The Other Bennet Sister, Episode 1 — Recap: Think More, Feel Less
Opens on: “It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world without expectations, she had better do all she can to ensure that she is beautiful. To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough. But to be penniless and plain is a hard fate indeed.”
What happened
The below summary might be viewed as spoilery
The show opens on a familiar note: Mrs Bennet announces that ‘Netherfield is let at last’ by a wealthy bachelor named Bingley. It’s time to marry the girls away and save the family from destitution.
But this time the camera stays on the sister the story usually forgets. We get an insight into Mary’s thoughts on her sisters (or at least what Mary thinks her mother thinks). Mary then overhears her mother describe her as “clumsy and ungainly,” with the worst marriage prospects of the five.
“I only hope she does not ruin her sisters’ chances.” Ooph that stings!
Thus, the tone has been set. We will be exploring the theme of self-esteem, of fitting in, on knowing who you are in a world that demands certain things of a young woman.
Mary gets her spectacles from Mr Sparrow, the local optician, who clearly takes a shine to her and hopes to see her at the assembly.
“You really do look very well in your spectacles. Especially when you smile.”
Such a lovely compliment! Only to be met by Mary’s insistance that her mother would not agree and she only needs to continue reading. We get a glimpse into Mary not being used to the attention of men.
We are introduced to some of the dynamics of the Bennet sisters as Mary tells them that there will be an assembly in Meryton. They almost ignore her, walking in pairs with her lagging behind having to constantly catch up.
At dinner they tell Mr and Mrs Bennet about the assembly. Again, we see Mrs Bennet leave Mary out of the conversation about potentially finding a husband. In fact, we see that she sees Mary’s role at the assembly to fetch drinks for her and Lady Lucas.
[Fun aside: We see Mary is reading Beautiful Victim: The Terrible Fate of Annie Elm. That’s probably a reference to a real case with a different name.]
At the assembly we were introduced to the social dynamics of the era. A friend of Elizabeth’s complains that ladies with secure futures should stay home. We see Mr. Bingley and his sisters arrive with Mr. Darcy. It’s apparent that effort is made to show Mr. Darcy as contemptuous from the first seconds.
We see another theme that is very interesting which is that people outside the Bennet family tend to regard her very highly, however she doesn’t have the confidence to see the compliments for what they are. She is introduced to the Bingley party as “the most accomplished girl in the whole neighbourhood.”
Mr Sparrow makes his move and asks Mary to dance. She awkwardly accepts, making excuses that she is exhausted from her (inexisting) dancing, but suddenly feels more rested. We get to see another side of Mary, one who is fun and enjoys herself. A Mary full of life.
“Two dances in a row might suggest a liking. Three might suggest something more,” we are told. Mary’s mother even takes her aside to forbid her to dance more with Mr Sparrow. Our introduction to Mrs Bennet in this first episode is not quite inline with the original. She comes off as more mean than as a comic relief about the worries of marriage. This ultimately leads to Mary turning down Mr Sparrow.
Overall, the ball does well in setting up the characters in the roles. It plays well with the original Pride and Prejudice and gives us a point of view that brings more to the table.
We get the character defining moment in the end. Powerful narration by Mary that really sets up what’s to come. Gives us rich insight into the internal dialog happening in the characters mind. Wow!
Fantastic start to the series and so much fun for Jane Austen fans that can’t get enough of her characters, even if the story is created by someone else.