Up to now I had slightly mixed feelings about this version of Emma. But something has clicked and I’m finding myself loving it. I don’t in all honesty know whether it is that the adaptation has improved or that my mood has mellowed – or that I’m now rereading the novel alongside my viewing and noticing the similarities and changes. But, in any case, I’m enjoying it a lot, and just wishing the viewing figures were better. The landscapes, costumes and music all add up to a seductive mixture, and I’m increasingly appreciating how the actors interpret Austen’s characters.
Jonny Lee Miller as Mr Knightley at the ball
The definite highlight of this episode is the ball scene, which I think has been created perfectly – I’ve watched the sequence with Emma (Romola Garai) and Mr Knightley dancing several times (while making screencaps for this posting!) and never failed to be enchanted. I now think that Jonny Lee Miller deliberately played Mr Knightley as rather stuffy at the start of the series, so that it would come as more of a revelation when he started to show his real sensitivity later on. In this scene, the glimpses of him standing at the side watching as Emma dances with Frank are the more poignant because it is all so understated – Miller does so much with the slightly wistful expression in his eyes at moments like this, making you know that his character is feeling every year of his age.
Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller
Of course, Harriet (Louise Dylan) is on the sidelines too, watching with a far more obviously wistful expression, especially after being snubbed by Mr Elton (Blake Ritson). It is a lovely moment when Mr Knightley steps forward and asks her to dance, and even more so when Emma tells him she will dance “with you, if you will ask me”. After her obvious delight at dancing with Frank, her dance with Mr Knightley is much quieter and somehow more delicate – there’s a change in body language. Again everything is understated, with a feeling that if you blink you might miss a little half-glance between them. I almost feel as if we are shown the couple falling in love within the space of that brief dance.
Louise Dylan as Harriet
The comic highlight of this episode, of course, is the arrival of the dreadful Mrs Elton. Just as Blake Ritson has been criticised for being too handsome to play Elton, Christina Cole could easily be seen as being too pretty to play his wife – but, again, there is really no reason why good looks shouldn’t go along with unbearable smugness!
Christina Cole as Mrs Elton
I think Cole enjoys bringing out the ghastliness of the character, the way she is so keen to patronise everybody and play power games. I liked the scene where Emma walks furiously through the gardens voicing her opinions of Mrs Elton very forthrightly to herself – sometimes scenes where people are rude to one another can feel too modern in this version, but I’m sure people have always been forthright when talking to themselves.
Rupert Evans as Frank Churchill
After not getting very much screen time in episode two, Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans) and Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper) both made a stronger impression in this episode. The element of flirtation between Frank and Emma is played up at times during the episode, and had me wondering again how we are supposed to take all this – is Frank purely creating a distraction from his real love for Jane, or is he fickle in his feelings and really attracted to Emma? I’ve just been rereading this section of the novel and my impression is that Austen leaves the question open. In any case, in the series there does seem to be an attraction there and Frank clearly has difficulty in tearing himself away.
Laura Pyper as Jane Fairfax
Jane seems rather more delicate and nervous in this adaptation than in others that I’ve seen, and is constantly overshadowed by Emma – which I suppose is probably intentional, but I find myself regretting that she doesn’t get more scope. A lot of the time she can only express emotion in a secret smile over a letter – or in a brief expression of delight at the news that there is to be a ball. I enjoyed the scene where she stands up to Mrs Elton and spiritedly refuses to let her mail be collected. Making her seem so shy and retiring probably adds to the power of a scene like this, because you can feel how difficult it is for her to speak up for herself at all – but I do wish at times that we could see a little more of the real character behind the mask. I haven’t read all that much about Laura Pyper, so thought I would include a link to one interview I did find in the Belfast Newsletter, where she talks about making the series.
I’m looking forward now to the last episode – and to watching the whole series again once it has finished!
Thanks for the article link – twas quite nice! Pyper seems a nice actress – though I still think Olivia Williams’ Jane is the pinnacle of portrayal of Austen’s vision to date.
