October 24, 2009 by Vic
The incident at Box Hill loomed large in this episode. What did you think of the series as a whole? How did it stack up against other Emma film adaptations? Vote here.
More polls sit below asking you how well the actors fit in their roles. To save you from fatigue, not all the show’s actors are listed.
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The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground.
Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB
Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.”
The grave after restoration
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Wow, talk about mixed reactions! At least most of them aren’t going towards “hated” – though I do admit to voting for “not right for the part” for Jane Fairfax. Though that might be scripting – but that wasn’t an option.
I adore it – it’s made me cry with happiness twice now. I think the Austen glut can end happily now – you may now dismiss your servant Janeite in peace. If only it would end here…
Hope to have my own thoughts up on my blog within a few days. They will be mostly positive, I fear!
I’m surprised at some of the results. I thought this was the best Emma (although Beckinsale’s was also very good), but I was surprised by how many people felt that Romola Garai was not right for the role. I felt her performance was tremendous – she seemed to fit Emma perfectly!
I’m glad the BBC had such a good run with this adaptation. Emma is my least favorite Austen novel, but this version was quite endearing!
What channel are you watching this on?
I really want to see the last part, still haven’t seen it. but I absolutely adore this version of Emma so far. I think most of the characters fit well. And as one of viewers expressed in her opinion: I liked Emma from the very beginning, and I think Romola playes part in it.
Ali:)
Can’t wait ’til it’s on PBS in California…or DVD.
Parts 1-3 are up on youtube right now–watch quick–I’m sure they’ll catch it and take it down soon!
When will they be on PBS?? Sometims I wished I lived in England so all the english television I wstch would be on time!
Sorry! I meant to put that on a different post!
I found the series on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=cat4fab#g/u since I am in the US and cannot view it on bbc.co.uk
I had mixed feelings about this series until episode 3 – loved the final episode! I had mixed feelings about Romola. At times I loved her, but at times I found her a bit immature – I always envisaged Emma as an elegant and proper sort of woman, as Gwenyth portrayed her. I did like that Emma seemed a bit more down to earth in this adaptation though.
I loved this series, specially the 3rd and 4th episodes!
I think that Romola gave Emma warmth and fun – something rather lacking in the earlier episodes. I think that Emma is Jane Austen’s best creation – a girl (or woman) who changed emotionally – who grew in the progress of the novel. Much as I like Elizabeth and Anne, neither really changed in the progress of the story.
On the other hand, I find fault with the direction of the latest BBC production. The final sobbing scene, where she tells Mr Knightley that she can’t marry him, was definitely not Emma. The business of Mrs Taylor’s ‘turkies’ (sic) been robbed and Mr Wodehouse seeing the desirabilty of a man in the house, was so much more subtle and so much more Emma (who was after all very clever) that it was a shame that was not in the script. Much as I admire Michael Gambon as an actor, I do wonder whether he actually had read ‘Emma’ before embarking on the part.
Dear Vic, I’ve just published a post about yours comments at jasbra.com.br
Thanks,
ADriana
Hoi Vic,
Bedankt voor je bericht op mijn website. Zoals je hebt gezien, heb ik je polls in het Nederlands gebruikt, dank daarvoor.
Ik heb genoten van Emma, maar was toch wat teleurgesteld over de laatste aflevering. Het was niet zo perfect als ik had gehoopt, na die prachtige dansscène in episode 3! Ik was wel erg blij met Jonny Lee Miller als Mr. Knightley. Was enorm fan van zijn serie Eli Stone en net toen bekend werd dat deze serie gestopt werd, kwam het nieuws dat hij Mr. Knightley ging spelen. Heb erg van hem genoten in deze ‘Emma’.
Ik hoop dat je dit allemaal kunt lezen, volgens mij is jouw Nederlands erg goed!
Veel succes verder met de site!
Groetjes,
Karin (janeausten.nl)
Karine,
Ik begrijp bijna alle, en ik gebruik een “translator” om mij te hulp (helpen?). De polls zijn voor iedereen en ik ben blij te zien dat de mensen in Nederland zijn van hetzelfde advies als ons. Ja, de derde episode “maakt” de film. Ik vond Jonny so-so tot OK totdat de derde episode (sorry for the bad grammar), en nu is hij mijn favorite Mr. Knightley.
Waar bent u wonen? Ik kwam uit Den Haag, maar mijn familie (Tante, Oma, en Oom) wonen in Utrecht, Amersfoort, en Maastricht.
Uw blog is geweldig. Ik ben blij dat mense in Nederland zijn ook Jane Austen fans.
Have a great day and keep up the good work! Vic
Hoi Vic,
Ja, geweldig he, dat er in Nederland ook zoveel Jane Austen liefhebbers zijn. Ik dacht altijd dat ik alleen was, maar er zijn gelukkig vele Janeites te vinden hier!
Ik ben blij dat je, net als ik, Jonny Lee Miller de beste Mr. Knightley (en leukste!) ooit vindt. Ik hoop dat we hem snel weer in een leuke serie of film kunnen zien.
