Fans of The Other Bennet Sister looking for their next period drama fix should watch the BBC’s gripping sequel to Pride and Prejudice available on iPlayer
The show was first broadcast in 2013(Image: BBC/Origin)
The Other Bennet Sister has made a significant impression on period drama fans but as they complete the first and only season, they’re desperately searching for another Jane Austen tale.
Within the same universe Austen crafted, they can opt to watch Death Comes to Pemberley, a narrative that begins exactly where Pride and Prejudice concluded.
Much like the 2026 series, The Other Bennet Sister, this 2013 standalone series is also a follow-on from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, penned by a different author.
It’s adapted from P.D. James’s 2011 novel, which employs the same characters and style of the original 1813 work.
Over three episodes, it pursues a murder mystery angle, featuring the characters that Austen devotees recognise and adore but in a somewhat different setting.
The Guardian said its production was “respectful” of Austen’s iconic work while managing to “stand out” and be its own “very different” entity.
Though it also shares similarities with the Pride and Prejudice adaptation, as Chatsworth House in Derbyshire served as the exterior location for Pemberley. This was the identical setting used for the estate in the 2005 film.
A viewer headed to IMDB to post their assessment of Death Comes to Pemberley, stating: “If you are like me and enjoy your Pride and Prejudice and a good murder plot, then you would love this series!”
They continued: “Elisabeth in particular is just like I would have imagined; she is the same spirited, outspoken person we know and love, while Darcy is more brooding, quiet and responsible (while I may have chosen other actors in terms of appearance, I think they portray the characters very well as reactions).”
A PopMatters critic also weighed in, writing: “Death Comes to Pemberley, a sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by P.D. James, is a worthy addition to Austen’s original, and the BBC adaptation makes that case wonderfully.”
Set in 1803, the drama kicks off six years after the wedding of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, when a mysterious disappearance unsettles the entire community. Wickham and Denny quarrel before departing in a horse and carriage, and shortly afterwards, two gunshots ring out.
Upon being informed of the incident and the two men’s disappearance, Darcy dispatches a search party. They find Wickham frantically clutching Denny’s lifeless body, setting in motion the tale of how this devastating death came about.
Naturally, venturing into Austen’s world carries considerable weight, as the cherished author’s work is regarded as sacred by legions of devoted fans.
As a result, the series has faced its fair share of criticism over its depiction of certain Austen characters which have since been reimagined by other writers.
One critical IMDB reviewer wrote: “When you use well-known and loved characters from something as famous as Pride and Prejudice, they should at least stay faithful to their original characters. Which it does, mostly, but the portrayal of Elizabeth Bennett was just really off.”
Anna Maxwell Martin takes on the role of Elizabeth, alongside Matthew Rhys as Fitzwilliam Darcy, Jenna Coleman as Lydia Wickham and Matthew Goode as George Wickham.
For those seeking their next Austen-inspired drama, this compact three-episode series makes for an ideal binge-watch; Death Comes to Pemberley is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.