I read the novel alongside as well, and I think it really does help – I should really finish the last three chapters, as they will hopefully be portrayed in some form in the last episode!
The ball is indeed heartbreakingly lovely – though I don’t know if we’re supposed to see the character falling in love, or just finally revealing their feelings after a long time. I love how Emma is confused about what she’s feeling – since her revelation of her own heart comes much later than Mr. Knightley’s. Very nice insights into Miller’s performance – he was really a sore spot for me when he was cast (even though I did like him as Edmund in the otherwise awful Mansfield Park) as I felt he didn’t have the presence necessary – but he’s really grown into that presence for me, and I now think he’s a brilliant choice for the part.
Mrs. Elton always brings out the best in Emma adaptations – which I think is her role in the book too – to hold up a mirror to Highbury and particularly Emma, and bring them to better knowledge of themselves. Christina Cole certainly does that in spades – though I have to say, there are an awful lot of blondes in this series – Emma, Harriet, and now Mrs. Elton are such cream-and-gold color siblings it’s sometimes either confusing or comical. But I do not complain – even though I still remain loyal to Kate Beckinsale and Olivia Williams’ black and white effects. There’s room in my heart for three Emmas – the novel, Kate, and now Romola.
I felt the voiceovers and self-conversations with Emma really really worked in this episode – I was both sympathizing and laughing with Emma at her fury at Mrs. Elton and her confusion about Frank.
Interesting point about Frank – I don’t think I would read it that way in the book or series, but I shall have to rewatch (a dreadful burden indeed ;-) )
Thanks for such excellent thoughts! Here’s to episode four, and an wonderful conclusion!
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts – I especially like your comment about Mrs Elton holding up a mirror to Highbury and Emma. Also agree that the voiceovers and self-conversations worked well in this episode.
I’m looking forward to episode four too!
Well, it seems that as Emma and Mr Knightley are slowly falling in love with each other, many of the bloggers who had “suspended their opinion” about the new Emma have little by little turned to positivity. What lovely pics and … I saw some awesome clips, too!
I’ll go immediately to my blog and I’ll link to this excellent review, Judy. A photo of the ball is already there!
Glad to hear that others are feeling positive about this adaptation too, Maria – and many thanks for linking to my review.:)
I’ve just been rereading this section of the novel and my impression is that Austen leaves the question open
Yes, I agree with you, it seems as if Frank had some feelings for Emma. Maybe things weren’t so settled with Jane Fairfax? Maybe his aunt would have approved of Emma Woodhouse?
I’m also warming up to the adaptation, the dancing scene was so beautiful!
I’m off to watch it again.
Interesting that you agree with me about Frank’s feelings possibly being left in doubt. It’s difficult to know how much is a bluff. I definitely agree that the dancing scene is the highlight so far… here’s hoping for more in the same vein in the last episode!
I just watched Emma 1 and 2. I have not had my preconceptions or reactions shaped by any other reviews and am probably much better off for it.
I like it. I think it’s in some ways a orginal recreation of the 72 type: a comedy in a 2009 which is not to be sharp or hard. It’s comic. The scene over the baby(only less sexual and they are not holding a baby for real between them), John Knightley in the village warning Emma shows Welch knew the 72 one well. Neither of you really emphasized how comic it is; the comedy is done through speeding up scenes, music, some exaggeration but it works well. We are to like Emma but also the series distances us from her. There is a depth given by dramatizing scenes before the novel proper begins and we see how the novel in a way begins in displacement and death for 3 principles. That’s more serious than Austen intended for us to think about it in a way, but it is there (I have it in my calendar). I like the performances but agree with Judy that Mr Knightley is made too hostile, too preacherly, at least at first. The only one to get this right is the 72, but Miller, Ritson, Garai, are all right for the roles as conceived. As in the more recent ones, the secondary characters are kept more secondary than the 72 one, only Mr Martin is built up a little. Not enough time spent rehearsing some of them (they fade away before us — like Jane; also Mrs Goddard has no presence for real nor Mrs Bates). I can see where money is not spent as well as spent. Miss Bates is not given enough to do. A determination to dramatize what is left offstage is here. Some of the scenes are long and developed (like Mr Knightley and Emma quarrelling after she gets Harriet to say no to Knightley). Her treating others as dolls is made explicit there. That was a moving scene.
