The Other Bennet Sister

I know Caleo, I’m an Austen fan. In the book, they don’t have children at all.

Unlike the spin-off in question, the genuine Jane Austen novels are not only entertaining but are also unwitting testimony of actual social trends and concerns
We do learn so much about that period even though Austen's plots are almost exclusively set within the confines of family life. But we have the context of eg the Napoleonic Wars as well as social mores.

So much depth along with incredibly perceptive characterisation!

Casdon

According to AI:

Based on 18th-century UK records, the name Rebecca was rare among the highest aristocracy, often associated with Old Testament names popular in Puritan, merchant, or Jewish families. A notable figure was Rebecca Franks (1760–1823), a high-society Loyalist who married into the British baronetage (Johnson family) in 1782.
Reddit

Rebecca Franks (Lady Johnson): Daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia Loyalist, she married Sir Henry Johnson in London in 1782.
Rebecca Thompson (18th Century): Identified in 1772 as alegatee and associate of elite society members in London and Jamaica, inheriting property and later passing it to Rebecca Flower.

Context of the Name: While common in the 17th century (e.g., Rebecca Rolfe), by the 18th century, "Rebecca" was more frequently found in professional, mercantile, or merchant families rather than the peerage.
A Parcel of Ribbons

The name appeared occasionally in upper-middle-class and emerging merchant families, who sometimes intersected with aristocratic circles through marriage.
Reddit

How reliable that is I don’t know, but it would perhaps be appropriate for the Gardners?

Unlike the spin-off in question, the genuine Jane Austen novels are not only entertaining but are also unwitting testimony of actual social trends and concerns.

winterwhite

While we’re quibbling, the name Rebecca (for one of the Gardiner children) jarred on me. I feel that in the early 19C it wouldn’t have been a usual name for this social circle - more a servant’s name?? Happy to be shown to me quite wrong.

Trends through time in girls' names interest me very much.

TheSunRisesInTheEast

Thank goodness we can be more relaxed about our waists now!!

I'm really looking forward to the next five episodes. I don't worry about the details, ie. fake wisteria, mispronunciation of names, authenticity of names, vocabulary for that era. I simply watch it for light entertainment, escapism, simply being the operative word! It would exhaust me to watch it with such a critical eye and I might drop a stitch on my knitting!! 😂

💖 I absolutely agree with you 💖

I'm enjoying it as a jeu d'esprit but am very sorry that Mr Bennet died because I always loved Richard E Grant. But it had to be, for Mary to move on. I'm looking forward to her visit to Pemberly. Will it be Chatsworth again?

He just collapsed on the floor. Maybe heart attack? It wasn't mentioned, unless I missed that bit 🙄.

Was there a reason for Mr Bennet's death given? I was surprised at the start of that episode, did I miss something?

Thank goodness we can be more relaxed about our waists now!!

I'm really looking forward to the next five episodes. I don't worry about the details, ie. fake wisteria, mispronunciation of names, authenticity of names, vocabulary for that era. I simply watch it for light entertainment, escapism, simply being the operative word! It would exhaust me to watch it with such a critical eye and I might drop a stitch on my knitting!! 😂

MartavTaurus

😆

Though if we want to delve further, Ella B is half Italian! Father 🇮🇹
She does have a Latin look about her.

Useless information alert ........
Talking British. Did you know the Princess of Wales is related to Jane Austen?

Ancestral corsetry produced that enviable waist.

According to AI:

Based on 18th-century UK records, the name Rebecca was rare among the highest aristocracy, often associated with Old Testament names popular in Puritan, merchant, or Jewish families. A notable figure was Rebecca Franks (1760–1823), a high-society Loyalist who married into the British baronetage (Johnson family) in 1782.
Reddit

Rebecca Franks (Lady Johnson): Daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia Loyalist, she married Sir Henry Johnson in London in 1782.
Rebecca Thompson (18th Century): Identified in 1772 as alegatee and associate of elite society members in London and Jamaica, inheriting property and later passing it to Rebecca Flower.

