Jane Austen discussion

Have you all seen The Lizzie Bennet Diaries? It's a first person adaptation of P&P as if Elizabeth Bennett were a modern day vlogger. It's really cool and has some spinoffs (Lydia is a fan favorite!). They have gone full out and all the characters have twitters, tumblrs, facebook pages. It's awesome. I highly recommend it!

http://lizziebennetdiaries.tumblr.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/LizzieBennet
http://www.lizziebennet.com/

I totally love it! A friend of mine told me about this and now I'm a total addict. I find Mary's characterization brilliant and I think that the hair-headed Jane is just perfect.

The latest one is amazing!

So...that was better than I expected, although I only watched one episode. I am a bit of purist when it comes to P&P and don't normally like reboots. This one, however, was actually kinda good. I love the color of Lizzie's hair.
Adding this to my favorites.

They do a really good job of sticking as close as they can to the book. I find it fascinating to see what parts of the book are universal, and what parts really can't function in modern day. That and it's all worth it for the Darcy reveal. Trust me. The most dramatic and best fictional youtube video I have ever watched.

I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice so when I found out about the Lizzie Bennet Diaries I had to watch them. I have to say that I was really suspicious about how it would work out in a modern day adaptation. But I became a huge fan of this series and can't get enough of it! Wait for the next episode like a little girl in front of the Christmas tree. The only thing that really annoys me are the people who haven't read the book and complain about spoilers the whole time. I mean after 200 years spoilers have been everywhere.

Isabella wrote: "I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice so when I found out about the Lizzie Bennet Diaries I had to watch them. I have to say that I was really suspicious about how it would work out in a modern da..."

Yea, I was cautiously optimistic at first and now I'm a full-fledged fan girl. I just think it's really cool how people interact with a 200 year old story and how it stands the test of time. I keep wanting to share the Lizzie Bennet Diaries because I want it to be successful. It's a cool new model for public domain adaptations. But for that to happen it needs viewers! Glad you are a fan too!

I think through YouTube it is a good way to get a lot of younger people to read the book if they haven't yet. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of all time so I would love to see her gain even more popularization. Also it is a good way to get young people to read more again I think it is a shame that with all the TV, internet and games young adult these days have no time nor enjoyment in reading books. I have read lots of comments that people started to read the book again because of Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Is anyone on this thread still following The Lizzie Bennet Diaries? I am curious as to what ya'll think is going to happen, because it seems to be veering off course a little. . .

I agree... I want it to get back on track! I think they are drawing it out...

Have you seen any tweets recently? I stooped to following a lot of them to find out. & I miss Fitz. :( I know he doesn't have a huge role in P&P but I loved him in this.

Maeve wrote: "I agree... I want it to get back on track! I think they are drawing it out..."

I don't know if I mind a little "veering" since it is a modern adaptation. I think what's a little frustrating is that the plot isn't moving forward very much. I know each installment is only five minutes or so, but I don't know if I want to see an episode for each little plot development.

I just gave this a try a week or so ago - and devoured the whole thing to date in about three sittings. I love it. The acting is lovely, Lydia breaks my heart in almost every episode she's in (THAT never happened in any version of P&P I've come across before), and Darcy even lived up to the big buildup. (And Robin, I think Fitz is my favorite character.) I went from "this is pretty cute" to "hey, this is really good" to "WHEN IS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT???" I'm hooked.

I know what you mean. I liked it on Facebook and follow it on twitter for the newest feeds! Fitz has to do a reappearance!

"I'm ready for my closeup!" Heh.

I watched the first few episodes on a whim. I got into it, more so after episode 60.

Have you been checking out the tweets as you go along?

I've watched the whole thing now, and although I like it very much, especially Lizzie, Charlotte's and Jane's characters, I'm frankly surprised by how much they've veered away from Lydia's character - I loved her in the beginning of the series, but since she's shacked up with Wickham, it's like a 180 degree change in her - she's nothing now like the scatterbrained sparkplug that she was, and it's very strange. Also, I think the female characters are much more realistically portrayed than the male ones, with Darcy a stiff, and Collins veering off into a parody, rather than a full-blooded portrayal.

I have to say that I love how Lizzie, Jane and Charlotte have progressed as characters; leaving only Lydia as my big ???

This week has been a heart breaker! And I love how Darcy is portrayed... yes he is stiff but I see that as him battling his emotions to stay stoic which pairs well with book Darcy. Lydia has gotten super depressing... I'm guessing the fight with Lizzie and not speaking to her since Christmas has been really eating at her? Basically they made Lydia more flushed out and cool than in the book, so they sort of had to get her back to a point where she would 'shame the family' so the 180 was a necessary evil. Man, that lydiabennettape.com is a killer...

I know. Btw, is there another thread on LBD, because I was posting on another one too. Weird. I liked the Pemberley Digital video w/ GiGi & Fitz. I so love him. I cannot wait until tonight's video. I wonder if tonight is when the news cracks!

Probably there is another one by now. When I created this one I hadn't seen another but it's getting really good and it's gotten press from the 200th Anniversary of P&P so I wouldn't doubt it.