Grappig dat je door heel Nederland familie hebt wonen. Ik ben opgegroeid in Veenendaal (dat in de buurt van Utrecht en Amersfoort) en woon nu in Tilburg (in het zuiden van Nederland, maar nog niet zo ver zuidelijk als Maastricht). Mocht je ooit eens in Nederland komen, dan ben je van harte welkom!
Groetjes,
Karin
Dank u voor de invitatie, Karin. Someday, perhaps? Ook een harte welkom voor u in Richmond. Groetjes ook van mij.
[…] Though Rupert was suitably sleazy, he just did not look like the Frank of my imagination. See the results of the polls in this link with peoples’ votes for the actors who portrayed the main characters. The interiors are shot […]
I must say THIS version of “Emma” made the story my favourite Jane Austen piece, and I find Emma and Mr Knightley very rounded and complete in the series. They felt so alive, so real to me. I can hardly wait to read the novel as (ashamed as I am to admit it) it somehow slipped through the net of my attention so far.
I have always liked JA but recently, as I’m growing old(er) I find depths in her writing I did not notice before.
If I have to pick a favourite, right now, it would be “Emma”. Mostly thanks to the characters who are genuine and flawed and ready to evolve, like someone pointed out earlier in the comments.
My other favourite story is “Mansfield Park”. Nope, not the big guns. MP is profound and serious, I prefer that to the most well-known JA stories.
[…] Emma 2009: Episode Four […]
This is a wonderful version of Emma. Michael Gambon’s role as Mr. Woodhouse and Tamsin Greig’s role as Miss Bates were outstanding. They played them as humorous, annoying people with deep hearts and genuine concerns. I felt this version respected the underlying goodness in both of those characters.
And Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller were perfect. Her faces and gestures were a bit modern, but that made it more fun. He was the perfect Mr. Knightley, not too stern, formal yet tender, a reluctant disciplinarian yet an obvious admirer. The chemistry between them was palpable. Great casting.
The four hour length allowed for a richer story, with all the underlying plots well explained. It is a complex novel that is difficult to compress into two hours.
I enjoyed this Emma, however I remain fonder of the Beckinsale version–I definitely prefer the lovely Olivia Williams as Jane; Laura Pyper, who was so vivid in HEX, was very bland as Jane Fairfax, and I also don’t remember Frank Churchill as being as sadistic as he is in this version. I am a Jonny Lee Miller fan, and I found him most satisfying as Mr Knightly.
I do agree this Frank Churchill was a bit sadistic. Maybe that is too harsh a word – but he did seem to enjoy seeing Jane squirm. And I also agree that Laura Pyper’s Jane was more subdued. But that seemed in keeping with the novel, as she was overwhelmed with being put in such an uncomfortable situation.
On Jonny Lee Miller we completely agree. Quite satisfying!
I didn’t start liking it until Episode 3, but it kept growing on me. I’ve now watched it about three times and I have to say I think it’s magnificent – on par with the BBC 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice, which is really saying a lot.
Initially, Romola Garai’s exuberant, clumsy Emma is a shock. Jonny Lee Miller also seems far too boyish to be Mr. Knightley. But both of them really grew on me. I think Garai’s interpretation of Emma is nothing short of brilliant – she makes the character really come alive as a believable person, flawed but still lovable. The director may have modernized the body language etc., but I think he really captured the spirit of the book. (Unlike the horrible Gwyneth Paltrow version, which plays like a Barbara Cartland novel with a shallow, insipid, unprincipled heroine.)
My only major criticism is the choice of Michael Gambon for Mr. Woodhouse. Sure, Gambon is a great actor, but he’s far too impressive and dignified to be a proper Mr. Woodhouse. I think Mr. Woodhouse, with his basins of gruel and his not unwholesome eggs, is supposed to be sweet, but quite silly. That’s why Emma can’t leave him in the end (because he’s not capable of being rational about it). That’s why we love her and can redeem her (because of her love and patience for someone undeserving). And that’s why her treatment of Miss Bates is so shameful (because her own father is equally silly and equally in need of others’ forbearance).
Anyway, my two cents. I’d definitely advise anyone to give Emma 2009 a re-watching.
Absolutely brilliant!!! Emma and Mr. Knightley come to life in this version of Emma. Emma is portrayed as a sheltered young girl who matures to a beautiful young woman. Mr Knightley is perfect: her steadfast friend, companion, and finally lover. You can feel the chemistry grow between the two characters. Kudos to both Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller for two very fine performances and to Sandy Welch for an excellent script.
My favorite Emma- Emma with Gwyneth, the true Knightley is Jeremy Northam, He was so always nice….
That new Emma 2009 version that was good Romola and Johnny were beatiful together.
After seeing Emma 2009 with Ramola and Jonny there can be no other verison that I would enjoy. It is wonderful and wish that Jane had written a sequel.