Pride and Prejudice

The BBC completely changed how we view costume dramas back in 1995 with this incredibly faithful adaptation of the famous Jane Austen novel. You watch Jennifer Ehle absolutely shine as the witty and independent Elizabeth Bennet, while Colin Firth plays the wealthy and incredibly stubborn Mr Darcy. I always recommend this six part mini series to anyone who wants to see the ultimate enemies to lovers story done perfectly. The plot drops you right into the strict social rules of 19th century England where marriage means everything for a young woman. A closer look beneath the polite dancing and fancy tea parties reveals a surprisingly sharp comedy about money and class. A structural analysis shows that every passive aggressive argument between the two leads mirrors their own quiet fears about changing their stubborn minds.

Cinematographer John Kenway captures the rural landscape beautifully on Super 16mm film. You immediately notice the bright natural sunlight pouring through the windows to make the morning scenes feel fresh and alive. I do get a little annoyed when the camera uses overly soft focus during the indoor piano performances. The blurry edges make those intimate family moments feel a bit too much like a cheap soap opera instead of a prestige drama. A quick return to the wide green fields of the Derbyshire landscape thankfully restores a much better visual balance. The costume department gives the wealthy characters deep rich colors to completely separate them from the plain cotton dresses of the poorer families.

Pay attention to the set design and you will see how the houses completely define social status. The messy interior of the Longbourn estate feels very authentic because the muddy boots and scattered sewing materials match a chaotic family with five daughters. A trip over to the massive Pemberley estate offers a totally different vibe entirely. The giant painted ceilings and empty marble halls look like a beautiful but incredibly lonely museum for a single rich man. My main complaint involves the fake rain during the famous carriage rides. The heavy water spray looks a bit too artificial for a show grounded in such realistic historical details. The choice to put these polite characters in crowded ballrooms forces a natural romantic tension that jumps right off the screen.

You really have to listen to the upbeat classical soundtrack to understand the playful energy of this adaptation. My ears constantly catch the energetic violins and piano melodies composed by Carl Davis right before a big social event begins. The editing moves at a very patient pace to give the actors plenty of time to deliver those famous sarcastic insults perfectly. We hear the loud crunch of gravel under heavy carriage wheels constantly interrupting quiet countryside walks. The sudden absolute silence when Mr Darcy unexpectedly walks into a room actually makes the social awkwardness feel terrifyingly real.

Let us clear up some common mysteries about this legendary historical romance.

- Did Jane Austen write the famous lake swimming scene? No, the writer Andrew Davies completely invented the iconic moment where Colin Firth jumps into the lake in a wet white shirt to make the male character feel more physically real.

- Where did they film the massive Pemberley estate? The production crew used the beautiful exterior of Lyme Park in Cheshire to represent the grand wealth of the Darcy family.

- Did the two main actors date in real life? Yes, Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth actually had a quiet romantic relationship during the filming of the series, though they kept it totally hidden from the press until later.

The incredible chemistry between the leads and the beautiful locations keep me coming back every year, but I cannot deny that some of the minor family drama drags just a little bit. Certain long conversations between the background sisters feel so repetitive that you almost lose your connection to the main romance.

Fans of classic literature will definitely love finding the hidden historical details in these grand ballrooms. If you think you have the eye to spot the vintage carriage in our daily tv show guessing game or just want a great framed alternative for your weekend, test your skills at Flickle. You can also play our fun trivia game with your friends to prove your ultimate historical knowledge.