Gentle Readers on the big damp foggy island nor-nor’east of Ushant, let us know what you think of Episode Three of Lost in Austen. Feel free to liveblog (post comments during the broadcast) if the spirit moves you.
ETA: Alert Janeite Valerie wrote to ITV asking why one cannot watch the episodes on ITV Rewind or whatever it is called. She received this response:
ITV are only licensed to broadcast in the UK.
Image Entertainment has the North American DVD rights but we have no information when they will release the DVD commercially.
So there you go.
Am traumatized. Will remain traumatized till next week. If anyone wants to give me real spoilers to make it all better, I may recover. If not, copious amounts of alcohol will be needed. Darcy is a jerk.
Comment by Tara — September 17, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
Wait, isn’t this going all too fast? Lydia runs off with Bingley at episode FOUR? As for Miss Caroline, I don’t understand, is she lesbian or what? Liked the Darcy-emerging-from-the-water-in-shirt scene though
Comment by Uncertain fan — September 17, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
Yes she is a lesbian but wants darcy’s money, prestige ect
I am assuming since this is a british production there will not be too many episodes…
Comment by Tara — September 17, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Well episode 4 is the last, I’m sure I read that in the tv guide. Correct me if I’m wrong!
Think something huge is going to happen to resolve the huge mess! Just hope very much that Elizabeth and Darcy meeting/marrying is not farcical! And I really hope they do not employ any variation of the “it was all a dream” ending…
Comment by Emma J — September 17, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
Looks like ITV has cracked down on youtube. I don’t know if people should continue posting youtube links, or if some alternative means to finding episodes can be used instead.
Comment by T. Chan — September 17, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
(Just doing a search for the first two episodes that used to be online.)
Comment by T. Chan — September 17, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
I’m a bit peeved with ITV and so wrote them an email that I thought be interesting to for others to read. Perhaps we should all flood ITV with complaints. I know they want to protect their product, but this is just bad marketing.
“I do not understand why you only allow UK residents to watch the catch-up and behind-the-scenes features of your shows and not any other country. Do you really think this is good public relations? In this global economy don’t you think that it would benefit you to at least make the behind-the-scenes portions of Lost in Austen available to the world as an advert for the DVD? And must you take it off YouTube? I am far less likely now to invest my money in a DVD of the program with it off YT rather than on. You catch more flies with honey….
Do you at least plan to make it commercially available abroad?”
Comment by jemima-p — September 17, 2008 @ 6:36 pm
I agree with what you have said in your email Jemima-p.
Comment by Emma J — September 17, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
Good one Jemima
I can understand them not wanting the episodes up on youtube but they’ve also been taking down interviews and previews. You can download episodes 1 & 2 at mininova.org, I don’t know when episode 3 will be up.
Comment by Kimmi — September 17, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
I guess it hasn’t occurred to anyone that maybe YouTube pulled them proactively?
Oh, and if ITV should answer that e-mail, I dare say it would go something like “Because only the people in the UK pay the license fee, that’s why.”
Comment by Mags — September 17, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
Mags–I have heard from someone working there that it is not their standard policy–they don’t do it until someone complains. Unless things have changed recently.
Comment by T. Chan — September 17, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
Can anyone provide a synopsis for those of us not in the U.K.? I’m so curious what’s going on!
Comment by Dana — September 17, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
I guess it hasn’t occurred to anyone that maybe YouTube pulled them proactively?
I concur with T. Chan: very unlikely, this is ITV’s doing. YT just doesn’t have the manpower to check all incoming material for copyright violations. And if they had you wouldn’t be able find basically every current period drama from recent years on YT, which interestingly enough includes several dramas from ITV(!)
The powers that be at ITV knew about the YT leak from the beginning or shortly after. My impression is that they decided to let the show generate enough hype in order to get people interested, which worked pretty well as probably everyone here is aware. The comment sections for the two first episodes here at AustenBlog speak for themselves. And now, just before the third episode airs they pull the plug and obviously hope that everyone will rush out and buy the dvd at the end of the month. The timing is just too perfect.
It’ll be interesting to see whether this will backfire or work out as planned.
Can anyone provide a synopsis for those of us not in the U.K.? I’m so curious what’s going on!
Dana, go to comment #44 on:
http://www.austenblog.com/2008/09/10/lost-in-austen-episode-two/#comments
Comment by Hunsford Parson — September 17, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
I’ve seen most of episode 3 and it made me laugh out loud!
Hugh Bonneville continues to be a gem to watch and yes, this isn’t the classy P&P of 1995, but I’m still enjoying hearing things I never thought I would such as “I shall prance the length of Lady Catherine’s drawing room – naked!” The relationships have all been turned upside down but I’d like to think that Jane Austen would have a chuckle too.
I find it implausible that Amanda would turn to Wickham for help but heck, the whole plot has been tinkered with so why not? In episode 3, Mr Collins continues to demonstrate skin-crawling mannerisms but so far Jane has been spared his conjugal visits.
Lady Catherine seems to be amused by Amanda as well, surprising Mr Collins who is certain that she “does not trifle with common games of cards”…then it cuts to a scene of Lady Catherine questioning Amanda about her next move in the game.
I do wonder how they will resolve things next week…as much as I’m enjoying the topsy-turvyness of it all, I’m still hoping for a satisfactory conclusion and I can’t wait till this comes out in Canada so I can watch the whole thing!
