The Mystery Deepens: Bridgerton Season 2 Takes a Surprising Twist Without Simon

Regé-Jean Page, who gained fame for his role as Simon Basset in Bridgerton, decided not to continue with the show after season 1. This means that a key storyline involving the characters Lady and Lord Danbury Bridgerton will likely remain unresolved. In April 2021, the news of Page's departure was announced by Lady Whistledown on social media, disappointing many viewers who were curious about Simon's future with Daphne and wanted to learn more about the Duke of Hastings' past. In season 1, it is revealed that Simon was abandoned by his father when he was a child, but important details about Lord Hastings' life and times are left out. During season 1, Simon comes to London to bid farewell to his sick father and to accept his new title. Flashbacks reveal that a young Simon faced rejection due to his speech impediment, which had the potential to tarnish the family's reputation. With the help of Lady Danbury, who introduces Simon to her inner circle upon his arrival in episode 1, he overcomes his stammer. Season 1 of Bridgerton concludes with Simon resolving his primary conflict by initially planning to end the family bloodline out of spite, but eventually marrying Daphne. However, there remains a mystery surrounding the Lady and Lord Danbury Bridgerton characters that has yet to be solved.

The Simon/Lady Danbury Mystery Explained

The first season of Bridgerton suggests that Lady Danbury once had leverage over Simon's father, but the reason remains undisclosed. In the episode "Shock and Delight," Lord Hastings once again disowns his son and makes indecent remarks about both his deceased wife and Simon's mentor. Lady Danbury possesses incriminating information regarding Lord Hastings and advises Simon in the season finale of Bridgerton not to be as arrogant as his late father. Page's inclusion in the Bridgerton cast for a single season character arc raises eyebrows, as the writers did not clarify Lord Hastings' backstory. This omission is surprising, as it could have provided valuable insights into Simon's behavior during his marriage to Daphne.

The tidy conclusion of Bridgerton season 1 suggests that the Duke of Hastings has undergone a transformation. However, unresolved emotions from his past could still impact his marriage and the Lady and Lord Danbury Bridgerton mystery. Bridgerton season 3 may potentially delve into the mysteries surrounding Simon's deceased father, but only if he remains part of the storyline. It is likely that the season 1 writers introduced a blackmail subplot to enhance Lady Danbury's character development, as she shares similarities with Lady Whistledown in terms of ambition and knowledge of navigating high society. While information about Lord Hastings is relevant when analyzing Simon's personality, the writers assumed that enough implicit details were given for the audience to connect the dots. Simon's father's inability to love others compelled Simon to break the cycle by loving himself first, then Daphne, and ultimately their newborn child. Lady Danbury appeared in Bridgerton season 2, but the Lady and Lord Danbury Bridgerton mystery was never addressed. Although the actress (Andoh) hinted at further exploration of Simon and Daphne's story, audiences received only brief appearances by actress Phoebe Dynevor and minimal explanations for Simon's absence.

Did Season 2 Or The Queen Charlotte Spin-Off Shed Any Light On The Mystery?

After Regé-Jean Page's departure from Bridgerton, his character has been conspicuously absent from both season 2 and the spinoff story Queen Charlotte. This leaves the Lady and Lord Danbury Bridgerton mystery unresolved. In season 2, Lady Danbury played a prominent role but focused solely on sponsoring the Sharma family, and Daphne briefly mentioned Simon's absence by stating he was occupied with estate affairs. As a result of Lady Danbury's involvement with the Sharmas and Daphne's family dynamics, the mystery surrounding Lord Hastings was not addressed.

Although Queen Charlotte frequently interacted with the characters of Lady and Lord Danbury in the spinoff story, she did not shed light on the Lord Hastings mystery. Instead, she provided insights into Agatha's character and her unhappy marriage to Lord Danbury. It is possible that Queen Charlotte saw similarities between her own husband and Lord Hastings, making it easy for her to imagine a scandalous act that could be used to blackmail him. However, Queen Charlotte never revealed the specific details of Lord Hastings' betrayal, and it remains unclear what information Lady Danbury might have had about Simon's father in Bridgerton.