RECAP: ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Episode 9

In The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9, Mary’s (Ella Bruccoleri) vacation takes a turn for the worse as Tom’s (Dónal Finn) declaration of love ends before it can begin.

The long-awaited hike up Scafell, a notable mountain in the Lake District, is here. Mary, preparing for the day ahead, narrates that she now knows what she wants out of life and plans to seize it. “Fortune favored the brave, didn’t it?” she wonders.

At breakfast, Tom and Ryder (Laurie Davidson) seem to compete for Mary’s attention. Caroline (Tanya Reynolds) refuses to be outshone by Mary and dominates the conversation. Caroline praises Tom for being willing to be seen in public after the “humiliation” of breaking off his relationship with Miss Baxter (Varada Sethu). Tom cheerfully redirects his attention back to Mary, and they discuss their excitement about the day ahead.

Outside, preparing for the hike, Mary says Elizabeth (Poppy Gilbert) once said that Caroline would only ever fall in love with a wealthy man. Mary jokes that Elizabeth’s love for Mr. Darcy (Victor Picard) only came after Elizabeth had seen the size of his estate, Pemberley. Tom seems puzzled by this statement, as if Mary might think wealth is a priority in a husband. Ryder interrupts their conversation, saying he wants to discuss a legal matter with Tom later in the day.

Caroline joins the hike with Mary, Tom, and Ryder. 

The hike begins. Tom brings Mary a honeysuckle, and Mary rattles off facts about the flower’s toxicity, then thanks him for it. Ryder gives primroses to Mary and Caroline. Tom wonders if Mary has a fact to share about primroses, but their guide jumps in, quipping that “the first to eat a primrose will be the first to marry.” The group laughs, but Caroline secretly stuffs her primrose in her mouth.

Halfway up the mountain, the Hursts (Fergus Craig, Lucinda Dryzek) want to turn back. The Gardiners (Indira Varma, Richard Coyle) offer to go with them. Before she leaves, Mrs. Gardiner urges Tom to “take good care of Mary.” The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9 isn’t the first time she’s sneakily tried to matchmake Tom and Mary. It’s more than enough encouragement for Tom, who pays extra attention to Mary as the hike continues.

Further up the mountain, Mary and Tom take in the scenery. Tom admires how small they are compared to the vastness of their view, and marvels at how time is finite compared to nature. “During this short time on earth, shouldn’t we be brave? Follow our hearts?” he asks. Mary agrees.

A confession of love is brought to an abrupt end in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9. 

Tom wants to continue the conversation they were having on the boat before being interrupted by Ryder in Episode 8. Mary looks hopeful and ready; this is the chance she wanted to seize at the beginning of The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9. Tom says he spends so much time reading poetry, yet has trouble knowing where to start with his own emotions. He manages to say that he’s glad to be seeing such a beautiful view with Mary and has grown so fond of her. He declares, “No one makes me feel more like me than you.”

It’s a beautiful beginning to what Mary expects will be a wonderful declaration of love. But it comes to an abrupt end. Ryder catches up with them, desperate to talk to Tom about his legal matter. Mary and Tom are visibly agitated and ask him to wait, but Ryder is persistent. In the past, his relentlessness has been charming. In The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9, it’s infuriating.

While Tom and Ryder talk, Caroline tells Mary she knows Ryder’s legal matter involves his wealthy aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Ryder looks enthusiastic after their chat, but Tom is distressed. Mary tries to get Tom to open up, but he’s suddenly cold and evasive, and won’t continue the conversation from before.

As a storm rolls in, the tension increases. 

As the group observes the top of the mountain, Ryder recites Wordsworth’s poetry. He has a clear appreciation for it, but none of the passion Tom demonstrated when reciting in Episode 4. Tom is unable to enjoy the moment. Mary’s equally annoyed that she can’t figure out what’s going on or discover why Tom won’t open up to her.

The guide announces that despite the good weather, a storm is rolling in, and insists they head back to the inn at the foot of the mountain. When Ryder and Caroline try to stay longer, citing a Wordsworth quote about appreciating storms, Tom appeals to Mary’s “rational mind” to convince her to leave. Mary, mad at Tom’s evasiveness, says she wants to stay.

Tom pleads that Mary’s not acting like herself, but Mary says Tom’s being equally out of character. Mary says she got tired of her old self, and that her new self does adventurous things like stay outdoors for a storm. “I was fond of the old Mary,” Tom replies. Mary says she appreciates hearing his thoughts, because she’s spent all day wondering what his real feelings are. It’s the most effective, if devastating conversation they have in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9. They’re too wounded to surrender their pride and explicitly say everything they feel.

Tom’s affections lead to anger as he tries to keep Mary safe. 

The guide leaves, but Tom stays to keep an eye on Mary, Caroline, and Ryder. When the storm finally hits, and they’ve had enough of the rain, they head back down the mountain. Ryder walks on ahead without them. Mary apologizes to Tom for not listening to him earlier. Tom angrily asks her to stay close because he wants to keep his word to Mrs. Gardiner about looking after Mary.

Tom walks ahead, but still within eyesight of Caroline and Mary. Caroline slips and injures her ankle. Mary helps her down until Tom can help support her. Tom insists he doesn’t need Mary’s help. As Tom takes over care of Caroline, he seethes to Mary, “Do you know how I would feel if anything were to happen to you?”

When they reach the inn, Ryder runs outside to help Caroline. Mary, ill from the cold and wet, faints, and Tom carries her inside. Mrs. Gardiner tends to an unconscious Mary in bed, while Tom waits restlessly outside Mary’s room. It’s reminiscent of Jane Austen’s own Sense and Sensibility, when Colonel Brandon keeps watch outside Marianne’s room when she’s sick after getting caught in the rain.

In the morning, Caroline and Ryder leave. Ryder looks back at the inn with some regret, but leaves without saying goodbye or checking in on Mary. Tom looks rough after spending all night outside Mary’s room, desperate for updates. She doesn’t improve, but Mrs. Gardiner tells a restless Tom to get some sleep.

The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9 highlights the chemistry between Ella Bruccoleri and Dónal Finn.

Mrs. Gardiner looks over Mary’s things and finds some of the true crime pamphlets Ryder gave Mary in The Other Bennet Sister Episode 5. As Mrs. Gardiner looks at them, Mary begins to stir. Tom, having resumed his post outside Mary’s door, calls for the doctor. Mrs. Gardiner later tells Tom that the doctor believes Mary will make a full recovery.

Tom is immensely relieved to hear Mary will be fine, but he doesn’t stick around. He leaves the next morning. Mary wakes up, and travels that the Lake District trip turned into such a disaster. In the closing narration, she notes that Tom did not return to London and that she does not know when she might see him again.

The Other Bennet Sister Episode 9 drives a wedge between Tom and Mary just as they’re finally free to pursue each other. Bruccoleri and Finn are well-matched scene partners as Mary and Tom’s dynamic changes over the course of the episode. The storm is an on-the-nose parallel to match their turbulent emotions, but the fallout raises the stakes between them to compelling effect.

The Other Bennet Sister is now streaming now on BritBox.

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