I saw it in the midst of several other Austen adaptations, and it caught me because Austen is witty, yes, and quite funny, but these are not the only things she is and they are not things that need to be leaned into quite as much as most of adaptations seem inclined to lean into them in order for audiences to pick up on them.

Yes! It's still a comedy of manners, with Anne's horrifying family and characters all but assuming their way into marriage, but it never elbows you in the ribs about it, just as it doesn't overplay its bittersweetness. Everyone feels exactly the right size for the story.

Of course, I also liked it for shallow reasons, because Ciarán Hinds is so my kind of gorgeous and the happy ending is the sea.

I think both of these reasons are extremely valid.