rthstewart | DARCY DAY

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DARCY DAY

I can't stand it. I just have to post about this. Surely some of you are watching the LBDs. Yes, some of it does stretch credulity. But, I don't care. Like Sherlock Holmes, I love P&P in its many, many incarnations; all of them, whatever their flaws. Even the one with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier and the recycled Gone With the Wind sets and costuming. So many things about the LBD have been great: the multiracial look; the representation of Lydia that is compassionate and wrenching; increasing Caroline and Charlotte's roles; updating Charlotte's decision to "join" with Mr. Collins; the introduction of Fitz; the Enron folder; Ms. de Bourgh venture capitaltist; and Darcy as off-screen hipster.

And today, the LBD went there in a wonderful mash up of The Scene. You know the Scene. The LBD's both broke some new ground and yet also grounded the scene in the depictions we know so well, from book and screen.

"What videos?"

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I don't know, I'm not impressed by this Lydia. I can see her choosing a boy over her sisters, but I think you're right that she's better than the Lydia of the book. Because of the fact that I'm having a very hard time imagining a comparable modern-day scenario that would make Lydia both the stupid sap and at the same time complicit in something that could destroy her whole family (although she didn't seem to realize how serious it was... more stupidity and thoughtlessness than mean-spiritedness on her part, where as Wickham knew exactly what it would do to everyone involved and didn't care), I suspect she will be more the victim here. But that's a bit of a disappointment to me. I will be pleasantly surprised if they come up with something that makes her more complicit, but especially given today's climate, you don't want to go anywhere NEAR implying that a woman is somehow asking for any kind of sexual assault, so... yeah. I don't envy them that line to tread.

I kind of think we're going to hear straight from Darcy (since we see him in the preview for Monday) what the deal with Wickham and Gigi is, although you make a good point that it is hard to imagine they would put something like that out there on the INTERNET for the WORLD. Then again, I keep thinking that if this were real, it would be *awful* the amount of stuff she's putting out there (the way she makes fun of her mother, of Darcy, of anyone she has issues with... hell, how does Ricky Collins, who KNOWS about the videos, not get the things she says about him?) I think that's the one thing that bothers me about this conceit. It would work better if it was a private vlog that wasn't supposed to be going out to the world, then it would make more sense to include so many private moments, but maybe I'm just old, because I know young people often get into trouble for exactly that, and maybe that's part of the point of this updated version.

Yes, it'll be interesting to see what happens next as Darcy sees the videos. And I have to say, it's wonderful how they've managed to take a story we know well and know all the major plot points to and still make it suspenseful.

I agree about Darcy. I was struck with how, well, AWFUL he was. I was thinking, OMG, this guy can't act. And even Lizzie seemed to be "acting" more than usual. But knowing that that's the character they've set up for Darcy, very wooden and awkward in social situations (I wonder if they don't have a certain presidential candidate as a model) ;) it could well be quite intentional. The test will be at whatever equivalent they come up with for touring the house, where he was so charming. If we see him loosen up and be more charming, then we'll know it was intentional. I hope so. I even suspect so. I'd hate for them to not be able to sell the second most important character in the piece, especially after such a delay in us actually getting to see him for ourselves.

I have so many questions and fears and theories about Lydia but I think next episode, depending on what Darcy may or may not reveal about Gigi, we might have more of a direction where the Lydia thread might be going.

But I do think that Lydia is sincere when she says she won't actively go after Wickham because she cares more about her sisters. Otherwise she'd have gone out of her way to contact him already, I think. I don't think that is a line that they would put out there just to have Lydia knowingly do the completely opposite later on: not with this vision of Lydia anyway. Though the writers don't shy away from Lydia's vices, this is the most sympathetic portrayal of her ever seen in any adaptation. To have Lydia go completely against her own words on something like this is not something I think would happen. So I do think whatever happens, Lydia will be put in a less active role. Whether it is effective for what they are trying to do would depend on the solution they are after. I don't think marriage is the end game for Lydia in this adaptation. Or even for Lizzie. Maybe for Jane.

I've pondered from almost the beginning about how they would actually reveal Gigi's past with Wickham. Because we all see that it's not exactly something either Lizzie or Darcy would want to put on the internet. No matter how Darcy wants Lizzie to know about Wickham's nature, there's no reason for him to agree to it being posted online. So I do look forward to the next episode to see how they're doing this, and whether Lydia would actually watch this video and know about Wickham's true nature, or not, and how her knowledge or lack of contribute to her own story.

