‘Perfect’ BBC period drama is already being hailed as one of 2026’s best shows
The unlikely love story at the heart of The Other Bennet Sister has won over viewers who never expected to fall for a Jane Austen-inspired drama.
With the year already moving towards its final months, television fans are beginning to look back at the shows that have made the biggest impression in 2026. Among the standout dramas is The Other Bennet Sister, the BBC adaptation that takes one of the most overlooked characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and finally puts her at the centre of her own story.
Based on Janice Hadlow’s 2020 novel of the same name, the series follows Mary Bennet, the bookish, awkward middle sister who is often overshadowed by her more glamorous siblings.
The adaptation has attracted widespread praise, with viewers and critics responding warmly to its combination of period drama, romance, humour and Mary’s journey towards independence.
Mary Bennet finally gets her own story
In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet is one of five sisters. She and Jane are the eldest, known for their beauty, good sense and maturity, while the younger Kitty and Lydia are frequently at the centre of trouble.
Mary sits between them.
Often portrayed as plain, serious and overly fond of displaying her knowledge, she is the sister who receives the least attention. In Austen’s original story, Mary is very much a supporting character.
Hadlow’s novel asks what might happen if Mary were given the chance to step outside that role.
Published in 2020, The Other Bennet Sister reimagines Mary’s life and gives her a much broader journey, following her as she searches for independence, love and a sense of belonging.
The BBC adaptation stars Ella Bruccoleri as Mary, with Dónal Finn as Tom Hayward and Laurie Davidson as Mr Ryder, who become the two men at the centre of Mary’s romantic story. The series was produced by Bad Wolf and commissioned as a ten-part drama, with episodes running for around 30 minutes.
Rather than simply retelling Pride and Prejudice from another viewpoint, the drama takes Mary beyond the familiar Bennet family setting. Her story leads from Meryton to Regency London and eventually to the Lake District as she begins to make decisions for herself.
Critics have embraced the BBC drama
The response has been particularly strong.
The series has earned a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while The Guardian included it among its six best shows of 2026 so far.
The publication praised the programme for giving Mary a fresh perspective on Austen’s world and singled out Bruccoleri’s performance as the misunderstood middle sister who eventually creates a life of her own and finds herself caught in a love triangle.
The praise reflects what has made the series stand out. Mary is hardly the conventional period-drama heroine. Her awkwardness and lack of confidence make her an unlikely romantic lead, but that is precisely what gives her story its appeal.
As the series progresses, Mary becomes increasingly determined to shape her own future rather than simply accept the limited role expected of her.
Even viewers outside the usual audience are hooked
Perhaps one of the more surprising reactions has come from viewers who would not normally choose this kind of programme.
One IMDb reviewer described himself as a “61-year-old geezer” and admitted that the series was not something he would ordinarily have sought out. Yet he was won over after watching the first episode.
He described the show as “completely sublime”, praising the settings, costumes and dialogue as well as the performances across the cast.
His review particularly highlighted the ensemble acting, saying that singling out only the leading performers would have been unfair because the entire cast had done such a good job.
He also praised the story for combining a relatively straightforward romance with the complications created by the customs and expectations of the period. Most importantly, he found himself emotionally invested in Mary’s happiness.
For a viewer who would normally have had little interest in this type of drama, the experience was summed up simply: the programme had made a 61-year-old man smile and become deeply invested in a story he would never normally have watched.
That reaction captures much of the show’s appeal. Mary may begin her story as the Bennet sister who is easiest to overlook, but her journey has managed to attract an audience far beyond the traditional Austen crowd.
Will there be more episodes?
The first series consists of ten episodes and brings the main story adapted from Hadlow’s novel to its conclusion.
There is, however, more of Mary Bennet’s story on the way.
A three-episode Christmas special has been announced for later in 2026, continuing the story after the events of the first series.
A second full series has not been confirmed. For now, fans will have to wait and see whether the Christmas episodes lead to anything more.
The Other Bennet Sister is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.