The Other Bennet Sister - Episode 2

New Mary

Mary's voiceover (MayVO?) informs us that, in the weeks after the Meryton assembly, she buried herself in her books. And we do, indeed, see her walking around while reading quite the tome, because this show is not one to trade on subtlety.

MayVO goes on to tell us that New Mary needs a strong mind, unclouded by strong emotions, so she can be all about the rationality and thinking.

It's time for Mr Collins to make his appearance! Fun! (But also: this means we'll soon be seeing the Netherfield ball as well, and everyone who's read Pride and Prejudice immediately cringes in early mortification on New Mary's behalf.)

All the Bennet girls (except for Rational New Mary) mock Collins's letter and get ready to laugh at him, but Mrs B correctly intuits that the man must be looking for a wife. Mary tells her sisters (nicely) to pack it in, because they haven't even met the guy yet, and her mother immediately starts yelling at her for daring to agree with her and committing the cardinal sin of speaking. With her voice. Which Mrs Bennet hates because Mrs Bennet is THE WORST still.

Worth noting: Mary has a nervous habit of clawing at her hands and fingernails. It seems to happen mostly when her mother’s around, unsurprisingly.

Marriage or misery

Later, in Meryton, Charlotte joins Mary in an ugly bonnet convention and comments that the two of them don't sparkle the way the other Bennets do. Have you missed this point up until now? It's fine if you did, they've been pretty coy about it.

Mary tells her about Collins coming to visit and the fact he's probably looking for a wife. Charlotte perks right up when she hears that, but then 'Meh's' when she hears he's a clergyman, and therefore, she assumes, has a modest income. She does urge Mary to do all she can to attract him, though. Within the bounds of propriety, of course. He may not be good enough for Charlotte Lucas, Local Spinster with No Prospects, but surely he's good enough for Mary-the-Loser-Bennet, right?

Mary notes that Charlotte's talk is all practical, and not romantic. Whatever happened to Rational New Mary? Without the strong emotions? Also, I'm not entirely sure this rather romantic version of her fits properly with the Mary we know from the original novel, who was definitely a more practical type, but ok, sure, we'll go with this.

As Caroline Lennox once observed, ‘I’m sure you’d find many a comfortable old virgin.’ You know, like Jane Austen herself.

Charlotte laughs and wonders what love has to do with anything. Their futures hold two choices: marriage or misery. She says it twice, so we make sure to get it. Got that? They need to get married, folks! But not to modest-income clergymen or middle-class professionals! The messaging on this is very muddled. If Charlotte, who, again, didn't seem to dance at all at the assembly, is staring down the misery barrel, why's she dismissing Collins out of hand? A modest income is better than no income at all, beyond whatever a father or brother deigns to give you from time to time, right?

But also: Jesus, Charlotte, that’s bleak. As Caroline Lennox once observed, ‘I’m sure you’d find many a comfortable old virgin.’ You know, like Jane Austen herself.

The Bennets aren't nice people, are they?

The Bennet girl pastel lineup (plus Mary, in a drab, charcoal dress) greets Collins, along with Mr and Mrs B. Mrs B introduces Collins to the girls and immediately announces that Jane is soon to be engaged. Jane is not at all mortified by that. In fact, she has no reaction at all, which is odd, because Mrs B's assumption about that engagement was putting the cart waaaaay before the horse at this point in the original story and in-canon (and, indeed, in this very episode) Mrs B’s trumpeting of this was really embarrassing to members of the family. Collins appraises each girl in turn, but can't move on from Mary fast enough because, in case you weren't aware, she is desperately unattractive. GLASSES! BROWN HAIR!

Collins pays the ladies an awkward compliment, and four of them literally laugh in his face, which is not at all a Jane or a Lizzy thing to do (they kept their mocking private, thank you). The poor guy realises he's blundered and apologises if he offended them, and Mary, who knows a little something about feeling awkward amongst this lot, steps in and reassures him. The Bennet Bitch Brigade continues to laugh at him as Mrs B hustles him away to see the house he will be KICKING THEM ALL OUT OF SOMEDAY, so maybe, ladies, learn to control yourselves?