Comment by Charleybrown — September 17, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
Just found this synopsis for the final episode posted by ITV. Warning – it is sort of spoilerish -
http://www.itv.com/PressCentre/LostInAusten/Ep4Wk39/default.html
Comment by lyregal — September 18, 2008 @ 1:36 am
Again, that would be a very bad way to answer the email, Mags, as far as PR is concerned. And, actually, if you follow one of the old links to YT, you find it has been pulled due to a copyright claim, which implies it was pulled by ITV themselves.
Comment by jemima-p — September 18, 2008 @ 1:37 am
I thought that was most amusing. Mrs Bennet in Pemberly! Wickham being so rakish but also so charming! Mr Bingley and Lydia?!? I softened to Darcy a lot last night, and found his scenes with Amanda very involving and even rather moving. Have tried to remain spoiler free so I can’t imagine how all this is resolved…
Comment by Jemima — September 18, 2008 @ 1:43 am
“This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by ITV Network Limited”
from the pink band found here
http://tinyurl.com/5xkgx8
Comment by Maisy — September 18, 2008 @ 6:35 am
Last night’s episode kept me interested, but it was the development of details that conflict with the book that I found most amusing. I was delighted to find myself rooting for Wickham and thinking Darcy a terrible stuffed shirt. On the subject of Darcy and shirts, I thought that the moment in the water was a rare miscalculation – it was too obvious and self-consciously postmodern to work. I didn’t believe for a moment that this character would behave in that way and it made me squirm. Tom Riley does a great job as Wickham – I’ll be keeping an eye on his work from now on (ahem). Hugh Bonneville is also one of the best things about the series – a perfect Mr Bennett.
Comment by EllenW — September 18, 2008 @ 6:59 am
I found it so bizarre to be enjoying Wickham the most out of all of the characters, but Tom Riley was completely charming. I enjoyed last night’s episode the most so far, but I can’t see how they’re going to fit an unhurried resolution into next week’s considering the ‘Next Time’ trailer.
Comment by Zoe — September 18, 2008 @ 7:28 am
The curse of British TV productions – the short run. The cost of producing drama (especially costume drama) makes anything longer than four episodes a rarity.
Comment by EllenW — September 18, 2008 @ 7:50 am
someone upthread says that they don’t allow people outside the uk to watch because they don’t pay a license fee. The license fee is only for the BBC, nOt for ITV! (Tiny hint in the word Independant…) They are paid for by advertising.
Comment by carin — September 18, 2008 @ 8:07 am
Does anyone know anything about this website?
http://video.stv.tv/bc/catchup-LostInAustenPart1-20080917-2101/
I can’t get anything to play at all. I’m so mad ITV pulled the YT videos!
Comment by Austenfan — September 18, 2008 @ 8:22 am
Any bootlegging Asian fangirl help on the horizon?
Sigh.
Comment by surreyhill — September 18, 2008 @ 8:53 am
This site may have it eventually. They seem to have the first two parts up:
http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/internet/
Comment by surreyhill — September 18, 2008 @ 9:01 am
This one should update soon!
http://www.surfthechannel.com/show/television/Lost_in_Austen.html
Comment by Emily — September 18, 2008 @ 9:41 am
It’s too bad that there doesn’t seem to be a safe, legal way to watch the eps outside of the UK. YT is kind of pushing the legal thing as we’ve seen but gosh, it was nice having it. I can understand (though distressed I may be) why ITV has made its move though.
Comment by Austenfan — September 18, 2008 @ 9:43 am
P.S. I’m not questioning the legality of the links posted above — I was merely lamenting the absence of episode three on the web.
Comment by Austenfan — September 18, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Thanks, Carin. I was actually wondering about that when I wrote it. But I guess by the same token they can say “But the YouTube people aren’t seeing the advertising that pays for the film.” Nor would an ad for, say, Tesco be much good to folks in the U.S.
I hadn’t thought of an Evil Plot by ITV to get non-Brits sucked in and then make them buy the DVDs, which is unusually naive for me. I wonder if they’re prepared to deal with all the complaints from Region 1 folks who aren’t properly set up to watch Region 2 DVDs?
Comment by Mags — September 18, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Well someone is cleaning house; they pulled Auntie Beeb’s Tess as well.
For those who care, I think patience is the key; it’s only a matter of time. And perhaps we should not be posting direct links so obviously?
As for me, if it ain’t free, I ain’t interested!
Comment by Maria L. — September 18, 2008 @ 10:24 am
Can I just say that although I work for the BBC I have nothing to do with these disappearing links – just in case you think I’m some sort of spy!
Comment by EllenW — September 18, 2008 @ 11:19 am
I think we should have been more discreet with the links at YT, I mean not posting them everywhere we all knew where to look for them. So please, it is plain we are being observed so stop linking to other places where the episodes might possibly be uploaded, just share it privately.
For my part, though I have not like LiA at all, I feel it my duty to watch that thing in full to form my opinion about it, and if ITV thinks that my hand will be forced to buy LiA in DVD to complete watching it, it is a mistaken notion. I refuse to do it, and by the accounts given here and other sites, the turn that the story has taken is getting worse and worse.
Comment by Cinthia — September 18, 2008 @ 11:43 am
PS – I agree with Maria L, the key is patience, we had to wait for the S&S3 episodes a few days. So stop fretting and do not link to alternate sites.
