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?

Oohhh thanks for that tip Dowager! Off to investigate ...!

Well thanks everyone! That’s my productive weekend gone to shit!

I love it because it is the version I 'know' and although I never got giddy from the lake scene I agree absolutely about the piano one.

I've found my people! I will now be watching this over the weekend.

I'd also like to point you in the direction of Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens in Jane Eyre - also excellently adapted.

Another of my favourites with a similar "feel
-good" factor is Emma Thompson/Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing although haven't watched it in ages!

Can I add an honourable mention to the brilliant BBC production of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall with Tara Fitzgerald, Toby Stephens and Rupert Graves - i had it on dvd but have lost it in housemoves.

@DuggeeHugs That Jane Eyre adaptation made me read Jane Eyre in about two sittings for the very first time as I was so desperate to find out what happened. I think it was Caitlin Moran who reviewed it who said something along the lines that Ruth Wilson’s top lip deserves an award for the sentiments conveyed in its quivering movement.

I haven't seen this Jane Eyre adaption - any ideas where I might be able to find it?

Ruth Wilson was brilliant as Jane Eyre, Toby Stephens was good but he's just not ugly enough! Every adaptation I've seen of Jane Eyre they've made Rochester too tall and good looking, he's supposed to be stocky, dark and ugly.

@NoUnicornsToSeeHere she was right - I thought she was really good.

@TheDowagerCuntess it's still available on DVD but I have a copy on Prime too

You're right about his looks though @Magliarosa - far too good looking for Rochester. Now I'm wondering who they could cast...

David Bamber

To be fair, he is not unattractive in real life.

YY at Ruth Wilson as Jane Eyre- played the part so well without veering into annoying which woukd be easily done with such a prim and proper character.

Michael Fassbender also played Rochester a few years ago- brilliant actor but FAR too good looking!

“Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth”

Right baby, you can come out now...

Whilst somewhat overinvested in a child’s A level revision a couple of years ago, we watched all six episodes in a day with the books open in front of us following it through scene by scene. I can highly recommend it: it focusses your mind on all sorts of little textual details you wouldn’t otherwise notice.

(But I do love the KK version as well).

Never grow tired of this series. Love it!

I still can't believe that she, Ehle, played the Prof's wife in The King's Speech!

Well this has settled my “home alone” day tomorrow

Anna Root / Cairan Hinds version of Persuasion is a corker too

I think the first proposal scene from the KK version is better than the one in this one. More dramatic and conveys the mix of desire and anger well.

There’s no equivalent to the lake scene though...

That series of P&P is perfectly cast in every role, even Wickham and Bingley imho. We were at university when it was first on, it was such a big deal every Sunday evening - we all used to gather round the tiny TV to watch!

Also we had a poster of Colin Firth, in full Darcy regalia, on our living room wall

I do love this version but Darcy in the KK version gives me the shivers with his vulnerable intensity 😍 I agree DanglyBangly

Behemoth, I did the follow it line by line with parts of Brideshead.
I love that P&P. Lady Catherine and Lizzy in the wilderness. And when she slags off the 'inconvenient' sitting room.
I also love when Mr Collins is having dinner and Mr B asks him if he prepares his compliments.
I do have slight issues with both parents. I find Mrs B a bit OTT and I think they should be harder on Mr B's irresponsibility. The book is. I guess you need Mrs B to be so bad for the plot, but I find her hard to watch.

Lady Catherine De Bourgh is my favourite character

And I love the bit when Charlotte is entertaining Lizzie and explaining how the very large house and all Mr Collins' work means that they dont' see each other very much and she finds herself quite content