The Other Bennet Sister (2026)

 The Not-like-other girl's story. Okay, I know, a massive burn to a piece of media I "actually" adored, but the title itself to the adaptation of the Other Bennet Sister is very "not like other girls"-coded. Everyone - or not every single girl - has been through a phase of "I'm not like other girls" woe-is-me during their teens or early adulthood. I had a period where I also had a bit of internalized misogyny as well, you know just to throw that in there. 

But in all seriousness The Other Bennet Sister focuses on Mary Bennet whom usually is considered the forgotten sister, and yes, some view also Kitty as the forgotten one, but she's the one who gets the full force of Mr Bennet's attention when shit doth hit the fan post Lydia Bennet's "eloping" with Mr. Wickham. 

Quick & sweet summary:  

Mary Bennet doesn't know who she is, but when her mother accepts an invitation from the Gardeners on her behalf to be their governess - she begins to find out. 

The thing about this show is that it feels like the emotional successor to the 1995 Pride and Prejudice. Besides the fact that it feels like a breath of fresh air to have leads that do not conform to the Instagram-face that people felt Netflix's Persuasion adaptation unfortunately did. 

BBC has a long history of knowing how to adapt costume drama's, and I am not comparing this show to for example Bridgerton. I am obsessed with Bridgerton, but I am also painfully aware of the costume issues, plot issues, and on occasion blatant CGI use (might be reshoots on some bits and bobs). 

This show with its 10 part episodes just makes me painfully aware of how lacking modern costume dramas have been of late. We need more adaptations, and I am not asking for another Pride and Prejudice mini-series, which Netflix has unfortunately decided to hoist upon us in the future. I am begging for NEW stories. 

There are so many other books to adapt - a whole heap of them - like I would have loved to see something other than Wuthering Heights, though. The producers out there are probably shrieking "BRAND RECOGNISION" because original stories feel like a gamble. Even if the last adaptation was 2011, and like, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë - last adapted 1996 - is also a story that could be adapted. The forgotten Brontë sister - that's who Anne is...

The producers are not actually wrong in terms of Wuthering Heights bringing people to the Cinema, but people also enjoy good storytelling the most. Which is why the Other Bennet sister is so much fun! It's already gotten a large following online of people gagging for it, and there's no sexy rake behaviour needed. 

No offence, Bridgerton, but I blushed from seeing a man rolling up his sleeves. His sleeves! To show off his slutty forearms. No one actually says that, but you know what I mean. It's very much kicking one’s feet up and screaming and giggling - sort of thing. 

That is probably why a lot of women gravitate to K-Drama's these days as well, which spend a lot of time in building relationships and characters, besides carefully building touch between the leads. A hug is a big deal. I'm shook if I see a kiss in the third episode of a K-Drama - looking at you Perfect Crown (2026). 

I suppose this goes back to sincerity in media being lacking. And people finding it across the border. It’s lovely that the BBC has still retained much of their ability to create costume dramas that are still memorable and delightful.