Mary eyes Collins over dinner, with a resigned look that clearly says, 'This is my future? My best prospect?' But she throws herself into the fire here and starts engaging him in conversation by way of complimenting the grace he said over dinner. Her mother, of course, has to bust in and tactlessly bring up the entail and practically serve up three of her daughters alongside the roast. She's so obvious that even Collins gets it and announces that he's definitely here to admire the girls. It sounds creepier here than it seems onscreen, just trust me on that.

Collins can't move on from Mary fast enough because, in case you weren't aware, she is desperately unattractive. GLASSES! BROWN HAIR!

Mary tries to engage him by asking what he thinks of Fordyce's sermons, and he immediately moves the conversation Lizzy's way. Lizzy’s uninterested.

But I guess this gives Collins an idea, because later we see him reading the sermons (which are all about how women should behave, and based on what we hear, I wouldn't be surprised if they saw some kind of resurgence in popularity amongst the TradWife crowd). The other Bennet girls look like they want to die but Mary's silently speaking along with him, having committed the sermons to heart.

In an effort, I'm sure, to avoid more sermons, Mrs B urges Lizzy to play for them. Collins is enjoying the music but definitely notices the missed notes. Mary sidles up to her sister and makes a point of mentioning the mistakes. Lizzy's like, 'Cool. Your turn!'

Mary sits at the piano and begins playing a very dirge-like piece that's in stark contrast to Lizzy's more spirited song. But Collins seems to like it and compliments the precision of her playing. Sensing that Mary might be about to make a connection with another human, Mrs B sends Collins on a walk around the gardens with Lizzy. Again, Mrs B: do you want all your daughters married or not? Because we know Lizzy's pretty popular and probably won't have much trouble, but Mary has few prospects! Even fewer, thanks to your meddling with Sparrow!

He's just not that into you

Later, Mrs B comes up to Mary's room and tells her Collins is for Lizzy and no one else. Mary knows her sister a bit better than their mother does and tells her Lizzy will never accept Collins. Mary adds that she has no strong feelings for the man, but they do have some things in common and she is, at least, 'prepared to seek out the good in him.' Nice burn, there, Mary. Shame your mother's definitely too stupid to get it. Mrs B meanly tells her Collins is not that into her and swirls on out.

Collins brings news of the upcoming Netherfield ball, which gets everyone excited. He asks Elizabeth to save him the first dance, and she manages not to vomit right there in the garden, though she doesn't do much to hide her dismay. Mary, still looking for an in here, I guess, mentions she might play at the ball, and when Collins mentions how much he likes a lady who sings, Mary gets An Idea.

She happily tells Hill that she plans to play and sing at the Netherfield ball, as a surprise for everyone. Hill looks horrified by the very idea but doesn't try to talk her out of it. 'Short and sweet' is her only advice, along with 'maybe don't sing'. Alas, we know Mary does not take that advice.

Everyone, start your cringing

Mrs B is wearing yet another peach monstrosity to the ball. It looks like it was made using the same godawful pattern as the last one. She fawningly approves of each daughter's appearance in turn, until she gets to Mary, and I hate to say it, but I find myself agreeing here. Mary seems to have set out to make herself look as fusty and unattractive as possible, with a high-necked dress in an unflattering beige sort of colour.

I see we're still with the 80's bridesmaid gloves?

At the party, we meet the Gardiners (Mrs B's brother and his wife) and then Mrs B starts talking too loudly about Jane marrying Bingley, prompting Lizzy to fly over to tell her to STFU.

Charlotte sits next to Mary and asks her opinion on Collins. Mary thinks he has 'tolerable forearms', and boy, if that isn't damning with faint praise, I don't know what is. Mary also tells Charlotte that Collins is the one who'll inherit Mr Bennet's estate, and I'm amazed she's not temporarily blinded by the enormous lightbulb that goes off right over Charlotte's head.

DING!

I find it difficult, if not impossible to believe that Charlotte didn't know this. She's Lizzy's best friend, and this is not new information.

Mary, clutching her folder of music to her chest like a shield, reconsiders playing and singing and Charlotte immediately urges her to go ahead with her performance. 'Mr Collins is sure to be impressed,' she tells her. Wooooooow, this is a bit of a nasty, calculating version of Charlotte Lucas.

Lizzy plays a song on the piano, and when she's done Mary hustles on over there. Lizzy tells her sister not to play for too long, in a way that feels really uncharitable. Charlotte (and the rest of us) steels herself for what's to come.