Comment by Cinthia — September 18, 2008 @ 11:46 am
It might be marketing strategy.
Show them the first two episodes, then leave them wanting the next two – that should make them buy the DVD!!!!
Comment by Reeba — September 18, 2008 @ 11:52 am
It won’t work with me, either. I rarely buy DVDs anymore. That’s what Netflix is for.
I only purchase DVDs that I know I will want to watch over and over, and there are not that many.
I wonder how many Americans will really pay exchange rate penalty and expensive shipping from the UK to buy these? And how many of them are set up to watch Region 2 DVDs? It will be interesting to see if it pops up on TV and DVD on this side of the pond. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Comment by Mags — September 18, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Oh–and I wonder if a Janeite with an overly-developed sense of morals is the ratfink?
Comment by Mags — September 18, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
No Netflix resource in my part of the world, so I usually have to buy DVD’s to satiate my curiosity, but still I am a carefuly buyer, I had to weight if the program is worth the investment. Sometimes I do not even require spoilers and preview to be interested (N&S and Cranford have been bought without that considerations, BBC guaranteed the quality), in others though I had seen the product and not like it, the Austen interest force me to invest (MP2 and P&P3 are on that list, I did not stoop to MP3 since the region 1 is incomplete) but with LiA, I need to view it first to watch it entirely to decide if I might invest or not invest in the DVD (provided it is the region 1, since my player and tv do not allow PAL).
On other matters, the ratings have been revealed. LiA continues loosing viewers:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/18/tvratings.television
The third of the four-part Lost in Austen drama continued to lose viewers for ITV1. The show about about a modern girl transported into the world of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice recorded an average audience of 2.9 million viewers and 12% share, down from 3.8 million at its debut two weeks ago and 3.1 million last week.
Comment by Cinthia — September 18, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
You’d think the doofuses over at ITV with their Catch-Up iPlayer would have figured out that there is a market for that thing outside the UK. If they were smart, they would pitch it to some American advertisers, stick some shampoo commercials in the darned thing and let people across the pond access the programming…
I know there are ways to get around the IP address thing to view those players by getting a proxy address that makes it appear that your computer is in the UK, but not being as heavy into high tech geekdom as I should be, it sounds a tad complicated. And I’ve read that the sites that host the free proxy IPs are not always trustworthy.
I think ITV are just mad at Janeites for not going orgasmic over their Persuasion and Mansfield Park. Well I don’t care, they stunk, so there!
Comment by Maria L. — September 18, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
If they are mad, they should blame themselves. There is something I have been arguing since P&P3 was in production. Producers/filmakers do not aproach to Janeites as they should. They accuse us that we only complain without reason, but they do not listen to our complains nor understand we are not unreasonable. There has never been an attempt to approach to us as there has been with Peter Jackson and co. with the Tolkien fans. Jackson and now Guillermo del Toro know who is their main audience and target and try to listen to their suggestions. This has never been made with us, the Janeites. If only a producer were brave enough to know that we can be useful and accept feedback, it would have been an entirely different matter.
Comment by Cinthia — September 18, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
The third of the four-part Lost in Austen drama continued to lose viewers for ITV1.
That’s because all you Web 2.0 People with your fancy Dual Core Processors are watching it on the You Tube!
Comment by ITV Suit — September 18, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
That was actually me.
Comment by Mags — September 18, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Has anyone found the episode yet?
Comment by Mary — September 18, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
If anyone is interested, the link I posted earlier now has episode three up.
Comment by Emily — September 18, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
i live in the states and watched the first 2 episodes on youtube…but now they took all of them off and no one will post the third one, and i cant watch the catch up thingy on the site….so if anyone else knos where i can watch the last 2 episodes(i kno the 4th hasnt come on yet) it would be great!!!!!thanx a-lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by rachel — September 18, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
@Rachel – check post 26 by Emily. Thanks to Emily btw!
I watched it, and I think that having lost its jokes on Regency vs. modernity the show has generally lost any humour it had. There were 1-2 scenes that were funny. I laughed out loud when Darcy began proposing, so I didn’t laugh at the lake scene that much. Darcy and Amanda together look like a Prince and a fishmonger, indeed! Or a Prince and a female version of Shreck. Could that actress be plainer?
Wickham gets better and better, and is generally THE man in this show.
Caroline’s secret was another funny moment, and I’m beginning to wish that actress played Amanda. She might have a more interesting dream at least, and it seems it’s what we’re watching.
Comment by Sylwia — September 18, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
Thank you, Emily!!! I have been so upset thinking I wouldn’t be able to watch Episode 3! I was able to get to it from your link, and the quality was even better than what was on YT. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Comment by Heather — September 18, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
SPOILERS:
So it’s all Georgiana’s fault because she was just begging for Wickham to “ravish” her? You step on some dangerous ground when you accuse a female victim of deserving it. Aw, poor date-raper Wickham, how could he resist the temptation?
While Caroline’s love of women is an interesting interpretation of her motivation as a character, it’s not likely that she would have such an awareness of her sexuality at that point in history. Homosexuality between women wasn’t even acknowledged until the late 19th century.
Hmmm, but it’s all still kinda fun to watch, not gonna lie.
Comment by Anonymous — September 18, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
You’re welcome! And #46 is me too, hehe, oops.
Comment by Emily — September 18, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Anyone know if the tudou.com website has Episode 3 up? I was able to see all parts of the S&S08 at this site(link provided here by some lovely person), and I was wondering if anyone else has seen it tudou.com?
