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Rating: 4/5 stars
Verdict: A warm, witty Austen remix that finally gives Mary Bennet the spotlight, "The Other Bennet Sister" is as charming as it is satisfying. It stumbles occasionally, but its big heart — and even bigger affection for its heroine — make it an easy recommendation.
Release schedule: All 10 episodes now streaming
Where to watch: BritBox
At this point, "Pride and Prejudice" has been adapted, reimagined, sequelized, zombified and generally put through the Regency-era wringer so many times that any new spin risks feeling like an old dress you're pretending is new. Then again, isn't vintage always in?
When "The Other Bennet Sister" — an adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s novel about poor, overlooked middle sister Mary — debuted on the BBC in the U.K. in March, I’ll admit my expectations were cautiously optimistic at best. But reception among Brits was very positive, and when I finally got a chance to watch the entire first season, well ... reader, I was charmed.
I can now report that "The Other Bennet Sister" is not just a clever reframing of a familiar world; it’s a genuinely lovely, deeply satisfying watch. The Austen fan in me was well fed, but more importantly, the TV watcher in me had a very good time.
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Kelly's favorite Jane Austen adaptation is the "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries. She recently reviewed "The Testaments," "For All Mankind" season 5 and "Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat."
Finally, justice for Mary Bennet
The show begins where you’d expect: Longbourn is in a tizzy, Mrs. Bennet is in full matrimonial overdrive and a certain rich, single man has taken up residence nearby. The early episodes retell the events of "Pride and Prejudice," but from Mary’s perspective, which mostly consists of being ignored, dismissed or subtly (and not-so-subtly) insulted by her own family.
It’s a touch heavy-handed at first. The series really underscores Mary’s status as the odd one out, hammering home her “plainness” and social invisibility with such frequency that it borders on overkill. But once the show moves past Austen's narrative and allows Mary to step beyond the claustrophobic confines of Longbourn, it truly soars.
That’s largely thanks to Ella Bruccoleri, who gives a performance that’s as quietly devastating as it is deeply endearing. There’s a warmth to her Mary that makes you root for her instantly, even when she’s making painfully misguided choices. As the first season progresses, Bruccoleri charts Mary’s growth with subtle shifts — straighter posture here, a more confident voice there — until the woman who once faded into the background begins to blossom.
The turning point comes when Mary is sent to London to live with the Gardiners, where she is treated with the kindness that has been missing for most of her life. It’s here that "The Other Bennet Sister" really comes into its own as it charts the slow, believable evolution of a woman learning that she doesn’t have to make herself small to be accepted or loved.
Romance, reinvention and a refreshingly unsexy Regency
Look, I love "Bridgerton," but not every period drama needs to feel like it’s one string quartet cover of a pop song away from a full-blown hookup montage. "The Other Bennet Sister" takes the opposite approach, understanding the power of restraint. The romance here unfolds in glances, in conversations, in the slow realization that someone is actually listening to you.
Yes, there’s a low-stakes but genuinely engaging love triangle, but it never overshadows her personal journey. Both suitors offer something different, and the show has fun exploring that without turning it into a high-drama competition.
That said, "The Other Bennet Sister" isn’t without its bumps. The pacing can be uneven and certain supporting characters veer into caricature (Mrs. Bennet, in particular, feels dialed up to 11). And the initial obsession with Mary’s supposed shortcomings can get repetitive.
Still, these are relatively minor quibbles. The show honors Austen’s tone without feeling trapped by it, and it’s cozy without being dull.
Verdict: A charming Austen remix that earns its place
For a story spun out of one of the most beloved novels in the English language, "The Other Bennet Sister" manages to feel both comfortingly familiar and genuinely fresh. That’s genuinely impressive.
What makes it work is by what it doesn't do: try to “fix” Mary in any conventional sense. There’s no massive makeover, no sudden personality transplant. Instead, the show allows her to grow into herself — to become more confident, more open, but still unmistakably Mary. It’s a quiet transformation, but a far more satisfying one.
All in all, this is a warm, witty, and deeply enjoyable watch. It may not reinvent the Austen adaptation, but it doesn’t need to. Sometimes, a well-tailored vintage dress — one that actually fits this time — is more than enough.
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