Can’t get enough Austen? Then this show is for you.
By Belen Edwards on May 6, 2026
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The world has no shortage of Pride and Prejudice adaptations. On top of screen adaptations like the 1995 miniseries and the 2005 film, Jane Austen’s enduring novel has spawned several spin-off books, like P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley, Amanda Grange’s Mr. Darcy’s Diary, and Janice Hadlow’s The Other Bennet Sister. The latter is the source material for a miniseries that aired on BBC One earlier this year to critical and public acclaim. Now, The Other Bennet Sister has made its way to U.S. audiences via BritBox, and it’s the perfect watch for any Austen head. If you love Pride and Prejudice, then here are five reasons to make The Other Bennet Sister your next binge.
1. It revisits Pride and Prejudice through a fresh set of eyes.
The titular Bennet sister is Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the Bennet family’s bookish, occasionally scolding middle child. Her family, especially her mother (Ruth Jones), finds her plain and uninteresting. Because of this, Mary spends much of her time as a wallflower. It’s through her wounded eyes that we witness the events of Pride and Prejudice play out anew, from Lizzie’s (Poppy Gilbert) first anger at Mr. Darcy’s (Victor Pilard) rude comments to her rejection of Mr. Collins’ (Ryan Sampson) marriage proposal.
Thankfully, The Other Bennet Sister doesn’t just offer up a Pride and Prejudice rehash. Instead, it gives Austen fans just enough hints at the broader story they know and love, while still centering Mary’s outsider perspective. This approach leads to several moving reframes of book scenes, such as when Mary sings horribly at a ball and how awful she feels after Lizzie cuts her performance short.
2. It will make you think differently about certain Pride and Prejudice characters.
The Other Bennet Sister won’t just make you reevaluate the oft-shunned Mary’s role in Pride and Prejudice. It will also prompt you to reconsider your ideas of some of the novel’s most ridiculous or villainous characters.
Take Mr. Collins, for instance. He’s often an insufferable source of comic relief, but The Other Bennet Sister also proposes that he’s fully aware of how much others disdain him, generating empathy for him. The show also spends extra 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).
3. It features a charming lead performance from Ella Bruccoleri…
In Bruccoleri’s hands, Mary Bennet surges from the margins of Pride and Prejudice and into the spotlight with resounding success. She wrings heartbreak from the Bennets’ constant dismissals of Mary and manages to turn Mary’s pedantic corrections into timid moments of rebellion.
Bruccoleri shines as The Other Bennet Sister moves to London, where Mary meets people who see her true value. Here, she undergoes a metamorphosis, charting a sweet arc with a winning openness.
4. … and a swoon-worthy love interest in Dónal Finn’s Tom Hayward.
One of the people who sees Mary’s virtues immediately is Tom Hayward (Dónal Finn), a lawyer with a penchant for poetry. He appreciates Mary wholeheartedly and seeks to broaden her horizons. Finn delivers a charismatic performance, making Tom a fine addition to the canon of Regency romantic heroes.
5. It’s a more grounded Regency romance than Bridgerton.
No hate to Bridgerton, but sometimes you want your Regency romance without the string quartet pop covers or fantastical costumes. The Other Bennet Sister’s less elaborate balls and quieter costuming nicely match Mary’s practicality. There’s yearning to spare here, and the show weaves it expertly into Mary’s tale of self-discovery to create a sweet spring TV treat.
The first three episodes of The Other Bennet Sister are now streaming on BritBox, with new episodes every Wednesday.