Now that all episodes of The Other Bennet Sister have been dropped on Britbox, it would be worthwhile to get a one-week trial subscription and watch them.
It’s about Mary Bennet, who is left unmarried at the end of Pride and Prejudice. She’s generally presented as pedantic and likely to remain single to the end of her days (although some folks like to think she’d have made a better partner for Collins than Charlotte).
It’s one of the few P&P add-ons that don’t rewrite the characters and events of the original classic to suit the needs of the new narrative. So you can happily imagine, say, Mary’s experiences in the early episodes happening alongside those of Elizabeth’s and Jane’s. And, though some of her later experiences involve characters from P&P, they don’t require those characters to be drawn much differently than Jane Austen drew them herself. (Mary’s mother seems meaner, a few other characters are more calculating or cynical, but even those things mostly work themselves out by the end of the series.)
And Austen-lovers will enjoy countless “tropes” that Jane used in more than one novel to advance her storyline. So it’s fun for all, whatever your level of Austen appreciation or knowledge.
Maybe watch 2 a night. Each episode has its own plot and leaves with a sort of solution or equilibrium at least, but two are doable – they’re only 1/2 hour each. More than that, and your eyes may cross with the plot twists.
Lots of fun.
