As the BBC officially confirmed, The Other Bennet Sister is a new period drama show that serves as a spin-off of Jane Austen's widely beloved Pride and Prejudice. This ten-part series focuses on the often-overlooked middle sibling: Mary Bennet. The show is based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name.
The Other Bennet Sister is produced by Bad Wolf (the company behind Doctor Who), and it will feature Mary pursuing independence, romance, and acceptance. Sarah Quintrell, author of The Power, is writing the adaptation, reworking the classic Austen message with a new narrative voice for the book.
As there has been no casting announced yet, fans will be eager to see who will portray this oft-misunderstood character.
Mary Bennet takes center stage in the plot of The Other Bennet Sister
For the first time, Mary, the sister who refused to play second fiddle to the golden girls, witty Lizzy and sweet Jane, appears in the foreground of her happily-ever-after romance.
The drama easily attracts either die-hard Austen fans or new viewers because it brings together family drama, romance, and scenic backdrops of Regency London and the Lake District.
Read more: Regency London brings to mind Bridgerton Season 4!
Fortunately for fans of Austen's writing, Mary Bennet will be far removed from period drama heroines of yore, as her character is to come alive in ways few have seen. Much was made in previous adaptations regarding the perceived bookishness and social awkwardness of Mary Bennet.
But The Other Bennet Sister aims to give the character the autonomy she's lacked for so long. The official synopsis hints that Mary will be in control of her destiny, emerging from the shadow cast over her by her glamorous sisters.
"She is awkward, anxious, preachy, full of facts, a terrible singer," reads the BBC synopsis.
But rather than resigning herself to an empty life, Mary takes matters into her own hands. Sarah Quintrell, the author of the series, commented,
“It’s a joy to be adapting Janice Hadlow’s brilliant take on such a beloved classic with the team at Bad Wolf, and to have found our home at the BBC.”
Quintrell then shared her reason for connecting with the character when she said,
“I grew up (an awkward, anxious teen, getting everything wrong…) watching the BBC’s wonderful Austen adaptations.”
And they surely resonate with fans who've long identified with the outsider status of Mary Bennet, particularly on forums like Reddit. One user said it's nice to see Mary finally get her own story in The Other Bennet Sister.
Austen’s legacy of Pride and Prejudice can be seen in The Other Bennet Sister
Of course, the BBC is not unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice adaptations, having first brought the much-loved novel by Jane Austen to the small screen back in 1995 with the famous Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth version.
A natural hit, that series became the gold standard for period dramas and set Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy in pop culture history. The new spin-off aims to head where none has gone before by basing a story on the personal journey of Mary from Meryton to the hustle and bustle of Regency London's social scene.
Even well ahead of The Other Bennet Sister, Janice Hadlow's novel was enough to earn her fans among Pride and Prejudice enthusiasts as an expansion of Mary's character from the one-dimensional presentation most people know. This new series looks to capitalize on that.
As Quintrell puts it, "For all the Marys out there," this is the chance to be a heroine. Cast details are not known yet, but knowing that Sony Pictures Television handles global rights, The Other Bennet Sister is prepared to air in international markets on a large scale.
Fans have been all over social media, and many are looking forward to seeing how Mary's story comes together.
Bad Wolf's Kate Crowther, Becca Kinder, and Jane Tranter will be executive producers; Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama, will oversee the project for the network.
Read more: Playing Gracie Darling is also being distributed by Sony Pictures
Where to watch The Other Bennet Sister?
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The Other Bennet Sister will air on BBC One and be available to stream on BBC iPlayer at the time of release.
With strong storytelling coupled with a great literary foundation, the show should easily find an audience among period drama fans as well as among Austen fans.
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