Pride and Prejudice

I might be shot down for this but I thought Jennifer Ehle did too much with her eyes. Too much acting. I mean all of the actors were too old (the 2005 version got that right) but I don't know, I was annoyed by Jennifer Ehle's constant "performing." I did love the actress portraying Charlotte, I liked how serious and clear-eyed she was about her goals. In the 2005 version I think her "Don't you dare judge me, Lizzie" was powerful but not the way Austen wrote such a practical, sensible character. Lastly - I'm definitely getting downvoted for this but I didn't think the wet shirt scene was necessary. It seemed too "anything to keep the ladies happy" for my taste. Thoughts?

And y'all. I get it now. I get why the series is so hyped up in this sub compared to the movie! It is so good!!!

Now don't get me wrong, I still love the movie. I think it's a visually stunning piece that tells the story through a modern romantic lens, and it does what it can in terms of characterization and scene-setting in such a limited amount of time. But good god, the series just blows it out of the water in certain areas.

For one, I love how the costumes and set design are comparatively much more accurate in the miniseries. I know that in the movie, they need to convey how monetarily down on their luck the Bennetts are using shorthand (their shoddy house, pig in the hallway, etc.) but the miniseries just does so well at showing that they are poor and that they are also landed gentry with a comfortable social position. Same with using shorthand to convey Lizzie's rebellious and independent side through details like no hat when out in Meryton (obviously a huge no-no in real life for the time), while the miniseries shows her self-advocacy and independent tendencies through subtler but just as meaningful details.

Also, I like Matthew Macfadyen's socially awkward Darcy, but I LOVE Colin Firth's arrogant Darcy. I hated him in the first couple of episodes which made the story so much more engaging and fun when his character arc was complete by the end. He makes for a much more compelling love interest, and I felt like we saw him reflect inwardly and take steps to change, rather than just some indiscriminate amount of time passing equalling him wanting to propose again.

If I had to use one word to describe the movie adaptation, it would be fun. But if I had to use one word to describe the miniseries adaptation, it would be real. I felt like I was in Jane Austen's world, and I was swooning, laughing, angered, and crying, right alongside the characters. It felt so alive while still maintaining that classy regency feel that we don't get in modern stories. There are about a million more intelligent things I could probably say about the miniseries, but I'll stop my ramblings and conclude by saying I'm glad I gave the series a chance after riding so hard for the movie.