Category: Lizzie Bennett Diaries Watch-a-long

6. Saturday · Lizzie Bennett Diaries Watch-a-long

Lizzie Bennet Diaries Episodes 17-20

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Its Saturday and time to once more delve into the world of the modern Lizzie Bennet, I have to say this is becoming a high light of my week in terms of pleasure see you at the other side…

I had wondered how they were going to replace the army and the swim meet fits the criteria perfectly, although here in the UK am not sure it would equate quite as well maybe a music festival would be closer, but a swim team works for me as anyone who was following this blog during the Olympics may remember *sighs.

Any way before I start daydreaming and get distracted we should move on but staying with the swim team discuss Mr George Wickham hmmm the bounder has been introduced though only by name at this point.  I will be interested to see how they introduce these other characters because although so far this format has worked you would think at some point the other characters would need to appear in person.  Before we move on I should just mention I have the introduction of Kitty as Lydia’s cat it is a witty way of adding in another character from Austen’s novel without it being a person as Kitty certainly fits the kitten analogy.

wickham
Both look smug and arrogant you would spot their character flaws a mile off

Back to Wickham and an issue I have with him as seen on TV or film, I always got the feeling from reading Pride & Prejudice that Wickham is drop dead gorgeous, looking angelic though of course we discover he is far from it, but I have noticed often the casting of the character reflects elements of his true character rather than the one Austen suggests which fools every one,pride_wickham

Time will tell how they cast the male characters, they have certainly done well with the female ones so fingers crossed.

Lizzie Bennett Diaries Watch-a-long · So it's Saturday

Lizzie Bennet Diaries Episodes 13-16

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Another week has passed and yet again I have restrained myself from watching ahead so as always see you on the other side of the clips…

Okay it is getting harder and harder to switch off after the fourth episode each week.  I am loving the way this is going in fact it even makes me feel like dusting off the camera and starting up my own Vlogs again except the are nowhere near as funny as these.  Lydia really reminds me of one of my own sisters, portrayal of the sibling bond really is well acted.  I love the idea of introducing modern elements such as the video games and that the pub has replaced the ballroom though a little part of me is rather disappointed about that in real life.  I do think there was something special about the idea of those formal dances where everyone got dressed to impress and actually danced in a civilised fashion without looking like they are being tasered repeatedly while in the process of getting dressed and left the house in their underwear.  Don’t get me wrong I am not a prude but very few people look as good as they believe they do and even fewer have friends worthy of the title who will tell them they look stupid, Miley is an example of that no genuine friend would have told her the ‘nude’ pvc bikini thing looked good.

Back on subject the pared down cast is still working really well I like they kept Caroline Bingley yet seem to have ditched Mrs Hurst and her husband and Aunt Phillips also appears to have been dismissed though unless we were going to actually see Mrs Bennet she would have served no purpose.

Roll on next week and the next installment

Lizzie Bennett Diaries Watch-a-long · So it's Saturday

Lizzie Bennet Diaries Episodes 9-12

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The Diaries continue and I have to say I am finding it increasingly hard not to just watch ahead but so far am being incredibly restrained see you at the other side of the clips…

The more I watch this the more I am enjoying it.  I was a little wary how they would deal with some of the other characters such as Mr Collins who while not having pivotal roles in the original novel are there to provide both contrast and reference points for the main characters behaviours, so his mention in passing as a juvenile candidate for marriage but soon acknowledged for his true personality.

I am loving the take that despite the fact women can now be successful in their own rights many parents especially mothers do still push for that big day but I am convinced that it has more to do now with the wish for grandchildren than the belief that this is the only way a woman can be financially secure.

It would be fascinating to know what Austen herself would have made of this adaptation – personally I think she would have loved it, but also what she would think of the opportunities women today have.

Do you think Austen would have been jealous of todays options for women?

Lizzie Bennett Diaries Watch-a-long · So it's Saturday

Lizzie Bennet Diaries Episodes 5-8

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Like the Bennet girls I am attending a wedding, my little brother is getting married today.  I wonder whether any new matches will be made today that will lead to matrimony as it is a small family wedding a seriously doubt it but it is interesting that weddings still rank as a god place to meet potential spouses.

Meet you at the other side of the episodes for reaction…

Well what can I say am loving it, in fact I almost went onto the next one but resisted to share with you guys next week.  I am loving the dynamics between the sisters, I will confess I was a little unsure how the removal of two of them would alter the family dynamics but at this point they really haven’t been missed.  I love the god natured teasing between the two older sisters but you can see that streak of selfishness already in Lydia’s character, her lack of ability to know where to draw a line in proceedings.

Do you think the Bing Lee/Jane match could be viewed as an arranged marriage? As in the original it certainly is desired on one side yet we know the course of true love never runs smoothly.  But in some ways the matches in the time of the original novel were arranged marriages i that only if families approved and permitted the two into each others company could any match be made, and though today permission is no longer required I wonder how many still go ahead with a marriage if the family object unless there are other family issues already.

I find that as I get older I do have more sympathy with Austen’s male characters, we know that the women are expected to look at marriage almost as a business investment but the same can be said for the male characters as well.  There are expectations as the the character and attributes a wife must bring to the partnership and in some ways it may be argued he has as little choice in the matter as his female counterparts though realistically this is not true as he has far more freedom to indulge his fancies proportionate to his wealth.

But it still must be a little daunting to venture into a new area knowing every mother in the district will be aiming to throw their daughters at you in the hope that one of them can snare you.

Lizzie Bennett Diaries Watch-a-long · So it's Saturday

Saturday is Darcy Day

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Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to cram in all the things you intend to do.  Likewise there are too many things to watch, read and if your muse is in the mood write.  I have been promising myself I would watch these for ages in fact I am sure many of you reading this will be scratching your head asking ‘what took you so long.’

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries were an internet phenomenon when they exploded onto You Tube.  I have had them book marked to watch for months and failed to get round to it so I decided what better way than to virtually watch them with you guys I will post four each week starting today then give you my thoughts on them after so to start us off videos 1 – 4…

Okay I love the premise of this new take on Pride and Prejudice, losing the two sisters is not really such a big deal and I love the word play with Bing Lee.  I think in some ways it is true however talented or successful we may be (or not) in our own lives we are still judged to an extent by our marital status, especially by mums.  I would imagine it is true for men as well to a point after all I know plenty of mums who put pressure on their sons not usually to settle down but once they have found a girl then at least for them to provide grandchildren.

So not a great deal to say for these first ones from me other than how much I am looking forward to meeting Darcy.

What are you thoughts?  Do you like the idea of this as a blog post?  If enough of you are interested then I shall post episodes 5-8 next week and discuss