After the mixed ratings, I didn't expect too much and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, while the Kate Beckinsale version still is firmly my favourite, this one is definitely worth watching and rewatching and probably my next favourite adaptation after the one with Beckinsale (I thought the miniseries with Romola Garai beautifully filmed but in the end strangely forgettable; I do like Emma Approved but it obviously stands apart as a modern-day reimagining).
There are, I admit, some major negatives: 1) The over-the-top comic moments, such as loud squealing and yelling. It isn't funny, just annoying. 2) Frank and Jane are sidelined completely, so there is almost nothing of the ship tease between Emma and Frank or of Emma's envy of Jane. 3) Isabella. Oh dear, Isabella. First Emma Approved turns John abusive, and now this adaptation goes the other way and turn Isabella into a cartoonish parody of Mrs. Bennet. I understand the need to flesh out their characters, but it surely can be done without turning them unnecessarily villainous. 4) Johnny Flynn gives a generally good portrayal of Mr. Knightley, but: a) his character is way too hysterical in most of the dramatic moments; b) the stripping scene. It's not just that it was entirely gratuitous. There's simply a thing called an establishing character moment. In the 1997 ITV adaptation, the first we see of Mr. Knightley is him greeting a servant like a friend and asking about his family. Here, the first we see of Mr. Knightley is him being undressed by servants whose presence he doesn't even acknowledge.
And now for the positives: 1) Emma's actress. Anya Taylor-Joy utterly nails it, managing to capture all the many sides of Emma's nature and her character development. 2) Harriet actually seeing that Emma loves Mr. Knightley herself and calling her out on her actions. Quite refreshing for a character who usually behaves like a sheep ready to be led wherever offered. 3) Emma apologising to Robert Martin in person (she insists on doing it herself instead of delegating the task to Mr. Knightley!) and giving him her sketch of Harriet. This was a really sweet idea. 4) Emma and Harriet's friendship as a whole. For once, it felt more like a genuine friendship than merely like Emma patronising her new project. 5) The romance arcs of Mr. Knightley/Emma and Robert/Harriet. In my opinion, both of them were depicted very charmingly. 6) In particular: Mr. Knightley and Emma stealing a moment to be alone together by hiding behind a screen on the pretext of hiding from drafts. Aw. 7) The costuming and the scenery, both gorgeous.
There are, I admit, some major negatives: 1) The over-the-top comic moments, such as loud squealing and yelling. It isn't funny, just annoying. 2) Frank and Jane are sidelined completely, so there is almost nothing of the ship tease between Emma and Frank or of Emma's envy of Jane. 3) Isabella. Oh dear, Isabella. First Emma Approved turns John abusive, and now this adaptation goes the other way and turn Isabella into a cartoonish parody of Mrs. Bennet. I understand the need to flesh out their characters, but it surely can be done without turning them unnecessarily villainous. 4) Johnny Flynn gives a generally good portrayal of Mr. Knightley, but: a) his character is way too hysterical in most of the dramatic moments; b) the stripping scene. It's not just that it was entirely gratuitous. There's simply a thing called an establishing character moment. In the 1997 ITV adaptation, the first we see of Mr. Knightley is him greeting a servant like a friend and asking about his family. Here, the first we see of Mr. Knightley is him being undressed by servants whose presence he doesn't even acknowledge.
And now for the positives: 1) Emma's actress. Anya Taylor-Joy utterly nails it, managing to capture all the many sides of Emma's nature and her character development. 2) Harriet actually seeing that Emma loves Mr. Knightley herself and calling her out on her actions. Quite refreshing for a character who usually behaves like a sheep ready to be led wherever offered. 3) Emma apologising to Robert Martin in person (she insists on doing it herself instead of delegating the task to Mr. Knightley!) and giving him her sketch of Harriet. This was a really sweet idea. 4) Emma and Harriet's friendship as a whole. For once, it felt more like a genuine friendship than merely like Emma patronising her new project. 5) The romance arcs of Mr. Knightley/Emma and Robert/Harriet. In my opinion, both of them were depicted very charmingly. 6) In particular: Mr. Knightley and Emma stealing a moment to be alone together by hiding behind a screen on the pretext of hiding from drafts. Aw. 7) The costuming and the scenery, both gorgeous.
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