Other Bennet Sister Eps 5–7 Review | Pemberley and Proposals for Mary (With Spoilers)

The Other Bennet Sister Episodes 5–7 are a pure delight as Mary Bennet is swept from London to Pemberley and back into a changing world that may or may not suit her. Spoilers ahead for The Other Bennet Sister Episodes 5–7. In this review, I’m talking through Mary’s shifting reality, the emotional weight of Pemberley, the arrival of Mr Ryder, the sharp family dynamics, and the way Mrs Gardiner once again becomes one of the most important people in Mary’s growth. Ruth Jones simply soars as Mrs Bennet, that grasping battleaxe of a mother who is always calculating, always reacting, and always deeply inconvenienced by everyone else’s lives. She is hilarious, formidable, and relentless. Once Mary is more fully settled into Pemberley, the show gives us such a strong feeling of what it might be like to end up trapped in a splendid prison. Pemberley is beautiful, of course, but for Mary, beauty does not automatically mean belonging. Then Mr Ryder arrives, and suddenly Mary’s family is forced to see her in a baffling and dazzling new light. What could this dynamic, handsome, and wealthy young man possibly find so refreshing about dull Mary Bennet? All except Lizzie, perhaps. Poppy Gilbert brings real warmth to Elizabeth in the little time we get with her, and the late-night scene between Lizzie and Mary is one of the strongest scenes of the series so far. It has as many turns as a full film, with both sisters laying out their worldviews so clearly and so succinctly. Well done to screenwriter Sarah Quintrell, because that scene alone feels BAFTA-worthy. And while the drama and emotional insight are strong, the comedy is still very much alive. Mary continues to be unexpectedly funny, and special mention must go to dear, sweet Mr Collins, who somehow seems sadly shackled himself. Once again, Indira Varma as Mrs Gardiner saves the day. She truly becomes the gardener to the blossoming flower that Mary Bennet is becoming. Once Mary is planted into the London season and given a taste of autonomy, Mrs Gardiner’s ease, savvy, and affirmation help Mary begin to claim her own confidence. Episodes 5–7 leave us with a Mary who is changing, blooming, and beginning to understand that she may have more choices than she was ever taught to expect. I cannot wait to see what is in store for the final episodes of this thoroughly charming story. What did you think of Mary’s time at Pemberley and London? And did that late-night scene between Mary and Lizzie stand out to you too? #TheOtherBennetSister #MaryBennet #PrideAndPrejudice #JaneAusten #BritBox #BBC #PeriodDrama #TVReview