The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8 had me kicking my feet and giggling. Because there’s no toeing around what’s happening here anymore. Mary has entered a new phase, a new perspective of her life. And now she knows. There are two men vying for her attention. Two prospects where she never thought there would be. And it’s amazing!
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Mary’s Growth
As important as the romance of The Other Bennet Sister is to Mary’s story, of course we first have to talk about Mary’s growth. Because that is the most important part of the story that we are experiencing here. Yes, it’s swoon worthy that two guys are vying for her attention. But the real love story in The Other Bennet Sister is the one that she has with herself.
After the events of Episode 7, this is a Mary we have not seen before. Because this is the version of her that knows she can stand up to her mom. And if she knows she can stand up to her mom, she can certainly stand up to Ms. Bingley. She also knows that she can ask for what she wants and be a little bit more open with her desires or needs without feeling like an inconvenience or a burden.
Overall, The Other Bennet Sister has done a wonderful job in only eight episodes of deconstructing a character and building her up again in a way that feels earned. Nothing feels out of place or unnecessary. Everything matters in telling this story where Mary comes to understand that she fits in this world. Maybe in a way that her mother wouldn’t approve of. But that doesn’t matter. Because Mary is living for herself. And that’s the true success of this show.
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The Two Suitors
As charming as I find William, Mary isn’t going to pick that man. Or I think she’s not going to pick that man. Because yes, he’s fascinated with her and he makes her laugh. But I think he’s fascinated with her in the way that someone would be with a rare specimen. Something more interesting is going to come around and William will jump on that without hesitation, leaving Mary bereft and reputation destroyed.
Mary is going to choose Tom. And she’s going to choose him because he chose her. He chose her from the very moment he met her. He was funny, curious, insightful, and never saw her as anything other than the radiant and curious person that she’s always been. Tom brightens her days and doesn’t see her as this shiny object he’s fascinated with. Mary and Tom are also friends. That’s an essential building block of why I think they’re endgame.
Besides my thoughts on who Mary is going to pick, I loved this delicious moment at the end of The Other Bennet Sister because Mary didn’t doubt herself. Mary stood, 10 toes down, and understood that these two men wanted her. No brushing it aside or being like “Nahhhh, that’s not right.” And that right there is Mary coming into her power but also her understanding her worth. Some people never understand that. But she does.
Mrs. Gardiner is a Real One
Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I desperately hate Mrs. Bennet. She’s a toxic cloud of negativity that crushes Mary. Thank God that we have Mrs. Gardiner. Because she is literally the breath of fresh air that Mary has been needing for years upon years. And she continues to be this guiding and supporting light for Mary. I’m not just talking about in the romantic sense either.
Mrs. Gardiner doesn’t owe Mary anything. She’s treating Mary with the kindness and respect that she feels like Mary deserves because she’s a good person. And within that space, she sees that Mary has been crushed by her mother. So she encourages Mary at every turn to try out new things. And not for her family or for a suitor. She wants Mary to try out new things for herself. That’s support. That’s the mother Mary always deserved.
On the suitor side of it all, don’t think we didn’t clock you Mrs. Gardiner when you came to talk to Mary afterwards in her room. She is so gentle and warm in her guidance as a means of Mary realizing how worthwhile she is. And how there are people in this world who see her for who she is and want to get to know her in a romantic sense.
Just saying, if I had someone like Mrs. Gardiner in my life, I would be set. So Mary is set. Also, Indira Varma, the actress you are. You are perfection as Mrs. Gardiner.
The Other Bennet Sister new episodes premiere each Wednesday on BritBox.
