Episode two of Lost in Austen, the new ITV television time travel twister mini-series of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice aired last week in the UK. It continues to make me laugh, and I am drawn into the creative story even though there are so many Austen blunders and inaccuracies to the novel. Honestly, I think that is the point. Since the main character Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) has been transported from 2008 to Regency times and thrown into the storyline of the novel, the fact that she is even there has changed the book’s plot. Even though she attempts to keep the story on track according to the book, it will continue to be off kilter, and that is what makes it so funny and enjoyable.
The historical and novel discrepancies continue and while Charles Bingley’s (Tom Mison) line about punting from the Cambridge end really made me laugh out loud, I doubt that the term was in use in the early 1800’s. There are even puzzling questions about the heroine Amanda Price living in her new Regency era world. Last week we saw her dawn period appropriate dress, but insist that she maintain control over her 2008 styled sleek hairdo which honestly looks like it would take a bit of styling product and at least a blow dryer to maintain. She continues to look like she just walked out of a salon. Hmm? In addition, since we know she is a smoker and out of cigs, she must have the DT’s by now! She may have to resort to smoking snuff. And I still keep waiting for her to be a bit smarter about her new environment since she has read the book so many times and knows all the details. Oh well, maybe she will evolve emotionally and get smarter as the plot moves along, but I doubt it. It would take away the imbalance and much of the comedy I fear.
I decided to give Lost in Austen the ultimate test run with my twenty something niece who adores Pride and Prejudice 1995, but has not been able to finish the novel yet because of the challenge with the language. I know, I should help her out with that and promised to get her a footnoted edition of P&P and coach her along. Anyway, she absolutely loved Lost in Austen and is totally addicted quizzing me on when the next episode will air. So, gentle Austen readers, a new generation of Austenites are being born from this series, some of which might actually read the book one day. I think that is great news.
Back to Lost in Austen. My favorite scene of episode two was the introduction of Mr. Collins to the Bennet ladies. Here are a few screen shots and some classic reactions. Enjoy until next week. Oh, and a question for any of you Limies across the pond. Do bank clerks really make £27,000 a year in England? Geesh, if so that’s $64,000 US and that is a great wage for the work. If other professions pay as well, I’m moving to England tomorrow, which I know would be pure punishment for this Janeite to live in the land of Austen.
Mrs. Bennet (Alex Kingston) arrives home to learn that a guest has arrived at Longbourn
The Bennet girls are as intrigued to meet the mysterious cousin as their mother is
Mrs. Bennet’s in introduced to Mr. Collins
The odious man himself, Mr. Collins (Guy Henry)
Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) knows what coming, but is still repulsed!
Mr. Collins smells his fingers. But where have they been?
Mary Bennet (Ruby Bentall) is dumfounded as her sisters also look on in horror
A Regency huddle and pep talk by Mrs. Bennet for team Bennet. One of you MUST marry him! Who will be the sacrificial lamb to slaughter?
Further reading
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Lost in Austen: Episode Two at AustenBlog
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Lost in Austen, A Review of the Movie, Episode 2: Amanda’s Zany Journey Through the Land of Pride and Prejudice Continues at Jane Austen’s World
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Lost in Austen Recap: Episode Two at Popwatch
Hah, loved your review. Those reaction shots are priceless. Vic
[...] Lost in Austen, Episode 2 Review on Austenprose [...]
I agree ‘Lost in Austen’ is hilarious but I got slightly annoyed when Bingley did absolutely nothing to stop Jane marrying Mr Collins.
Oh and apparently you can earn £27,000 a year as a bank clerk!
I’ve really enjoyed the first couple of episodes, but found it unconvincing that Amanda only approached Bingley after Jane had married Collins. Why would she remonstrate with him after the fact when she had no reason to hang back? I’ve written more about the series on my blog:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thecultureshow
Also, I hate to disillusion you about the UK, but I think that £27,000 would be the rate for a somebody who had been in the job for a while. A starting salary would be quite a bit lower than that, and I think it’s a while since you converted any money: the figure is $49,000 rather than $64,000.
Thanks for the input on salaries Ellen. i will head over to your blog and read your comments, Thanks, Laurel Ann
[...] And the ongoing saga of “Lost in Austen” and the many reviews and opinions thereof: see Austenblog for its usual candid round-up of comments, and also today for Episode 3, and Jane Austen’s World Blog for a nice review of Episode 2, and another review at Austenprose. [...]
A far more candid round-up than the Wikipedia section on ‘critical reception’:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_In_Austen#Critical_reception
[...] the dish at AustenBlog. You can read reviews of Episode 2 at Jane Austen’s World, & Austenprose. This critic gives it a thumbs up, but needs to use another first line phrase to open her article, [...]
[...] Lost in Austen Episode Two at Austenprose [...]
[...] my review of episode one, episode two, and episode [...]