Bridgerton's Game-Changing Twist: Simon & Daphne's Baby Alters the Story in a Unexpected Way

Summary

The decision to make Daphne and Simon have a son as their first child holds great significance, effectively resolving Simon's conflict with his father and ensuring the continuation of the prestigious Hastings lineage. Interestingly, in the original books, Daphne and Simon's firstborn is portrayed as a girl.

Given the structure of the series, it is highly unlikely for viewers to witness the children of Daphne Bridgerton, as the show proceeds to delve into the romantic narratives of different characters in each subsequent season.

Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

In the final episode of Bridgerton season 1, Daphne and Simon celebrate the arrival of their son. However, the portrayal of Daphne Bridgerton's children diverges from the original story in the books. Throughout the season, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), hold opposing views on parenthood. While Daphne longs to become a mother, Simon wishes to put an end to his family lineage. The conflict reaches its peak when Daphne resorts to coercing Simon into having a child with her, an act that can be considered sexual assault. This significant event is consistent in both the book and the Netflix adaptation, and appropriately elicits Simon's disgust.

Simon and Daphne's First Child Is Already Different From The Books

Regrettably, the show fails to fully address Daphne's actions and instead focuses on Simon's struggle to release himself from a pledge he made to his dying father. As an adult, Simon made a solemn promise on his father's deathbed: "I will never marry. I will never have an heir. The Hastings lineage will cease with me." However, after Simon confronts the pain of his past, he acknowledges his desire for a family, resulting in the birth of Simon and Daphne's baby. In the concluding moments of Bridgerton's season 1 finale, Simon and Daphne joyfully welcome a baby boy. It is worth noting that, in the Bridgerton books, the couple's first child is a girl.

The Bridgerton series, based on Julia Quinn's romance novels, revolves around the love story of Simon and Daphne, which is depicted in the first book, The Duke and I. According to Julia Quinn's website, the Bridgerton family tree reveals the names of Daphne Bridgerton's children, who are Amelia, Belinda, Caroline, David, and Edward (via JuliaQuinn.com). Consequently, the question arises as to what name Simon and Daphne will choose for their son. In line with the Bridgerton family tradition of alphabetical names, they ultimately decide to name him August, starting with the letter "A."

What Having A Son Means For Simon's Family Line

: The number of children Daphne and Simon have is five, but what truly matters is the book and show's different birth order and names for these children. In the books, Simon and Daphne eventually have two sons, but their first three children are actually daughters. Given that Bridgerton has already altered various details from the books, it remains uncertain whether Simon and Daphne will have additional children and the genders of those children. Although this may not appear significant in today's context, it would have significantly altered their family dynamic during the Regency era.

Changing the gender of the first child born to Simon and Daphne may appear insignificant, but it holds great significance in the context of the Netflix show's setting. In early 19th century England, only male offspring were entitled to inherit titles and property, barring a few exceptions. Hence, it was of utmost importance for affluent and aristocratic couples to produce a male heir to ensure the preservation of their titles, wealth, and the well-being of the female members within their family.

This is a prevailing theme in Bridgerton. Anthony faces difficulties in asserting his rightful position as the Bridgerton heir, Simon persistently attempts to distance himself from his title, and the fate of the Featherington family relies on an unidentified heir after Lord Featherington's death. The revelation that the children of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon are boys immediately resolves Simon's conflict with his father and provides an answer to whether the Hastings lineage will continue. If the child born to Simon and Daphne were a girl, Bridgerton might have prolonged that conflict across multiple seasons.

How Simon And Daphne's Son Changes Bridgerton Going Forward

Had the Simon and Daphne baby been a daughter, it would have allowed for the possibility of the couple grappling with their ability to produce a future heir in subsequent Bridgerton seasons, a common theme in other period romances such as Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. Sadly, nearly all period romance storylines center around the protagonist's quest to find a suitable husband and bear a son to secure the family's wealth. While Bridgerton could have introduced conflict by raising doubts about Simon and Daphne's ability to conceive an heir, it is fortunate that they did not go down that path.

Bridgerton, although more of a historical fantasy than a historical drama, still incorporates certain historical plot elements, such as the system of male inheritance. The show is set in a somewhat fictionalized version of Regency-era London, where segregation and slavery do not exist. However, women can still face dire consequences for impropriety or be forced into marriages with abusive men, as is considered for Marina Thompson by Lady Featherington. Nonetheless, the reliance on biological sex and the gender of their children as determining factors for the fate of each character feels archaic and outdated to a modern audience.

Bridgerton aims to present a progressive and modern take on the Regency era, but this creates a dissonance between the show's setting and its themes. However, it also means that Bridgerton is not bound by historical accuracy and could have chosen to make the first child of Daphne Bridgerton a daughter, depicting her defiance of societal norms and her claim to her father's title. Instead, Bridgerton avoids addressing this issue by making Simon and Daphne "sire an heir," thereby breaking the final part of Simon's vow to his father. Simon's family lineage will continue, and his son will inherit the title of Duke of Hastings, neatly tying up a loose end in the story of season 1.

Daphne & Simon's Kids Will Likely Never Be Seen

The issue of the Daphne Bridgerton children will continue to be a concern in season 1 of Bridgerton, as it is unlikely that viewers will see them except for a brief appearance. Although Daphne made a comeback in a few episodes of season 2, audiences immediately noticed that Simon, played by Regé-Jean Page, was completely absent. Daphne explained that Simon was tending to the affairs of their estate at home, while her storyline focused on helping her brother Anthony. Regé-Jean Page left Bridgerton after season 1, stating that he felt his character's story had reached its conclusion. This suggests that viewers may never have the opportunity to meet the children of Daphne Bridgerton.

Bridgerton moves forward at a rapid pace, dedicating each season to the love stories of one of the Bridgerton siblings. The tale of Simon and Daphne was intended to last only one season, and now that they have reached the "happily ever after" stage of their relationship, it is unlikely that they will make regular appearances on the series. There is a possibility that as the show progresses, Daphne will return to announce that she and Simon have more children or that she is expecting. However, it is doubtful that Daphne will bring her children back home with her, as her new primary role seems to be guiding her siblings through their own love stories in the world of Bridgerton.