Review: BritBox's 'The Other Bennet Sister' Is 'Grounded Yet Enchanting' as Mary Bennet Steps Out of the Shadow of 'Pride & Prejudice'

BritBox brought 'The Other Bennet Sister' to audiences in the United States and Canada on May 6. The series, which the streaming service has identified as an adaptation based on Janice Hadlow's novel, repositions Mary Bennet as the central figure in a narrative inspired by Jane Austen's work. Played by Ella Bruccoleri, Mary Bennet is followed from Longbourn to London as she steps out of her sisters' shadow and begins a journey of self-discovery, according to BritBox's official press release. The May 6 U.S. and Canadian premiere arrived on the same day that The Hollywood Reporter published its review of the series. In that review, The Hollywood Reporter called the show a 'wildly charming' spinoff rooted in Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' and delivered a verdict it summarized as 'Grounded yet enchanting.'

The Details

The adaptation was written by Sarah Quintrell, who adapted the series from Hadlow's novel and wrote nine of the ten half-hour episodes. Maddie Dai wrote one episode. This writing credit information was provided by BritBox in its official press release announcing the premiere. The same announcement identified Ella Bruccoleri in the lead role of Mary Bennet. The ensemble cast supporting Bruccoleri, as announced by BritBox, also includes Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Indira Varma, Richard Coyle, Tanya Reynolds, Dónal Finn, Varada Sethu, and Laurie Davidson. The Hollywood Reporter review provided additional insight into the series' structure, stating that the familiar 'Pride and Prejudice' setup gives way after the second episode. According to the review, once the initial two episodes establish the narrative framework, the remaining eight half-hour episodes move into mostly uncharted waters, taking the story beyond the established territory of the original Austen novel. In terms of production and distribution, the series is produced by Bad Wolf in a co-production with BBC iPlayer and BBC One, according to BritBox. Sony Pictures Television handles international distribution responsibilities for the project.

Context

The series first debuted in the United Kingdom, where it launched on the BBC on March 15, before making its way to BritBox for North American audiences. A separate Hollywood Reporter news report covering the series' performance on BBC ratings said the BBC-BritBox adaptation drew a 7.3 million consolidated audience for its first episode in the U.K. That same report characterized that viewership figure as representing the biggest launch of a new drama across all U.K. platforms and streamers since May of the prior year. In that same BBC ratings report, Bruccoleri was quoted describing the series' thematic concerns and what she sees as its core appeal to viewers. She said: 'It's a story about the transformative power of kindness, really. It's about realizing that you're worth more than just your appearance. And it's about found family.'

What's Next

With all ten half-hour episodes now available to stream following the May 6 release date, 'The Other Bennet Sister' is currently available on BritBox in the U.S. and Canada.