Context of the Name: While common in the 17th century (e.g., Rebecca Rolfe), by the 18th century, "Rebecca" was more frequently found in professional, mercantile, or merchant families rather than the peerage.
A Parcel of Ribbons

The name appeared occasionally in upper-middle-class and emerging merchant families, who sometimes intersected with aristocratic circles through marriage.
Reddit

How reliable that is I don’t know, but it would perhaps be appropriate for the Gardners?

While we’re quibbling, the name Rebecca (for one of the Gardiner children) jarred on me. I feel that in the early 19C it wouldn’t have been a usual name for this social circle - more a servant’s name?? Happy to be shown to me quite wrong.

The episodes at the Gardner's house in Gracechurch Street contains words and phrases that were not used until the 2020s, E.g. the word 'stunning'. I won't waste my time with such a poor production any more.

Casdon

I’m a bit lost on why people are critical about this, because it’s not incorrect to pronounce Cowper the way the BBC have, both options are correct and in use. Quite a few surnames are like that. I went to school with somebody called Brussell, pronounced Brew Sell, but also knew somebody else with it pronounced like Brussels sprout.

Hyacinth Bucket would strongly agree

I’m a bit lost on why people are critical about this, because it’s not incorrect to pronounce Cowper the way the BBC have, both options are correct and in use. Quite a few surnames are like that. I went to school with somebody called Brussell, pronounced Brew Sell, but also knew somebody else with it pronounced like Brussels sprout.

RosiesMawagain

Treebee

Sorry to be pedantic but it grated with me when Cowper wasn’t pronounced as Cooper. Quite a blooper.

Or indeed Blowper

The same happens in Bridgerton with a character with the name Cowper. It really grates on me.

I was possibly far too fixated on Caroline Bingley's character being played by a Praying Mantis!
That is quite funny, GrandmaFrench! I think it was the feathery tendrils on top of her head that added to this look!

I'm enjoying it so much that I watched twice! I settled by the fire with knitting and my friend who was halfway through Persuasion to watch what we thought would be a new episode on Sunday but we'd already binge watched the previous episodes.
My friend thinks the character of Mary in this is based on the character of Anne in Persuasion.
I also think the actor playing Mary is perfect. and the wisteria awful

Treebee

Sorry to be pedantic but it grated with me when Cowper wasn’t pronounced as Cooper. Quite a blooper.

BBC writers/editors are not quite what they used to be…

One reason I was reluctant to watch it, was the usual tendency for dialogue in period dramas to be modernised, so that - to me anyway - it often really grates. E.g. ‘It looks like she….’ instead of ‘It looks as if she…’

Thank goodness I noticed no such ‘gratings’ so far….

Loved Mr Bennet, disliked the sour Mrs Bennet, and hoping that there will be a bit more flesh on the bones of this story during the next 5 episodes.

Very pretty settings and not distracted by Asian characters. I was possibly far too fixated on Caroline Bingley's character being played by a Praying Mantis. !

I noticed that too ( Cowper) but the production team obvs aren’t as cultured as what we are 🤭

Treebee

Sorry to be pedantic but it grated with me when Cowper wasn’t pronounced as Cooper. Quite a blooper.

Or indeed Blowper

Another here looking forward to the release of the second tranche of episodes this Sunday and the clocks will have gone forward an hour too 😁

Cabowich

I'm really enjoying it, too. It's a less steamy version of Bridgerton.

It’s nothing like Bridgerton!

Am waiting for the next episodes now on the 29th😃
Last night, DP who had nodded off watching tv came to life just as an add for the programme came on, showing all the sisters dressed in black mourning dresses and sitting with Mrs Bennet on a long sofa, and he declared confidently ‘ they’re all AI’😁
A moment later he went back to sleep, it made me laugh.