Meh. I'm getting tired of the show being all about Lydia. I don't think the updating preserved one of the key points about the original in that Lydia was utterly happy with her ruination because she was pursuing what she wanted and believed she had it. Of course, she didn't and wouldn't without Darcy's intervention, but this storyline just seems to beat up on Lizzie - it's all HER fault! - while providing Lydia with lots of opportunity to wail and feel awful.
Note: I don't dispute the characters' responses in regards to this storyline but the whole storyline is what's really lost me. It feels as if it isn't a P&P update anymore but something utterly different. Where we have this whole meta-Lydia commenting on how the viewers hate her for breaking up Lizzie and Darcy? We've lost the dramatic element of their storyline right there!
I was going to say something to this effect, only probably a lot more whiny and shallow-fangirl-y, but I'm going to be a lazy bum and just go: (http://s169.beta.photobucket.com/user/wirehangers/media/dweleven_zps4b86a924.jpg.html)
I completely agree with what you've said. This part of the storyline is, well... less than interesting. I was riveted by the Pemberley arc, and desperate for updates even when Darcy didn't appear (I wish they'd devoted more time to that part of the story) but the last few eps...
I'll be honest, part of me feels really indifferent about it. I know this part of the story is integral to the plot, but I'm not sure if it's the way it's handled or what it is, but it's kind of dull. I think part of the problem is with all the additional media, so even if you're not familiar with the book, you're just waiting for Darcy to solve everything. It sort of invalidates all the angst the girls are going through.
I'm not sure why Wickham would put a two week timer on the video, anyway. If it's only available to subscribers, then why would the date matter? Wouldn't he air it right away and continue to build subscriptions? The wait doesn't make any sense.
The acting has been fantastic, though. I want to make it clear that for all my negativity, none of it is directed towards the actresses. They've been doing a brilliant bringing these characters to life and showing their emotional pain.
"Lydia" especially was brilliant today. Honestly, this is the first time (in any version) that I've felt any sympathy for her character whatsoever. That said... she's still a self-involved little bitch. Harsh, yes, and understandable given the current situation, but nonetheless true. Even with her brief mentions of others, she still showed no consideration for anyone else. Jane lost her job - that didn't even get a mention - while Lizzie could have problems finishing her degree because she dropped everything and rushed home for her sister.
None of that came up. Lydia was, as usual, all about Lydia. I don't think she deserved what's happening at all, but I do think she brought it on herself. George is a bastard, but his actions are his own - Lydia played a very willing (and selfish and stupid) part in it too. Lizzie may have called her a slut, but it was Lydia's actions that made it true, and nothing that she's said or done since then has made those words untrue in anyway. She refused help when it was offered, she mocked anyone who tried, she isolated herself, went after her sister's boyfriend (she was flirting with Wickham even when he and Lizzie were supposedly a thing)...
Nothing she said today changed any of that. Lydia is still all about Lydia. The way she mentioned viewer comments of the last couple of videos proves that. She'd obviously taken the time to read what everyone was saying about her, and she still focused on herself rather than how she'd affected Lizzie or anyone else.
I hate how it's become the "Dump on Lizzie" show. Her only part in this was to predict that all her worst fears about her sister would come true. Lydia's obviously not doing anything to try to stop the situation, she's just wallowing in her stupidity.
I don't think she deserved what's happening at all, but I do think she brought it on herself.
I don't know if that's entirely fair. It's fine that you're not a fan of the arc, or the way it's been handled, but to say that she brought it on herself by being selfish and stupid? How? The whole point of Monday's episode was to show that Lydia recognized her part in this, felt guilty for it, but that the blame of the scandal lay entirely on Wickham. George manipulated her-- just like he'd manipulated Gigi and Lizzie to some extent (both of whom are characterized as smart, responsible women, so I don't see how it makes Lydia stupid for falling for the same ploy that her sister did).
I don't think she showed a lack of consideration for her sisters or was especially self-involved in this episode, especially since she mentioned she felt guilty for "ruining their lives" and the majority of repercussions of this horrible situation affected her personally. Lizzie and Jane both chose to come home, knowing that it would jeopardize their school and job situations, and up until this point Lydia wasn't even ready to start accepting her sisters' support.
