To think that this scene from the Firth/Ehle P&P adaptation is one of the best TV moments?

[NoUnicornsToSeeHere]

On maternity leave and just rewatched the first proposal scene from the BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation (on iPlayer at the moment).

It may be over 20 years old, as the sound and colour quality date it slightly, but it just is perfect TV...

AIBU?

I'm often sniffy about TV or film adaptations of books that I love but this version of P&P is perfection, I've watched it so many times and I'd watch it again in a heartbeat

If the baby's late, I thoroughly recommend the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds version of Persuasion as well.

Nothing will ever dim how WONDERFUL this version is for me.

I watched it aged about 14/15 when it was on TV, having not read the book and the DRAMA! Imagine watching it as a series not knowing what happens next... that was how we watched it and it was beautiful.

And then I studied it for A Level as a set text and had to learn the quotes for the exam, me and my best mate were jubilant as there wasn't much learning to be done there

YABU.. Best moment was when Caroline Bingley was trying to slag Elizabeth off and Darcy goes "WHAT" in a really irritated tone then fucks off out the room. Love it!

But then yes, smouldering over the piano page turning......sigh..... and Jennifer Ehle knocks Keira 'ribcage' Knightly into a cocked hat for a good Elizabeth. Ditto Kate Beckinsale as the best Emma..

I do have a soft spot for the utterly barmy Lawrence Olivier version. Colin Firth definitely channels larry in his portrayal of darcy

Barking costumes but v good for flouncing about

I do have a gripe in that I've no idea why Darcy thought Elizabeth was in love with him

I thought that (because of his pride) the thought that she might not be in love with him had never even crossed his mind. He was hot, he was rich, what woman in her right mind would turn him down?

The whole first proposal was him explaining what a massive favour he was doing her by making her an offer. No wonder she said no!

oh yes eyedrops the way he gazes at her in that scene, sigh. i love Colin too.

'no no the green one' if you get that reference you are a die hard fan.

That was a divine piece of casting. They are so perfect as Elizabeth and Darcy they ruined it for everyone else coming after them (yes I'm looking at you Keira and I quite like you compared to most people).

I love the scene with Col Fitzwilliam at the piano at Rosings Park and I love the first proposal scene.
Of course the best scene of all is when Elizabeth and Lady Catherine take a turn in the prettyish wilderness.
Fucking love Lady Catherine, won't a top class bitch

*wot not won't

TBH my fave is the Elizabeth / Lady Catherine
as its verbatim from the book and delivered with such style

Yes deadringer - the idea of him choosing his clothes because he cares what someone else thinks of him is gorgeous :)

The whole first proposal was him explaining what a massive favour he was doing her by making her an offer. No wonder she said no! grin

Definitely belongs on the “backhanded compliments” thread!

Susannah Harker was pregnant whilst filming P&P so they had to film around her emerging bump. I thought she was gorgeous in it.

Love JE/CF version of P&P - all of it. But yes Alison Stedman was quite shrill. I still cringe watching the scene where she is being deliberately rude to Darcy not knowing that he made Wickham marry Lydia and therefore saved the family name.

I do have a gripe in that I've no idea why Darcy thought Elizabeth was in love with him

When it was set marriage was nothing to do with love, he was so full of pride he assumed she would fall at his feet because he was such a good catch - money, land etc.... People were always telling him how wonderful he was, it never crossed his mind that Elizabeth would say No.

Stedman gets a lot of criticism for the role but I think she nailed it. I just wish they had included the scene when Lizzy tells her mother about her engagement to Mr Darcy, I think she would have carried it off beautifully.

Steadman was bang on - if you read the book

I read an interview with Andrew Davies who asked Firth to play the scene when darcy meets Elizabeth our for a walk as if he had a massive hard on.
He nails it

well colin firth and jennifer elhe were shagging at the time

Every time I watch it I get re-annoyed at the casting of Wickham and Bingley. They’re meant to be two of the most handsome men in the county, and they look like the casting director found them working in her local Natwest branch.

A long time ago, me and my female housemates made our male housemate watch P&P. He was bemused, but just Didn’t Get It. Then he made us watch the super long oh wow how boring is this with extra scenes Lord of the Rings first film and we got justice served on us. I’d forgotten about it til this thread.

Do you think DH would tolerate the last episode - with its Lady Catherine De Burgh showdown which might, actually, be the best scene - tonight?

I like the first proposal scene for Elizabeth's withering put down, but I don't enjoy it due to Darcy's arrogance and pride, and for just how wrong he gets it (and her).

I love the second proposal - where Lizzy builds up the courage to thank Darcy, and then Darcy's 'you are too generous to trifle with me', and look of sheer, unadulterated happiness when Lizzie reveals her feelings are 'quite the opposite'

P.S. you don't need iplayer to watch it, it's on Netflicks.