Re: Darcy. I would like to think that it was intentional,that Darcy rehearsed his speech and then everything just falls apart but he still tries to hold on to the control of the situation, and so comes across as robotic. We'll see with the next ep.

Actually, a lot hinges on the next episode come to think of it.

-Ruan Chun Xian

Though the writers don't shy away from Lydia's vices, this is the most sympathetic portrayal of her ever seen in any adaptation. To have Lydia go completely against her own words on something like this is not something I think would happen. I agree. Even more than her sort of shallowness and poor decisions, Lydia has been depicted as incredibly loving and devoted to her sisters. They even described her as like a big puppy and that characterization has been very consistent. Lydia is narcissistic and insecure and desperately wants love.

No matter how Darcy wants Lizzie to know about Wickham's nature, there's no reason for him to agree to it being posted online. So I do look forward to the next episode to see how they're doing this, and whether Lydia would actually watch this video and know about Wickham's true nature, or not, and how her knowledge or lack of contribute to her own story. I guess we'll find out on Monday. That's a good point about whether Lydia knows. A plot point of the book is that Lizzie and Darcy both feel real guilt for not publicizing what Wickham did to Georgiana. So, I'll be curious to see if they stick with that, which means not disclose it in the vlog out of respect for Gigi, and it only comes out later, after whatever Wickham does with/to Lydia.

Sometimes the pretext/4th wall disappears completely in this thing. The whole idea of Lizzie blogging some of these people and being so judgmental even about people like Catherine and Ricky who, even if Lizzie does not like herself, she would/could/should keep her opinions more moderated for Charlotte's sake. There were a few places in the dialogue of Ep 60 where I thought it was a bit too close to book and other adaptations and it came across more stilted. I think it's stronger when they use their own language.

Still, the emotions were real and yes, I agree that Darcy is really unlikable in this first meeting. I do hope that is acting and deliberate. They'd done so well with such a likeable cast so far, I hope that is the case. The actor does do comedy, I guess? I may have checked out his Twitter fee and imdb. Research you know.

But I agree that the change in persona is critical to making us like him and I hope we see it. I actually think that Darcy following Lizzie on Twitter is the first step - a recognition that I see what you said and who you are and that he will take her reprimands to heart. This means that, as Lizzie begins to change, we also see HER change of heart.

I (mostly) draw the line at following fictional characters -- not the actors. But this is where it gets all muddled in my brain -- they went to Vid Con as both their characters and as the actors/producers of the LDBs. The show is all completely scripted and I assume the Tweets and Tumblr feeds (yes,they have Tumblrs and Jane is on Pinterest too) are scripted too.

It was a big deal when Bing and Jane started following each other on Twitter. Gigi's own Twitter handle is very forlorn, "...the worst thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

I remember Bernie Su, the lead writer, taking questions from one person who has some issues with Lydia's slut shaming in the first episode or two. They recognized they had done and backed off of it really quickly, regretting they had done even what they did and that they wouldn't continue. I continue to think they are going to dark with Wickham -- because the book is VERY dark though it seems less so now. Frankly, I don't see pregnancy being enough or even running off to Vegas.

Anyway, Jane and Lydia updated and it's terribly sweet and sad and there is something obviously really bothering Lydia.

I haven't watched the other videos. Maybe that's why my perception of Lydia is a little different, I'm only seeing her through Lizzie's eyes.

Yes, running off to Vegas, pregnancy, none of this would RUIN her family today. It's just not serious enough. It has to be something very serious that would destroy a lot of lives that Darcy can intervene on, and his intervention needs to be something of a sacrifice. This remains my biggest curiosity of the whole series, what they could possibly do that would have the same feel as the book situation but the right impact in our world today.

And yes, I was thinking the same things about Ricky Collins and Catherine (especially because Ricky KNOWS ABOUT THE VIDEOS) and how bad that could be for Charlotte. That does take quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, and I suspect the big upcoming reveal about Wickham will take that same suspension of disbelief because the audience needs to know it to understand how this news affects and changes Lizzie's entire perception of Darcy.

Also -- and I can't believe I keep forgetting to mention this, because it bothered me most in this particular episode -- the conceit really makes some conversations unnatural because of the way they sit facing the camera. Okay, that works for a TON of them, especially the silly stuff. Fitz and Lydia in particular really pull it off.

