The Other Bennet Sister, the period drama starring Call the Midwife's Ella Bruccoleri, has jumped into the streaming chart on BBC iPlayer. The series follows Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet, the often-overlooked sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Since its release on iPlayer, The Other Bennet Sister has jumped into the platform’s 'Most Popular Today' top 10, where it currently ranks second.
The first five episodes debuted on BBC iPlayer on 15 March, with the final five due to be released on 29 March.
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The synopsis reads: "Seemingly unremarkable and often overlooked, Mary Bennet longs to win her family’s approval. The Meryton assembly brings with it an opportunity to shine – and Mary’s first taste of romance.
"But when Mary’s behaviour at the ball attracts attention, she must decide between trying to please her family and forging a path of her own."
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Based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name, the show stars Richard E Grant, Ruth Jones, Indira Varma, Richard Coyle, Laurie Davidson and Dónal Finn, among others.
In our review of the period drama, Digital Spy said: "No one is expecting The Other Bennet Sister to turn into a bodice ripper. But in eschewing Pride and Prejudice's obsession with the marriage economy, The Other Bennet Sister loses the realism, passion and urgency that makes Austen (and the works inspired by her) so meaningful."
On Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an approval rating of 92% from 12 reviews, with critics praising it for spotlighting a forgotten character.
"[The Other Bennet Sister] gives this forgotten character her moment in the spotlight, and it is a thing of pure delight," penned The Daily Telegraph.
Related: Ruth Jones' "lovely" and "radical" BBC period drama lands first reviews
The Independent wrote: "The Other Bennet Sister provides the ideal hit, combining all the comfort-watching pleasure of a beloved classic with the anticipation of following a previously little-known character on a brand new journey of self-discovery."
The Guardian said of the show: "The Other Bennet Sister feels too slight a thing even for the pre-watershed Sunday evening slot it is designed for. But the growing charm and heft – not to mention the lovely central performance from Bruccoleri -- make it one worth sticking with."
The Other Bennet Sister airs on BBC One and streams on iPlayer in the UK.
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Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
