--- title: "The Other Bennet Sister: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-other-bennet-sister/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-other-bennet-sister" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 9 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): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative. 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. ## The Telegraph — Anita Singh Rating 5/5. 15 March 2026. 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 the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-other-bennet-sister-bbc-one-review/) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 May 2026. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-1235187105/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 May 2026. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-jane-austen-1236585127/) ## The Times — Carol Midgley Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 March 2026. 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 the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-other-bennet-sister-review-richard-e-grant-29hqds7rs) ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 May 2026. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-1236738246/) ## The AV Club — Jenna Scherer Rating B. 7 May 2026. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/other-bennet-sister-review-britbox-ella-bruccoleri) ## Radio Times — Geoffrey Bunting Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 March 2026. 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-other-bennet-sister-bbc-comment/) ## The Guardian 15 March 2026. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/mar/15/the-other-bennet-sister-review-bbc-one-iplayer) ## Collider — David Caballero Rating 9/10. 5 May 2026. 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 the review](https://collider.com/the-other-bennet-sister-review-britbox/) ## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 16 March 2026. 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 the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a70758099/the-other-bennet-sister-review-bbc-pride-and-prejudice/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-other-bennet-sister.md