For the past two seasons, Bridgerton has quietly pushed aside its original leading lady, Daphne Bridgerton — and while that alone is disappointing, it actually points to a much larger issue lurking beneath the show’s glossy surface. Among Netflix’s big hits, Bridgerton stands out for its vibrant historical world and semi-anthology structure, where each season highlights one Bridgerton sibling’s path to love. So far, audiences have embraced the rotating focus. But Daphne’s diminishing presence reveals one of the show’s most persistent and worsening problems.
When Bridgerton premiered in 2020, Daphne was the beating heart of the story. Viewers were drawn to her elegance, charm, and her fiery romance with the Duke of Hastings. Yet immediately after season 1 ended, her importance evaporated. She drifted into a minor supporting role in season 2, and by season 3, she was gone entirely. Whether this was a creative decision or the result of actor availability doesn’t change the truth: Daphne’s disappearance exposes a structural flaw that Bridgerton can’t continue to ignore.
Why Bridgerton Can Only Juggle So Many Main Characters
The show’s biggest challenge is its own ensemble
Bridgerton thrives on its sprawling cast of charismatic characters — eight siblings, their parents, their friends, their rivals, and an entire social season’s worth of side figures. But as rich as this world is, only a limited number of characters can meaningfully exist in the spotlight at once. The sibling whose love story anchors the season always gets priority; everyone else gets whatever screen time is left.
For Daphne, this meant fading out once her romance concluded.
For Anthony and Kate, it meant stepping back in season 3 — and frustrating many fans in the process.
In the first two seasons, the show managed its character load fairly well. Francesca was away studying, and Gregory and Hyacinth were too young for major storylines. Daphne made occasional appearances. But by season 3, the cracks began to show. Anthony and Kate struggled to stay relevant, and Daphne vanished altogether. And as more siblings find their own happily-ever-afters, the risk of character erasure only grows.
Why Married Characters Become the Show’s Weakest Link
Once a Bridgerton sibling’s romance concludes, their story often has nowhere exciting to go. Daphne is the clearest example: after she married Simon, the natural next step for her was family life — sweet, relatable, but not exactly compelling television. Her story simply wasn’t dramatic enough to justify ongoing focus.
This is where Bridgerton’s book structure both helps and hurts the show. Each novel follows one sibling:
| Book Title | Main Focus |
|---|---|
| The Duke and I | Daphne |
| The Viscount Who Loved Me | Anthony |
| An Offer From a Gentleman | Benedict |
| Romancing Mister Bridgerton | Colin |
| To Sir Phillip, With Love | Eloise |
| When He Was Wicked | Francesca |
| It’s In His Kiss | Hyacinth |
| On the Way to the Wedding | Gregory |
Once a Bridgerton finds love, the show often treats their journey as complete — which means viewers lose a beloved character the moment they become emotionally invested. And when that happens repeatedly, season after season, the world of the show begins to feel emptier.
The Problem Will Only Get Worse as More Siblings Get Their Turn
Daphne has already faded away. Anthony and Kate barely held on in season 3. Colin, despite being a central figure this season, could easily fall into the same trap next year. The more Bridgertons find their partners, the more the series risks sidelining them — until the only story left each season is the romance of the newest sibling in line.
At this rate, Bridgerton could lose the emotional depth that made it special and risk becoming a simple “one romance per season” show with no meaningful continuity.
But Bridgerton Isn’t Beyond Saving
The good news: this problem can be fixed.
Phoebe Dynevor has expressed interest in returning as Daphne — and giving her a compelling storyline beyond marriage would prove that the show hasn’t given up on its married characters. The same opportunity exists for Anthony, Kate, and eventually Colin.
Eight major characters is a lot, but not impossible. They just need better material than “married and happy.”
Even in season 3, despite the absence of some favorites, the show delivered freshness through Francesca’s new romance arc and Eloise’s evolving relationships. Bridgerton can offset its losses if it invests more deeply in character development, not just romance plots.
How the Show Can Avoid Its Biggest Future Mistake
If bringing back certain actors isn’t always possible, the writers must strengthen the remaining characters’ stories. Viewers are emotionally invested in the family as a whole — not just the couple of the season. Ignoring that puts the show’s longevity at risk.
With season 4 focusing on Benedict — one of the fandom’s most beloved characters — the pressure is higher than ever. A strong season could restore confidence, but continued neglect of earlier leads will only make the cracks grow wider.
In the end, Bridgerton must face its greatest weakness head-on: the tendency to abandon characters once their romance is resolved. If the show can evolve beyond this pattern, it can preserve everything that made fans fall in love with it in the first place. If not, it risks becoming yet another series that couldn’t sustain its own success.
