Tonight I finally got around to watching part one of the new adaptation of the Emma that is airing on PBS. After the disastrous Austen adaptations we were subjected to in early 2008, my expectations for this adaptation were very low. But one of the advantages of low expectations, is that it’s easier to enjoy something.
Emma and Knightley
I was pleasantly surprised and liked much of the show. That’s not to say it’s perfect, for starters somebody should have told Romola Garai to stand up straight…Emma’s genteel, not a heffalump (I borrow from an AustenBlog comment) and Miss Bates should be such fun…but is rather flat. But mostly, there are too many modern expressions, both verbal and vocal. I think I actually heard a “no way.” I just can’t picture Jane Austen saying or writing “no way.” And as always, there are odd little changes…why does Frank Churchill show up in Highgrove, but not go see his father? Then he lies to Emma about it; what has that added? However, the costumes and sets are wonderful and enhance the overall ennui of the show.
But somehow I never felt emotionally attached…I’m not sure yet if that’s because I was interrupted a lot while watching or truly the fault of the show. I think more of the show. For example, there should have been great shock in Mr. Elton’s behavior in the carriage ride, but Emma’s brother-in-law blows this because they’ve given him a bigger roll and he spills the beans. Why lose the drama and humor of his proposal by having a minor character warn Emma? In general, it’s a pleasant showing, but is bland and a bit flat.
This adaptation is the longest Emma adaptation at four hours, so here’s hoping it doesn’t implode during part two. In March of 2008 I liked the first half of the BBC’s new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, but part two went downhill. For more information about the BBC’s Emma adaptation, visit this PBS website. Currently, part one of Emma is available on the PBS website to view online.
*Oh, and PBS’s previews show a new adaptation of The 39 Steps. I wonder if it will follow the book or the screenplay for Hitchcock’s movie. I prefer the movie. This will air Feb. 28 and I think it’s going to star Rupert Penry-Jones, who was decent in Spooks/MI-5, but monotonous in Persuasion.