Comment by Anna — September 18, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
For the first two episodes and the third (any day now), go to ninjavideo.net. You’ll have to run their “helper” program (which opens another window) for the video to work, but it’s very high quality. Otherwise, surfthechannel is fine (though not as high quality a picture).
Comment by saffie — September 18, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
Reply to 46.
“So it’s all Georgiana’s fault because she was just begging for Wickham to “ravish” her?”
Georgiana is not a victim. She fabricated the story.
Comment by Charleybrown — September 18, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
I know, but she was a victim in Austen’s original portrayal of her story. I’m just saying that the switch that Lost in Austen chose to make hits a little too close to the “the girl that cried rape.” That’s all…
Comment by Emily — September 18, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
Thanks for the linkage. I know this series is junk, but I’m addicted to it.
And the fellow who plays Wickham is a bit of a find. I thrown over drunken Bingley for him entirely.
All of the Darcy interchanges are creepy and uncomfortable. He seems to have ill-fitting dentures, this Darcy.
It still strikes me as a Mary Sue, I don’t care that the screenplay is written by a man. She’s working her way through the entire male cast, and even some of the women, who are all inexplicably hot for her at various points in the story, and you don’t get more Mary Sue than that. It wouldn’t surprise me at this point if Mr. Bennet makes a pass at her.
Come to think of it, he’s the only one who might suit, provided Mrs. Bennet can be pawned off on some Collins or the other, perhaps Mr. “Ohbejoyful ChristianForbearance” Collins or the like.
I am still wondering how Amanda’s dark roots aren’t showing ‘neath the plum by this point.
Lizzie would never be so inconsiderate of her family. She must have gotten shanghaied by Andrew Davies.
Comment by surreyhill — September 18, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
wow great blog to all. I live in the US, and my best friend in the UK was going on and on about this wonderful television series. So i saw the beginning on YT and am greatful for the links for episode3, cant wait for #4, lord willing i can find it. Sigh, Mr Darcy, thanks to austen, and like amanda, he is what men should be measured up to
Its such a lively twist on the classic tale. and I think jemima ropper is bloody fantastic.
Comment by danielle — September 19, 2008 @ 12:41 am
Fanny Price on a sidecar, people! If you get caught in the spam filter, don’t keep hitting “Submit” over and over. That’s what spambots do. You’ll convince the spam filter (which I suspect is sentient) that you ARE a spammer and MAKE IT WORSE. Relax. I’ll rescue the comments eventually.
Comment by Mags — September 19, 2008 @ 12:56 am
Found it ! Now I’m not sure I should post the link but it’s there, just SURF till you find it.
(There is a huge HINT in this message)
Comment by Sibylle — September 19, 2008 @ 2:13 am
you can find all of the 3 episodes on greatstufftv.com – megavideo.
i´m so excited how things will come to an end with amanda and darcy..can´t wait for episode 4!!!!
Comment by bianca — September 19, 2008 @ 7:46 am
Thank you Sibylle.. I found the site that you hinted of, and just finished watching the 3′d episode
D
P And I really like Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Bennet. I agree with the person that said it’s a pity he didn’t play him in an actual version. Even though Donald Sutherland wasn’t that bad, I think Hugh would have made a better one! Also, as has been expressed previously- Mr. Collin’s is absolutely creepy! I never really got that impression of him in the book, and the previous movie portrayals (just extremely annoying and mentally exhausting). I couldn’t help but snicker at Amanda’s comment to Darcy about him in the 2nd episode- so true!
I must say, that even though there are moments of utter ridiculousness- it’s kind of addicting! I can’t wait to see how it concludes!
I have to say that I’m really not drawn to this Darcy, as I have been in the two previous. His portrayal seems too stiff (and kind of robotic) at times; but I guess since this isn’t a true portrayal (or attempt at one), it’s not that huge of a deal. (ROFL @ SurreyHill’s comments) And I’m not too keen on Miss Price, but I can overlook that since she’s not playing Elizabeth (if she was I’d cringe). However, every scene I see her in I think to myself “do something with your hair!”. I mean, if you’re going to go to all the trouble of blending in clothes wise, why not complete the look?! (And just how does she happen to have on her person lip gloss, eye makeup, fever/cold medicine, her book, etc.?! I’m trying to remember the first episode, but doesn’t she have a chance encounter with Elizabeth and then go through the door? *LOL*..It’s kinda funny she has all of that stuff with her!)
I like the actor that plays Bingley; and think he’d do rather well in other costume drama’s. Also, I never thought I’d say this- but I actually like Wickham! I guess that’s cause in this version he’s not quite the scumbag that we’ve grown to detest
Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it’ll all end. (The major plot twists are a bit unnerving since I’m so used to how it’s supposed to be; but because it’s not trying to be accurate it’s tolerable!)
Oh, and if you recognize “Kitty” like I did, she’s been in Miss Marple, The Cazalet’s, Goodbye Mr. Chips, and Dr. Who- to name a few. And “Miss Bingley” was in “What A Girl Wants” (w/ Amanda Bynes, and Colin Firth). Has anyone seen Gemma Arterton in the new “Tess of the D’Urberville’s”? I Don’t know anything about her acting other than in this production. But she seems like she’d fit in period films. I only have one vision of “Tess”, and that’s Justine Waddell’s version.
