Why You Should Be Watching The Jane Austen Series The Other Bennet Sister
If you love a period drama – and especially Jane Austen – you should definitely check out BBC One’s new series The Other Bennet Sister, which adapts the book of the same name and takes place in the world of Pride and Prejudice. Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) is the quiet one of a large family, and the show follows her stepping out of the shadow of her sisters. Richard E. Grant, Ruth Jones and Indira Varma also star- here’s why it’s making a buzz:
Who is the other Bennet sister?
Mary Bennet is one of the less focused-on characters from Pride and Prejudice (hence the TV show’s title), and even her family seems to constantly shun her. In comparison to Elizabeth (Poppy Gilbert) and the rest of her sisters, Mary is underpraised and underappreciated by her parents. It’s this feeling of being left out that motivates Mary to embark on a journey of self-discovery and slowly find her confidence, forming the backbone of The Other Bennet Sister’s storyline.
Can I watch without knowing Pride and Prejudice?
Pride and Prejudice has been adapted countless times (Netflix is releasing its own version starring The Crown’s Emma Corrin later this year), but The Other Bennet Sister aims to tell a different side of the familiar story, as well as taking creative liberties of its own. It’s also great to dive into if you like a good period drama but don’t know Austen’s original characters very well.
What is The Other Bennet Sister about?
Mary starts out as someone who has little self-belief and remains the quietest and most bookish of the Bennet sisters. Taking inspiration from the book by Jannice Hadlow, the series begins with her mother, Mrs Bennet (Jones), looking to ensure that her daughters are all married, preferably, of course, to a wealthy man. It’s the same societal conventions and manners which make Austen’s works endlessly appealing to new generations, but Mary doesn’t fit in- even her wearing spectacles causes a stir. When someone does take an interest in Mary, despite her family thinking of her as “too plain”, Mrs Bennet disapproves, and so Mary continues to be left out. After several mishaps and letdowns, we see Mary leave her usual home life to become a governess in London for a time, giving her a newfound sense of freedom.
What happens next?
The second half of the series picks up where Chapter 5 left off, continuing Mary’s story after she develops an interest in Mr Ryder (Laurie Davidson), whom she competes with Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds) to win over. However (spoiler alert if you’ve yet to catch up!), she’s told the news that her mother is ill, having already lost her father (Grant) earlier in the series. Episodes 6-10 will follow where she goes next after this latest family drama as Mary rushes back to Pemberley- and if you’re itching to find out what happens, all five episodes will arrive on streaming on 29th March on iPlayer, with BBC One also airing episodes in pairs weekly.
