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Miss Austen

Miss Austen

2025Miniseries1 season4 episodesTV-PGMidcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

Miss Austen takes a literary mystery – Cassandra Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters – and reimagines it as a fascinating, witty and heart-breaking story of sisterly love, while creating in Cassandra a character as captivating as any Austen heroine.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Miss Austen?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Miss Austen streaming on PBS Masterpiece via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Miss Austen?

Miss Austen earns 5 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Miss Austen worth watching?

Miss Austen's Midcredits score is the 63rd percentile of all shows, from 4.9K ratings across 6 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

63rd percentile

Better received than 63% of shows

60th percentile among Drama68th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)53rd
Approval (how many liked it)70th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

71 /100

53rd percentile of all shows

53rd percentile among Drama58th percentile among 2020s

Critics 73 · Audience 71

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.5 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

79% liked it

70th percentile of all shows

66th percentile among Drama74th percentile among 2020s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Critics 92% · Audience 78%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

60th percentile

4.9K ratings across platforms

51st percentile among Drama60th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 79% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A well-acted, beautifully produced period drama about Jane and Cassandra Austen's relationship, though its dual-timeline structure can be hard to follow.

Fans praised

  • brilliant performances, especially Patsy Ferran as Jane and Keeley Hawes as Cassandra
  • emotionally rich exploration of sisterhood, sacrifice, and female autonomy
  • beautiful period detail, costumes, and cinematography

Detractors panned

  • confusing character web and disorienting time shifts
  • contrived plot device of letter-burning as drama engine
  • handheld camera and intrusive score undermine the period tone

What stands out

Acting88

standout Patsy Ferran as Jane, Keeley Hawes as Cassandra, Rose Leslie as Isabella

Atmosphere83

immersive Regency world and costume authenticity

CinematographyDivisive80

beautiful muted palette and period detail; some criticize shaky cam

Emotional impactDivisive78

moving sisterly devotion and sacrifice; detractors find melodrama

CharactersDivisive72

rich sisterly bond but confusing multitude of Marys and Fowlers

OriginalityDivisive68

fresh angle on Cassandra's perspective but derivative of period drama tropes

Plot and storyDivisive62

dual-timeline letter-hunt feels contrived to some, poignant to others

PacingDivisive55

dragging present-day scenes, rushed character introductions

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 13 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Miniseries · 2025 · 4 episodes

  • S1E1

    Episode 1

    Feb 2, 202552 min
  • S1E2

    Episode 2

    Feb 9, 202553 min
  • S1E3

    Episode 3

    Feb 16, 202553 min
  • S1E4

    Episode 4

    Feb 23, 202552 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Miss Austen like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — a slow-burn watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
MelancholicContemplative
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
Tender · 10% of showsWarm
Told as
Nonlinear · 5% of shows: Events shown out of chronological order.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe series treats its characters with gentle sincerity, balancing emotional depth with warmth.
The rideThe series maintains a reflective, sorrowful tone that deepens toward its conclusion.
StructureThe story unfolds across two timelines, cutting between Cassandra's present-day dilemma and flashbacks to her youth with Jane.
Episode formatThe four episodes tell one continuous story across two timelines, with each episode advancing the larger narrative.
Season formatThe series ran one season of four episodes telling a complete story—a limited series.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series lingers with a melancholy reflection on sacrifice and sisterly devotion, leaving you to ponder the cost of love and memory.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).RebirthHealing
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7% (this title): Redemption 1% · Healing 3% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

7% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series centers on Cassandra Austen's emotional journey as she grapples with grief and her role in preserving her sister's legacy, fitting a rebirth arc of healing and reconciliation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% (this title) · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3% (this title)
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsSacrifice · 2% of showsLegacy · 3% of shows
Mourns its theme: Grieves its theme, or what has been lost of it.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores the profound sisterly bond between Jane and Cassandra, and the sacrifices Cassandra makes to protect Jane's legacy.
StanceThe series mourns what Cassandra gave up for the sake of family legacy, with intimate stakes and a dual focus on both sisters.

The world

19th centuryDomesticRuralStylized realism
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Dominik Scherrer
SettingEarly 19th-century England, revolving around the Austen family homes and estates.
MusicThe score uses subtle, emotionally resonant orchestral themes that underline the period atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Miss Austen okay for kids?

TV-PG

Miss Austen is rated TV-PG. As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (0/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100), language at minimal (0/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at minimal (11/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • UKPG
  • IrelandPG
  • Spain12
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Profanity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (6 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (31 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Miss Austen have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Miss Austen?

Cast

Keeley Hawes
as Cassandra Austen
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Alfred Enoch
as Mr. Lidderdale
Patsy Ferran
as Jane Austen
Rising: A short career with a standing when this show came out above the median working actor today.
Liv Hill
as Young Mary
Jessica Hynes
as Mary Austen
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Synnove Karlsen
as Cassy Austen
Rose Leslie
as Isabella Fowle
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Phyllis Logan
as Mrs. Austen
Mirren Mack
as Dinah
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Max Irons
as Henry Hobday

Crew

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What are shows like Miss Austen?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Miss Austen include Little Disasters (2025), Neverwhere (1996) and Scarlett (1994).

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What other shows share a tag with Miss Austen?

523 other shows share the rarest tag below, relationship: sibling bond. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.