When tuning into Bridgerton season 3, you probably knew who you wouldn’t be seeing in the new season. Regé-Jean Page departed the series after his leading role as Simon a.k.a The Duke in the first season, and Phoebe Dynevor left the show following her supporting stint in season 2.

Understandably, Bridgerton fans have been missing Simon and Daphne since we haven’t seen them together since season 1. Some fans might still even be holding out hope that Page and Dynevor could make a surprise appearance in a future season, but that didn’t happen in season 3.

While Daphne was on hand in season 2 to celebrate her older brother Anthony’s marriage to Kate, she didn’t make the trip for either Colin or Francesca’s weddings in season 3. Obviously, that makes sense since Dynevor left the show. However, Daphne’s absence isn’t even offhandedly mentioned in dialogue as an explanation for why she wasn’t able to attend either occasion.

Jess Brownell, the showrunner of Bridgerton, shared why Daphne isn’t addressed:

“There was a version of the scripts this season where at Penelope and Colin’s wedding, we threw a line at the fact that like, ‘Oh, Daphne wishes she could be here — but she’s pregnant again,’ or, ‘Daphne and Simon? I just saw them, they’re sitting over there.’ But the truth of the matter is that it just gets a little wonky to bring them up, and then not see them.”

– Jess Brownell, showrunner

As a viewer, I have to slightly disagree with Brownell here. Although, yes, it makes sense not to continue to mention a character that’s no longer a regular part of the series, she’s clearly still a big part of the characters’ world. Not acknowledging that can be jarring to the audience. Is it important that we know where Daphne is at all times? No. But is it still something that causes fans to stop and wonder, “Wait… Why isn’t Daphne here for the big moments?”

Brownell continued her explanation, mentioning that Daphne and Simon are frequent visitors of the Bridgerton family, but we just don’t see those moments on screen:

“But I firmly feel that in my brain, they are still a part of the universe. Obviously on the television show, you’re not seeing every part of these people’s lives. And so they are still going to see Daphne and Simon, Daphne and Simon are still coming over — just not at the time when the camera happens to show up, weirdly.”

– Jess Brownell, showrunner

“Weirdly,” fans are still going to be curious why the show’s very first protagonist doesn’t get a mere mention at occasions we know she would otherwise be at. Brownell’s right that it can be “wonky” when shows lean heavily on exposition to explain away things that don’t really matter to the story. (Remember when 7th Heaven had full storylines for Mary when Jessica Biel had long left the show? Yeah, no one needs that.)

But there’s a scene in Bridgerton season 3 episode 7 between Anthony and Kate where they provide a full update on Edwina. (There’s another scene earlier in the season with an initial update on Edwina.) Their conversation about Kate’s sister leads to their plan to travel to India to welcome their baby, and it isn’t a brief scene, which makes it feel important. Are the writers setting up a spinoff or are they just setting up an exit plan for these two characters?

It’s likely the latter, but we don’t even need that long of a conversation to explain the reason behind Daphne missing both her brother and sister’s weddings. The characters speak so eloquently that it’s unimaginable that an aside to Daphne would be “wonky.” Regardless, even if Daphne and Simon are technically at these weddings and offscreen, maybe there’s body doubles we see from behind and far away? Again, it’s not the biggest deal in the world, but it’s something fans probably won’t stop thinking about.