‘Bridgerton’ Season 2: How Simon Basset’s Absence Was Explained in the Storyline
Fans were gutted to learn that actor Regé-Jean Page would not reprise his role as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in Bridgerton Season 2. Seeing as the new season focuses on a new love story entirely, his character’s exit was hardly noticed by fans. With the mark he left after the first season, how was the handsome Duke’s absence accounted for in season two?
[Warning: The article contains spoiler information for Bridgerton Season 2.]
Simon Basset changes his ways after falling in love with Daphne Bridgerton
The period drama is based on the Julia Quinn novel series, and the first book was all about the brewing and complex love story between Daphne and Simon. Daphne looked to find a suitable husband and fall in love, while Simon wanted anything but marriage in spite of his late father.
Regardless they become each other’s friends in a concocted plan to fix their social standings. Along the way, their chemistry brews into love. Despite Regé-Jean Page becoming a breakout star thanks to the Netflix series, he announced he was not returning for Bridgerton Season 2, and neither was his character.
The actor told Variety how his character and story were pitched to him by the producers. “It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year,” explained Page. His character Simon Basset was never planned to become a central figure in the series of Bridgerton Season 2.
‘Bridgerton’ Season 2 accounts for Simon Basset’s absence quickly and swiftly
At the end of Bridgerton, Daphne and Simon have a baby boy. Bridgerton Season 2 had a clever way of including some part of the Duke and why he is not included. In the very first scenes of the second season, Daphne arrives in her carriage to the Bridgerton estate.
Fans soon learn it is for the grand day Eloise has been dreading; her introduction as a bachelorette ready for the marriage market. But Daphne comes alone and swiftly explains the absence of her husband. While worried that Eloise has not come out of her room and running late, Daphne says, “I left my husband and child at home for this.”
It is an easy way to explain why the actor and character are not present. Later on, when Daphne arrives at the country estate, she brings in tow her son Augie. Fans still get to see a small aspect of the Duke and even a cuter version.
In Bridgerton Season 2, Episode 4, Daphne tries to understand Anthony’s plan to wed Edwina Sharma. She sees that he does not truly know her or truly love her. In the scene, Anthony diverges attention by saying he misses the Duke, and Daphne becomes meddlesome in his absence.
Will the character ever return to the ‘Bridgerton’ series?
The creator and executive producer of Bridgerton have explained each season will focus on one Bridgerton sibling and book. With more stories to tell, is it really impossible for Simon to return on screen? Fans can still have hope as the character is present throughout the rest of the book series.
According to Variety, Chris Van Dusen in does not negate the possibility of Simon and Page’s return. “I’ll never say never about Regé returning. He’s not in season 2. Who knows what the future will hold,” explained Van Dusen about season three. Shonda Rhimes even says the Duke is never really gone as fans can binge-watch the first season. She gives her thoughts and explains she is more than happy to work with Page again.