Comment by BlueDolphin — September 19, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Austen? Lost. Completely.
I admit I’m missing some kind of enjoyment gene when it comes to LIA. However, this last episode, having lost all semblance of anything remotely related to a humorous take on Austen or her characters, made me yawn.
Mr. Bennet (whom I was actually enjoying) has become some sort of manic-depressive. Mrs. Bennet is now apparently on Prozac; they’ve got the woman at Rosings and Pemberley and what do they do with the character? Nothing! The Lady Catherine they wrote for Lindsay Duncan was a waste of a talented actress. Austen’s Lady C was cattier, meaner, and infinitely more amusing. (Watching Duncan though, I was thinking that I would love to see her as Aunt Norris sometime.) By turning Mr. Collins into a total ick, they’ve robbed that character of all his delicious potential, not to mention humor. This Wickham is the dishiest of them all, but I perversely find a “nice” Wickham very uninteresting.
I’ll watch the last LIA, assuming it’s floating in cyberspace, but I won’t be sorry to see it go.
By the end I was fantasizing how fun it would have been for Sybil Fawlty to find herself in P&P, with Basil as Mr. Collins…. Now that would be a hoot!
Comment by Maria L. — September 19, 2008 @ 8:44 am
“By the end I was fantasizing how fun it would have been for Sybil Fawlty to find herself in P&P, with Basil as Mr. Collins…. Now that would be a hoot!”
Exactly! I keep having a feeling I’m watching a Regency Benny Hill!
Comment by Sylwia — September 19, 2008 @ 8:55 am
Sibylle: can you give a bigger hint? I haven’t been able to find your link. If it was “surfthechannel”, that’s not working for me.
Comment by MayLisa — September 19, 2008 @ 10:26 am
I finally managed to watch it. (Any ITV suit reading this: your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries. Take zis you English types-a!)
A couple of random observations:
The LIPE-ratio seems to be at a constant value of no less than 1 (LIPE = lesbian innuendo per episode). Did they bring dirty old Andrew in through the backdoor as some kind of a secret script advisor? Oh dear, oh dear…
Watching the plot unfold almost seems like witnessing a core meltdown. How on earth are they going to clean that up!? It’s a bit like a reality tv-show. You feel ashamed for the people you’re watching, but you just can’t take your eyes off of it.
Wickham’s been universally praised here. I have to agree. Laying aside all the differences to the real Wickham (from the book), I also think he makes for the best Wickham I’ve seen in any Austen adaptation yet. He’s handsome, he’s nice, he’s charming. The other Wickhams always seemed a little slimey to me. But this one is the first Wickham I could actually believe to successfully court Elizabeth Bennet.
Georgiana left me a little puzzled. Does anyone remember how old she is in the novel and how old she was when she tried to elope with Wickham?
Amanda tearing apart her P&P paperback was a bit too symbolic for my taste. What’s with all the ‘libriphobia’ anyway? We had a book burning in Northanger Abbey and now this. Weird.
I agree with the comment about Lady Catherine. They could’ve done much more with her.
And as for Mr. Collins. Whether one likes the changes to his character or not, I think Guy Henry delivers a fantastic performance!
Comment by Hunsford Parson — September 19, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Well, the following comment will be nonsensical (more or less in keeping with the series overall), but anyway, as the random twitch of an amateur typography geek:
(slight spoiler alert)
What’s with Darcy in episode 3 picking up the printed novel and imagining it to be some sort of manuscript? My God, the thing would be the wonder of the age—it’s virtually an alien artifact. The cover: an unbelievable pointillist masterpiece of microscopic colored dots. The text: surpassingly fine printing, the best he would have ever seen (albeit on indifferent paper). The bar-code on the back cover: ???.
And Darcy, steward of a fine family library, is oblivious to everything but the content?
Comment by Peter — September 19, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
In the novel, Georgiana is 15 when she almost elopes, but is mentioned to be 16 at the start of the book, which is several months later.
Comment by S — September 19, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
I have to admit I LOLed at the pond scene. Just what a proper Mary Sue should do: “Strip and soak, rich boy!” It really is getting Mary Sue-ier by the minute. And of course now Ensign Amanda Sue is going to save the day and die in a blaze of glory as the Enterprise narrowly avoids destruction by the Klingons…oh, wait.
And for all the really truly utterly devoted Jane Austen fans who have delurked or found AustenBlog, there’s some interesting reading upblog. Since you all have such highly developed critical abilities and love discussing subtext and all that kind of stuff.
Comment by Mags — September 19, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Having seen the third episode, I think I now understand why I have been liking Wickham so much. We are meant to. He’s the hero. She’s going to end up with him. He’s the charming rake with a heart of gold; sharing half his fortune with Amanda so she can buy a new dress and protecting the sex-crazed, slightly unhinged Georgiana who plays with dollhouses and sorts beads for hours on end in her quiet room. I was beginning to wonder if any of the walls were padded, but Darcy did leave the door open, so perhaps hers is not a violent case.
Comment by Tina B. — September 19, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
It seems difficult for the audience to get the idea of the movie.
This movie is designed to be a parody of modern people who try to escape from reality reading Pride and Prejudice, to show them that if they were able to travel back in time to the real world of Regency era, they would discover not the Jane Austen’s imaginable world of Pride and Prejudice, the novel, but a quite different reality where they would find themselves uncomfortable and would wish to back to the modern world. The movie deals not with the characters from the novel but with their originals from reality. A part from the conversation between Amanda and Elizabeth in the bathroom:
Amanda: “You are the creature of Jane Austen”.
