Bridgerton Trailer Confirms Its True Daphne Replacement For Season 3 (2024)

Warning! SPOILERS about When He Was Wicked ahead.

The Bridgerton season 3 trailer revealed plenty of tidbits of information about the upcoming season, including the confirmation regarding which Bridgerton sister will replace Daphne’s role within the family. While briefly returning in some season 2 episodes to offer her wisdom, Phoebe Dynevor won’t return as Daphne in Bridgerton season 3. Being absent from most of the action in Bridgerton season 2 already guaranteed a minor role for Daphne in the story, letting her only offer updates about her life with Simon and support Anthony’s choice to find a wife. However, no proper Bridgerton sister debuted since Bridgerton season 1.

Bridgerton season 2’s premiere famously showed how much Eloise suffered through her debut in society, happily running away once Queen Charlotte stopped the event to read the next column by Lady Whistledown. Eloise still tried to do everything that was required of her as a consequence of being out in society, leading to many hilarious developments. With no other Bridgerton sister debuting in season 2, the standard set up by Daphne’s debut wasn’t met. However, one detail in the Bridgerton season 3 trailer showed Daphne’s role could still be fulfilled in the upcoming season by another sibling, despite Dynevor’s absence.

Francesca Is Taking Daphne's Role In Bridgerton Season 3

Bridgerton Season 3's Trailer Hints At Her Debut Dazzling The Queen

With Daphne’s role changing after her marriage and her absence from Bridgerton season 3, Francesca finally has the chance to shine following her debut in society. The Bridgerton season 3 trailer teased Francesca’s presentation to the queen, highlighting how flawlessly her debut was, following in her sister’s steps and confirming Francesca as Daphne’s replacement. The trailer highlighted how seamlessly Francesca’s presentation went, unlike Eloise’s which included plenty of animosity against the whole system, setting her up as the debutante most similar to Daphne and the one possibly being named as the season’s diamond, especially considering the Bridgertons’ position in society.

Even Penelope’s comment at Colin seemed to convey how well Francesca’s debut went. Penelope highlighting how it seemed like “every Bridgerton was born to attract notice” after all mentioned a Bridgerton getting all the attention, and with Francesca being the only Bridgerton to debut in Bridgerton season 3, it would make sense for Penelope’s annoyance to be directed at her. These details thus confirm Francesca as being the one to watch in Bridgerton season 3, potentially hinting at a match being struck quickly for her just like Daphne’s, even with the season focusing mainly on Penelope and Colin’s love story.

Bridgerton Missed Daphne After Her Reduced Role In Season 2

Daphne's Different & Reduced Role Made The Absence Of A Proper Debutante Felt

Daphne’s position was extremely tricky in Bridgerton season 1, as she wished to find a good match and one of true love, but at the same time she would have to fend off Anthony’s best intentions that almost landed her in the hands of someone utterly despicable. Despite Daphne’s limited presence, Bridgerton season 2 still couldn’t replicate her season 1 struggles, because she wasn’t a debutante anymore having married, and because Eloise had no interest in getting married through a match on the marriage mart.

Daphne’s unique search for true love in Bridgerton season 1 despite only having Violet and Edmund’s example of a successful marriage based on love set her apart from all the other debutantes who only looked for an advantageous match. Daphne’s approach showed her willingness to play by the ton’s rules to get what she wanted, but that couldn’t be the case for Eloise, whose interests pushed her toward any other place that wasn’t a ball or a royal event. This way, what Daphne represented in Bridgerton season 1 completely lacked in season 2.

Why Francesca Could Be The True Star Of Bridgerton Season 3

Francesca's Past Absences & Her Book Story Can Center Her Already In Season 3

While Bridgerton didn’t have the chance to show the similarities between Daphne and Francesca, the books the Netflix show is based on already highlighted how their wishes were very similar. Indeed, they both wanted a love match unlike their older brother Anthony, and willingly played by the ton’s rules to achieve that. Moreover, unlike the books, Netflix’s Bridgerton always placed the queen’s naming of the diamond at the front and center, making a new debut in society fundamental to Bridgerton season 3, which couldn’t have been Penelope’s, as hers already happened in Bridgerton season 1.

With Francesca having been barely mentioned in seasons 1 and 2, Bridgerton season 3 can finally introduce her and her best qualities to the ton and audiences alike. Moreover, as Francesca’s story in When He Was Wicked included two loves and two marriages, Bridgerton season 3 can also potentially introduce her first husband, as his death will impact her greatly when the time comes for her story to be told. Between what’s in store for Francesca and how she is a relatively unknown character despite being a Bridgerton, she truly has the chance to shine in Bridgerton season 3.

Bridgerton

Romance

Drama

Where to Watch

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From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.

Cast

Will Tilston , Rege-Jean Page , Ruth Gemmell , Luke Thompson , Isabella Cortese , Martins Imhangbe , Julie Andrews , Phoebe Dynevor , Ruby Stokes , Ruby Barker , Claudia Jessie , Adjoa Andoh , Nicola Coughlan , Golda Rosheuvel , Charithra Chandran , Ben Miller , Jonathan Bailey , Florence Hunt , Polly Walker , Shelley Conn , Joanna Bobin , Luke Newton , Simone Ashley

Release Date

December 25, 2020

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Julia Quinn , Chris Van Dusen , Jess Brownell , Abby McDonald , Joy C. Mitchell

Directors

Tom Verica , Tricia Brock

Creator(s)

Chris Van Dusen