Simon's story on Bridgerton may have come to a close with season 1, but the hit Netflix series would be wise to bring actor Regé-Jean Page back for future seasons. Page was the undeniable breakout star of the show's first batch of episodes. Finding a way to include him in some capacity in Bridgerton's upcoming seasons will ensure that audiences come back for more.

Bridgerton, which was adapted from the first in the series of Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn, follows young London socialite Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) as she makes her debut onto the city's competitive marriage market. But as she hopes to find a match based on love and not status, she hatches an unlikely scheme with the playboy Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Page). As she wants to ward off suitors until she finds her true love and Simon doesn't wish to marry at all, they enter into a false courtship to take themselves off the market. But in spite of their best efforts, the two fall for each other.

Related: Bridgerton: Actors Who Almost Played Simon, Duke of Hastings

While the central story in Bridgerton's first season is meant to be Daphne's, Simon often steals the spotlight. That's due to a plethora of reasons, ranging from his sex appeal and charisma to the way his presence increases Bridgerton's level of diversity in what would otherwise be a very white main cast. By keeping him out of the rest of the story for good, Bridgerton will be sorely lacking some of the key elements that made its first season successful.

Simon in his library in Bridgerton

Simon's value to the Netflix show can be categorized into two distinct reasons. For one, Bridgerton quickly became known for its steamy sex scenes, often between the central couple of Daphne and Simon. Because of that, their individual performances had to give off a certain energy. As Page quickly asserted himself as one of the most charismatic performers in the show's ranks, he became an easy fan favorite and his sex appeal became a major selling point for Bridgerton. But more importantly, his character's presence on the show brought diversity to a story that had previously lacked it. Unlike his television counterpart, Simon is not Black in the books. Executive producer Shonda Rhimes reimagines the world of Bridgerton as one in which Black characters also have visibility in key roles in a Regency era-set series, even holding prominent roles in London high society.

While Page left Bridgerton on his own terms, his departure robs the show of two of its most important elements. Many viewers likely watched Bridgerton for its romantic plots, and Page was the driving force behind the most important one. Bridgerton's cast is stacked with many attractive performers, none have managed to hold a candle to the charisma that Page brings to his specific sex appeal. Many of Bridgerton's Black cast members, such as Lady Danbury and Jefferies, were tied to Simon's story. With him gone, their roles on the show will likely be greatly diminished or cut altogether. Cutting down the presence of those already-established characters will likely be a turn-off to many viewers. But if Page and Netflix manage to come to an agreement that leaves the door open for him to return in some way, Bridgerton can hold onto the viewers they are in danger of losing if Page's absence ends up being permanent.

More: Everything We Know About Bridgerton Season 2