Warning about this review of the third episode of Lost in Austen: Spoiler Alert! In my defense, I’ve used the language that sits on ITV’s online press centre, which has been placed on the blogosphere for all to see. You can also read a synopsis of Episode Four at that link, and my review of Episode Four here.
Amanda’s zany journey through Pride and Prejudice land continues. The plot twists keeps getting more convoluted, and one wonders if the last episode will have enough time for the unraveling. This film’s visual puns of other JA movie adaptations are fun to spot, such as this one of Miss Austen Regrets.
Olivia Williams in Miss Austen Regrets
Mr. Wickham is the most intriguing character in Episode Three, and he’s been given some choice lines which I won’t spoil for you. Let’s just say that he teaches Amanda a few tricks about dress and manners in the regency.
Practicing the coguette imperial, Amanda receives instruction in the fine art of being a lady from ... Wickham.
... Mr. Wickham, who instructs her in the art of dress and manners
Meanwhile at Hunsford, Mr. Collins is all a-tremble at the thought of having his Jane ...
Alas, Jane (Morven Christie), does not quite share the same anticipation. In fact, she’s miserable and spends all of Episode Three moping and looking sad.
Mrs. Collins can only think of the man she lost ...
Mr. Bennet is furious with himself for allowing Mr. Collins to wed Jane, and he spends his nights in his study.
Mr. Bennet wallows in unhappiness at allowing Jane to wed Mr. Collins.
The situation at Longourne has become untenable, so Mrs. Bennet and Lydia visit Jane in her new home, bringing her a hostess gift.
A basket of stilton cheese and loganberries.
We finally meet Lady Catherine de Bourgh, delightfully played by Lindsay Duncan. Lady Catherine isn’t fooled by Amanda one bit, and rather enjoys sparring wits with the saucy girl..
Lady Catherine de Bourgh inspects Amanda up close.
Elliot Cowan plays Mr. Darcy as a straight man. He suspects Amanda of following him and gives her many disapproving looks. Amanda continues to detest him, calling him toxic.
Darcy suspects Amanda of following him.
Lady Catherine, ever mindful of her ambitions for her daughter Anne, warns Amanda off Mr. Darcy.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh warns Amanda.
Tom Mison as Bingley is having as miserable a time as Jane. He realizes he still loves her and blames Darcy for influencing him in giving Jane up.
Unhappy about losing Jane, Bingley takes to drinking.
Darcy, observing his friend’s unhappiness, admits he was wrong about Jane. He invites Amanda and the others in the party to Pemberley.
Harewood House as Pemberley
Amanda gets a first glimpse of Pemberley
Thrown together in close proximity, Darcy’s feelings towards Amanda change, but not without an internal struggle. Amanda’s feelings also change as she finds herself equally attracted to man she once detested.
Amanda and Darcy talk.
She asks a favor of him ...
And rather likes what she sees ...
… the attraction is mutual.
Darcy declares his feelings towards Amanda. She realizes she’s in love, but her conscience stabs at her: What about Elizabeth? Then, with a mental leap that bounds out of nowhere, she realizes that as Darcy’s wife, “she will have the power to make amends for all that has gone wrong. She can look after Jane, and even buy Longbourn for the Bennet family.”
Huh? This dialogue had me scratching my head. Where did those thoughts come from?
Caroline throws down the gauntlet: she wants her paws on Darcy. Or does she?
Caroline Bingley adds another wrinkle to the mix, and her questions force Darcy to ask Amanda an important question. Her answer results in their break up. Hurt, angry, and disappointed, Amanda rushes to the upper floor of Pemberley, rips up her copy of Pride and Prejudice, and tosses it out the window.
Amanda tosses her ripped copy of Pride and Prejudice
Darcy reads...
... a torn wet book that landed in a fountain.
Have you ever tried to read a wet book with the pages out of order? It’s nearly impossible. Never mind. I still laughed during this episode, but it was not nearly as much fun as the previous two. (Too many dark moments, even with Wickham charmingly stealing the show.)
Only one episode remains to be viewed, which does not leave much time to weave the various plot threads together. Darcy follows Amanda into the 21st century where they meet up with Lizzy. Will Darcy fall in love with her? Will Mr. Bennet stop sleeping in his study? Will Mr. Collins finally have his ecstatic moments with Jane? Stay tuned this Wednesday to find out.
Jane Austen's World 
[…] 19, 2008 by Vic (Ms. Place) Click here for the review of Lost in Austen, Episode 3. Meanwhile, enjoy one of the many visual jokes this film makes of other JA movie […]
Where oh where did you watch it?!! I can’t find it at all any longer. Woe is me!
Please email me, Lauren, or go to Austenblog and read the comments for Epi 3. You’ll get the hint.
This looks wonderful – but the website won’t let me play the past episodes because I live outside the UK (in the US). How can I get access to this? I MUST HAVE IT!!! :)
Hi lookingforlifeshumor and Lauren: Try Surf the Channel.
[…] Lost in Austen: Episode Three at Jane Austen’s World […]
Thanks for posting this review. I enjoyed watching episodes 1 and 2 but unfortunately the third episode was pulled from YouTube (ITV restrictions), which is disappointing. I would have loved to watch Lindsay Duncan as Lady Catherine.
Juliana, try looking for episode 3 here:
http://www.greatstufftv.com/?s=lost+in+austen
I did think we would see more of Lady Catherine! Even with the four episodes, I find myself wanting to explore these characters more (in their new light).
My favourite line from Mr Bennett was when he threatened Mrs Bennett, “I shall prance the length of Lady Catherine’s drawing room – Naked!” I always preferred Mr B over Mrs B’s nervous twitterings and I’m enjoying how Hugh Bonneville is strutting his hour upon the stage!
Thanks for the link, Charleybrown. My favorite line belongs to Mr. Wickham, who says “Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the cloaca through which all society passes.” Hah!
[…] Click here for my review of Episode Three […]
Thank you Charleybrown! You’re brilliant! I’m off to watch episode three and hope that the last episode will be posted too. :)
There was even a nod at “Hex” in that episode, with Cassie hitting on Thelma…
[…] vantage from a British viewer, Jane Austen’s World has some fabulous screen caps and a review, AustenBlog readers continue to tell it like it is with their comments, of course I had to have my […]
Omg…It’s the first time I heard about this tv show. wow…I’m glad I came across your blog. I love it
[…] Update: Review of Episode Three […]
[…] Miss Amanda Regrets, Episode Three […]
[…] Austen’s World: One, Two, Three, […]
I’m sorry but LOST IN AUSTEN was a travesty. Just because you love PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ELIZABETH AND DARCY, etc, etc. doesn’t mean that everything PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is wonderful. That includes BRIDGET JONES crap. Lizzy is a bright, attractive young woman liked by almost everybody. Bridget is a foul mouthed, unlikeable, fat clumsy oaf. Fitzwilliam is a man among men. Mark is a mediocrity. Colin Firth is a tired actor walking thru most of his parts, in for the money who wouldn’t know an interesting script if it was shoved up his arse. JANE AUSTEN never asked for any help – she did fine on her own.
[…] Austen World reviews (episode 1, episode 2, episode 3, episode […]