Despite being crowned the ‘diamond,’ Daphne Bridgerton’s perfection leaves little for growth, making her the least interesting Bridgerton character.
When it comes to Netflix’s Bridgerton, there is no shortage of interesting, well-developed characters, be it the dashing Jonathan Bailey’s Viscount Anthony or Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington. But not all of these characters have managed to spark the same appeal as others, and one main character that falls rather flat is Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne Bridgerton, aka the Diamond of the first season.
In the season debut of the Netflix series, Daphne is crowned the ‘diamond of the season’—a title reserved for the most flawless, desirable debutante in London’s high society. But while she fits the aesthetic and social expectations to a tee, Daphne ends up being the least compelling character in the series.
Daphne Is Bridgerton’s Least Intriguing Character
In Bridgerton’s debut season, Daphne Bridgerton, portrayed by Phoebe Dynevor, ends up being the diamond of the season. Centered around her and her love story, while the season remains intriguing, the character herself falls short of being as intriguing as some of the other female leads. In fact, one might even reckon that she seemed more fun to watch in the second season than in her own.
Well, the reason for her being one of the least compelling characters is that she is too perfect, and perfection without complexity is like a pretty cake with no layers. Even a superstore bought cake might have more layers than hers, since her story is all about finding a suitable husband, marrying well, and learning the ropes of early matrimony.
The only complexity in her character is brought by her husband, Regé-Jean Page’s Simon Basset. Lacking the emotional rough edges that make characters memorable, she is too poised, polite, and proper, qualities that fit the Ton’s expectations but do little to stir deeper intrigue. While her perfection becomes her imperfection, the lack of rebellion, quirk, or personal transformation makes her the least interesting.
In contrast, other Bridgerton leads and even supporting characters are allowed to be flawed—wildly so. They lie, make impulsive choices, break societal rules, and then evolve. But Daphne fails to surprise us, remaining the woman that society tells her to be, which takes out all the fun.
Was Daphne Even a Real Diamond?
As we see in the first season of Bridgerton, a ‘diamond of the season’ should be somebody perfect, someone who captivates not just with beauty and grace, and fits the bill for the Ton’s expectations.
However, if you do really think about it, a true diamond should be the one who captivates with spirit, originally, and depth. She should challenge society’s standards, not just fulfil them, something similar to what we witnessed Charithra Chandran’s Edwina Sharma do in the second season.
This is the reason why Phoebe Dynevor’s character falls short of expectations, and others like Eloise, Kate, and even Cressida feel more alive in the Netflix adaptation. Although not proclaimed as diamonds, they bring ambition, chaos, and bite to the screen, pushing against the world they live in.
So, when it comes to the least compelling characters in the series, Daphne Bridgerton surely takes the top spot as a diamond who sparkles but fails to dazzle. Well, if you think otherwise, let us know in the comments below!