Elizabeth: “I’m not acquainted with this person”.
Hunsford Parson (P.No.60), the real Mr. Wickham (the same for the other characters) is not that one from the book. If you were back to that time, you would meet not Jane Austen’s imagination of Mr. Wickham, but Mr. Wickham himself, just as he existed in reality of that time.
Characters in a novel are not as they are in reality; they are intentionally idealized and generalized by the author (in the present case, Jane Austen) to express the author’s disapproval and critical view of society and to convey the author’s ideas and imaginations for a better life where people can marry for love and have happy endings, etc, etc …
The main presumption of the screenwriter, expressed in the opening sentence: “It is a truth generally acknowledged that we are all longing to escape; I escape always to my favourite book ….” is very dull and narrow-minded. According to this presumption, the modern society consists of “disillusioned with their lives”, Amanda-like creatures who read books for escape and believe that a hall / door in the wall could transport them in the world of Pride and Prejudice, the world of wonders and happy endings, as if there is no one who is supposed to read books for some other purposes – to learn, to develop their minds, to share ideas or just for amusement.
Comment by Boris — September 19, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
sooo…i loved that adaptation..:) besides, i watched it on greatstufftv.com…as a little help for those of you who are searching the internet desperately.
i´m now soooo excited about with which man amanda ends up?!
can´t wait for the last episode!
Comment by bianca — September 19, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Here’s my first post and a guess as to which man Amanda ends up with. Since we don’t know what’s going on with Lizzy, my guess (unless this is a dream) is that she’s been working on Amanda’s boyfriend on the other side of the wall and when Amanda returns, he’ll be the perfect regency type of gentleman. Just a guess. This has been like reading a P&P fan fiction story with all the what ifs. And sometimes those stories have a great ending and other times they don’t. We’ll just have to wait and see. I’d love to see some other variations. You know, Lost in Austen 2, with a whole new scenario, another spin on the story. There are enough stories out there to choose the next one.
Comment by kelcee — September 19, 2008 @ 10:19 pm
You guys could download Lost in Austen from mininova.org . l did just that. But in order to download it from mininova, you have to download an application called BitSpirit first. It’s safe, l’ve tried it.
Comment by Coco — September 19, 2008 @ 11:31 pm
I still support my crazy theory that Wickham knows more than Amanda thinks he knows about why she is there in the first place or else he is also an imposter from the “real world” too. It’s just what Wickham says to Amanda at the end of episode 2 and any other comments he makes. He seems to have an interest in all the decisions Amanda makes. But then again, this isnt Life on Mars and there’s only one episode left so maybe i am mad.
Comment by xAchoox — September 20, 2008 @ 4:19 am
It’s been great to read everyone’s comments on episode 3 as I just found this site after going slightly mad trying to find LIA online.
I have no idea how this is going to end but I certainly think it’s significant that Mr. Collins has not bedded his wife. Not sure about the law and what was feasible at the time but maybe the marriage will be annulled.
I honestly hope this doesn’t end as a “it was all a dream” scenario–it’s been done and is such a cop out as a plot device. Maybe there will be a modern day Mr. Darcy (a la Bridget Jones and possibly something like Elliot Cowan as the modern day man) that Amanda coincidentally meets.
Despite how off-kilter the story has gone so far, personally, I am enjoying the curve balls being thrown. I like that they are taking risks with the characters and plot. What I appreciate about this production is that it is not supposed to be just another P&P production.
I somewhat disagree that Mr. Darcy, or the performance, is robotic. Particularly in episode 3, I noted the softening in his face which I found to be touching and expressive (i.e. when everyone is playing card games and Darcy is watching Amanda). I will say that I was put off by Darcy at first but he is growing on me.
I cannot wait to see how everything gets resolved.
Comment by Jinky — September 20, 2008 @ 5:01 am
Just forgot to add a quote from episode 3 to back what was saying – Wickham says something like “This is good, you have chosen the man i precisely wished you to choose”
Why would Wickham say that? Why would he care whether Amanda choses Darcy or not?
Comment by xAchoox — September 20, 2008 @ 5:21 am
It would be interesting if Wickham had something to do with it, but what he said in episode 2 seemed to have more to do with their similar upbringing. She told him that her father was an accountant. So was his. Stewards were accountants.
Comment by Sylwia — September 20, 2008 @ 5:28 am
However, now that I think about it, I thought that several of the characters seem to know her motives. That is, assuming it’s all a dream, they seem to be the voices of her sub-conscience. So she chooses Darcy because she always wanted Darcy, no matter that she pretends she loves Elizabeth. She screws her RL because she lives in the world of her imagination, with Darcy as her partner.
Comment by Sylwia — September 20, 2008 @ 5:33 am
I think it was what he said after that – “we have the same scent…i can smell myself on you”. That just sounded a little random and creepy for the producers to put in, if it didn’t have double meaning.
Comment by xAchoox — September 20, 2008 @ 5:42 am
LOL You mean that all their other creepiness has a double meaning? But I think that it means that Amanda is a liar, taking advantage of all the people, which she is.
