Pride and Prejudice fans urged to watch 'captivating' Jane Austen period drama

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

The period drama series is a hidden gem worth watching
Are you a die-hard fan of Jane Austen adaptations but think you've seen them all? Think again, because there's one gem that might have escaped your notice.
Airing back in 2008 on ITV, this four-part limited series offers a unique twist on the classic Pride and Prejudice tale, reports the Express.
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Armchair critics and fans on IMDb have been heaping praise on the miniseries. One user left a glowing 10/10 rating, saying: "I am utterly captivated by this refreshing take on Austen. I used to love romantic periodical novels when much younger, but they have since fallen out of favour with me, as they are all so alike. Here I am quite unaware, as of yet, what may happen and I absolutely adore the suspense.
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"The actors are well chosen for their task and I am quickly falling in love with them one by one. I never thought I would see Mr Bingley as adorable, but in this it is quite so."
Another enthusiast gave a perfect score too, commenting: "Three episodes in and I feel now is the time to say a big well done to all concerned. As a long time Austen lover and a fan of period/costume drama I was unsure what to expect from this reworking of a favourite story."
"As others have commented this bears similarities with 'Life on Mars', a person taken out of modern day life and deposited into the past, albeit Jane Austen's fictitious one."
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Meanwhile, another viewer remarked: "The mini series was absolutely sweet and funny and it will be appreciated by real Jane Austen fanatics.
"It does resemble the weirdest dream that only authors of fan fiction have had. At times the plot lines turn into silly situations but for most of the time they are quite enjoyable.
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"The young actors make the most of it. I wish response has been better so that the series can be longer."
A fourth viewer rated the programme a perfect 10/10, dubbing their review "Brilliant!".
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They penned: "I just watched the whole thing. I hadn't even realized it was a mini-series, I simply got the DVD from netflix and popped it in. It didn't offer me the option to select episodes, it just played the whole thing as one big movie.
"One big, wonderful, delightful film! I haven't enjoyed a film this much in years. It was a complete treat. I love Pride & Prejudice; I've read the book, and seen most (maybe all? ) of the screen adaptations, some multiple times.
"And I'm usually a bit of a purist, but I thought this might be fun, so I gave it a try. It well exceeded my expectations. I'm still aglow with enjoyment [sic]."
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Lost in Austen is a cheeky homage to the celebrated author and her best-known novel Pride and Prejudice.
The show trails self-confessed Jane Austen enthusiast Amanda Price (portrayed by Jemima Rooper) residing in modern London during the Noughties.
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After a less than impressive proposal from her boyfriend, involving a makeshift wedding ring made from a can ring pull, Amanda finds herself mysteriously swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet (Gemma Arterton) and landing in the world of Pride and Prejudice through a door in her bathroom.
Amanda's sudden arrival quickly throws the novel's events into chaos, as she frantically tries to steer the plot back on track.
During Amanda's escapades, she encounters Mr Darcy (Elliot Cowan), with the pair initially butting heads before sparks begin to fly.
Lost In Austen boasts a star-studded cast, including Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville as Mr Bennet, Doctor Who's Alex Kingston as Mrs Bennet, Grantchester's Morven Christie as Jane Bennet, Suits actress Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley, and Tom Mison from Apple TV+'s See as Mr Bingley, among others.
Additional casting includes Lindsay Duncan as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Guy Henry as Mr. William Collins, Michelle Duncan as Charlotte Lucas, Ruby Bentall as Mary Bennet, Pippa Haywood as Frankie, Amanda's mother, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Pirhana, Amanda's friend, Daniel Percival as Michael Dolan, Amanda's boyfriend, and Genevieve Gaunt as Georgiana Darcy.