Mr Collins from The Other Bennet Sister deserved better. The BBC period drama has offered a refreshing take on the comedic Jane Austen character, moving beyond the usual caricature to reveal a more sympathetic figure.
A New Perspective on a Classic Character
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice depicted Mr Collins, played by Ryan Sampson in this adaptation, as a comic figure obsessed with class and rank. He was socially inept, lacked self-awareness, and constantly boasted about his connection to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. However, The Other Bennet Sister is the first adaptation to present him in a much more sympathetic light, leaving viewers wishing he would catch a break.
Unexpected Chemistry with Mary Bennet
In the series, Mr Collins offers Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri) sage advice about pursuing her own happiness and building a path for herself. This TED talk-like guidance propels Mary forward. The scenes are tender and moving, and one wonders if he and Mary might have had a chance had an overbearing Mrs Bennet (Ruth Wilson) not interfered. The unexpected chemistry between them is surprising, even to longtime fans.
Sadly, Mr Collins cuts a solitary figure. We learn that he is left alone in the library while his wife Charlotte Lucas (Anna Fenton-Garvey) focuses on their Rosings Park estate, seeking to avoid her husband at all costs. Charlotte married out of prudence and necessity rather than affection, entering a life of mutual misery, which again leads Mary to seek an alternative.
A Kindred Spirit
Mr Collins is desperately unhappy despite fulfilling his societal duty. He spends his days mulling over finding happiness. Both he and Mary are kindred spirits as respective outcasts, constantly overlooked by others. While this portrayal may be unique to The Other Bennet Sister, it is worth remembering that in Pride and Prejudice, Mr Collins did want to help the Bennets keep Longbourn. He even tried to marry one of the daughters to keep the estate in the family.
One wonders why he did not marry Mary or Kitty in the original novel, as it would have saved the family's home. Perhaps a plot hole on Austen's part, but then we would have missed Elizabeth (Poppy Gilbert) and Darcy's epic enemies-to-lovers romance.
Time for a Reappraisal
Compared to the dastardly Mr Wickham, Mr Collins is a saint and receives undue flack for simply being a bit annoying. It is high time for a reappraisal of his character, and perhaps even his own spin-off series. The Other Bennet Sister is streaming on BBC iPlayer now.
