The Other Bennet Sister Review: An Austen-Worthy Heroine Emerges In This Romantic, Life-Affirming Regency Dramedy
By Published May 5, 2026, 9:25 AM EDT El is a Junior TV Features Editor for ScreenRant, with previous experience as The Mary Sue's UK and Weekend Editor. She holds a Bachelor's in International Media and Entertainment Management, as well as an MA and Ph.D. in Creative Writing. There is little she loves more than discussing her favorite TV shows with fellow fans. One day, she hopes to publish an original fantasy novel. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Over 200 years later, literary icon Jane Austen's work remains universal. Countless remakes and reimaginings celebrate and challenge Austen's literary canon — horror fans can even enjoy a zombified version of Pride and Prejudice, aptly titled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — but BritBox's , based on Janice Hadlow's bestselling novel of the same name, is by far one of the most joyful and worthwhile Austen-inspired adaptations produced in recent years.
is simple: Whatever happened to Elizabeth Bennet's overlooked younger sister, Mary, after the events of Pride and Prejudice? Call the Midwife's Ella Bruccoleri stars as the bespectacled, bookish, slightly awkward, and endearing middle Bennet sibling, who sets off on a sweeping journey of self-discovery and romance between Longbourn, London, Mr. Darcy's famous Pemberley estate, and the breathtaking Lake District.
The show's first two episodes swiftly, if somewhat heavy-handedly, cover Austen's source material, allowing viewers to familiarize themselves with Mary's perspective and her uniquely tragic place within the Bennet family. From there, the show picks up its comedic and romantic steam, as Mary moves to London to live with her most supportive relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner — played by Richard Coyle and Indira Varma, respectively, both of whom are well-cast though sadly underutilized — and tries to figure out her place in the world while contemplating her future as a potential spinster.
Soon enough, Mary breaks out of her shell, meeting new friends, discovering poetry, and unwittingly charming not one, but two handsome, eligible bachelors. The result is a moving, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny character study, told over 10 well-written and enjoyable 30-minute episodes.
The Other Bennet Sisters' Leading Lady Is A True Regency Era Heroine
Surrounded by siblings deemed prettier, wittier, and daintier than herself, Mary is the unfortunate recipient of Mrs. Bennet's (a melodramatically villainous Ruth Jones) wholly undeserved ire. While Mrs. Bennet maintains that she wants all her daughters to marry and marry well, the family matriarch undercuts Mary at every turn, embarrassing Mary in front of her social peers and refusing to listen to her daughter's modestly achievable dreams.
Despite the lack of maternal affection in Mary's life, The Other Bennet Sister never paints its heroine as a helpless victim. Yes, she falls prey to her mother's guilt trips and has a hard time not comparing herself to her sisters, but Mary's growth is genuine and organic, aided by her closest friends, allies, and love interests, rather than being steered by them. Even a second meeting with Pride and Prejudice's slimy Mr. Collins (Ryan Sampson) delivers an important philosophical realization for Mary (and a surprisingly welcome moment of redemption for one of Austen's most caricature-like characters).
Despite the lack of maternal affection in Mary's life, The Other Bennet Sister never paints its heroine as a helpless victim.
The Other Bennet Sister understands that true character development takes time and effort, as Mary overcomes setback after emotional setback. Crucially, though, the series never pushes Mary to be something she's not. She's allowed to cry and be frustrated as well as hopeful and kind without ever becoming cruel. When she confronts the people closest to her, including her sister Lizzie (Poppy Gilbert), returning Pride and Prejudice antagonist Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds), her mother, and her suitors, it feels earned rather than forced; the showdown Mary finally has with Mrs. Bennet is particularly cathartic.
I found it impossible not to root for Mary. While this is a testament to Hadlow's original story and Sarah Quintrell's and Maddie Dai's adapted scripts, it's largely due to Bruccoleri's performance. Bruccoleri plays Mary with unfaltering earnestness and a sympathetic, quiet charm. Her awkwardness never feels overly awkward, her comedic timing is impeccable, and her expressive face makes Mary's on-screen presence all the more captivating. It's easy to see why two handsome men fall in love with her, even if it takes Mary a while to realize it herself.
The Other Bennet Sisters' Romantic Storyline Is A Breath Of Fresh Air
In this age of Bridgerton, where Regency romance is synonymous with opulence, power, and steamy carriage rides, The Other Bennet Sister's calmer, less dramatic romances may seem less dazzling. This couldn't be further from the truth, however. While The Other Bennet Sister does not feature any sexy masquerade balls or secret stairwell trysts, its central love story is just as powerful and meaningful.
The Other Bennet Sister employs many of the romance genre's tried-and-tested tropes, including a genuinely compelling love triangle that allows Mary to learn more about herself, her desires, and what she deserves. Both of Mary's suitors have real potential, bringing out the best in her in vastly different ways. Laurie Davidson's wealthy Mr. Ryder has a free-thinking, adventurous spirit, and offers Mary the opportunity to be brave. Dónal Finn's shy and hard-working Mr. Hayward teaches her about poetry, life, and love, always supportive of her dreams.
Her relationships with them are sweet without being sickly, and the way both potential pairings are resolved is undeniably satisfying. Dónal Finn's performance as Mr. Hayward, in particular, deserves additional praise. While Davidson brings a likable enough energy to his performance, Finn is charm personified. This isn't necessarily surprising, given his equally magnetic portrayal of budding criminal mastermind James Moriarty in Guy Ritchie's latest Sherlock Holmes adaptation; still, it made the show's romantic storyline even more engaging. He could give the Bridgerton brothers a run for their money.
The Other Bennet Sisters' love story only adds to Mary's already established happiness; it's not dependent on it.
The chemistry between the characters is electric, with plenty of lingering glances, stolen looks, and hidden smiles. This is a show that understands that the most attractive things a man can do are slowly rolling up his white, billowing shirt sleeves or falling into a freezing lake while wearing said billowing white shirt. The Other Bennet Sister features just one moment of purely romantic physical affection, but that doesn't mean the series isn't sexy or noteworthy. It strikes the perfect balance.
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The dramatic tension between Mr. Hayward and Mr. Ryder is palpable, too, but not overwhelmingly so. It never takes away from their individual relationships with Mary, and there's never any danger of the show veering off into an overly territorial, macho dispute. Most importantly, however, the love triangle never overshadows Mary's personal journey, nor does it force her to change her physical appearance to earn their affection — she even gets to keep her glasses. As Bruccoleri points out during one of her voice-over moments, The Other Bennet Sisters' love story only adds to Mary's already established happiness; it's not dependent on it.
This is not a flawless show. Some scenes move too fast while others linger too long. The story tries to remind the audience of Mary's "plainness" a little too often, to an almost irritating degree, and certain characters are overly cruel, while others are barely memorable. All in all, though, The Other Bennet Sister is a worthy spiritual and narrative successor to Austen's most famous work, a wonderfully cozy, comforting, romantic, and uplifting new period dramedy.
The Other Bennet Sister premieres May 6 on BritBox, with new episodes arriving weekly.
The Other Bennet Sister - Season 1
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like History Release Date March 15, 2026 Network BBC One Series Episodes 10
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