5 Reasons Why ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Fans Must Watch ‘The Other Bennet Sister’

The world is not lacking Pride and Prejudice adaptability.

In addition to screen adaptations such as a 1995 miniseries and a 2005 film (and an upcoming Netflix film), Jane Austen’s enduring novel has spawned several classic books, such as PD James’. Death Comes to Pemberleyof Amanda Grange Diary of Mr. Darcyand Janice Hadlow Another Bennet sister. The latter is the source material that aired on BBC One earlier this year to critical and public acclaim. Now, Another Bennet sister reached US audiences via BritBox, and is a great watch for any Austen head. If you like Pride and Prejudice (be it the novel or its many incarnations), here are five reasons to do it Another Bennet sister your next indulgence.

1. It revisits Pride and Prejudice through a new set of eyes.

Bennet’s titular sister is Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the Bennet family’s book writer, who occasionally scolds the middle child. His family, especially his mother (Ruth Jones), finds him plain and unlikable, so they’ve all resigned themselves to the fact that he’ll never find a suitable match. Because of this, Mary spends most of her time as a wallflower. It is through his wounded eyes that we see their events Pride and Prejudice replay, from Lizzie’s (Poppy Gilbert) initial anger at Mr. Darcy’s (Victor Pilard) disrespectful comments about his rejection of Mr. Collins (Ryan Sampson).

Thank you, Another Bennet sister it doesn’t just give a Pride and Prejudice rehash. (In fact, it races the book in its first two chapters.) Instead, it gives Austen fans just enough plot to the overarching story they know and love, while still keeping Mary’s outsider perspective grounded. This approach leads to several moving reconstructions of the book’s scenes. Remember when Mary sang badly at the ball, so Lizzie didn’t like it? Another Bennet sister diving in why he is very determined to sing this time, and how he feels bad after Lizzie cuts his performance. Scenes like this make you think about the book in a different way, while allowing the original to stand on its own.

2. It will make you think differently about something Pride and Prejudice characters.

Another Bennet sister it just won’t make you reevaluate Mary’s often-shunned role Pride and Prejudice. It will also inspire you to rethink your ideas of some of the worst fictional novel characters.

Take Mr. Collins, for example. He’s often an insufferable source of comic relief, and while Another Bennet sister he still plays his fuddy-duddyness for laughs, and it suggests that he is fully aware of how much others despise him. In addition to generating sympathy for him, Another Bennet sister and spends more time on Charlotte Lucas’ (Anna Fenton-Garvey) choice to marry him, and tries to get inside the head of the icy Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds). Could this reexamination spark a new appreciation for these characters in what follows Pride and Prejudice read?

3. Featuring a lovely lead from Ella Bruccoleri…

In Bruccoleri’s hands, Mary Bennet emerges from the fringes of Pride and Prejudice and stand out with great success. She adjusts to the grief over Bennet’s constant dismissal of Mary and is able to turn Mary’s minute corrections into terrifying moments of rebellion. When Mary corrects her mother that someone is coming “up” or “down” from London, she is really trying to assert power over the person who is bringing her down the most. Bruccoleri delivers each correction as if it were a surprise even to Mary, the words coming out of her before she had a chance to think them through. (Admittedly, the character’s more interesting tendencies have been toned down a bit to make up for it, and sometimes I wish they’d let Mary be more arrogant.)

Bruccoleri shines especially as Another Bennet sister she moves to London, where Mary meets people who see her true worth. Here, you get a metamorphosis. Not rom-com style glamor, but opening her mind and heart to others. It’s a beautiful arc that Bruccoleri writes with a successful openness, even when Mary herself tries to close herself off.

4. … and a doomed love interest in Dónal Finn’s Tom Hayward.

One of the people who immediately sees Mary’s beauty is Tom Hayward (Dónal Finn), a lawyer who loves poetry. He may not be an original Austen character, but he makes a great addition to the list of Regency romance heroes.

Tom always appreciates Mary wholeheartedly and is willing to meet her on her level no matter the situation. In one serious scene, the couple discuss a possible future before Mary begins to imitate the sounds of birds she hears around them. Undeterred, Tom intervenes. Their previous conversation can wait! He also wants to expand his vision. When he admits that he doesn’t like poetry because he doesn’t understand the meaning of the words on the page, he organizes a private poetry reading in a secret garden dripping with lilacs. It’s official: Romance is not dead thanks to Tom Hayward, and Dónal Finn’s amazing performance in the role.

5. It’s Regency romance at its best Bridgerton.

There is no hatred Bridgertonespecially its epic fourth season, but sometimes you just want your Regency love without string quartet pop covers or fancy costumes. Come in Another Bennet sister.

While I’m not an expert on “historically accurate” aesthetics (and I don’t believe a show needs to be accurate to be good), Another Bennet sisterMary’s understated balls and silent charges complement Mary’s performance perfectly. This does not mean that there is no a dream. After all, one scene late in the season comes from Colin Firth’s Darcy’s infamous scene. However, for the most part, Another Bennet sister and its central romance succeeds in their restraint: in Finn’s delivery of each modest “Miss Bennet,” in each lingering image of Tom’s hands as he rolls up his sleeves. There’s a longing to keep here, too Another Bennet sister she cleverly weaves it into Mary’s story of self-discovery to make for some springtime TV fun.

The first three episodes of Another Bennet sister now streaming on BritBox, with new episodes every Wednesday.