--- title: "The Other Bennet Sister" year: 2026 kind: "series" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-other-bennet-sister" fi1m_id: "the-other-bennet-sister" imdb_id: "tt37022512" tmdb_id: 273866 wikidata_id: "Q134895367" fi1m_score: 78 critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 9 published: "2026-09-11" updated: "2026-09-11T21:19:10.270534+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Other Bennet Sister (2026) Created by Janice Hadlow · 30m · Drama, Comedy ## Identity The Other Bennet Sister - **Canonical:** https://film.one/tv/the-other-bennet-sister - **Type:** Series - **Fi1m ID:** the-other-bennet-sister - **IMDb ID:** tt37022512 - **TMDB ID:** 273866 - **Wikidata ID:** Q134895367 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37022512/, https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/273866, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134895367 **Fi1m score: 78** · Critics 74 from 9 reviews *In a sentence:* Mary Bennet finally gets some attention, though her relatives could reasonably ask for legal representation > Ella Bruccoleri makes Mary Bennet worth following in this warm, uneven period drama. The sympathy is earned by her performance, though the writing sometimes makes her family crudely unpleasant to help us along. ## Synopsis Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri) is the shy, bespectacled sister whose marriage prospects make her a subject of family jokes. *The Other Bennet Sister* revisits *Pride and Prejudice* from her perspective, following her search for independence, self-understanding and romance. Ruth Jones plays her mother, with Maddie Close as Jane, Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth and Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley. Indira Varma and Richard Coyle play the Gardiners, while Dónal Finn appears as Mr Hayward. Adapted from Janice Hadlow’s novel, the comedy-drama gives Mary the central role as she begins to consider what she wants for herself. ## Review Ella Bruccoleri is reason enough to spend more time with Mary Bennet in *The Other Bennet Sister*. This expansion of [*Pride and Prejudice*](https://film.one/tv/pride-and-prejudice), adapted from Janice Hadlow’s novel, follows Mary towards greater independence and the possibility of romance. The shy sister gets room to develop a personality beyond her usefulness as a family joke. We recommend the programme to anyone who likes character-led period drama, with reservations about how insistently it asks us to take Mary’s side. Bruccoleri makes shyness feel awkward and limiting without turning it into a request for pity. There is enough seriousness in her performance to stop Mary’s discomfort becoming another endearing eccentricity. We were moved by the hurt she finds beneath the jokes about Mary’s marriage prospects, because she makes being overlooked feel like something endured for years. Her performance gives Mary’s growing self-respect enough weight to make us care about more than the prospect of a suitable man. Writers Sarah Quintrell and Maddie Dai are less sure-footed when arranging the people around her. Too often, the family is made unpleasant enough to leave us little to decide about whom to support. Ruth Jones as Mary’s mother and Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley are among a cast capable of making broad comedy watchable, but the same jokes return too often. The repeated attention to Mary’s marriageability starts to feel like a shortage of other things to say about her, particularly when Bruccoleri has already made the embarrassment clear. The stronger idea is that Mary can become more assured without being remade into a different kind of heroine. There is no obligatory transformation to reassure us that she was beautiful all along, and that restraint matters. In a romance, it is easy to make a woman’s value depend on somebody finally choosing her; here, her increasing knowledge of herself gives the courtship something else to rest on. The attention paid to what Mary wants keeps the romantic material from taking over completely. Directors Jennifer Sheridan and Asim Abbasi give the comedy and the more vulnerable material space to coexist, although that patience can become slackness. The half-hour episodes sound brisk, yet individual scenes sometimes continue after their point is clear. Luke Bryant’s cinematography and Anne Chmelewsky’s music help keep the series welcoming when the family comedy turns harsh, but the production’s polish cannot make every exchange worth its length. We wanted firmer decisions about when to leave a scene, particularly once we already understood why Mary felt out of place. Dónal Finn’s Mr Hayward gives the romantic side enough appeal to justify its place alongside Mary’s self-discovery. The series