BritBox’s ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Is the Perfect Period Romance for 2026

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen novel in possession of a good legacy must be in want of an adaptation. Such has been the case for Austen’s most acclaimed and popular work, Pride and Prejudice, which has received countless adaptations, from a classic Hollywood black-and-white drama to a BBC miniseries to a millennial cottagecore rom-com to even a zombie horror comedy. Most of these efforts range between “great” and “solid,” but few actually have something meaningful to say about Austen’s seminal novel.

Luckily, The Other Bennet Sister isn’t “most” adaptations; in fact, it’s among the rare ones that approach its source material with reverence, but its much-welcome sense of independence allows it to feel refreshing and, far more importantly, timely. The show premieres with its first three episodes May 6 on the criminally underappreciated streaming service BritBox, and it’s a must-watch, not only for hardcore Janeites or those who crave Regency romance as if it were oxygen, but for anyone who appreciates a beautifully crafted and exceptionally executed story.

What Is ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ About?

As the title implies, The Other Bennet Sister centers on Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the most overlooked of the five Bennet sisters from Pride and Prejudice. Introverted and often disregarded by her family, Mary attempts to take control of her own story, much to the annoyance of her mother, Mrs. Bennet (Ruth Jones), and the loving indifference of her father, Mr. Bennet (Richard E. Grant). Through her distinct and invigorating perspective, we see the well-known events of Pride and Prejudice before the series’ story sends her on a journey of self-discovery to London, where she experiences the kindness of her relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner (Richard Coyle and Indira Varma), and might even encounter love for the first time.

Based on the eponymous novel by Janice Hadlow, The Other Bennet Sister also stars Dónal Finn as Tom Hayward, a close friend of the Gardiners who becomes crucial to Mary’s journey, and Laurie Davidson as Mr. Ryder, a free-spirited bachelor who catches Mary’s eye. Most of the main players in Pride and Prejudice also appear, including Mary’s four sisters, Jane (Maddie Close), Lizzie (Poppy Gilbert), Lydia (Grace Hogg-Robinson), and Kitty (Molly Wright). Mr. Collins (Ryan Sampson) and Charlotte Lucas (Anna Fenton-Garvey) play prominent roles, as does Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds), Charles Bingley’s haughty sister and a minor antagonist in Pride and Prejudice, who becomes Mary’s main rival here.

‘The Other Bennet Sister’s Cast Makes the Series Soar

From the get-go, it’s clear that the main strength of The Other Bennet Sister is its outstanding cast. At the center of it all is an incandescent Bruccoleri as Mary, a remarkable period heroine and a true breath of fresh air. In many ways, Mary is less a reinvention of the classic Austen heroine and more of a logical progression of the archetype. She is shy, clumsy, and more than a little awkward, the type of character that many would consider “autistic-coded,” yet she’s also bold and, in her way, adventurous. While Mary is afraid to open herself up to new possibilities, she does so nonetheless — not because others compel her to, but because she wants to.

The Other Bennet Sister is, at its core, a wallflower story, but Mary is free of the tropes that permeate that subgenre. There’s no makeover here, no magical transformation that brings her out of her comfort zone and into the spotlight; Mary embraces herself, quirks and all. More importantly, she isn’t married to any notion of either life-altering romance or hopeless spinsterhood, while actively pursuing love; she tries, is disappointed, tries again, and dares to believe she can indeed find a match. It’s so invigorating to see a character like Mary, so honest and relatable, in a romantic period drama, not as the best friend or the comic relief, but as the object of attention and desire.

If Mary is the logical next step for an Austen heroine, then Dónal Finn’s Mr. Hayward is an Austen leading man to a tee. He has all the bumbling charm of Edward Ferrars, the witty intellectualism of Henry Tilney, and the silent longing of Frederick Wentworth. If you like soft, enchanting leading men who are just the right amount of pathetic, you’ll love this guy. Gallant, shy, and just as awkward as Mary, Tom Hayward might just be the best period romance leading man we’ve had since Matthew Macfadyen‘s Mr. Darcy, complete with his own version of the hand flex (who knew forearms could be so appealing?). After being a highlight in the latter two seasons of the cruelly canceled The Wheel of Time and outright stealing this year’s Young Sherlock, it’s great to see Finn receive some much-deserved recognition.

The rest of the cast is uniformly great, too. Coyle and Varma are simply exceptional as the Gardiners, Mary’s de facto fairy godmothers. Davidson’s free-spirited Mr. Ryder is a wonderful sparring partner to Mary, and the familiar but underrated Tanya Reynolds is a riot as the loathsome Caroline Bingley. Perhaps most surprising is how the show reframes the classic characters of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas, two of Pride and Prejudice‘s biggest punching bags. Particularly inspired is the series’ version of Mr. Collins, often depicted as absurd at best and outright pitiful at worst. Here, he’s just a misunderstood man trying to find love and understanding, and his unexpected connection with Mary is among the show’s many highlights.

‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Takes a Bold Creative Swing With the Bennets

Image via Britbox

If there’s an element that is bound to be divisive, it’s The Other Bennet Sister‘s depiction of the titular family. In Pride and Prejudice, the Bennets are somewhat embarrassing but largely respectable and loving to each other. Here, those dynamics are altered. On the page, Mary is indeed the odd one out; Jane and Lizzie are best friends, and so are Kitty and Lydia, meaning Mary is often ignored by everyone in the household. The Other Bennet Sister takes that to the next level, where many members of the Bennet family are actively unkind toward Mary.

This approach isn’t inherently good or bad; it’s just what fits best for this story, yet one can’t help but suspect that Austen purists will feel betrayed. The other four Bennet sisters are mostly true to their roles in Austen’s story, except for Lydia, who assumes a more antagonistic role. The biggest change comes with the show’s depiction of Mrs. Bennet. In Pride and Prejudice, the Bennet matriarch is loud, abrasive, frivolous, and melodramatic but mostly harmless and well-meaning towards her daughters. In The Other Bennet Sister, she’s an outright villain and actively mistreats Mary to the point of bordering on actual cruelty. In short, she’s less Mrs. Bennet and more Lady Tremaine, a change that’s bound to ruffle some feathers.

Overall, though, The Other Bennet Sister is nothing short of a triumph. Its aesthetic is classic Regency drama, but with a welcome splash of color that feels lively without entering into anachronistic territory. Narratively, it’s a beautiful and winning story with just enough edge to feel modern while still offering everything a romance fan could want. Thematically, it’s the type of story that only takes a few rewatches to become a proper feel-good classic, and there’s also genuine heat, filmed through a distinctive female-gaze approach that makes it all the more effective. The Other Bennet Sister is the show you’ve been waiting for but didn’t know you needed, the perfect offering for these dark times, and a prime example of how timeless and irresistible the period romance subgenre can be when it’s actually done right.