tragedy, and Francesca’s profound grief in its wake, prompts Violet and Benedict to view his relationship with Sophie through a more compassionate lens, Brownell explains.

Experiencing such loss, the showrunner added, serves as a stark reminder that life is fleeting and that love ultimately matters most.

"We felt like it was the right timeline to allow us to really get to know Francesca and John as a couple, but also to allow ourselves enough time to properly grieve John," Brownell shared.

Bridgerton season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.