is sensible to leave room for both pleasures, rather than treating affection as an embarrassment to a story about independence. Bruccoleri remains the main attraction, holding our interest even when the writing is less patient with the people around her. Give it an evening if a gentle period romance appeals, and allow for a family whose failings have been underlined rather heavily *Fi1m score 78, published 11 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics welcome The Other Bennet Sister as a warm, thoughtful expansion of Pride and Prejudice, with praise clustering around Ella Bruccoleri’s Mary, the supporting performances and the attention given to Mary’s self-discovery. The favourable reviews find charm and humour in bringing the overlooked sister to the centre, though some report sluggish scenes, an uncertain final act and family caricatures that make sympathy for Mary too easy. The spread is wide rather than a matter of minor differences. Radio Times admires the performances and production values but argues that Mary remains underexplored and the treatment misunderstands its source. Digital Spy finds a more fundamental lack of subtlety, tension and passion. The main divide concerns whether the gentler approach gives Mary room to develop or leaves the drama short of bite. ## Straight answers **Is The Other Bennet Sister worth watching?** *The Other Bennet Sister* is worth watching for anyone who likes character-led period drama, and we scored it 78. Ella Bruccoleri makes Mary Bennet's shyness feel endured rather than endearing, and the romance with Dónal Finn's Mr Hayward earns its place. Allow for a family whose failings are underlined heavily, and for scenes that run past their point. **How long is The Other Bennet Sister, and what is it rated?** *The Other Bennet Sister* has episodes of about 30m. It is a drama and comedy series. **Where can I watch The Other Bennet Sister in the US?** *The Other Bennet Sister* is streaming on BritBox, Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel and Apple TV in the US. It leaves The Roku Channel on 1 October. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does The Other Bennet Sister compare to Little Women?** *The Other Bennet Sister* is the gentler and slacker of the two, while [*Little Women*](https://film.one/film/little-women) is quicker, sharper about money and more confidently made. Both follow sisters negotiating affection and being understood, but Gerwig's film is the better piece of work. Choose the series for an unhurried evening with one overlooked sister; choose the film for pace and a full household of them. **Is The Other Bennet Sister based on a true story or a book?** *The Other Bennet Sister* is based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name, which retells *Pride and Prejudice* from the point of view of Mary Bennet, the plain, bespectacled middle sister. It is fiction, not a true story. Knowing Austen's original helps you place the family jokes, but the series gives Mary enough of her own to follow without it. **What should I watch after The Other Bennet Sister?** After *The Other Bennet Sister*, try [*Persuasion*](https://film.one/film/persuasion) (1995, Fi1m 84): Another overlooked heroine, with regret and social awkwardness given proper weight. Then [*My Brilliant Career*](https://film.one/film/my-brilliant-career) (1979, Fi1m 82): A young woman’s wish for independence complicates the expected route towards marriage; and [*The Lunchbox*](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox) (2013, Fi1m 75): An overlooked woman finds companionship in a romance attentive to everyday loneliness. ### Reviews we read (10) - **The Telegraph**, Anita Singh (5/5): The critic calls it a sublime adaptation and a thing of pure delight, praising how it gives Mary her moment in the spotlight with uniformly good performances. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-other-bennet-sister-bbc-one-review/) - **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (85/100, inferred): The critic calls the series a delightful adaptation of Janice Hadlow's novel that fills a Bridgerton-sized hole in viewers' hearts with comfort and joy. It highlights the focus on Mary's self-discovery and romance in this charming limited series. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-1235187105/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Angie Han (85/100, inferred): The series is a grounded yet enchanting expansion of Pride and Prejudice that reframes Mary Bennet as a compelling heroine on a journey of self-discovery. The critic praises the marvelous lead performance and the show's command of tone and characterization while noting minor quibbles with some cartoonish elements and fan-service moments. