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.
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
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