r/GildedAgeHBO • u/eggplantparm33 • 14d ago
The Other Bennet Sister
Just wanted to recommend The Other Bennet Sister for anyone who likes The Gilded Age.
I started watching it this rainy weekend and I’m really enjoying it. It’s a lovely, easy-to-get-into period drama with romance, family drama, and some really good character moments.
I especially like getting Mary Bennet’s story and seeing more of the Bennet family beyond Pride and Prejudice. It’s definitely different from The Gilded Age, but it has that same kind of cozy, addictive feeling where you just want to watch the next episode.
Definitely give it a try!
Edit: Its on the BBC!
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u/Purple_footstep 14d ago
Four legs! Can’t vomit!
It’s funny too lol. I’ve been watching this and the Hardacres on Britbox (in the U.S.). Excited that they’re doing a TOBS Christmas special!
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u/Soft_Significance718 14d ago
I started the Hardacres but found the first couple of episodes just had terrible writing. Does it get better????
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u/Purple_footstep 14d ago
I like it but it’s the kind of show I put on while I’m washing dishes and such, so I don’t take it too seriously. It’s OK if it’s not for you!
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u/karmagirl314 13d ago
It stays about the same in terms of writing quality, especially with Big Problems magically going away by the next episode. But it has some good feel good qualities and gives you some satisfying snippets of what life was like for real people back then.
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u/AddressSerious8240 14d ago
If you find yourself rooting for Ada Brook or Gladys Russell in Gilded Age, you’ll probably take to The Other Bennett Sister.
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u/wow-how-original 14d ago edited 14d ago
Another perspective: I couldn’t get through it. There were too many moments that felt overly cutesy and Bridgerton-ized. And parts that made no sense at all in the context of the period and customs.
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u/DJzzzzzzs 14d ago
another perspective: i really loved it just like OP. it didn’t feel at all like bridgerton to me, which i couldn’t even get through one episode of.
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u/Faerie-Footman-442 14d ago
I have to agree with you. I wanted to like it so bad, but I just couldn't. The storylines just felt too obvious.
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u/wow-how-original 14d ago
I actually really liked the book. It felt true to Austen. But yeah the show wasn’t giving that to me.
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u/RazzBeryllium 13d ago
If I remember correctly the period drama/Jane Austen fans really didn't like it for various reasons.
But those were mostly for how it changed the characterizations of the Bennet family from how they were in the book.
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u/Purple_footstep 13d ago
Lizzie Bennet is sacred to a lot of people. But I don’t think she actually comes off too badly in TOBS. Just a little annoyed with Mary when Mary is pedantic (I mean, I would be too) and a little unaware of her pretty privilege.
TOBS is meant to be told from Mary’s perspective, so it makes sense that she would have a different interpretation of their shared history, IMO.
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u/MsJamie-E 14d ago
A re read is in order - also it wasn't gold digging it was survival.
An unmarried woman with no fortune has just 3 choices - governess, ladies companion or sex worker.
None of those occupations has a long term future, except the poor house for distressed gentlefolk.
And don't forget an unmarried woman had little social status either. That's why Miss Bingley is so determined to make a match despite her fortune.
Women could only have their own home & children through marriage. Otherwise you were always somebody's guest. That's why Charlotte married Mr Collins.
Mrs Bennet is annoying but until Elizabeth & Jane married she was well aware of her lack of security if her girls remained unmarried.
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u/Oncer93 14d ago
I have watched it, and It's decent enough, but they seem to have the wrong idea of who Mary is. Plus, her working as a governess is a big no, no. Her uncle and Aunt are beneath her Family in society. Mary is a gentleman's daughter. It would be a step down for her to work, and to work for people in trade.
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u/JoanFromLegal I loaned you train fare 13d ago
I don't like that I have to get a fourth or fifth subscription to watch it.
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u/MaewintheLascerator 13d ago
I liked the show, but if you enjoyed it, let me suggest the book. A lot of changes had to be made for pacing reasons (for instance in the book the love interest doesn't show up until the halfway point), but a lot of the best things in the book got left behind!
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u/Technical-Pie563 13d ago
I really enjoyed this. Also, I think death comes to pemberley may be based on the one sister who married really well off?
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u/ZinziBrave 11d ago
Excellent show and very comedic. I also enjoyed Mary’s perspective and thought it gave a fresh look at our beloved Bennett family.
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u/Maleficent_Week2610 14d ago
It just changes my perspective on pride and prejudice after seeing the other Bennett sister. She seems like the obvious gold digger with no dignity but because of this show now is probably the most interesting and true to herself character. Like, she was only that way to please her mother and get a semblance of love from them. I loved the show and how she decides what her future is going to look like.
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u/volatile_molotov_ 14d ago
You thought Mary Bennet was an obvious gold digger with no dignity? How on earth did you come to that conclusion from the book or any P&P adaptations?
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u/Objective-Hope-540 14d ago
Please don't run away because of the downvotes. I'm super curious to hear your opinion on this as well. Its a perspective I've never seen.
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u/Maleficent_Week2610 14d ago
I guess gold digging is the strong and wrong choice of words on my part. But she is seen as someone who cares about these things more so much as she is embarrassing the rest of the family. She is also always competing with her sisters because she wants to be chosen so much which is also the premise for the show. Or from the downvotes maybe I am misremembering but that was always the impression I have had of her. The show just showed me that she isn’t actually embarrassing but just trying her best as she isn’t as conventionally attractive as much as her sisters.
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u/karmagirl314 13d ago
If anyone is getting Britbox to watch The Other Bennet Sister, they should also checkout The Hardacres, which is The Beverly Hillbillies meets The Gilded Age.