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-jane-austen-1236585127/) - **The Times**, Carol Midgley (80/100, inferred): The critic notes it is fun to see Pride and Prejudice from a new perspective, with the bespectacled shy sister taking centre stage in brisk, watchable episodes. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-other-bennet-sister-review-richard-e-grant-29hqds7rs) - **Variety**, Aramide Tinubu (80/100, inferred): The charming and thoughtful adaptation follows overlooked Mary Bennet on a journey of self-discovery and independence, delivering a bold feminist narrative with humor, wit, and a stellar cast. It notes some sluggish pacing and overlong scenes but highlights the exceptional lead performance and authentic feel. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-1236738246/) - **The AV Club**, Jenna Scherer (B): The critic praises the sparkling adaptation where Mary gets her due, noting the central romance is the one she has with herself amid character study and swoony elements. It commends strong performances but points out some floundering in the final act. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-ella-bruccoleri) - **Radio Times**, Geoffrey Bunting (30/100, inferred): The series centers on Mary Bennet but renders her an underexplored and uncompelling protagonist by framing her family and others in cartoonishly negative ways to elicit sympathy. Excellent performances and production values are undermined by a shallow, stereotypical approach that misunderstands the source material. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-other-bennet-sister-bbc-comment/) - **The Guardian**: The critic finds Ella Bruccoleri’s performance as Mary absolutely lovely but notes that the drama is overly slight and labours the jokes about her marriage prospects. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/mar/15/the-other-bennet-sister-review-bbc-one-iplayer) - **Collider**, David Caballero (9/10): The critic praises the series as a must-watch and a triumph, highlighting its refreshing take on the wallflower story with an outstanding cast, particularly Ella Bruccoleri as Mary and Dónal Finn as Mr. Hayward. They note some changes to the Bennet family dynamics that might divide Austen purists. [Read](https://collider.com/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox/) - **Digital Spy**, Gabriella Geisinger (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the series lacks subtlety and bite despite avoiding a typical glow-up for Mary, calling it soulless, sexless, and tensionless with maudlin platitudes. It loses the passion and urgency of Austen adaptations. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a70758099/the-other-bennet-sister-review-bbc-pride-and-prejudice/) ## Details - **Created by:** Janice Hadlow - **Creator:** Janice Hadlow - **Director:** Asim Abbasi, Jennifer Sheridan - **Writer:** Sarah Quintrell, Maddie Dai - **Novel:** Janice Hadlow - **Cinematography:** Luke Bryant - **Music:** Anne Chmelewsky - **Producer:** John Pocock - **Cast:** Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet; Ruth Jones as Mrs. Bennett; Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley; Lucinda Dryzek as Louisa Hurst / Louisa Bingley; Maddie Close as Jane Bingley / Jane Bennet; Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth Darcy / Elizabeth Bennet; Molly Wright as Kitty Buncock / Kitty Bennet; Grace Hogg-Robinson as Lydia Wickham / Lydia Bennet - **Runtime:** 30m - **Release (the US):** 15 March 2026 - **Genres:** Drama, Comedy - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvVJ7qku5Gw ## Where to watch in the US - BritBox: streaming, hd - Amazon Prime Video: free, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Apple TV: add-on, hd *Checked 2026-09-11.* Also available in: BG, CA, CZ, GB, HR, HU, NL, PL, RO, RS, SI, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Persuasion* (1995), Fi1m 84: Another overlooked heroine, with regret and social awkwardness given proper weight — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/persuasion.md) - *My Brilliant Career* (1979), Fi1m 82: A young woman’s wish for independence complicates the expected route towards marriage — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-brilliant-career.md) - *The Lunchbox* (2013), Fi1m 75: An overlooked woman finds companionship in a romance attentive to everyday loneliness — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox.md) - *Little Women* (2019), Fi1m 83: Sisters negotiate affection, ambition and the awkward business of being understood — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/little-women.md) - *Belle* (2013): Family expectations and a woman’s independence meet in another thoughtful period romance --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/tv/the-other-bennet-sister