Phoebe Dynevor’s exit from Bridgerton ahead of season 3 was disappointing, but surprisingly, Daphne’s leave has also led to new opportunities for the season’s lead, Colin. Based on Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Bridgerton season 3 tells the story of friends-to-lovers, Colin and Penelope. Their season is unlike any other Bridgerton installment because Pen and Colin have a history that previous Bridgerton couples never had. Furthermore, Penelope’s Lady Whistledown secret adds a layer of tension that increases the drama tenfold. Luckily though, these Bridgerton changes have only led to fresh moments that never would’ve happened before.

Daphne’s exit from Bridgerton brings subtle yet significant differences to the period drama. First and foremost, without Daphne, the Bridgerton family tree is never quite complete. Where the other seven siblings are packed into the Bridgerton house, Daphne is a loose end. Furthermore, Daphne’s absence means that the show has lost one of its wise advice-givers. In Bridgerton season 2, Daphne used her own romantic experiences to try and help Anthony navigate his journey for love. Though Colin cannot ask Daphne for advice in season 3, her exit has actually led to a new and heartwarming change.

Colin Confides In Violet Instead Of Daphne In Bridgerton Season 3’s Romance Story

Violet Gets Some Of Daphne’s Spotlight In Bridgerton Season 3

One Romancing Mister Bridgerton detail is that Colin often confides in his sister Daphne when it comes to romantic troubles, however with Phoebe Dynevor gone, the new advice-giver character in Bridgerton season 3 ends up being Violet Bridgerton. This is an unexpected change, but a good one. In Bridgerton season 3, Colin and Violet share a few moments where Colin asks vulnerable questions about love and Violet gives him the perfect answer. Though the mother-son dynamic is quite different from the sister-brother one, it ends up being more heartwarming and more logical.

Although Daphne has advice to offer as the first Bridgerton sibling to marry, Violet’s advice makes more sense concerning Colin. Not only was Violet married far longer than Daphne, but her marriage was also one of friendship first. Where Daphne and Simon had a sudden, passionate love affair, Colin and Penelope’s romance is a slow burn like Violet and Edmund’s. Therefore, Violet is uniquely qualified to talk about Colin’s romance. On top of that, Violet may have a better sense of who Colin is, especially since Daphne is younger than her brother.

Violet’s Advice For Colin Has A Very Different Meaning From Daphne’s Perspective

Violet Saw Colin & Pen’s Romance From The Start

Though Daphne’s pieces of advice would have been a nice addition to Bridgerton season 3, Violet’s means so much more because of her motherly perspective. Violet has watched her children grow up, and in turn, has seen parts of their lives play out over time. Namely, she has seen Colin and Penelope’s friendship grow over the years, which gives her a different outlook on the situation than Daphne, who is rather isolated from the situation. Ultimately, Violet’s role as Colin’s advice-giver makes much more sense than Daphne, making Phoebe Dynevor’s Bridgerton exit partly a good thing.

Indeed, while Violet’s perspective comes from a place of authority, as she is Colin’s mother and has his best interests at heart, knowing Colin’s mind inside out, Daphne’s opinion would have been one of a peer. With only one year between Daphne and Colin, Daphne’s advice wouldn’t have weighed as heavily as that of someone who knew Colin since his birth, instead being insightful because of their similar age but different status, with Daphne happily married to Simon. Violet and Daphne’s different roles eventually made Violet’s guidance Colin’s best option, especially considering how directionless Colin felt in Bridgerton season 3.

What Advice Daphne Gave To Colin In The Romancing Mr. Bridgerton Book (& How It Differs From Violet)

Daphne’s Help Mirrored Her Being Colin’s Peer While Violet’s Guidance Reflected Her Wisdom

Daphne’s advice arrives at a peculiar moment for Colin in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as he is already engaged to Penelope and knows how much he likes her, he just isn’t sure if what they have is love, not wanting to condemn Penelope to a loveless marriage. Colin only asks Daphne for guidance after finding himself at Hastings House, having aimlessly wandered around London unsure how to define his feelings for Penelope. The moment is one of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s funniest, with Colin plagued by doubt as Daphne admits she doesn’t know how or when she knew that she loved Simon.

While Daphne’s answers feel at first useless to Colin because she can’t even describe to him how she knew she loved Simon, her description of love as something that “grows and changes every day,” unlike “some thunderbolt from the sky” eventually helps Colin. Indeed, although Daphne’s description of love doesn’t clarify Colin’s feelings before the engagement party, it helps him recognize his feelings as love during one of his and Penelope’s fights about Whistledown. The gradual change in Colin’s feelings ultimately becomes apparent just like Daphne described it, suddenly, proving her right even though it seemed impossible during their talk.

Daphne’s advice in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and Violet’s guidance in Bridgerton season 3, episodes 3 and 4 are both instrumental in getting Colin to understand his feelings for Penelope, however, his realization happens very differently. While Daphne’s words only become useful when Colin is placed in front of the unavoidable truth of his love in the book, Violet’s advice propels him into action in the show. Indeed, Violet’s words send Colin to almost declare his love in Bridgerton season 3, episode 3, and effectively convince him to attend the Queen’s Ball and confess his feelings in season 3, episode 4.

Violet’s Role In Colin’s Bridgerton Season 3 Romance Is Even Better Due To Her Marriage Parallels

Violet & Edmund Going From Friends To Lovers Makes Violet Colin’s Perfect Supporter

Violet pushed her children towards love in each and every Bridgerton season. However, Colin and Penelope’s bond being one of friendship slowly mutating into love as a consequence of the two slowly getting to know each other better and falling for one another makes Violet’s help all the more impactful, because of how her love match with Edmund first began. The two starting as friends before Edmund “gathered the courage to ask” makes Violet the most suitable to give Colin advice, because she knew well the specific pains of going from friends to lovers, having already gone through that.

While Daphne’s advice worked nonetheless in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, helping Colin despite Daphne’s romance with Simon starting completely differently from Colin and Penelope’s, having Violet knowingly coach him into confessing his love for Penelope helps Colin in the best possible way. Daphne’s absence in Bridgerton season 3 thus creates the best opportunity to channel the greatness of Edmund and Violet’s love and connect it to Colin and Penelope’s bond, making Violet’s advice all the more important because of their connection and useful because of the similarities of their situations.