What I've been watching: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a student, in possession of a lot of free time, must be in want of something decent to watch. Enter The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a modern take on Pride and Prejudice that uses online media to tell the story in a fresh way.

We see most of the action through a video blog, narrated perfectly by Ashley Clements as the protagonist, Lizzie Bennet. We also see regular characters pop up, like Jane Bennet, Lydia Bennet and the ever-present Charlotte Lu (Charlotte Lucas in the book) who is much more prominent as Lizzie’s best friend – and the one who films and edits all the videos.

Image credit: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

The transferral of the tale to modern times is cleverly done – Mr Collins’ proposal is a business partnership, not marriage; Darcy is the CEO of Pemberley Digital; we even get the story from Lydia’s perspective as she starts her own video diaries. Not only does this flesh out Austen’s characters, it also allows us to sympathise with Lydia as we never have before, as we watch her enter an emotionally manipulative relationship with Wickham. It’s heartbreaking.

The cast also engage with their audience through Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn and Facebook, so in between each episode (there are 84 episodes just on Lizzie’s channel at this moment in time) it’s easy to keep up with what’s going on in real time. We see Gigi Darcy discussing drama with Fitz Williams, Jane Bennet posting pictures of her vintage ‘looks’ and Lydia tweeting inane comments to anyone who’ll listen. This cross-platform performance is what makes the show so much more three-dimensional and engaging for anyone who’s willing to wade that deep into the fandom.

I won’t try and tell you all that this show is definitely for you. While there are a number of male fans, Pride & Prejudice has never been quite as appreciated by men as it has by women (something to do with their general lack of interest in a soggy Darcy). However, I would recommend it heartily to anyone who needs something new to get into after Downton Abbey stabbed us all in the back with its trigger-happy plot-lines.

The series is nearing its end now, with all the threads being tied up, and the promise of a happy ending lingering in the background like a slow, soft sunrise. With the ending, however, comes a sense of despair and bereavement for me, and the growing LBD fandom, but hope is not lost. There has been talk of a second series, and ideas like Emma and Sense and Sensibility are being spread around the playground like a bad case of chickenpox.

I absolutely adore The Lizzie Bennet Diaries for its witty and inventive script, its fantastic casting and its multi-dimensional modern approach to a classic story. I’m really excited for the next step, whether it be an adaptation of another Austen novel or whether they want to go a bit crazy and do a modern take on a bit of Plato. I know whatever happens next, it’s in good hands, because The Lizzie Bennet Diaries has restored my faith in the power of YouTube.

To watch the entirety of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (so far!), just click on the playlist.

 

Kate Gray, Online Comment Editor

The case for Campus Cinema

 

Image credit: Campus Cinema Society

For all the complaining students do about the high cost of living in Exeter, they sure do go to the cinema a lot. How can you bewail a £3.50 sandwich when you’re spending £7.50 on popcorn? It’s just popped corn. Not to mention being charged for 3D glasses; I remember the bygone days where you got the snazzy cardboard ones for free, and now instead you’re forced to shell out your hard-earned, grubby little pounds for glasses that make you look like a blind hipster.

Rant over. For now.

What I really want to talk about is Campus Cinema. It’s one of the best and most well-executed ideas we have on this campus – £1.80 for a film? 59p for popcorn? And it has a decent screen?! Really, kids, there’s nothing to lose here.

But for some reason, every time I go to see a film at the glorious establishment that is the M&D room, the seats are less than half-full. Even for fan-favourites like Twilight. Why on earth are people not coming?

Last week alone, I’ve seen Silver Linings Playbook (amazing), Seven Psychopaths (incredible) and a German film called Barbara (…slightly weird). Even better, I got to see them with my friends because we were all on campus anyway, I spent less than a fiver each time including food, and I could laugh as loud as I wanted because, quite frankly, I’m not as fussed about offending all of 15 students as I am about offending an entire 300-seat cinema.

There really is no better place to find out about films you might not have otherwise seen, for less than a cost of the Lunchables they inexplicably sell in the Marketplace. The best thing to do, I find, is to turn up to whatever’s on, on any night you’re free with an open mind, a couple of friends and maybe some cake to bribe the bouncers with (I’ve heard they’re vicious).

But in all seriousness, the Campus Cinema committee are among the friendliest people you’ll meet at this university, always ready to discuss what you’ve all just seen, and probably willing to give you a hug if it was particularly emotional – just don’t tell them it was me that told you.

I can’t think of a decent reason why anyone wouldn’t take advantage of such an awesome, friendly, and best of all, cheap society. There’s never a better time than the present to try out something new – and think of all the money you’ll save. That’s a lot of Jungbombs.

Kate Gray

Valentine's Recipes for the Lazy Lover

Looking to impress that special someone this Valentine’s Day? Can’t be arsed to put in too much effort? Here’s a perfect three-course menu that requires a minimal amount of effort, and you’ll be beating off the suitors with a rolling pin faster than you can say “but it only came from a can”.

‘Slutty Brownies’
Photo by Kate Gray.

First course:

Pastry-wrapped, oven-baked Brie

Firstly, let’s clear up that puddle of drool on the floor. You might slip.
Down to business. You’ll need three things:
1. A round of Brie
2. Apricot jam
3. Ready-to-roll dough (croissant dough, if you can get it)

It’s really this easy:

Roll out the dough.Spread the jam over it. Put the Brie in the middle.Wrap it up.Bake at 170 C or gas mark 4 for 15 minutes. Eat.

Second course:

Prawn, rocket & chilli linguine

This one used to be one of my absolute favourites until I developed an allergy to shellfish. Seriously. But you lucky people can still enjoy it at my expense, because it’s amazing, easy and fairly impressive once plated up.

You’ll need:
400g tiger prawns, peeled
1 garlic clove
30ml olive oil
Half a lemon
1 chilli, de-seeded and thinly sliced
40g rocket leaves
175g linguine
Fresh parsley to decorate
(optional)

Add prawns, garlic and 1tsp of the oil to a bowl. Cover and let marinade for 15 minutes (while you’re eating the Brie, maybe…).
Zest the lemon (you can use a peeler for this, then chop the rind up). Juice the lemon.
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water, following the directions on the pack.
Cook the prawns in a heated frying pan for 5 minutes.
Add the chilli and the lemon zest to the pan.
Remove from the heat, and add the pasta, the rocket and the parsley… If you bought any.
Drizzle over the oil and lemon juice (and salt and pepper, if you like).
Serve!

Dessert:
Slutty brownies

So named because they’re filthy, devilishly bad for you, incredibly easy and because you can’t have just one (also I heard rumours that
they give out sexual favours behind the bike shed, but you didn’t hear that from me), slutty brownies are the zenith of lazy-yet-awesome baking. They might even rival the 5-minute microwave mug cake for the laziness/tastiness ratio.

Here’s what you’ll need:
Box mix of cookie dough
Box mix of brownies
One pack of Oreos
Eggs
Oil

For this one, all you need to do is follow the instructions on the box (but add a splash more oil/water to the cookie dough mix to make sure it won’t burn!). Squidge cookie dough into the bottom of a greased deep dish tray. Layer the Oreos on top. Top with the brownie mixture.
Bake at 180 C, or gas mark 4, for 30 minutes.
Serve with ice cream.
Die of happiness.

By Kate Gray.