We have a modern landscape but I see the house is made paramount and artifice is insisted on in the paratexts.
My hunch is it is criticized because it’s too feminine. Women in bonnets, the men returning to the pre-sexy male types of the 1970-80. It’s not that sexual; Welch has taken an older attitude towards the story in order to keep the gentle satire up. It’s gentle satire and that will irritate some.
Thank you, Judy. This is on first viewing it, and on first viewing it I liked Emma 1 very much, but Emma 2 not as much I’m not sure why. I’l put this on Judy’s blog but send it as a letter to reach Ian who is not feeling well.
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To which I’ll add the best Jane and Mrs Elton are in the 72 film. I find Jane scanted in the version with Olivia Williams though she is powerful when on screen.
On the novel, I wonder if Austen herself decided about Frank’s full feelings; it’s left to us. Also how Jane really feels about many things.
Ellen
Thank you very much for sharing your initial thoughts on these first two episodes, Ellen – I’m glad you are liking it. I’m interested to hear that you liked episode 1 more than episode 2, because I found the same… but then liked episode 3 the best so far.
It took me a little while to get used to the comedy in this version, but I do agree with you that a lot of it is very comic. Just to pick on on one more point, must agree that Miss Bates needs more to do – I really like Tamsin Greig in the role, but she has never really had a speech quite long and rambling enough!
I do mean to re-watch and compare the other versions of ‘Emma’ once this one has finished.:)
Hi Judy!
I just discovered your blog and really love it. I also am a fan of costume dramas and I seem to agree with your opinions on all the movies you’ve reviewed and the articles you’ve written. I look forward to becoming a regular reader. Thank you.
Marti
Hello Marti, thank you very much for commenting. Glad to hear from another fan of costume dramas, and thanks for the encouraging comments!
Wahoo! Episode 4! Hope you enjoyed it!
ibmiller.
Thanks, I did! I’m a bit tired tonight so won’t say much now, but I loved it – want to watch it again before writing my review.
I’m so glad you loved it! And I shall wait patiently, as I am all in favor of a) sleep and b) watching it again!
Three is very good: we suddenly get a deepening of the relationship of Mr Knightley and Emma. There is a long scene between them at the end of 1, but they show no understanding of one another; in 3 they suddenly do. That the scenes are also more realistic in feel and have more continuity within them while the scenes of 1 and 2 and some of those in 3 too don’t, suggests to me it’s quite deliberate this fastening up, the use of comic background music. My feeling is what’s meant is something different: they had it in mind to be different from the previous ones and also to bring home to us this is another time and place, 18th century, not to make it easily assimilable. I did like the scene with the alphabets; I’ve never seen that one done before. Emma is casually very mean in it as she is so often in this book it’s a wonder so many readers overlook this.
Jonny Lee Miller is good as Mr Knightley and in a way is true to the character — truer than the 1995 and 1996 ones, in a way more rounded and complicated than John Carson’s acting. In these series things are often scanted and this one has scanted Miss Bates (I’ve not watched 4) and Mrs Elton.
As you can see I’m enjoying it. It takes so long to work on my book I scarcely can think I’ll ever get to write “for publication” on Emma, so I think I may write a blog when I’ve done, only it would be so complicated. I’m glad they’ve elected not to turn this one into sweeping romance (the way of the 2008 S&S); it makes for such interest to see so many varieties of moods done.
Ellen
Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on this episode, Ellen – I think the third episode was my favourite out of the series, and agree with you that there is a deepening of the relationship between Mr Knightley and Emma. I liked the scene with the alphabets too – I’d always wondered how this sort of game would have worked, so it was interesting to see it done. If you do write a blog about this series, I will look forward to reading it.:)
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