Austenheads have been blessed with yet another retelling of the iconic novel Pride and Prejudice, but for the first time ever, we’re hearing the story from the perspective of Mary Bennet.
Based on the novel written by Janice Hadlow of the same name, this BBC adaptation of the Bennet sisters’ world follows Mary, a character long overlooked and considered dull, even by Jane Austen herself.
Mary’s character has been pretty much cast aside by every adaptation since Austen’s novel in order to stay accurate to the original, but Hadlow gives the underdog a voice and a story of her own.
In this new series, Mary leaves her family of social climbers to embark on a hiking journey where she forms an unexpected spark with a barrister named Mr Hayward.
Romance isn’t the core of Mary’s journey in the country, though.
What’s more important is that she finds herself and her own voice for the first time after living her life feeling like an outsider. Mary is portrayed as an independent thinker who struggles to fit in with her sisters and mother, who are much more focused on climbing the ladder into higher society.
This show is really a tribute to all the misfits and the awkward introverts who have been overlooked in society both in real life and in our imaginations for centuries.
Mary’s character is played excellently by Ella Bruccoleri, while her love interest Mr Hayward is played by Irish actor Dónal Finn.
All 10 parts of the series are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.