Comment by Sylwia — September 20, 2008 @ 7:42 am
Personally, I think Amanda and Wickham would get along a lot better then she and Darcy. Somehow, even though Darcy and Amanda keep saying how much they are in love, there’s hardly any chemistry between them. I think Amanda automatically thinks, “This is Darcy. I have to be in love with him!”, even though he’s not her personality type at all. This is definitely an Alice in Wonderland type of story.
Comment by Sylvia M. — September 20, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
I’m with Mr. Bennet. I cannot be happy when Jane (Bennet, though Jane Austen is also certainly encroached upon), who deserves it least, suffers most.
But then, I’m rather a Jane Bennet fan (club, group, boy, all rolled in one), so I’m a trifle biased.
But the writing is still terrible.
Comment by I. Miller — September 20, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
I’ve seen it at last and I am afraid that against my will, my reason and my character (as the true Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley told to Lizzy in his first declaration) I liked this third episode. It was the first time that I really LOL.
My will, my reason and my character are still firmly of the opinion that this is a trainwreck of vast proportions and it is a pity that the cast was thoroughly wasted on such a script. Because in apperance I think most of them quite look the characters, but the personalities in great part have gone through the window.
As we have repeatedly said over these past weeks, one require to put a lot of suspended disbelief to swallow the plot. I have taken quite huge dosis of that to give LiA a chance, and my main problem is still that I could not understand what the heck this Darcy can see in Amanda. I could belief the others, including this Caroline, are attracted, but not Darcy.
Well, only one episode more and we can finally cut it to pieces at pleasure and give a final judgement.
Comment by Cinthia — September 20, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
What’s with Darcy in episode 3 picking up the printed novel and imagining it to be some sort of manuscript? My God, the thing would be the wonder of the age—it’s virtually an alien artifact. The cover: an unbelievable pointillist masterpiece of microscopic colored dots. The text: surpassingly fine printing, the best he would have ever seen (albeit on indifferent paper). The bar-code on the back cover: ???.
And Darcy, steward of a fine family library, is oblivious to everything but the content?
I lol’d. That scene was ridiculous to me for the same reasons you cite, Peter. Plus, besides the cover and the printing, mightn’t Darcy have come across a copyright notice, or an introduction? A hint and a half that something was not quite right about the treacherous “manuscript” he was so sad to discover? Oh, Lost in Austen, you’re adorable. Never change.
Comment by LeSpinster — September 20, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
@Boris – It’s difficult to get that idea from the show, because wherever Amanda moved, she certainly didn’t move to real Regency world. There are too many inaccuracies and misportrayals to convince us about it. It’s not about the people’s behaving differently than in the book, only about their not being Regency people. So we’re trying hard to give them some excuse.
Comment by Sylwia — September 20, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
I can’t believe no one else has posted this (not just here), but Wickham, to me, seems gay. I mean, he said ’spunk’ twice in a row before giving her a makeover!! Need I say more? Pride indeed!
I know there was some ladykissing for him in the preview of next week’s ep (trying not to be too spoilery), but seriously – it fits (possibly even alongside the idea that he’s from the present day).
Comment by Amo — September 20, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
Plus, besides the cover and the printing, mightn’t Darcy have come across a copyright notice, or an introduction? A hint and a half that something was not quite right about the treacherous “manuscript” he was so sad to discover?
Yes. Perhaps in the last episode we’ll see Darcy copying down his own letter. Then, at the end, Amanda can muse thoughtfully on the resulting chicken-and-egg paradox.
Comment by Peter — September 21, 2008 @ 2:00 am
In response to Bluedolphin;
I totally agree…that leather jacket must have some seriously roomy pockets! And would it be that difficult to stick her hair up lol but aside from that I think it’s a genious idea…
On the subject of Tess…its been brilliant so far and can’t wait for tonights installment. Roman Polanski did a fantastic version years ago, really dark- just like the book.
Comment by Etiquette.gal — September 21, 2008 @ 7:52 am
I have to agree with Jinky on the outcome…I think Amanda will find the same actor back in the real world and realize he’s the guy for her. Which guy, though, I haven’t decided yet. The obvious choice is Darcy, of course, but after seeing Ep 3 (thanks all, for the tips on finding it for us here in the U.S.) I am starting to think it might be Wickham.
My biggest question throughout the series (aside from the point about the book/manuscript) has been what Elizabeth has been doing in Amanda’s world all this time. Initially I thought we might see or hear from her more than just that note in Ep 1.
A final question for those more in the know…is the plan to have more series of Lost in Austen? One for each novel? I know the ratings are dropping on this one, but I do still think it is a clever idea. They could easily change up the cast or even have, say, Persuasion be from Wentworth’s point of view. Now that would be interesting.
Comment by Moxie — September 21, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Apparently her leather jacket is time-lord design…which I really hope it is because this would have been so much funnier if it had been some sort of Doctor Who crossover.
Starting to agree that she might bump into a modern day Mr. Darcy. However, if she ends up with Wickham, what exactly is LiA trying to tell us? That the good guy is always and uptight prude?
Comment by Anna — September 21, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Now, maybe I misremember, but Wickham looks awfully like Amanda’s belching boyfriend back in 2008. It’s listed as a dual role on IMDb, but you can’t see who the other character is. Curiouser and curiouser!
Comment by hmmmm... — September 22, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
hello… Stumbled across this website and found it most useful : ) Thank you muchly.
