Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel. All that longing, those disappointed dreams, the lost bloom of youth. And Captain Wentworth smouldering about the place.

Well Netflix have produced an adaptation featuring Dakota Johnson acting all giggly and Fleabag-ish. Wearing lipstick! Calling Wentworth her ‘ex’.

I will no doubt watch it as soon as soon it’s released next month but I suspect I’ll snort my way through it.

Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds will always be the perfect Anne and Wentworth so I’ll try not to get too precious about this reinterpretation.

But watching the trailer made all ‘u wot mate?’ (as eloquent as Jane herself I’m sure you’ll agree).

Do any of the versions include the scene when Anne's little nephew climbs on her back and won't get off, then Wentworth lifts him off without a word, I love that scene in the book.

It's such a vivid scene, isn't it, @Deadringer. You just know that in their role as the perpetual maiden aunts she and Cassandra had had many such moments with their nieces and nephews.

Remembered yesterday that I could watch youtube on my TV so enjoyed some wine and 1995 Persuasion last night. Delightful!

They have the 1971 TV version that a pp mentioned so might give that a whirl too. Although I find period dramas from that era can often feel a bit clunky and over-acted, so we'll see.

The 2009 version of Emma is on Sky at the moment. Much better than the film.

Remembered yesterday that I could watch youtube on my TV
It's great!

Just got Persuasion in the post this morning, am very excited to read it later!

This review isn't good:

www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2022/07/persuasion-netflix-austen-book-review/

In fact it's bloody terrible!

I had a look at the comments under the youtube video of the trailer when it first came out, and they were scathing! I think the general consensus is WTF did they do to a beloved character??

It was a fabulous bit of fromage on a Saturday. Am going to watch other adaptations now, mind.

Is the adaptation with Sally Hawkins available anywhere? (I don’t have access to the iPlayer as am abroad.)

I found it on Prime. Had to pay for it but have watched it loads.

Thank you!

I'm another one who thinks 'trailer looks awful but will probably watch it'. I am saddened that they have ripped the soul out of the story and tuned Anne Elliot into some regency social media influencer.

The version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is one of the most beautiful and intelligent classic adaptations of all time.

Most of the good stuff on Netflix isn't actually made by Netflix. The problem is they know they can churn out abject shite and it will still get millions of views anyway.

SPOILERS!!

I watched it yesterday as a way of passing the time whilst it was too hot to go outside. I just don’t know where to start. Why on earth call it an adaptation of Persuasion? There is just SO much wrong with it - they should just say its a new Bridgerton type thing??

• There is no longing at all - Anne admits in the first two seconds that she hopes for a reconciliation and then Wentworth does too, not too long after!
• They have made Anne far too feisty with all her talking Italian, clowning with the children and winking at the camera and then this is balanced with her being totally walked over by her family - these two sides just don’t meld at all!
• Richard E Grant is by far the best thing in it but is given little to do. Why have they been so upfront about him possibly marrying Mrs Clay when the woman they have cast would never have been considered attractive enough by him (even though she flatters him dreadfully - the Sir W of the book is quite vicious about looks)
• Wentworth isnt handsome enough and is incredibly awkward and almost geeky in some scenes which makes it impossible to believe that Feisty-Anne would look at him twice!
• talks of exes, play lists, ordering cappuccino - its all just …..urrgh.

What an opportunity missed. Give me Sally Hawkins any day!!

Speaking of adaptations, I happened upon a modern-ish (from 2003) adaptation of Pride & Prejudice on Youtube the other day, and it was shockingly not too bad. Ok - it was bad, but almost in the 'so bad it's good' territory, with a few funny moments.

A bit like clueless it's set in the modern world, and there is some leeway with the characters but I strangely didn't hate it. Although it's not for the puritans, it was enjoyable for a cheesy afternoon movie.

i watched it last night.

Oh dear.

I’ve just watched it, then came online to find a cast list and stumbled upon the reviews. Is it a faithful interpretation? No. Was it a fair way to pass 2 hours? Yes if you take it for what it is. JA was a bit of a bugger in her own way, and I think she might raise her eyebrows and laugh along. Not everything has to be Traditional. No doubt some were dying at the RSC’s latest Much Ado but if you don’t like it don’t watch it. This Persuasion is anodyne fluff for the YouTube generation, no more and no less. If it gets a few reading the book then all well and good. If they just enjoyed the film then that’s fine too.

This Persuasion is anodyne fluff for the YouTube generation, no more and no less

I think that's a bit patronising. There are plenty of millennials and Gen Z's on my social media who are also hating it, and-gasp!- have also read the book before they've watched the film and are huge Jane Austen fans. The one person who I've spoken to who loved it, is a 70 year old bloke. The consensus from most of my other social media friends, young and old alike, is that it's crap.

I watched it yesterday. I’m a millenial/ YouTube generation but also love Austen so I was v intrigued.

If it was an original series like Bridgerton I’d say it was enjoyable fluff. Nothing too deep, not going to prompt you to think of the characters’ motivations etc.

But it was supposed to be an adaption of a story of missed opportunity, longing, uncertainty and second chances. There was none of that.

It was rushed, dumbed down and Austen’s well observed characterisations were cast aside for stereotypical “millennial” memes like Mary saying she was starting to get into self care.

So a lot of cons.

There we’re some pros- Richard E Grant was great, but v underused.

Captain W was fit.

Dakota Johnson’s period-inappropriate lipstick was nice.

Overall a 3/10, Will rewatch the most recent Emma as eye bleach.

Here's a valuable corrective. Enjoy.

I think the time for period type things has passed. That new railway children thing looks so twee and awful as well. The need to cleanse the past has ruined them, you have ridiculously clean streets and poor characters in expensive spotless clothes and everybody being nice to each other having modern style relationships.

Look at pictures of Dakota J from every 5 years or so and her face completely changes. I'm sure I couldnt comment on why that is....

The advantage of this is that it's sent me scurrying to the 1995 version on YouTube. Amanda Root is so wonderful. She's one of the best things about the Forsyte Saga remake.

Dakota isn't playing Anne. She's playing a Regency version of Fleabag.

I wonder if Richard E Grant knew it was going to be cringeworthy but thought it was worth it for a few scenes and a huge bag of cash...