The Other Bennet Sister mercifully avoids a ‘glow up’ – but where’s its bite?

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The BBC series The Other Bennet Sister is adapted from Janice Hadlow’s popular novel of the same name. Unlike the original Pride and Prejudice, which focuses on Elizabeth Bennet, this 10-part drama tells the story of Mary Bennet, the middle sister who loves to read and seems destined to never marry.

Ella Bruccoleri, known for her role in Call the Midwife, plays the main character. She describes her as someone who doesn’t fit the mold of a typical historical drama heroine. Mary lives in a society where how you look is incredibly important, especially for women, but she just doesn’t understand or agree with that way of thinking.

She finds solace in books that present alternative ideas. She particularly loves Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women, which challenges the expectation that women need to be beautiful, instead emphasizing the importance of intelligence and religious devotion. (Source: BBC)

Despite aiming to celebrate goodness and cleverness, The Other Bennet Sister doesn’t manage to create a compelling story or connect with readers on an emotional level.

The enduring appeal of Pride and Prejudice lies in its wit – its ability to playfully critique social norms, even while ultimately accepting them to some degree. The Other Bennet Sister, however, doesn’t possess this same nuanced approach.

The story strongly emphasizes intelligence over appearance, with characters constantly criticizing Mary’s looks. Instead of clever humor, the book relies on unkindness and negativity.

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It’s really heartbreaking to see how Mary starts believing all the negative things people say about how she looks. It’s only when she finally gets away from her family and starts living her own life that she truly comes into her own, and I love that it’s not just about a superficial makeover – it’s a real, genuine growth.

The story has a good message – that Mary is worthy of affection just as she is, without needing to change how she looks. But it’s presented very directly, without any nuance.

It was such a relief to finally see her pick out her own outfit, free from her mother’s constant criticism. But honestly? The dress she chose was…a lot. It wasn’t just the style, which was pretty questionable, but it looked like it was falling apart – the stitches around the green ribbon on her red dress were all loose. It actually reminded me of a badly made pannetone, and I’m not even ashamed to admit that was my first thought!

It’s nice to have someone like an aunt tell you to prioritize your own happiness, but a little advice would also be helpful. These feel-good statements, even when delivered by a skilled actress like Indira Varma, come across as overly sentimental and generic – like something you’d find on an inspirational Instagram post designed in Canva.

The show just feels empty. There’s no passion, romance, or suspense. While many TV dramas have a polished look these days, The Other Bennet Sister feels strangely artificial with its overly glossy presentation.

The actors seem uncomfortable and out of place, both in what they wear and the setting itself. What’s meant to convey religious devotion comes across as a general lack of understanding about the story. Anyone familiar with amateur productions of Jane Austen will recognize this feeling—it’s as if the actors might break character and call out for their lines at any moment.

Look, I wasn’t expecting The Other Bennet Sister to be super steamy or anything. But honestly, by steering clear of all the marriage plot stuff that’s so central to Pride and Prejudice, the story just feels…flat. It loses that sense of real stakes, that fiery emotion, and the feeling of needing to know what happens – which is what makes Austen’s books, and stories like them, so amazing in the first place.

The Other Bennet Sister is now available on BBC One and iPlayer.

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2026-03-16 18:20