RECAP: ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Episode 8

In The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8, Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) makes peace with her fate as a spinster and looks forward to an independent future. But just as she’s sure she knows where her life is headed, the return of two very different love interests shakes everything up.

On the journey to the Lake District, the Gardiners (Indira Varma, Richard Coyle) are blissfully in love even after many years of marriage. Mary, observing them, narrates that the Gardiners see happiness as something they can cultivate rather than something that happens by chance. Mary wants the same outlook on life for herself now that she’s content to be single forever.

At an inn along the way, Mary runs into Miss Baxter (Varada Sethu), who’s newly engaged in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8. Since Miss Baxter and Tom (Dónal Finn) have had an “understanding” to marry one day, Mary tries to hide her disappointment, given her secret affection for Tom. But Miss Baxter is engaged to a man she met at Ryder’s dinner party in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 5. Tom’s years spent building his legal career drove them apart, and they ended their agreement.

Mary barely contains her hope that Tom will follow through on his engagement.

In the carriage, the Gardiners say Tom must be heartbroken. Mary looks a little delighted to hear it. The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8 demonstrates Mary’s joy at Tom’s new singleness through small smiles. It’s a subtle expression of hope for a subtly passionate heroine.

On their first day in the Lake District, Mrs. Gardiner suggests that Mary and Tom go for a walk. Mrs. Gardiner waggles her eyebrows at Tom as they leave, and she revels in playing matchmaker between the two young people. Tom asks how the trip to Pemberley went. Mary says her mother (Ruth Jones) spent the visit the same as she always has, comparing Mary to her “beautiful, accomplished” sisters and criticizing Mary for her plainness and singleness.

“I am so sorry that anyone has ever made you feel like a disappointment,” Tom says earnestly, and Mary is on the verge of tears. Tom says he heard Ryder came to see Mary at Pemberley, and he looks nervous when he hears how it went. Before Mary can answer, the Gardiners interrupt, ready to head to the lake.

At the lake, Tom and the Gardiners go fishing while Mary stands by, laughing and offering advice from a fishing book she read. The group observes the nearby mountain, Scafell, which held some significance for Wordsworth, Tom’s favorite poet. Tom suggests they climb the mountain soon. Mary agrees, even though she’s not big on physical exertion. Her agreement and her ease with her friends show that by The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8, she has grown into someone who navigates social outings with some ease. Among friends, she truly shines.

The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8 makes a strong case for Mary and Tom. 

After fishing, Mary tells Tom that she is not engaged to Ryder. Tom looks incredibly relieved. Mrs. Gardiner, pretending to read nearby, grins to herself as she overhears Tom and Mary’s conversation. Mary tells Tom she’s “trying to think of a different future for myself” and is interested in full-time governess work.

Tom wonders if Mary would consider looking for a husband. Mary says that would only lead to disappointment. Tom eagerly tries to hint at his interest in her, but Mary is distracted by nearby bird calls. Trying to identify the birds from their sounds, Mary and Tom each do impressions of bird calls.

Their dorky, cute bird impressions are a strong contrast to Ryder’s horseback ride with Mary in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 6. Tom matches Mary’s quirks, while Ryder sees Mary as a bolder, braver soul than she is. The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8 makes an excellent case for Tom as Mary’s true love, now that he’s free to pursue her.

A potential confession is interrupted. 

That night, Mrs. Gardiner says she’s noticed that Mary and Tom are getting along well. Mary insists Tom is still getting over Miss Baxter, but Mrs. Gardiner thinks Tom and Miss Baxter were never a good match for each other.

A week later, Mary reads as she and Tom boat on the lake. Tom asks Mary about her book. She’s reading Tintern Abbey, which turns out to be Tom’s favorite work by Wordsworth. He asks her to read aloud, but her recitation is passionless. She asks Tom to read aloud instead, frustrated. He recites from memory, looking at Mary with awe as he recites words so close to his heart.

Mary thinks the poem is a meditation on humanity’s connection to nature. Tom’s excited to see Mary connect with something he’s so passionate about, especially after her declaration that she dislikes poetry in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 3. “I’ve read this poem a thousand times,” Tom smiles. “Sitting here, I finally feel its true power.” Mary agrees.

Tom explains why he ended things with Miss Baxter. “We were quite young when we made our agreement,” he says, telling Mary he was relieved to end things. His feelings had “changed quite significantly” in light of some recent events, hinting that meeting Mary had changed his heart. But before Mary can respond, an unexpected voice calls out to them.

A dip in the lake makes it clear where both men stand.

From the boat, they can see Ryder swimming out to meet them. Mary’s surprised to see Ryder, who is supposed to be in Italy. Tom is visibly annoyed and is even more agitated after falling into the water while trying to pull Ryder onto the boat. They pull the boat and Mary to shore. Ryder says he tried to find Tom in London for some legal advice and came to the Lake District immediately to see him. Tom wants to hear about Ryder’s “urgent” legal situation, but Ryder insists they can talk later. Tom scowls.

At the inn, they run into the Hursts (Fergus Craig, Lucinda Dryzek), who are visiting the area with Caroline (Tanya Reynolds). Mary, Tom, Ryder, the Gardiners, the Hursts, and Caroline have dinner together that night. Ryder invites himself on the mountain expedition. Tom makes it clear that he does not want Ryder there. Caroline mentions her appreciation for Wordsworth. Mary tries to connect with prickly Caroline, since she didn’t know Caroline liked poetry. Caroline seethes that “it is a passion I only share with my friends.”

Later, Tom adjusts Mary’s shawl after it falls off her shoulder. It’s a gentle, intimate moment. Tom takes that opportunity to tell Mary he hopes they can continue their conversation from the boat when they reach the top of the mountain in the morning. Mary looks forward to it. They smile so tenderly and warmly at each other that the warmth of the nearby fireplace has nothing on them.

Dónal Finn is the standout in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 8.

Ryder, sitting by Caroline at dinner, leaves to find a moment alone with Mary. Caroline looks hurt and angry that Ryder left her side. Ryder apologizes to Mary for his unconventional proposal in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 7. He says he has a way for them to be together while keeping his free-spiritedness and honoring Mary’s request to follow social norms.

He doesn’t explain himself further. But, like Tom, Ryder wants to continue this important conversation at the top of the mountain. “I will make amends to you,” Ryder says, suggesting he might have a more conventional proposal in store.

Mary narrates that she can’t believe the turn her life has taken. She was newly determined to make her own way in the world and was insistent she would never get married. And yet, she has “somehow won’t have the admiration of two dear friends.”

The Other Bennet Sister elevates the stakes of Tom and Ryder’s rivalry. With Tom free to pursue Mary, and Ryder willing to live by social conventions, Mary’s heart is in two directions. Dónal Finn’s performance is the standout as restrained, lovesick Tom is desperate to connect with Mary. It’s romantic storytelling at its most grippingly delicate and tender.

The Other Bennet Sister is streaming now on BritBox.

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