Lizzie may have called her a slut, but it was Lydia's actions that made it true, and nothing that she's said or done since then has made those words untrue in anyway.
I wholeheartedly disagree. Yes, we've heard of Lydia looking for boys to mack on, but we've heard absolutely nothing about her having sex with any of them. In fact, we had proof that she and Wickham had waited a few weeks before having sex. At one point in her videos, Lydia admits (in regards to the drugs that she'd stolen when she was babysitting) that she wasn't nearly as much of a party girl as everyone thought. That she liked to have fun but wasn't "crazy."
Additionally, I don't see how making a sex tape with someone you're in an established relationship with is slutty in any way. George was her boyfriend, she believed they were in love-- if she hadn't been manipulated into consenting to the tape, would it still have been slutty for her to do so? It wasn't Lydia's party girl tendencies that got her into this mess, it was her insecurity that George exploited.
Lizzie may have called her a slut, but it was Lydia's actions that made it true, and nothing that she's said or done since then has made those words untrue in anyway.
I wholeheartedly disagree. Yes, we've heard of Lydia looking for boys to mack on, but we've heard absolutely nothing about her having sex with any of them. In fact, we had proof that she and Wickham had waited a few weeks before having sex. At one point in her videos, Lydia admits (in regards to the drugs that she'd stolen when she was babysitting) that she wasn't nearly as much of a party girl as everyone thought. That she liked to have fun but wasn't "crazy."
*thumbs up* One of the reasons I was so annoyed that the writers choose to go a sex tape route with Lydia was that it ties into all these cultural ideas about purity and 'how much sex good women have.' EVEN IF Lydia was EXACTLY as much of a party girl as she presented herself, why is that so wrong? Why is it so awful for her to choose to just have casual sex with dudes? It doesn't matter how many people she fucked, she only consented to being filmed because she was manipulated into it, she CERTAINLY didn't say yes to putting it up on the interent.
Additionally, I don't see how making a sex tape with someone you're in an established relationship with is slutty in any way. George was her boyfriend, she believed they were in love-- if she hadn't been manipulated into consenting to the tape, would it still have been slutty for her to do so?
My answer is 'fuck no.'
I don't think she showed a lack of consideration for her sisters or was especially self-involved in this episode, especially since she mentioned she felt guilty for "ruining their lives" and the majority of repercussions of this horrible situation affected her personally. Lizzie and Jane both chose to come home, knowing that it would jeopardize their school and job situations, and up until this point Lydia wasn't even ready to start accepting her sisters' support.
*nods* And again, this is one of those places where I really wished that the show had decided to go with something medical, where it feels more believable that Jane would really need to be at home.
It doesn't matter how many people she fucked, she only consented to being filmed because she was manipulated into it, she CERTAINLY didn't say yes to putting it up on the internet.
I completely agree. Honestly this was my biggest complaint with Lydia's story arc: the fact that they were clearly attempting to tie in her party girl behavior as some sort of catalyst for this crucial plot twist. From what I've seen, none of Lydia's party girl antics directly led to her being manipulated by George-- she was an easy target for him because she was insecure, not because of her partying habits. The stigma that clings to women who like to party often has always really bothered me-- Lydia likes to party. She likes to get drunk and flirt with guys. We have zero evidence of her being unsafe in any of those situations, even in Lizzie's biased observations.
I do like the fact that they wanted to keep the scandal sexual in some way, like the way it was in the book, but you're right-- medical drama (like an overdose or something similar) would have been much more believable in this case, and in my opinion, you'd be able to place more of the blame on Lydia's carelessness, which I think is what the writers had originally intended on doing.
She likes to get drunk and flirt with guys. We have zero evidence of her being unsafe in any of those situations, even in Lizzie's biased observations.
I think we have one line that implied Lydia wasn't good about using protection, but yeah, there is this general disapproval of her choice to party that's problematic.
I do like the fact that they wanted to keep the scandal sexual in some way, like the way it was in the book, but you're right-- medical drama (like an overdose or something similar) would have been much more believable in this case, and in my opinion, you'd be able to place more of the blame on Lydia's carelessness, which I think is what the writers had originally intended on doing.
I don't think the updating preserved one of the key points about the original in that Lydia was utterly happy with her ruination because she was pursuing what she wanted and believed she had it.
