Fans of costume dramas, rejoice! For 'The Other Bennet Sister' will give you everything you love.

Briefly About the Plot

Once upon a time, there were Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. They had five daughters. The story of Elizabeth Bennet may be familiar to you; through her, we got to know Jane and Lydia (and a little bit of Kitty), but Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) was left on the sidelines of our attention. Until today.

What is a simple girl to do when she can shine neither with beauty, wit, nor a rich dowry? How to act when you feel like the black sheep in your own home? And how not to miss your chance when it knocks on the door?

'The Other Bennet Sister' presents us with many ideas, highlighting their contrasts. Let's try to break them down a bit more.

Reason VS Feelings

Hehe, what a clever reference to Austen I came up with. You get it, right?

Actually, I'm not joking. The series largely contrasts rational, most favorable decisions with the call of feelings. Of course, that's what we love in costume dramas, especially in quasi-Austen works.

Because reason can work both for and against us. 'The Other Bennet Sister' shows us that rationality often does not lead to happiness. What helps you save face in high society can lead to grief and mental anguish. However, sometimes a simple impulse of the right foot is not worth tarnishing your good name. In this regard, the series strikes a wonderful balance, allowing us to see the merits of both.

There is something incredibly attractive about dramas of this kind, because on one hand, rules and restrictions surround everything. But on the other hand, I can't remember when scenes of men rolling up their sleeves were so erotically portrayed. The heart skips a beat largely from the realization of how little we actually need for happiness in an era of total taboos.

The Bennets VS The Gardiners

Somewhere here, voices of the outraged should be heard. For the series sometimes heavily reinterprets the stories and characters of 'Pride and Prejudice'. In particular, Mrs. Bennet (Ruth Jones) has undergone the greatest changes.

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In the original, she was simply dim-witted and tactless, but in the series, she becomes a full-fledged antagonist. Her neglect and often even contempt towards her middle daughter, reinforced by the absolute indifference of her husband (Richard E. Grant), seem utterly cruel.

However, I am not a purist; if something works well for the narrative, that's great! Moreover, Mary Bennet herself in the series tells her sister Lizzie that despite being raised in the same family, their experiences differ on a fundamental level. In 'Pride and Prejudice', we saw the family through Lizzie's eyes, who, despite everything, was loved. 'The Other Bennet Sister' tells the story from Mary's perspective, who received a completely different treatment.

Plus, this works wonderfully in contrast with the Gardiner family, especially Mrs. Gardiner (Indira Varma), who give Mary the freedom to express herself and learn to love herself as she is. To wear what she wants. To show her talents where she would never have thought to. And all of this leads to immense viewer satisfaction.

Mr. Ryder VS Mr. Hayward

Well, what costume drama would be complete without a love interest? Especially since they've given us two.

Replacing the tsundere Mr. Darcy are a dashing heir and an awkward lawyer.

I don't want to spoil too much to ruin your viewing pleasure, but Laurie Davidson and Dónal Finn simply shine in the series.

Davidson's Mr. Ryder is the personification of a golden retriever. Sparkling eyes, boundless energy, love for the joys of life.

Finn's Mr. Hayward is a kind of gray cat. Mood swings, the ability to present himself impeccably one moment combined with complete awkwardness the next. And yes, such crinkles around the eyes can only belong to someone who smiles a lot and with pleasure.

In short, I have an absolute favorite among them, who makes my heart melt and my knees weak. But the main thing in the story is not what I think, but what choice Mary makes. And the choice is not easy.

Okay, okay, I prefer Dónal Finn; I predict a great future for him. He can also sing like a god, did you know?

Reflections and Conclusions

Funny, throughout the entire article, I never once wrote how wonderful Ella Bruccoleri is in her role. And yet her Mary Bennet is precisely the main reason why the series is unequivocally wonderful and worth watching.

We see a sweet and pleasant girl who was made to believe she is unworthy of what others deserve. This manifests in nervous tics, awkward conversations, and funny situations. And Ella brilliantly plays both the nervousness and the confident assertion of her own boundaries. And she does it masterfully. You simply believe her.

We often lack exactly such heroines on screen. Those who are not flawless supermodels or 'feminist' icons who put any dumb brute in their place. Simple, doubting, erring, but endlessly touching. Those for whom you wish the very best with all your heart.

Mary Bennet's story is exactly what I've been missing since the release of 'Emma'. A beautiful story about life's difficulties and people who overcome their circumstances and learn to love themselves. Therefore, 'The Other Bennet Sister' deserves all possible recommendations for fans of the genre. Absolutely.

If you haven't watched it yet – I envy you. I would also like to watch it for the first time one more time.