4/10 Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Fanfics, Oh my~

So, wow...that was a super intense last few episodes of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Holy hell, the whole sex tape and a Lydia we've never seen. Just...wow. Petition to keel haul Wickham, because that man is repulsive beast (and not beast in the good way either).

I have to say that I actually love this representation of Lydia, though. In Austen's novel, I hated her. There wasn't a single redeeming quality about her. In the LBD, we can actually see her as the child that Wickham took advantage of and it's not okay in any sense. While I hated what happened to Lydia, I loved that she showed another side of herself and was no longer a flat character. I also loved that she didn't end up with Wickham and that she might actually be able to have a bright future, instead of a miserable one that she no doubt had in the novel.

Also, what the heck was with the super cheesy last couple of episodes? Both Lizzie and Darcy were waaaaaay too lovey dovey and it was unsettling. On the plus side, I agree everyone in the comments section that Darcy is Lizzie's biggest fan.

crying It's freaking perfect lol. And Gigi ships Lizzie and Darcy so hard.

Speaking of Gigi, it seriously hurt the parallel between Gigi and Lydia with that fucking shitfuck Wickham. Just seriously?

 Why must you hurt me this way????

With the fanfiction, the one that stuck out the most was A Most Convenient Mishap. I've read that sort of fanfic before (there are numerous fanfics using that sort of situation), and every time, it's amusing. I honestly thought that it was going to end up as smut or at least a lime, but I guess that's a bit too much if they're trying to keep with the period and that Lizzy hated Darcy. Now she really has a reason to hate him, what with him presuming that she was trying to seduce him. Whop whop, mate. Better luck next time, and good luck getting on her good side now.

So So

After reading the novel, I was skeptical of the Lizzie Bennet diaries. I'll admit that watching the you tube series and reading the novel definitely projects different opinions of some of the characters. I was excited to see how the diaries compared to the novel. The Lizzie Bennet diaries definitely helped me visualize the characters and there personalities. While it took me awhile to understand the characters and their personalities while reading Pride and Prejudice.

After a couple episodes the series just seemed a big gossip blog. Although the series was meant too watch two episodes a week and I watch it all within a couple days. I can definitely see why the diaries could have been such a successful show. The first half of the series was dragged out a bit for my tastes. The second half really started to get interesting. When Lizzie started incorporating different locations and setting it didn't seem as repetitive as the first half which really helped a lot.

Barf

Although there were many opinions on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I wonder if we could agree on some points made in the article "Pride and Prejudice at 200: Stop Looking for Mr. Darcy". The point that stood out for me the most was the very last sentence: "The romance plot is secondary."
As I said in class, the only part of the Lizzie Bennet Dairies that did not work for me was the fact that Lizzie's character made too much of a dramatic switch to a swooning romantic, when every video prior to the 95th she was the cool hard to please girl... what some of you perceive as bitchy. Given, this I am only talking about the last five videos...but isn't that the part WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! This just did not work for me. The adaptations up until this point did not lead me to believe the ending would be based on romance, but rather I would have focused on Lizzie's development of her relationship with Lydia, focusing on her approval of her best friend's success, maybe something in her career, or even keep the ending as her approval of Darcy, but tone it down please. 
I know this is fiction, and it does not have to be realistic. Because the sourced text is set in a very unrelatable time to us I found this adaptation much more relatable, and it ended with a cheesy unrelateable swoon of puppy love. Barf.

Cool Lizzie

ew Lizzie

As for the other fanfics I looked into....
These stories did not grab me at all. All of the ones I looked into under the modern era had nothing to do with the original story other than the character names and personalities. At least with the Regency era the situations were "more appropriate" to me....I mean common prom story? I know this makes me sound like a hypocrite after saying I like an adaptation such as the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, but modern written stories did not do it for me. I feel it is some what juvenile, but I could not explain why I feel that way, because I know many of these are well written. 
I also find it very strange that people buy clothes and accessories of that time. I understand if you want to dress up for a convention or event, but these costumes are not cheap! The etsy link has dresses as expensive as $350! How many times will you wear that dress? If any! I guess some people just like collecting. 

This is the $350 dress custom dress.... NOT IMPRESSED....tbh looks like shit

Folks sure do love this novel!!

Let me just run into that brick wall of prejudice

So... let's get this out of the way. Mr. Douchey was rather clever.

Now, while I appreciated the cleverness of that name, that's about all that really hit me. While its definitely an interesting Youtube series, I'm certainly hoping its a parody.

I took the time to read a few other blog posts before writing mine. I agree with Amber, Charlotte was not depicted well at all, and the racial stereotype was just glaringly awful considering they're the same age in this telling.

I agree with Sean, that Lydia is a glaringly obnoxious, and I shall add, twit. She's awful. Truly awful.

I started wishing that the series was over about 15 episodes in as well, mainly because it started driving me crazy just how bad the stereotypes were. Like seriously? Is there nothing better to do than make Pride and Prejudice so overly stereotypical that we jump from "What if he's gay?" to "What if he's a serial killer?" to ever better "What if he's a gay serial killer?".

After about half an hour of banging my head on my keyboard in frustration over how obnoxious the characters were, I found I needed a break. I spent a half an hour watching Red vx. Blue to try and get their voices out of my head, as well as the migraine which had slowly formed. I then got a glass of wine, and started back up again.

(Side-note! This is skip-able!) I, however, must go back. In episode seven I believe, Lizzie vents about the dance between those who catch the bouquet and those who catch the garter. I must say, I'm so very glad I've never seen that dance at a wedding before. I started thinking about it because my mother called to tell me about my cousin's wedding that is coming up. (End side note)

Also, drunk Lydia. I really expected that honestly, and then Charlotte starts becoming a munching Debbie-Downer. Gosh does she get hangry.

Then later, the "no he doesn't like me" argument in episode 33. It happens to irritate me most of all. Also, I kept appreciating Jane's character. I think she was the only one I really started enjoying at all, even if it wasn't much with this series.

Also... living with a bunch of swimmers, not all of them are chiseled and beautiful creatures, but the weak beer is pretty close (Also, most of the ones I know like the many flavors of Smirnoff's vodka).

"My mother has taken nuts to a new level."

I identify so much with that one statement.

Then, I started noticing how accurate the imitations of Mrs. Bennet are in the modern sense of Pride and Prejudice.

Anyways. I need to stop Internet venting before I become another of these Lizzie Bennets who rant on the internet.