It started one night when I had nothing to do.
I saw the link innocently enough; it popped up as a wall post between two different friends on that obnoxious feed of irrelevant information Facebook gives you about other people’s lives.
It was late, I was really bored…What harm could come from watching just one video?
There I was, in my dark room lit only by the glow of the computer screen when my roommate came bursting in to say hello. I had been caught! I wasn’t sure if it was weird, if I should be ashamed, so I slammed the screen shut and tried to act normal.
But the next night, I went back for more. And this time I shared it with my roommate.
“So there’s this vlog style adaptation of Pride & Prejudice on YouTube…”
I was talking, of course, about “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,” a labor of love by Hank Green and Bernie Su that started off as a hopeful experiment in web series and turned into so much more. It is a modern American adaptation of Austen’s Pride & Prejudice set somewhere in California and done in the format of Lizzie (Elizabeth Bennet, that is) running her own vlog. It sounds crazy. But it works. They’ve reimagined situations and characters from the original so that they make sense in a 2012-2013 context and the results are captivating.
At the time I started watching, the show was only about twelve episodes in so it didn’t take any time at all to catch up. I wasn’t sure if it was silly or the next big thing, but I liked it. At first I would only remember to watch once in a while, and with episodes airing twice a week I would usually have a nice chunk of 4-6 minute videos to watch at a time. It was fun, I love Pride & Prejudice and I thought the cast was excellent–it wasn’t serious, just a nice bit of extra entertainment. Finally, a show I could casually enjoy.
Then shit started to get real. Bing Lee (Bingley) left Jane. Douche bag Wickham arrived on scene with his abs and his stupid “Peach” endearments. I began to remember far more often to watch, and subsequently never had many episodes to catch-up on.
Darcy Day was when it was all over for me. From the moment the man himself finally appeared on screen, my weeks revolved around the 9a.m. PST Mon/Thurs upload schedule. The days in between were a purgatory of waiting. I stalked character AND actor twitters for information. I was fully obsessed with “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.”
And I was not alone.
The gif sets are plentiful. The interviews many. And the cast and crew? They LOVE to torment interact with the fans. I even have a group thread going on my phone with about seven friends entitled “LBD Support Group.” It gets messy in there, ya’ll. Lots of tears and professions of “I QUIT” and “DO NOT WANT” and “SHUT YOUR UGLY DUMPTRUCK FACE.”*
Possibly the best part about the LBD experience is the interaction between fans and cast/crew. Think about the show/movie you are most obsessed with—got it? Now imagine that you tweet at the actor and they respond or favorite what you’ve said, or re-blog you? Imagine the directors and writers give subtle shout-outs to you, the fans, in their work? Are you hyperventilating yet?
(Heck, @TheAshleyClem tweeted @Thats_normal once and I lost it.)
Do yourself a favor, and watch “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.” The show will end on March 28th and you will not want to miss being a part of it as it finishes unfolding. The videos are short which means you can easily catch up in a few days (or a whirlwind night if you operate anything like me.)
Here are your essential reasons to watch The LBD:
1.) It’s Pride & Prejudice with updated style, hot boys, a huge emphasis on female empowerment and really hilarious facial expressions.
2.) If you love it, you too can torture yourself by interacting with the cast & crew. One time Laura Spencer (Jane) told my friends and I that we won at life. I still have a bounce in my step from it.
3.) Because Darcy is Tall. Because it’s super important. Because it’s decent enough. Because of the adorbs.**
4.) Seriously, the cast. They are attractive, hilarious and very good friends. It’s fun to watch their twitter and instagram interactions.
(All dressed up for the prom Streamy Awards.)
Here is your ultimate watchers guide. This will take you chronologically through character twitter conversations and companion videos that really really enhance the original blogs themselves. It’s a lot, but at the least watch the videos themselves, all available on YouTube, starting with the video below! I also really encourage you to watch The Lydia Bennet spin-off, as it becomes very integral to the way they translate the fall of Lydia for modern day.
Ok, go, watch, and then tell me all your feels!
*Something the fabulous Ashley Clements herself once said in a tweet to Daniel Gordh (Darcy).
**Yes these are all references to the show. Let your frustration with the obscurity guide you to go watch so you can understand.
Disclaimer: This show will eventually tear into your chest, rip out your heart and stomp on it. No big deal.
Written by Kate
Kate’s current obsessions: Parks & Rec. Salted caramels from Trader Joe’s. “The Sea of Tranquility.” Pitch Perfect. Boloco burritos. Trying to make The Lydia Bennet’s “Whaaaat” a thing. Twinkle lights. Dark & Stormys. Jennifer Lawrence.