But for THIS conversation? Just... no. I was really surprised they went this route. I really thought, given how the last one ended, they'd have the entire conversation in the doorway. It might have made them both seem more natural (although I'm still convinced Darcy's woodenness was characterization and not acting issues.) But the whole thing was HELLA awkward, with them sitting side-by-side and facing the camera and not each other.

Although looking ahead to the next one, I think the way they might use this to their advantage and get around the whole "why would Darcy share THAT to the world?" thing is because he might have a particular interest, after seeing himself basically maligned over past videos, in addressing not just Lizzie but her audience to explain himself. That's the feeling I get from the 3 second silent preview at the end, anyway.

It still doesn't explain how this would get past Lydia, but if whatever is happening with her and Wickham has/is already happening, it could be too late for Darcy's explanation to save her, even if she did see it.

Edited 2012-11-02 20:13 (UTC)

Well, from preview from Lydia's last video, apparently Darcy ends up giving Lizzie a literal letter (Lydia's previews are a bit different from Lizzie's, more trolling by the team, I sense.) I wonder whether he also tells her he can share the contents to the internet though. We know Darcy is watching the videos...and tweeting about it, so yes, maybe he does want to set the record straight.

Latest post from Bernie Su about DarcyDay BTS is...intriguing. Especially the part about what Caroline may or may not have done. And possibly related to Bing's complete silence to Jane's attempts to contact him.

-RCX

Where is this post? I've been missing a ton of ancilliary stuff, apparently. Just started following Lizzie and Darcy on Twitter.

After every important story arc Bernie Su does a little BTS post on his Tumblr: http://berniesu.tumblr.com/

Thank you! That was very illuminating!

"unlike in P&P when he doesn’t watch the videos." ::SNORT::

I've also been enjoying Darcy's tweets. They're quite endearing me to him

Edited 2012-11-03 23:32 (UTC)

There is all this other stuff that goes on, the Tweets, the Tumblrs, Looks By Jane, and meta discussion. Fandomspotting is devoting a podcast to it tomorrow. http://fandomspotting.tumblr.com/post/34863507773/fandomspotting-ep-5-universal-truths-when
I am finding Darcy very endearing in the Tweets as well and I'm enjoying the view of Gigi as well.

Something else I have been wondering about is how they will update the "tour of Pemberly" --

Also, there were lots of requests for LBD fic in Yuletide this year, so I am hoping will see some good stories out of it. So far, Ruan's have been my favs.

Does Gigi have Twitter, too? Any other links I should know about (preferably text stuff rather than videos/podcasts)?

Thanks! This Darcy episode has me in full immersion mode. I just went back and rewatched all the stuff around the Bing/Jane breakup to see what machinations Caroline could be up to. Do we ever hear more anywhere about the "cryptic text" Jane mentions?

All the Tweets are here up through October 31, http://www.lizziebennet.com/story/twitter/
That includes fans who are berating Bing for running off to LA. I think that the cryptic text is a Tweet? Not a phone text? We've not seen any phone texts, so I assume it's a Tweet.

This evening there's been an exchange between Darcy and Gigi.

Fitz, https://twitter.com/FitzOnTheFitz
Gigi, https://twitter.com/ggdarcy/following (This includes the twitter accounts for her side of the story, Bing, Caroline, Darcy, etc)
And oh gosh, I realized that Bing unfollowed Jane!!! WAAAAH!
And George, https://twitter.com/TheGWickham
Kitty Bennet, https://twitter.com/TheKittyBennet
Lydia, https://twitter.com/TheLydiaBennet (who has everyone on her side)
Charlotte Lu, https://twitter.com/TheCharlotteLu/following (and that will get you Maria and Ricky too)

Oh, this stuff is crack. Pure crack. You are officially a drug dealer. I'm gonna need rehab before this is over.

WHAT! Bing unfollowed Jane...I'll go into a corner and cry now.

BUT the past couple of days there have also been this hilarious exchange of tweets from Rachel Kiley (one of the best trolls in the whole LBD team) where she posts passive agressive tweets at Darcy about him make passive aggressive tweets about Lizzie. And then the fans have to comment and it becomes this ridiculously meta discussion about whether Lizzie is aware of what Darcy is tweeting. (She certainly is aware he is following her.)

-RCX

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