Summary
Bridgertonhasn’t exactly done right by Daphne as of late, and I suspect that’ll continue when the show returns. Despite being the focus of season 1 (along with Simon), Daphne wasn’t in the next chapter at all, even though the events taking place in the story - specificallyBridgertonseason 3’s ending- certainly would have made an appearance from the character seem relevant.
Although Phoebe Dynevor did return for the second season, her role was significantly reduced, with her only appearing in a handful of scenes. Although it was a shame that Dynevor wasn’t in the show as much, it made sense that Daphne would be busy off-screen tending to her family. She was there for her brother’s wedding (and when he needed a reality check), and overall her inclusion felt needed. Since then, though, things have changed significantly. With Daphne now missing the wedding of two of her siblings, her absence left a hole in the family dynamic that I can’t ignore going intoBridgertonseason 4.
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Following the release of Bridgerton season 3, part 2, the Netflix series now has four stories (including Queen Charlotte) to look back on and rank.
Because Of Their Family Ties, She Should Have Attended The Wedding
In season 3, however,Dynevor expressed early onthat she felt her work with the character was done. Whilst it made sense that Dynevor may want to keep her schedule open rather than carving out several weeks for what would likely be a small role, the lack of Daphne’s presence, particularly at the weddings of her brother and sister, stands out. I fell in love with the show and its story partly because of the relationships between theBridgertonsiblings, and season 3 feels as though it was the start of that aspect of the show taking a back seat.
Bridgerton Season 4 May Have Daphne Miss Another Family Wedding
Benedict is set to become the next Bridgerton to get married
As with every season, season 4 will focus on a newBridgertonfamily member falling in love, and this timeit’s Benedict’s turn to find"the one." We’ll likely see Benedict’s wedding by the end of the upcoming season, and with it, another chance for theBridgertonfamily to get together. A question I’m now asking as production on the new season gears up is whether Daphne will miss another family wedding.
Presumably, the door for Phoebe Dynevor to return as Daphne is open for her, but there hasn’t been any indication she plans to return. With Daphne absent from the season, we’re probably going to see anotherBridgertonwedding that she won’t be in attendance for. It’s a shame, as Dynevor plays the character so well, and there’s a lot of room for her to bestow wisdom as the first of the siblings to have been married and had children. Given how important family is to the Bridgertons, it’s hard to overlook Daphne being absent from so many big family moments.
Anthony’s Absence Could Make Bridgerton’s Daphne Problem Even Worse
Jonathan Bailey’s increasingly busy schedule could mean his role in Bridgerton is reduced further
Much like Phoebe Dynevor did for season 2, Jonathan Bailey took a step back in season 3 as the show moved on to its new leads. Given the star’s busy schedule, he was understandably missing from a lot of moments in the show, but he was there for Colin’s wedding and to share with fans a glimpse into Anthony and Kate’s married life. However, Bailey’s schedule is only growing busier.
Bailey is a brilliant actor and I can’t wait to see him in more projects, but it’s hard not to wonder what his schedule could mean for the future of Anthony Bridgerton. Thankfully, he’s already confirmed that he’ll be in season 4 and that he’s carved out a few weeks for filming. However,given his role in recent seriesFellow Travelersand his upcoming shows and films such asHeartstopper, Wicked,and the untitledJurassic Worldfilm, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be available to film major scenes like Benedict’s (or any future Bridgerton siblings) weddings going forward.
Whilst I’m glad that the actors fromBridgertonare getting recognition and finding new roles outside of the show, it’s a shame to see the sibling dynamic that I loved so much begin to take a back seat in the overall themes of the show. I hope that going forward, the show may write more dialogue about the off-screen characters, what developments have been made in their life, andan explanation for why they may be absent fromBridgertonfrom major family events rather than ignoring the character’s absence. I’ll happily suspend my disbelief for whatever in-universe reasonBridgertongives me.
Bridgerton
Cast
Bridgerton, released on June 20, 2025, is set in Regency-era England and follows the lives of the influential Bridgerton family. The series explores themes of wealth, lust, and betrayal, portraying societal dynamics through a blend of romance and intrigue.
