Okay, so I’m four seasons into Bridgerton now, and honestly, there’s this one thing the show just can’t seem to fix – and it’s actually getting more annoying with each season. I love how the show jumps around and focuses on a different sibling each time, but what really hooked me was getting to know the whole Bridgerton family and seeing how all their lives connect. They’ve done a great job making me care about everyone, which is why this is so frustrating. Seriously, major spoilers ahead for Part 2 of Season 4 – you’ve been warned!
Following the second season of Bridgerton, several key characters have been noticeably absent or had reduced roles. Regé-Jean Page, who played Simon Basset, didn’t return, and Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne appeared less and less, eventually not appearing at all in Season 3. This trend continued in Season 3 and into Season 4 with Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley), who have minimal screen time and only make a brief return later in Season 4.
Bridgerton Characters Going Missing Is At Its Worst With John Stirling’s Death
It’s normal for the show to focus on a new couple, but it would be nice to see more of the existing characters as they continue their lives. It’s frustrating when important things happen to them off-screen, especially since the story seems to require their involvement.
Season 4 of Bridgerton features a sad event: the death of Francesca’s husband, John Stirling. Although Anthony and Kate appear in the episode where John dies, they are notably missing from his funeral in the following episode. This suggests Anthony isn’t prioritizing his sister’s grief, and doesn’t feel obligated to attend as the head of the family.
As a big fan of the show, it really bothers me when characters act so out of line! Like, Daphne always puts her family first, so it doesn’t make sense when she’s not around to support her younger sibling. And it’s not just this time – remember the double wedding in Season 3? Anthony and Daphne missed that too! There’s never a good reason given, and honestly, it feels like a real misstep because, as viewers, we know those characters would never intentionally skip something so important for their family.
It’s understandable that scheduling is difficult, especially for Bailey, who clearly has limited availability. If their time is limited, they could prioritize finding a solution to this issue, or at least provide clearer explanations. With Dynevor previously expressing her willingness to return (according to The Direct), her absence is even more puzzling, as there doesn’t seem to be a reason preventing her from doing so.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to imagine a solution to this problem in future seasons. We’re hoping to see Benedict and Sophie return in Season 5, particularly if the show focuses on Eloise’s love story, as she’s close to Benedict. However, it appears the show will continue to move away from characters like Anthony, Kate, and Daphne, and possibly others as well. Luckily, the show has a strong cast of characters, but this could become a more significant problem as the series goes on.
All episodes of Bridgerton Season 4 are now streaming on Netflix.
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2026-02-27 16:41