BBC’s radical Pride and Prejudice retelling is for the late-in-life single girlies

This review of BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister is based on the first four episodes.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that wherever there is a wacky Pride and Prejudice adaptation, I’m at the scene of the crime.

John Green’s stupendous 2012 Lizzie Bennet Diaries web series? completed it; 2016’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies featuring Matt Smith as a bumbling Mr Collins in a post-apocalyptic Austen world? devoured it.

That’s not even mentioning the not one, but two, 00s seminal classics, Bridget Jones’ Diary and the utterly delightful Bride and Prejudice starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

All these (and more) prove not only the timeless touch of Jane Austen’s popular 1813 novel but that it is a joyous playground upon which to try out your wildest period drama romance ideas.

So, when the BBC announced another out-of-left-field Pride and Prejudice remake, The Other Bennet Sister, based on Janice Hadlow’s 2020 novel, about the oft-forgotten Mary, I was sat.

The 10-episode drama (each helping 30 minutes long) stars Call the Midwife’s Ella Bruccoleri as our downtrodden and unconventional heroine.

Mary’s main personality trait in the novel and various adaptations is as background furniture whose only skill is playing the piano and singing to rather embarrassing results.

Needless to say, she’s dealt a pretty rubbish hand, there only to serve the story of her more charming and alluring sisters Jane, Lizzie, and Lydia.

The Other Bennet Sister tears up the manual and runs riot in the world Austen has created to take the scant parts we’re told about Mary to paint a much bigger picture – and give her a moment in the sun.

Now, for the Austen purists out there, you’re going to have to push through the creative liberties taken, or this show will fall flat for you.

After a speedy rehash of the events of Pride and Prejudice across two episodes, the vast majority of the show takes place when her sisters are happily coupled up, and Mary has resigned herself to being a spinster for life (or should we say thornback?).

Although the story may be set in the early 19th century, for anyone who is one of the last single friends in their circle, Mary is right there in the trenches with us.

The oscillating between the existential doom of being alone forever and bursts of self-empowerment as a strong independent woman who doesn’t need anyone – excellently balanced.

Also, Ella’s delicate disposition opposite Ruth Jones’ monstrous turn as Mrs Bennet, truly creates the perfect storm. There’s a brilliant comedic energy between the duo that will have you both cackling and grimacing in sympathy in equal measure.

By the time the first episode is out, you want to swaddle Mary in bubble wrap and shun the naysayers.

If there’s one thing the show executes with near-perfection, it’s creating an Austen heroine you truly want to root for.

The show does well using Pride and Prejudice as a springboard to bring us a new period drama romance – that is a lot more about self-love than any other; a refreshing switch-up indeed.

Having said that, the radical new direction of the story means that the original inspiration is condensed into a formulaic glob with much of the ensemble cast falling into archetypes in order to maintain Mary as the sympathetic lead.

It very quickly departs the world penned by the beloved classic author and takes on a sweet new life of its own. In many ways, the Pride and Prejudice base serves only to rapidly establish familiar dynamics so we can get on with telling Mary’s story.

Also, there’s more than one moment that comes across as trite and trying to spoon-feed the audience to tell them how to feel, which can be wearing. The show does occasionally veer into making Mary too pitiful, instead of trusting we’re already invested in her enough.

Still, it’s not enough of a deterrent to take away from what is, for the most part, a delightful tale that brings yet another perspective to this well-loved story, and is dangerously bingeable.

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I was won over, but let’s just say, I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.

The first two episodes of The Other Bennet Sister air on BBC One tonight at 8pm. The first five episodes are available to stream on iPlayer.

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