Anyway- in episode 3, where Darcy says that he cannot ‘possibly marry a woman like you’ and Amanda says ‘a woman like me!?’. What does Darcy say afterwards? He kinda mutters soemthing… I’ve watched it over and over again but I sill haven’t the foggiest!
Please help!
Comment by Laura — September 22, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Wickham, and the boyfriend, are two different actors. I have a feeling she may end up with Wickham as well. After all, he is the one that she is Prejudice against etc. Anyway I think that P & P was a fictionalised version of a story. Amanda is trapped in the ‘real’ version, which is why things keep going wrong. They never happened, the way she thinks, at all. That’s just my view anyway. I’d actually hate to see her with someone like Darcy. He isn’t really right gfor her at all. It’s liek she’s in love with him, because she loved book Darcy. I really hate the way she keeps telling him ‘what he’s supposed to be like’. I really think Wickham has been the real star of this piece. Whether it is the actor, or whether he is supposed to be like that, I don’t know. Love him though. Loveliest character of the lot.
Comment by Mary — September 22, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
TINKLA!
I really like Lydia in this version!
Comment by Maheen — September 22, 2008 @ 11:40 pm
Ok, so here is what I think…
First of all, Darcy is REALLY growing on me– i mean, at first, I hated him, but after the third episode, and the way he softened up a bit, I’m starting to like him!
I reallly wish this isn’t of those “its all a dream” endings too!!
Mr. Bingley is absolutely adorable!
About Amanda ending up with Wickham– it might be possible, because in the first episode, if you remember, when she is newly engaged to Mr. Collins and Wickam offers his “assistance,” anytime she gets bored, Amanda says, “you are the last man on earth….”
wierd, eh?
Comment by Maheen — September 22, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
I finally was able to see the first three episodes, and was overall disappointed. Maybe I’m not the person to fully enjoy this type of program. The plot sounded a bit interesting but I have winced more than I’ve laughed.
While knowing there would be twists to the classic plot because of Amanda’s presence, I was hoping everyone would stay more in character than they have. And some of the twists have been too just for me. Caroline desiring “sisterly communion”? *gag* Jane marrying Mr. Collins?!?!?! Wrong wrong wrong! Jane is my favorite P&P character and I shall never forgive ITV and the writer(s) for what they’ve done to her. Poor dear Jane…
Amanda has been getting on my nerves. On the one hand she tries to make events go according to plan. Yet on the other hand she is truly shattered when Darcy breaks up with her (though I don’t know if she really loves him, the “romance” between them happened very quickly). It is hard for me to root for her.
Darcy just isn’t rocking my boat. I don’t know what he sees in Amanda — or her in him for that manner.
Mr. Collins is just plain weird/gross/creepy!
I had to get used to Bingley’s look after loving him as a red-head and curly-haired chap. But he has grown on me and I think I like him pretty well. For shame though on treating Jane so unkindly at the ball! And turning him into a drunk? I’m hoping things will become better for him, but the final episode’s preview has me VERY worried!
Mrs. Bennett is annoying. Yet as the series has gone on, I’ve been backing her in her attempt to take Amanda done.
Mr. Bennett I wish could have been in a traditional P&P miniseries. He is so good. My only problem with him is why he didn’t say anything before Jane’s marriage if he is so upset about her fate.
Surprise, surprise! Wickham has been my favorite character in LIA so far. A more good natured, honorable Wickham there never was. I almost wish he would end up with Amanda.
In the end, while far from enchanted with Lost in Austen, I will see the final episode to find out how everything is unraveled. And I am hoping Amanda will NOT find her own Mr. Darcy back in her real world.
Comment by Rosa C. — September 23, 2008 @ 12:36 am
Thanks for the info on mininova. I picked up Torrents, downloaded the first three episodes, and can now watch them any time I want! It takes a little time, and I had to do a lot of “googling” to figure out some of the technical issues, but it worked well and have been enjoying Episode Three. Now I can’t wait for the last one!
Comment by Rebekkah — September 23, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
Laura – what Darcy says to Amanda is ‘you are not a maid’. This is why he feels he cannot marry her after all.
Love it or hate it, this seems to have everyone captivated. People were too quick to criticise it after one episode (spot of ITV bashing perhaps?), but gradually everyone has realised how interesting and fun and enjoyable it is..
Comment by swelka — September 24, 2008 @ 6:58 am
It got better after one. Episode one had a bit of limb and twee start, but once two got under way, and dare I say it, once Wickham, Collins, and Caroline started producing their moneys worth, it became absolutely entertaining.
Comment by Mary — September 24, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
I’m still not entertained. Episode 3 was boring.
Comment by Sylwia — September 24, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
@swelka
>but gradually everyone has realised how interesting and fun and enjoyable it is.
Everyone??? I found the first episode the most fun, but it’s gradually getting less and less enjoyable. The third episode was really boring.
Comment by Reeba — September 24, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Well said Reeba!!! To say everyone is too much. Though I said that I found the 3rd one funny not the other ones which were not so, IMHO the 2nd one was disgusting in particular whenever this Collins was on screen, so the jury is still out about IF the whole is fun and enjoyable, swelka. Things will be decided in the next hours/days.
Comment by Cinthia — September 24, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Yup, certainly not everyone!
Like Reeba, I found the 3rd episode a real yawner (the only thing I found funny was the pond scene). I can think of a bunch of adjectives I’ve used to talk about LIA, but captivating is not one of them.
Comment by Maria L. — September 24, 2008 @ 4:57 pm