Daphne's Mysterious Disappearance Threatens to Unravel Colin & Penelope's Epic Romance in Bridgerton Season 3

Warning! SPOILERS about the Bridgerton books ahead.

Summary

Daphne's absence in season 3 of Bridgerton could have a profound effect on Colin and Penelope's love story, as she played a pivotal role in the books. Her guidance and counsel significantly influenced her siblings, especially her older brothers, in their romantic pursuits. Without her presence, the dynamics of the story in season 3 might be altered.

Daphne's limited role in Colin and Penelope's love story was crucial in helping Colin understand his emotions. However, her absence in season 3 of Bridgerton may require another character to step into a similar role.

While Daphne played a central role in season 1 of Bridgerton, it was expected that her role would not be the same in subsequent seasons. However, her absence in season 3 could potentially impact the story and the development of Penelope and Colin's romance. The structure of the Netflix series mirrored Julia Quinn's novels, with each season focusing on a different Bridgerton sibling's quest for love. This allowed for the progression of other characters' storylines, even if they weren't the main focus of the season. In contrast, Quinn's book series did not delve into the narratives of other characters as extensively, but Daphne's input was still present, even if she only had a minimal presence in advancing the protagonist's story.

Phoebe Dynevor’s absence as Daphne in the cast of Bridgerton season 3 is notable, following Regé-Jean Page's departure as Daphne’s husband Simon after season 1. However, Daphne's limited involvement in her siblings' stories may explain her absence. Despite her reduced role, Daphne had a significant impact on her siblings, particularly her older brothers, assisting them with their romantic dilemmas. This is also evident in Quinn's book series. Specifically, Daphne played a crucial role in helping Colin comprehend a significant matter in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. Consequently, her absence in Bridgerton season 3 could have substantial repercussions, potentially affecting Colin and Penelope’s love story.

Daphne Plays An Important Role In Colin & Penelope's Romance In The Bridgerton Books

In both Netflix's Bridgerton adaptation and the original book series, there was little exploration of Colin and Daphne's unique connection. However, in Chapter 16 of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Colin unexpectedly finds himself at Hastings House, where Daphne and Simon reside, deep in his thoughts about love. The fourth book in the Bridgerton series effectively highlighted the close bond between Colin and Daphne through their relatively small age gap. Interestingly, their heartfelt conversation was a rarity among the siblings in the Bridgerton books. Despite Colin's unwavering commitment to marrying Penelope, witnessing his older siblings marry for love made him ponder on how to distinguish true love.

Colin's questions unsettled Daphne, but her input about love growing and changing each day, rather than being an instant transformation, had an impact on him. In the early chapters of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, it was clear that Colin had strong feelings for Penelope, even showing impatience at times.

For instance, when he asked for Penelope's hand in marriage to Portia Featherington, the entire Featherington family ignored and belittled her. Colin's uncertainty about love troubled him deeply, especially on the day of their engagement ball. He questioned if it would be more disastrous to love Penelope or to never love her at all. Despite Daphne's confused answers, they ultimately provided some assistance to him.

Daphne Already Played A Similar Role In Bridgerton (& It Was Great)

Anthony’s determination to pursue a strategic marriage with a wife who prioritized his obligations rather than one based on love disappointed Violet, although Daphne remained unperturbed until she discovered his connection to Kate. While Anthony may have chosen to ignore Daphne's suggestions, her influence positively influenced Anthony and Kate's story, providing comic relief when she teased Anthony and offering insights into the dynamics of the eldest Bridgerton siblings. In Bridgerton season 2, Daphne proved to be a truly beneficial presence by persistently encouraging Anthony to acknowledge his feelings for Kate, yet refraining from pressuring them into marriage as he had with her and Simon.

Who Could Take On Daphne's Book Role In Colin & Pen's Romance In Bridgerton Season 3?

Daphne's nonappearance in the show after the conclusion of Bridgerton season 2 puts at risk a poignant revelation about Colin's love for Penelope that occurs in the books. Yet, someone else has the potential to step into Daphne's shoes and assist him in navigating his journey of comprehending his emotions for Penelope. In Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Colin quickly realizes that he is not only attracted to Penelope but also harbors feelings for her, even though he struggles to define them precisely. As Violet experienced true love with Edmund, she could serve as a guiding light for Colin, allowing him to seek her advice on matters of the heart.

Another possibility is to consider Anthony, who has recently experienced true love in Bridgerton season 2. His own journey might make him a suitable person to assist Colin in navigating his feelings for Penelope. However, during a heartfelt conversation between Daphne and Colin in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, it was revealed that Colin feels embarrassed about seeking help, particularly from an older brother like Anthony or Benedict. This hesitation led him to confide in Daphne instead. Alternatively, another option could be one of the younger sisters. Although they have not been the central focus of any Bridgerton season, the most likely candidate would be Francesca. In the books, she had her first marriage in 1818 and could potentially offer Colin her wise advice.