‘Bridgerton’ is Way More Than Just Regé-Jean Page

On Friday the devastating news hit that the Duke himself, Regé-Jean Page, would not be returning to Bridgerton Season 2.  Fans all over the world — including none other than Kim Kardashian — were outraged over Page’s departure from the show. After all, Bridgerton Season 1 was all about Regé-Jean Page’s Duke falling in spite of himself for the incandescent Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor). Their romance was “the show.”
So how can Bridgerton Season 2 possibly go on without star Regé-Jean Page? I hate to say it but…rather easily.

Bridgerton is way more than Regé-Jean Page. Although his dashing Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, was the breakout heartthrob in Bridgerton Season 1, there are many more handsome rakes and surprising romantic heroes waiting in the wings to steal our collective hearts. In fact, as fans of the Bridgerton books will share, there isn’t much more for Page’s character to do after the events of Season 1. I’m not joking. His continued role would have amounted to a cameo at best. Moreover, the obsession with Page betrays the awesome power of Bridgerton‘s ensemble cast. The Shondaland show wasn’t a hit merely because of Regé-Jean Page’s charisma, but because of a symphony of killer performances all played to perfection.

In case you’ve been living with a sect of Netflix-abstaining monks since December, Bridgerton is a smash series based on the bestselling novels by writer Julia Quinn. The American novelist has made a name for herself populating the fantasy world of Regency romance with gusty heroines and heroes whose seemingly rakish behavior is actually a smokescreen for unprocessed trauma. Her most popular series follows all eight Bridgerton siblings as they navigate the demands of society and the dream of finding true love. Bridgerton Season 1 uses the first book, The Duke and I, as its A plot, following eldest daughter Daphne Bridgerton’s “fake romance” with the handsome Duke of Hastings. While Daphne wants to inspire jealousy in other suitors, Simon wants to appear unavailable. He swore to his abusive father he would never marry or continue the family line.

When audiences fell hard for Netflix’s Bridgerton, they specifically attached that ardor to its leading man, Regé-Jean Page. Much like Colin Firth took all the heat off of the BBC’s 1995 hit Pride & Prejudice, Page immediately found himself a hot commodity in Hollywood. Since Bridgerton‘s debut, he’s hosted Saturday Night Live, landed two movies, and been heavily favored to be the next actor to play James Bond. Page quickly found himself at a professional crossroads: embrace the wild opportunities landing in his lap or loyally go back to a Netflix show where he would no longer be the lead.

Ah, yes, because here’s the deal. By design, Netflix’s Bridgerton is attempting to turn each book into the main plot of a single season. Daphne and Simon’s story is done. Next in line is eldest brother Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey)’s romance, The Viscount Who Loved Me. After that, prepare to watch Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) strive for a fairy tale happily ever after, and so on, as Julia Quinn’s novels progress. If Page were to return to Bridgerton he would be a supporting player at best. It would be a step down for an actor on the rise and time he could be spending chumming it up on The Grey Man set with Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas. What would you do if you were in his shoes? (Or professionally representing him?)

Bridgerton is not called Hastings for a reason, nor did creator Chris Van Dusen christen the show The Duke and I. The soul of the show can’t be found staring deep into Regé-Jean Page’s eyes, but in the love that binds the Bridgerton family. The show will not only survive without its first leading man, but I suspect it will thrive. The first season did an expert job of weaving in the other Bridgerton siblings and the main players in their world. Juicy romances to come have already been seeded and slight changes to canon made to tell an infinitely more epic tale. As a fan of the books, I’m not devastated by Page’s exit because I know the best is yet to come. (The Duke and I is probably my least favorite book in the whole series, sorry, not sorry.)

I’m not going to lie: it is a bummer Regé-Jean Page isn’t returning for at least a cameo in Bridgerton Season 2. (I want to watch his reaction to the cricket scene!!) So weep into your “I Burn For You” stitched pillows all you want. You have every right to mourn this hurt. Just please don’t lose sight of the fact that Bridgerton isn’t a one-man show. It’s not even a two-person act. Bridgerton is a rich ensemble of characters all striving to find the most passionate love they can. The romance won’t stop just because Regé-Jean Page is gone. In fact, you might be surprised by how much Bridgerton is about to steam up…

Watch Bridgerton on Netflix