Daphne was in Bridgerton Weddings.
Although Daphne might not have shown up on TV, she was nonetheless there for the Bridgerton family weddings and stays a fundamental part of the family. Given that Daphne's love of Simon dominated much of Bridgerton season 1, it is reasonable that Dynevor leave the show soon after Simon did. In season 2, Daphne had little to occupy her time, so she was left to fill in for him. Daphne's absence was evident once Dynevor left, but it did not diminish the love tales or the family dynamic that drives the show to be so engaging.
Enough people on the Bridgerton family tree will allow the story to be comfortably led in Daphne's Absence. Actually, the change of emphasis mirrors Julia Quinn's book structure. Every novel centers on a different family member, hence the seasons emphasizing individual individuals are a great approach to represent that. Given her storyline has already gone, Daphne's departure does not fundamentally alter as much as a future central character might. In such situation, any future lead might have to be recast.
Why Did Daphne's Absence from Both Weddings Not Addressed in Bridgerton Season 3 Explainable by Showrunner
Daphne's absence from Bridgerton Season 3 still begs questions following several breathtaking marriages. In the first season Phoebe Dynevor played Daphne, who married Simon (Regé-Jean Page). In the second season. Dynevor declined to rejoin the Bridgerton season 3 cast, thus Daphne could not show up for any of the weddings. John and Francesca were newly married as were Penelope and Colin. Daphne missed important events and it was never covered since Dynevor left the program.
Showrunner Jess Brownell doesn't find any problem with Daphne's detached role. Brownell clarified in an interview with Variety that although they first intended to discuss it, they finally concluded they never needed to explain her absence at all. Daphne and Simon were at the Weddings, but they just happened to be out of sight at any pivotal scene. See the entire quote below:
Without Daphne
Daphne's absence is unfortunate even if she would not have been needed there. Seeing her honoring the love life of her brothers is fulfilling even if viewers can see she was at the wedding. Seasons 1 and 2 depend on the interactions among these people, hence eliminating them completely is shocking. Daphne will surely become a major player once Dynevor comes back to Bridgerton, but her absence from the Weddings still causes conflict.
From Shondaland and producer Chris Van Dusen, Netflix's Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn's same-named romantic books. The eight Bridgerton siblings—Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth—search for love during the social season and negotiate life in Regency-era England.
The Reason Given by the Showrunner
This season, there was a version of the scripts where, at Penelope and Colin's wedding, we dropped a line saying, "Oh, Daphne wishes she could be here — but she's pregnant again," or "Daphne and Simon? I noticed them seated over there. The truth of the case is, though, that it simply becomes a bit sloppily to bring them up and subsequently disappears. But in my thinking, I really believe they are still a part of the universe. Clearly in the television show, you are not seeing all aspect of these people's life. And so they are still seeing Daphne and Simon; Daphne and Simon are still visiting, oddly not at the moment the camera happens to capture.
Considering the route the program has gone, the justification given by the showrunner makes logic. The remarks of the showrunner expose how the show will change for the next seasons. Fans should not be demoralized as, even without Daphne, there will be plenty of stories remaining to be told.