OMG! It's out! Check on Facebook, twitter & YouTube! It has broke. It was just like the scene in Lambton. Sure this Darcy doesn't compare to Colin Firth, but I am playing Colin Firth over & over in my head right now! He is in such agony for his Lizzie. Hugs Mr. Darcy!

I'm sad this vlog is over. It's funny. The first time I saw the actor playing Darcy I was not pleased, but by the end I loved him for the modern Lizzy.

Looks like Gigi will be star in the new blog called Sandition ...I think, starting later this year. I can't wait.

I had the same reaction to Darcy. I was unimpressed, at Pemberley Dig he started to grow on me with his awkward humor and all, and by the end I loved him and shipped Dizzie so hard.

So sad this is over. My LBDAddiction is flailing around without purpose... other than to infect others... AAAHAHAHAHAHA!

Never got into it. I think I'm not one for modern remakes...

Nobody's perfect, Soph... :P

;)

I wasn't into this story at first but I got hooked once Lizzie ran into Ricky Collins. (loved him! Laughed and laugfhed because he's spot on for the original). I had to see where they took the story from there. I found Lizzie really annoying. Her reaction to Charlotte's acceptance of Ricky's proposal was WAY overblown and didn't merit not speaking to each other. I also didn't feel like her relationship with Darcy ever really got off the ground. Jane and Bingley were very sweet.

I found myself really into Lydia's diaries. Her story was interesting and I liked how she actually learned a lesson. I especially liked cousin Mary. Oh and Kitty! Can't forget Kitty Bennet.

I'm watching Sanditon now.

The new series "Emma Approved" starts October 7!!

Thank you, Megan. I look forward to watching it! I loved "The Lizzie Bennet diaries".

I agree Parinita. The wait was too long.

If you want to watch it, where do u start

How many episodes?

They are 100 episodes but they are very short. Each episode lasts about 3/4 minutes.

100 Lizzie's plus 10 Q&As, 29 Lydia videos plus 2 Q&As and a few specials (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Dear Lizzie, maybe one more?), 6 Pemberley Digital videos, 7 Maria Lu's (or possibly 6 Maria's and 7 PDs).

Give me some time and I will find a chart for you...

Thanks

Here it is: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/c...

It's on google docs and also has popular fan vids, extras, Sanditon (the summer mini series inspired by Austen's unfinished Welcome to Sanditon), AoJE (based on Jane Eyre, not by the Pemberley Digital team. I haven't watched it, but lots of people enjoy it.). I'm sure this will be updated with Emma Approved info as soon as that gets going next week.

If you want just Lizzie stuff in order PLUS links to all of the transmedia: http://www.lizziebennet.com/story/

I for one enjoy the "Autobiography of Jane Eyre". It's a completely different style than the LBD - of course, as Charlotte Bronte is different from Jane Austen - but it's very well done and adapted to today. :-)

Omg I LOVE The Lizzie Bennett Diaries!! So funny!! I just started to watch it tonight & I am definitely hooked!

I loved "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries"! I watched it this summer and I had a lot of fun :) Now I am watching "Emma Approved" and it is nice too.

Maria wrote: "I loved "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries"! I watched it this summer and I had a lot of fun :) Now I am watching "Emma Approved" and it is nice too."

I actually watched one episode of Emma Approved and I really liked it! But I think I prefer Lizzie Bennet Diaries :)

I can't wait to see how Emma Approved turns out as a whole. I think LBD was fab, but I'm reserving judgment on Emma because so much of the story relies on the moment Emma has her personal revelation.

That's true! I really want to see out it will turn out!

Emma is way too perky. I didn't really like her in the first part of the novel either.

I do so like watching Alex Knightely though.

You are right, girls. We need to see something more to judge. So far is fun, though :)

Yes I agree :)

I stayed up late yesterday evening (again!) to continue LBD...SO GOOD!! That scene when Jane starts crying because Bing Lee leaves was soooo sad!

Right? It is hard to think of snickerdoodles in the same way I used to!

I am trying to be patient with EA, too. There are things that I really like about what PD is doing with it and things I think are not so great. Part of my problem is also that Emma is low on the list of my JA ranking because I don't like Emma as a person, but there is such a huge story arc with her character there is a lot of potential here. I hope they get more settled and work some of the kinks out over the hiatus.

Manda wrote: "Right? It is hard to think of snickerdoodles in the same way I used to!

I am trying to be patient with EA, too. There are things that I really like about what PD is doing with it and things I thin..."

I will never think of snickerdoodles in the same way either!
Emma Approved has really grown on me...And I agree, there is a lot of potential on how to work out Emma's character. I think the actress who is portraying her is wonderful!
Gonna go watch the latest episode right now :)

Haha yeah, I watch them and then add to my EA Playlist. *whispers* I also have a playlist for LBD with all content from all channels in order (except Kelsey's C&C video which I added after the credits vid because I couldn't put a Better Living between 94 and 95; I'm not a heathen for goodness sake) including the backer content and recent C&C videos *whispers*

I really tried to get into these but they just weren't doing it for me. I like modern adaptations more in the vein of Clueless or Bridget Jones, where they are actually different but still same premise. This is just same names and events but more boringly done; I'd rather just read the books/watch direct adaptations.