The Other Bennet Sister Season 10 marks the end of this mini-series. And dare I say, Mary Bennet made the right choice. Well, at least when it comes to Tom Hayward. Her mother thought… that’s another story. because she was a little too soft with her. But maybe Mary didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of giving her the same energy. Still, Mary’s better than we are at restraining herself.
Overall, The Other Bennet Sister Season 1 was a beautiful exploration about finding yourself after you’ve been crushed. It was a story about not only fighting society’s expectations but also the ones we put on our own and what we can achieve. And Ella Bruccoleri did a beautiful job at portraying a woman who wanted more than a room or a man that would settle for her. Throughout Season 1 she figured out she wanted the world. She found that for herself. And she found that with Tom.
MORE: The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9 Review: I’m Ready to Fight Mr. Ryder
Mary Made the Right Choice
I’m not going to lie, The Other Bennet Sister had me there for a second during the final moments between Mary and Tom. Because the show has always prioritized Mary’s happiness and development first. So a small part of me thought that Mary was going to tell Tom no and that the show would take a different turn. I’m glad to say that that didn’t happen and that Mary and Tom had a beautiful, if yet frustrating, exchange where they professed their love and agreed to marry.
I think it’s perfect that Mary was written in such a manner where she had written off marriage and love, but then allowed herself to accept it (marriage and love) when it came around. When it comes to any kind of media,l people like to put women in boxes. Either she’s very against marriage or she’s absolutely for it and it’s everything she thinks about. There needs to be more in-between. An in between where you can doubt yourself, want it, abandon love, and then grasp it with both hands without losing yourself or the journey you went on because that’s life.
Also kudos to Mary for asking for what she wanted in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 10. Or more so declaring what she wanted. She did it with her mother before at the Gardiner house and then she did it in front of Tom. And extra kudos for Mary calling Tom out on him taking away her decision when it came to their future. Because they’re partners in this now. And if it’s going to work for the long haul, he can’t take away her choice like that again. (Pay attention, other series who do this kind of thing and then paint it as romantic. It’s not.)
But anywho, as a viewer it has been an absolute pleasure joining Mary on this adventure and I’m honestly so in love with this show that I might do a rewatch instead of starting something new.
The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8 Review: Kicking My Feet and Giggling
Thank You Mrs. and Mr. Gardiner
While we have been watching Mary go on this journey in The Other Bennet Sister Season 1, she has faced a lot of obstacles. A huge one being her mother, a second one being society’s expectations, and the third one being how her sisters never saw what she was going through, or if they did, they never defended her. And I don’t think that Mary would have gotten to the point that she did by the end of Episode 10 if not for Mrs. and Mr. Gardiner.
These two people opened their home to Mary and didn’t make her feel othered. They chose her over and over again and made sure to provide her with the comfort, support, and encouragement to go out there and figure it all out for herself. And when Mary’s mother, who I still hate with a fiery passion, came around they supported Mary without overstepping. That right there is so important because Mary knew they would be there for her. And that knowledge, once it seeps into your bones, especially after never having that kind of support, it’s pure joy.
A quintessential part of watching TV is seeing yourself in the characters on screen. And while I can’t relate to the regency of it all on The Other Bennet Sister or the search for a husband, I do relate to the crushing weight in disappointing someone who you want to love you but only breaks you down. I can also relate to finding people who choose to love you and show it at every turn because they just want the best for you. They just chose you. They found you. And you found them. And you chose to keep each other. That’s what I see when I look at Mary and the relationship that she has with the Gardiners.
Dare I say what Mary found with the Gardiners, the peace they gave her that allowed her to find herself, that’s my favorite part of The Other Bennet Sister.
MORE: The Other Bennet Sister Episodes 1-3 Review: The Best Pride and Prejudice Adaptation in Years
Ok, Maybe I Was Too Harsh on Mr. Ryder
On a lighter note, I do have to apologize to Mr. Ryder after wanting to destroy him in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9 (linked above). I was so sure that he went and told Tom to back down so he could propose while they were hiking. But he didn’t. He did meddle a little bit because he saw that Tom was close with Mary. But he didn’t do something malicious like I thought he did. So I apologize for that.
I will say though, I did love the proposal on the first watch. But on the second watch, I realized that Mr. Ryder was just talking about himself when proposing to Mary. And it gave me perspective that he kind of needed what Mary got when she arrived in London but on a different scale. He needed someone to support him and allow him just to be himself. And like others did for Mary, Mary did that for him. He latched on to that and thought that the only way that he could keep that feeling or relationship with Mary was through marriage. That’s why I’m glad Mary said no.
Mr. Ryder was never the right choice for Mary. He marveled at her and what doors she opened for him to be himself. But when it came to Mary and Tom, they just wanted to be together and face life at each other’s side. It didn’t matter where they were, how much money they had, or what adventures they were going on. All that mattered was that they were together. And yes that includes the silly bits where they can gossip together about how Ms. Bingley went after Mr. Ryder. Because he wasn’t ready for that life where even those small moments of intimacy are adventures. Tom was with Mary, and she was with him. By choice. Always.
The Other Bennet Sister new episodes premiere each Wednesday on BritBox.
