It is a thing of pure delight.

It’s incredibly tough to inject freshness into stories so frequently retold. But The Other Bennet Sister provides the ideal hit, combining all the comfort-watching pleasure of a beloved classic with the anticipation of following a previously little-known character on a brand new journey of self-discovery.

Matters improve for both Mary and the viewer when she is sent away to be a governess and is allowed to develop some character and interests. Until then, The Other Bennet Sister feels too slight a thing even for the pre-watershed Sunday evening slot it is designed for (insofar as time slots mean anything to us in these crazy digital streaming days). But the growing charm and heft – not to mention the lovely central performance from Bruccoleri – make it one worth sticking with.

These brisk, half-hour episodes canter along with a deftly light touch, meaning that scenes aren’t always subtle but they are extremely watchable.