The Other Bennet Sister starts tonight on BBC1 8pm

[IwantToRetire]

Seemingly unremarkable and often overlooked, Mary Bennet longs to win her family’s approval.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002qkp3

Is this going to be a spoof or some sort of spin off ?

2nd episode tonight at 8:30

Couldn't see a thread so hope this isn't a duplicate!

I think that’s a bit reductive in terms of Indian colonialism. There was quite a lot of inter mixing and cultural exchange and mixed marriages weren’t that unusual. Indian art, culture and cuisine was admired and emulated - why do you think we drink tea? High status Indians (Gandhi, Jinnah) studied for the bar in England. Kipling spoke Urdu before he spoke English.

I’ve always been on Team Mrs Bennet because she knew the fate of the family if at least one of the daughters didn’t make a good marriage, like the Dashwoods in S&S.

I’m not overly keen on how she was written in the later episodes of TOBS though. The Mrs Bennet of P&P surely would be satisfied with four daughters married, two exceedingly well, and would assume Mary to be fine in the hands of Lizzie or Jane after her own passing.

She never came across as actively spiteful or bullying though, just silly. I would have imagined her thinking she had some social status and maybe some little influence around Pemberley and the new nearby Bingley estate as the MIL. She would spend her days condescending to visit other families and hugely enjoying spreading gossip. Darcy and Bingley would probably encourage her out of their houses as much as possible!

it seems that Mrs Bennet of TOBS modelled herself on LadyCdeB, only taking on the haughtiness and meanness and not the intelligence or graciousness (to the right people).

I didn’t know this! Great trivia, thanks. Hill was a lovely character.

I agree re Mrs Bennet @nonumbersinthisname .
Austen says as much in the closing pages of P&P. Jane and Lizzy are settled, Kitty is "much improved" through spending most of her time with them and Lydia...eye roll... Mary likes being the only one at home.

However, an interpretation might be that with the loss of Longbourn, Mrs B's anxiety and bitchiness roars back up as Mary is not useful (and Kitty is now married). I mean, Mary obviously is useful but there's a big personality clash. Although Lizzy is/was Mr B's favourite, maybe Mary is the most like him in personality and interests? That would grate on Mrs B with Mr B having dumped them in the doodoo financially.

I mentioned it on page 1!

I would have imagined her thinking she had some social status and maybe some little influence around Pemberley and the new nearby Bingley estate as the MIL.

I was quite hoping that someone would remind her that it wasn't her house!

Apologies, I missed it.

in the book Anne DeBurgh marries inappropriately and is cut off

I agree re Mrs B, she seemed to really resent Mary in this and for all her faults I think she did love all her girls in the book. I like the film version BB did best, even the 1995 AS version was too OTT and ridiculous.

I think once the 4 girls had married well she would have relaxed and enjoyed visiting her friends etc.

I think once the 4 girls had married well she would have relaxed and enjoyed visiting her friends etc.

I suppose it depends how you define "married well".

I don't think it applies to Lydia & Kitty may not have been in a position to have her stay for prolonged visits.

Sorry, not the read the whole thread, but just wanted to say that I think Mary is much more attractive than Caroline Bingley.

Caroline Bingley’s attractiveness isn’t mentioned in P&P I don’t think. I think maybe “grand” or “handsome” is used but I think she is supposed to be eminently fashionable.

Thanks, I haven't read the book, but I'm glad I was thinking along the same lines as the author!

Did you ever watch Coupling? That's what I associate him with although I'm sure he has been in loads of things since!

I just finished watching this. I thought it was a proper tonic. Really charming. I am not an Austen reader but I always like Austen (and Austen spin off) adaptations as a rule. It's great to see women being lead characters and being funny and witty. I loved the wet shirt scene and the silliness on Scafell.

I don't think it's as simple as Mrs Bennet being able to relax once most of her daughters are married, not necessarily. I think the years and years of worrying and bitter resentment towards her husband for not supporting her could well have warped her and made it very unlikely that she would ever be able to just kick back and be happy. Her awareness of the necessity for her daughters to marry coupled with her disappointment in her own marriage would also be difficult to deal with and reconcile with each other. Maybe she is angry with Mary because she is refusing to just accept the lot of a woman in Regency England - maybe there is an element of jealousy there? Probably way too much of a reach and I appreciate this isn't written into the novel but I think bitterness, anger and even spite are believable and valid choices for a character in her position.

The book is so much better. The series cut out a huge chunk about Mary when she went to stay with the Collins. This, in my opinion, was pivotal to the book ad explains Mary’s later actions.

Ruth jones has described Mrs B as a narcissist and that makes sense. She is no longer in charge of her own home and has nothing to do. So she tries to get some power over Mary and the others to some extent. Her brother hates her and she doesn’t like him ‘winning’ Mary. I think RJ did a great job.

really fab series with such good casting and acting all round. Yes to spring green wallpaper!

And I presume Mrs Bennet won’t want to stay with her sister Mrs Philips because of the proximity to her old house and the daily reminder of her loss of status in the village.

I remember that bit of the book, it was one of the bits that really stuck with me, although I loved the whole concept

I shall read the book! That sounds intriguing...

Another classy work of posh Austen fanfiction is "Longbourn" which gives you P&P and afterwards from a maid's point of view.

I must say that the Mrs Bennet in TOBS did remind me rather of one of my grandmas. My poor mum!

Did your mother marry well, @Needlenardlenoo?

😄

Why yes she did .

😄

Lady Catherine de Bourgh (1995 P&P version) always reminds me of my late MIL. She was not a raging snob o anything, but whenever I saw her she always used to say “And how is your mother?” in a very similar syntax 🤣