I have my problems with how the Lydia arc is playing out, but I think it was clear from the beginning of the show, that having Lydia be oblivious to Wickham's true face and end up happy wasn't going to happen. It worked in the novel because Lizzie wasn't close to Lydia - it doesn't play the same way when the sisters are as close as the LBD sisters are, imho.
I really disliked this update on the Lizzie Bennett Diaries. Obviously the sense of helplessness that all the girls feel at wondering how to be of a comfort to each other and Lydia's emotions make logical sense. But... I think with the format- the short installments that are spread over days and weeks- as opposed to the much more succinct, and distant writing style of this section in the book (which is largely exposition in this section) makes a difference. It feels depressing and repetitive to watch. Also- the meta-moment where Lydia mentions all the viewer comments seems oddly out of place, as if the writers of the series are yelling at their viewers for interpreting it wrongly.
I am rather enjoying the Gigi supplimentary videos. They don't really add all that much to the story, but she, even though upset too, is still fun and interesting to watch.
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Note: I don't dispute the characters' responses in regards to this storyline but the whole storyline is what's really lost me. It feels as if it isn't a P&P update anymore but something utterly different. Where we have this whole meta-Lydia commenting on how the viewers hate her for breaking up Lizzie and Darcy? We've lost the dramatic element of their storyline right there!
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I'll be honest, part of me feels really indifferent about it. I know this part of the story is integral to the plot, but I'm not sure if it's the way it's handled or what it is, but it's kind of dull. I think part of the problem is with all the additional media, so even if you're not familiar with the book, you're just waiting for Darcy to solve everything. It sort of invalidates all the angst the girls are going through.
I'm not sure why Wickham would put a two week timer on the video, anyway. If it's only available to subscribers, then why would the date matter? Wouldn't he air it right away and continue to build subscriptions? The wait doesn't make any sense.
The acting has been fantastic, though. I want to make it clear that for all my negativity, none of it is directed towards the actresses. They've been doing a brilliant bringing these characters to life and showing their emotional pain.
"Lydia" especially was brilliant today. Honestly, this is the first time (in any version) that I've felt any sympathy for her character whatsoever. That said... she's still a self-involved little bitch. Harsh, yes, and understandable given the current situation, but nonetheless true. Even with her brief mentions of others, she still showed no consideration for anyone else. Jane lost her job - that didn't even get a mention - while Lizzie could have problems finishing her degree because she dropped everything and rushed home for her sister.
None of that came up. Lydia was, as usual, all about Lydia. I don't think she deserved what's happening at all, but I do think she brought it on herself. George is a bastard, but his actions are his own - Lydia played a very willing (and selfish and stupid) part in it too. Lizzie may have called her a slut, but it was Lydia's actions that made it true, and nothing that she's said or done since then has made those words untrue in anyway. She refused help when it was offered, she mocked anyone who tried, she isolated herself, went after her sister's boyfriend (she was flirting with Wickham even when he and Lizzie were supposedly a thing)...
Nothing she said today changed any of that. Lydia is still all about Lydia. The way she mentioned viewer comments of the last couple of videos proves that. She'd obviously taken the time to read what everyone was saying about her, and she still focused on herself rather than how she'd affected Lizzie or anyone else.
I hate how it's become the "Dump on Lizzie" show. Her only part in this was to predict that all her worst fears about her sister would come true. Lydia's obviously not doing anything to try to stop the situation, she's just wallowing in her stupidity.
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I don't know if that's entirely fair. It's fine that you're not a fan of the arc, or the way it's been handled, but to say that she brought it on herself by being selfish and stupid? How? The whole point of Monday's episode was to show that Lydia recognized her part in this, felt guilty for it, but that the blame of the scandal lay entirely on Wickham. George manipulated her-- just like he'd manipulated Gigi and Lizzie to some extent (both of whom are characterized as smart, responsible women, so I don't see how it makes Lydia stupid for falling for the same ploy that her sister did).
I don't think she showed a lack of consideration for her sisters or was especially self-involved in this episode, especially since she mentioned she felt guilty for "ruining their lives" and the majority of repercussions of this horrible situation affected her personally. Lizzie and Jane both chose to come home, knowing that it would jeopardize their school and job situations, and up until this point Lydia wasn't even ready to start accepting her sisters' support.
