Bridgerton Season 3: Why Leaving Out Daphne Was a Huge Mistake

Summary

• The only Bridgerton missing from Season 3 was Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor).
• Despite the actress' departure, the writers simply ignored the absence of a key character.
• Phoebe Dynevor may return in future seasons.

Unfortunately, Bridgerton Season 3 turned out to be rather disappointing. Rushed plot, overemphasis on arcs that were unimportant to Polin, and just a huge number of plot holes and unresolved storylines.

In particular, the writers did not address the absence of Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) in any way. Let's talk about why this only further diminished the Bridgerton Season 3 script.

Where Has Daphne Been All This Time?

Daphne's role became much less prominent in Season 2. However, the eldest Bridgerton daughter still expressed concern for the lives of her family, especially, at the time, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey).

This has always been the essence of Bridgerton, both in Julia Quinn's novels and in the series, for it is not only a story about love, but also about strong family ties that can overcome any problems that arise in Regency London.

So it is quite strange that not only was Daphne never mentioned in Season 3, but that the writers gave no explanation as to why Phoebe Dynevor's character did not attend first Colin's and then Francesca's (Hannah Dodd) wedding.

Why Was Daphne's Absence Detrimental to Season 3?

Daphne is quite close to both Colin and Penelope, so she should be celebrating their happiness. Also, in the novel Romancing Mister Bridgerton on which Season 3 is based, it is Daphne who acts as a counselor to Colin, helping him sort out his own feelings. Of course, in the case of Violet (Ruth Gemmell), this was a very sweet moments, but we would have liked to see more of a sibling relationship.

In the case of Francesca, even though this storyline turned out to be a plot point for future seasons, Daphne's presence at her wedding to John Stirling (Victor Alli) could still provide an interesting dynamic.

Also, we can't say that the lack of an 'extra' storyline played into the hands of the main couple in Season 3. For a long time, the marketing campaign promised us the most passionate and nuanced season yet, deepening the relationship between Colin and Penelope that had been slowly developing since Season 1. In reality, the Polin arc was rushed, and the season itself is crammed with too many storylines — few fans would be unhappy if we had more scenes with Daphne at the expense of the Mondriches, for example.

Of course, she could be busy with her children (unlike in the TV series, there are five in the book), but the writers should have provided that explanation in the show itself, rather than having fans do the work for them by coming up with possible explanations.

Should We Expect to See Daphne in Future Seasons?

But it's entirely possible that Phoebe Dynevor will return to Bridgerton at some point, and we'll finally get a much-needed family reunion. Sadly, we'll be left with a residue after the third season, but that way we can still hope to see Daphne's reaction to Colin and Pen's powerful marriage, as well as her support for the other siblings, including Benedict and Francesca.

When it was announced that the actress would be leaving the show after two seasons, she noted that her return would depend on whether she was invited back in the future.

'I've done what I wanted to do with that character and she had a great arc. If they ask me back in the future, who knows?'

So, dear friends, let us hope for the return of Phoebe Dynevor and that the writers will be able to provide a convincing explanation for her absence from major events in her family's life.

Source: Variety.