Miss Austen
With the likes of Bridgerton and The Great tantalising viewers with their raunchy takes on alternative history, Miss Austen harks back to the period dramas of old. It’s dignified, stoic and thoroughly British.
The BBC’s new four-part series stars Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen, the only sister of the great Jane Austen. Based on Gill Hornby’s Sunday Times bestseller of the same name, the series sees Cassandra retrieve her late sister’s letters, ruminating on the pair’s complicated relationship. As she delves further, she discovers her sister’s deepest, darkest secrets. She is therefore left with the ethical dilemma of what to do with these communications that uncover the machinations of Jane’s psyche.
Hawes is magnificent as Cassandra, giving an at once poised and poignant performance as a woman quietly bearing the scars of grief. In flashback scenes, Patsy Ferran is sublime as Jane, whose astute wit is lost on her peers. It alludes to the gender politics of the period, with Jane lamenting her sister’s quixotic musings as she prepares to marry her fiancé. In 1830, Cassandra is somewhat living in the shadow of her departed sister, a feeling that is compounded by the snark of her sister-in-law, Mary Austen (Jessica Hynes). Meanwhile, Cassandra comforts Rose Leslie’s Isabella, who is forced out of her family’s stately home by her brother following the death of their father.
The series falters in its occasional reliance on exposition-heavy dialogue, particularly as it pertains to the interpersonal dynamics within the Austen clan. At times, it is also a little too self-aware as a quintessential BBC period drama. However, the accomplished cast more than makes up for this, and Aisling Walsh’s pastoral direction is a joy to watch.
A lush historical tale with more than a dash of whimsy, Miss Austen is a heartfelt exploration of grief and the passing of time. For fans of period dramas and Jane Austen alike, it’s a treat as charming as its title character.
Antonia Georgiou
Miss Austen is released on BBC iPlayer on 2nd February 2025.
Watch the trailer for Miss Austen here:
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