Lizzie may have called her a slut, but it was Lydia's actions that made it true, and nothing that she's said or done since then has made those words untrue in anyway.
I wholeheartedly disagree. Yes, we've heard of Lydia looking for boys to mack on, but we've heard absolutely nothing about her having sex with any of them. In fact, we had proof that she and Wickham had waited a few weeks before having sex. At one point in her videos, Lydia admits (in regards to the drugs that she'd stolen when she was babysitting) that she wasn't nearly as much of a party girl as everyone thought. That she liked to have fun but wasn't "crazy."
Additionally, I don't see how making a sex tape with someone you're in an established relationship with is slutty in any way. George was her boyfriend, she believed they were in love-- if she hadn't been manipulated into consenting to the tape, would it still have been slutty for her to do so? It wasn't Lydia's party girl tendencies that got her into this mess, it was her insecurity that George exploited.
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I wholeheartedly disagree. Yes, we've heard of Lydia looking for boys to mack on, but we've heard absolutely nothing about her having sex with any of them. In fact, we had proof that she and Wickham had waited a few weeks before having sex. At one point in her videos, Lydia admits (in regards to the drugs that she'd stolen when she was babysitting) that she wasn't nearly as much of a party girl as everyone thought. That she liked to have fun but wasn't "crazy."
*thumbs up* One of the reasons I was so annoyed that the writers choose to go a sex tape route with Lydia was that it ties into all these cultural ideas about purity and 'how much sex good women have.' EVEN IF Lydia was EXACTLY as much of a party girl as she presented herself, why is that so wrong? Why is it so awful for her to choose to just have casual sex with dudes? It doesn't matter how many people she fucked, she only consented to being filmed because she was manipulated into it, she CERTAINLY didn't say yes to putting it up on the interent.
Additionally, I don't see how making a sex tape with someone you're in an established relationship with is slutty in any way. George was her boyfriend, she believed they were in love-- if she hadn't been manipulated into consenting to the tape, would it still have been slutty for her to do so?
My answer is 'fuck no.'
I don't think she showed a lack of consideration for her sisters or was especially self-involved in this episode, especially since she mentioned she felt guilty for "ruining their lives" and the majority of repercussions of this horrible situation affected her personally. Lizzie and Jane both chose to come home, knowing that it would jeopardize their school and job situations, and up until this point Lydia wasn't even ready to start accepting her sisters' support.
*nods* And again, this is one of those places where I really wished that the show had decided to go with something medical, where it feels more believable that Jane would really need to be at home.
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I completely agree. Honestly this was my biggest complaint with Lydia's story arc: the fact that they were clearly attempting to tie in her party girl behavior as some sort of catalyst for this crucial plot twist. From what I've seen, none of Lydia's party girl antics directly led to her being manipulated by George-- she was an easy target for him because she was insecure, not because of her partying habits. The stigma that clings to women who like to party often has always really bothered me-- Lydia likes to party. She likes to get drunk and flirt with guys. We have zero evidence of her being unsafe in any of those situations, even in Lizzie's biased observations.
I do like the fact that they wanted to keep the scandal sexual in some way, like the way it was in the book, but you're right-- medical drama (like an overdose or something similar) would have been much more believable in this case, and in my opinion, you'd be able to place more of the blame on Lydia's carelessness, which I think is what the writers had originally intended on doing.
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I think we have one line that implied Lydia wasn't good about using protection, but yeah, there is this general disapproval of her choice to party that's problematic.
I do like the fact that they wanted to keep the scandal sexual in some way, like the way it was in the book, but you're right-- medical drama (like an overdose or something similar) would have been much more believable in this case, and in my opinion, you'd be able to place more of the blame on Lydia's carelessness, which I think is what the writers had originally intended on doing.
That would have been SO much better.
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I have my problems with how the Lydia arc is playing out, but I think it was clear from the beginning of the show, that having Lydia be oblivious to Wickham's true face and end up happy wasn't going to happen. It worked in the novel because Lizzie wasn't close to Lydia - it doesn't play the same way when the sisters are as close as the LBD sisters are, imho.
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I am rather enjoying the Gigi supplimentary videos. They don't really add all that much to the story, but she, even though upset too, is still fun and interesting to watch.