A fan of period dramas? This new British series revisits Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of Mary Bennet, the most overlooked sister in the family created by Jane Austen.
Since the end of Bridgerton, lovers of romance and period dramas have been searching for a new series in a similar vein. In recent weeks, all eyes have turned to a new British period drama: The Other Bennet Sister. Adapted from a novel, this historical series revisits the world of Pride and Prejudice from a fresh perspective. For once, it is Mary Bennet—the quietest and most reserved member of Jane Austen’s famous Bennet family—who takes centre stage.
A British series inspired by Jane Austen’s work
Based on Janice Hadlow’s novel, The Other Bennet Sister picks up where Pride and Prejudice left off. The aim? To give Mary Bennet the place she never had. Long overshadowed by Elizabeth and Jane, the intellectual and reserved sister now becomes the story’s protagonist. Naturally, all the hallmarks of a classic British period drama are present: sumptuous costumes, authentic historical settings, and dialogue that is as elegant as it is sharp.
The first two episodes revisit the events of Pride and Prejudice from Mary’s point of view, before the story branches away from the original novel following the death of Mr Bennet. While Mrs Bennet finds refuge with her daughter Jane and Mr Bingley, Mary reluctantly accepts a position as governess to the Gardiner family. Initially hesitant, she gradually discovers a sense of freedom, along with love and friendship, as she travels between London and the Lake District. It is a coming-of-age journey that slowly transforms the previously overlooked sister into a confident, radiant and ever-endearing heroine.
Consisting of ten 30-minute episodes, the series—produced by Bad Wolf for BBC One—has been airing in the United States since 6 May. In France, no broadcaster has yet confirmed that it has acquired the series. Nevertheless, the wait is likely to fuel even more curiosity surrounding an adaptation that Jane Austen enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SGJcafcSKo
Looking for the best period dramas to obsess over? Find your next watch in these articles:
- If you loved Downton Abbey, here are 5 series set in 18th-century Britain you need to watch next
- ‘A superb historical series’: this gripping British period drama takes us back to 1940, to a five-star London hotel in the midst of WW2
- Are you a fan of Bridgerton? This British series inspired by Edith Wharton where American “nouveau riche” women clash with British tradition will be your new obsession
