Where Is Daphne Bridgerton in Season 3?
The notable absence of the Duchess in the third installment of Bridgerton has been one that rubbed some fans the wrong way. I will admit, when I first heard that Phoebe wasn’t coming back, I was both unsurprised and thoroughly disappointed. From having…let’s call them mixed feelings about her in Season 1, I was thrilled to have her take on the role of mentor for Anthony and dispense the wisdom gained from her previous turn as the lead. That was a great place for her to settle. So when Phoebe Dynevor explained that she would not be coming back, though she certainly has left the door open to return in future, I found myself surprised at how sad that made me. I really had come to love her in that role.
But the thing is, I think we have to be able to let these characters go. They gave her a beautiful turn where we got to see the true completion of her arc, now as a sage Duchess who still has her life and competitive spirit, a loving mother and devoted wife. Without Simon being there, what more could we possibly have wanted from her story? And there, that’s the end. I think that makes sense.
I know people have objected to how little Daphne was mentioned in Season 3, but I think the choice they’ve made to simply not explain when characters can’t be there for whatever reason is a good one. It’s the same reason they don’t explain why the actress for Francesca has suddenly changed. Outside factors are simply that, and we absorb them as part of watching a fictional world. I think it would be far more bogged down if we constantly had to hear about why the Duchess isn’t in attendance at every major family function. Would she be there for Colin’s and Francesca’s weddings? In reality, of course, but this is fiction, and sometimes things are messy like that.
Because the truth is, we have to let them go to allow for other stories. If we still have Daphne doling out advice, that doesn’t give her more development (she’s already gracefully stepped into that role in S2), and it prevents Kate and Anthony from having that growth themselves. The system of having the previous lead or leads step up in the mentor role, then gracefully and lovingly transitioning them out, like with Kate and Anthony in India, makes sense.
Obviously the show runner and the actors have mentioned that they would like to come back for S4 as the Viscount and Viscountess, but whether or not that can happen remains to be seen. Scheduling, payment, screen time, storyline, all contribute in ways that could very well lead to Kate and Anthony not being present in the fourth season. And you know what? That’s okay. I say this with Kanthony as my favorite couple, it is okay if we don’t see them in Season 4, and I don’t need constant excuses as to why they aren’t there.
The conclusion of their arc has come, just like Daphne. In some ways, bringing them back makes it messy. In an ensemble show, room has to be made for new arcs and new stories. So while I adore our former leads, once they’ve passed into the mentor role, I think it’s time for them to go the way of all good mentors a la Yoda and disappear into their happily ever after.
