I liked this... but why?

So... I did not love reading the actual book, but I did, however, enjoy watching these videos. I found myself completely captivated and entertained by the progression of things and seeing all of the modern twists they put on the classic story. I think the characters are portrayed well, but I feel like there is just SO much drama, like a whole mess of drama all the time and its exhausting.
There were a few things I did not enjoy too much though, 1. every five minutes having to wait for it to cue up the next video along with ads, and 2. the other videos that branch from this (Lydia's videos, Charlottes sister's videos, etc).  I did find quite a few times difficult to watch because they were over dramatic, and I simply was getting annoyed by it. For example, episode 87... while I understand the gravity of the situation that Lydia is in and that it is a very hard time, I think the acting and such was a tad over the top.
Also, side note: in episode 4 Lizzie says that her mom was freaking out and then mentions that she wonders how many videos will start like that, and let me tell you, its none. Yes, her mom freaking out is mentioned other times, but no other video ever starts on that note.

America Still Loves its Outdated Values Concerning Gender & Socioeconomics

This series had me from the beginning point of printing "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" on a t-shirt. Albeit, that quote is probably already printed on many t-shirts around the world anyway, but the presumption that it was their *mother* who put it on the shirt was incredibly hilarious to me, and was largely representative of mothers who still act like this! In the twenty-first century! Still increasingly concerned with whether or not their daughters are single! Ah!

But what was most impressive to me about this vlog series is that it answered the questions that many of us probably ask ourselves while reading classic literature: Are these problems in this novel still relevant today? If this story were in a modern setting, how would it look? Would it be silly? Would it be serious? Would it even work? LBD answered all of those questions for Pride and Prejudice. While this series had a much sillier tone than the classic novel (as it should, since it's literally a series made of vlogs) it still had impactful emotional moments and thorough plot points in-between all of the kind of cringy acting. Lizzie and Lydia were hilariously at VidCon when they meet Mr. Collins, Lizzie (a modern working woman) shadows at Mr. Darcy's communications company--the series presented major plot points in these modern, relatable settings, and it not only worked--but it was entertaining and probably much easier for a modern audience to understand. The plot of Pride and Prejudice was proven by this series to still be largely relevant: Mothers still trying to control their daughters and their romantic lives, the confusing lines and mixed communication that can happen between romantic partners and even family, and both not having to sacrifice your identity for a potential partner, while also having them inspire you to become a better version of yourself.

We try to act like we are past the many dated conceptions that Pride and Prejudice presents to us in its story. But LBD proved that really, we are not, but rather far from it.

Thoroughly enjoyed meta moments like this one that were sprinkled throughout the series!

Money money money

One thing I really appreciate about the series "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" is the way that the economics translated into contemporary times. The role of money in relationships is (obviously) still important; despite that we pretend that we're past socio-economic status playing a role in choosing a partner, it is still a huge factor. If anything, the novel was more honest than we are today. But that got me wondering: which of Lizzie's biases (in both the book and the series) are influenced by her perceptions of wealth? It's easy to see the ways in which Darcy is influenced by economic biases, but what about Lizzie? How much of her biases against the wealthy are more difficult to extract because most of the viewers (and readers) were much closer to her status than to Darcy's?

Status and Wealth in Pride and Prejudice

While we all know that Austen is writing Pride and Prejudice to be set in late-1700s early-1800s England and things were very different then, I still couldn't help but notice the very obvious focus on status and wealth. As I said, because this theme is so obvious, I want to delve a little deeper into the character of Elizabeth Bennet and how she perceives status.

In the very beginning, it seemed as if Elizabeth wasn't too caught up in trying to find a wealthy husband, even though she practically had to in order to stay "relevant" in society. Seeing as her father wasn't an incredibly wealthy man and wouldn't be able to leave his estate to his daughters, marrying rich really was the only option for the Bennet girls. However, while Elizabeth thought very highly of Mr. Bingley, she wasn't enthralled with the fact that he was rich. She simply respected the fact that he was a true gentleman, and later, that he treated Jane well.

If Lizzy really did care about status and wealth, she would have accepted Mr. Collins's proposal of marriage. She, however, responded with: "I am very sensible of the honour of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them" (77). At this point, I figured Lizzy was a romantic and really just wanted to find someone she actually had feelings for (i.e. Mr. Darcy), but when she visited Pemberley, my entire opinion of her shifted.

While I believe Elizabeth's change in heart did not derive directly from seeing the grounds at Pemberley, I do think that the setting certainly didn't hurt. The kind words from Mrs. Reynolds the housekeeper definitely made Mr. Darcy seem much more marketable to Elizabeth, and while walking the grounds, she started to picture herself as the mistress of Pemberley. While of course she also wanted to get back at Miss Bingley and make her feel badly about her own feelings for Darcy, I believe Elizabeth may not have had such strong feelings for him if she hadn't visited the estate.

If all of that had happened at Longbourn, would she have felt the same way, or was it the air of wealth and success of Pemberley that pushed her affection along?

Image from giphy.com