As soon as Mary starts singing, Charlotte gets up and goes over to Mr Collins. The two of them chat all the way through the performance (which is, as we know, not good, but this is rude nonetheless). Poor Mary notices people laughing at her (including Darcy and Caroline Bingley) and wavers but manfully sees it through to the end. Mr B comes over and tells her she's done now, so she gets herself off the piano, shoving her music back into her folder. Caroline Bingley catches her as she's trying to escape the room and sneers that the performance was 'truly unforgettable'.

Mary juuuust manages to hold it together long enough to get out of the room, and her aunt, apparently the only feeling person in this whole family, realises what's happening and follows her to comfort and reassure her. The aunt's played by Indira Varma, and I'm always happy to see her. She's so sweet and understanding here and it's nice to see someone reassuring Mary and bigging her up a bit. She’s the good mum Mary never had.

Seriously, the Bennets are awful!

Later that night, Mary meets up with Lizzy in the hallway at Longbourne and correctly guesses Elizabeth was the one to tell their father to kick Mary off the piano. Lizzy, with a level of simpering condescension that makes me want to slap her, tells Mary she just didn't want her to overexert herself. I can't believe this show's making me HATE Lizzy Bennet, but here we are! Yikes.

'You insult me,' Mary spits, and yes, Mary, she does! She really does! I'm glad you noticed and are calling her out on that.

I can't believe this show's making me HATE Lizzy Bennet, but here we are!

Lizzy switches to making this all about her by pouting that she had a terrible evening. Oh, poor you, Elizabeth. GOD, this family.

Mary, sounding exhausted, notes that Elizabeth moves through life with such ease, never seeming to need to try, whereas Mary tries so, so hard and gets nowhere and nothing. Ella Bruccoleri's doing some great work here. She sounds so heartbreakingly defeated, and she doesn't even know about Charlotte nicking Mr Collins yet.

Lizzy tells Mary she's achieved a lot but can't give a single example to back that up. She does apologise (sincerely) and embraces her younger sister.

A wedding! I love weddings!

Kitty and Lydia burst into Mary's room and tell her Lizzy's turned down Collins's proposal. Mary's face goes, 'All is not lost!' but when she looks out of her bedroom window she sees Charlotte tromping their way, and she hears Collins shouting that he intends to leave.

With Lizzy determined not to have the man, Mary suddenly has value to her mother, who tells her to go ahead and go after the guy. Mary's having a moment of clear-headedness (I find they kind of come and go) and tells her mother there's no way Collins will ask another Bennet girl to marry him, not after that humiliation. Mrs B will not hear it, because 'who else will marry him?' if not the worthless (to Mrs Bennet) Mary? This woman. No wonder this poor girl's cuticles are a distant, bloody memory.

Unfortunately, news comes that there is someone else who'll have Mr Collins: Charlotte. Mrs Bennet is WROTH. Lizzy is disbelieving, and Mr B is relieved his favourite kid won't have to marry a man he holds in utter distain. Mary kind of just takes all of this in, seeing her possible future of not-misery slipping away.

Charlotte comes over to tell Mary she's sorry-not-sorry, but mostly not-sorry, because she's 'too old to be generous'. Thanks, Charlotte, we already didn’t like you much.

I just think this is a really nice shot, and I like how the colours in her (not bad at all!) dress mirror the flowers and vase and wall in the background. Longbourne girl!

That night, Mary goes to say goodnight to her mother, who seethes and spits that she told Mary nobody would marry her if she wore spectacles. I HATE THIS WOMAN SO MUCH. She's a cartoon villain.

And then we fast-forward right to the end of Pride and Prejudice and watch all the Bennet girls get married and leave home, in quick succession: First Lydia (with Wickham, whom we never even met here), then Jane with Bingley, then a rather giddy Elizabeth with Darcy, and finally Kitty with some random. So it's just Mary left, with her two parents, which must have been a joy for her.

(Kind of a shame we didn't get to see any of the fallout from Lydia running off with Wickham, because Mary DEFINITELY had thoughts on that, but I guess if it was covered here, it would make some later things not make much sense. Which they don't, to anyone who's read Pride and Prejudice, but we'll get there.)

And then Mr Bennet dies, and it's just Mary and Mrs Bennet. Excellent. This should be lots of fun for everyone.