Persuasion 2007:
Through the eyes of a Janeite began while watching the 2007 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. After many efforts in trying to make Captain Wentworth see sense, and complaining about Elizabeth’s head- basket (noone will ever know what that thing is), I thought ‘Why is noone writing this down?’ So here it is, a collection of screencaps annotated with the opinions of a very diligent yet humble janeite, who is truly and utterly besotted with Captain Frederick Wenworth (you can’t beat a handwritten letter like his).
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This is Anne Elliot of course, played by the lovely Sally hawkins, who i must admit stares at the camera far too much (it gets slightly creepy).
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Anyway, Anne lives in kellynch Hall. A house so fancy, it has servants whose sole responsibility is to stand at various points in the hallway, just in case ink may be needed.
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Anne and her family must now leave their fancy house and ink- holding servants as they are in debt. A pity, indeed.
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Giles! I mean, Sir Walter!
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Borg Queen! I mean, Lady Russel!
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Anne is a little upset.
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You see, eight years ago, Anne was persuaded to break off her engagement to a young sailor named Frederick Wentworth. Hence the title (which wasn’t jane’s idea).
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Lady Russell, the one who did the original persuading, reminds Anne that the match was highly unsuitable. What with them being made for each other and all…
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Yeah, thanks for that.
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There is no reason for this photo, other than the fact that i love old letters with ribbon
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So Sir Walter and Elizabeth leave the gorgeous house and ink- holding servants to head to bath.
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Oh, and did i mention that the new people moving into kellynch Hall are Wentworth’s brother and sister- in law, which means that Captain Wentworth may be in the neighbourhood soon? Yeah, Anne’s not so happy about that.
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No, Mary’s not ill, she’s just annoyed that everyone likes Sophie Thompson more.
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Thankfully, Anne can visit the Musgroves who live nearby and have cake and flowers and really nice china. Anne likes it there…
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…Until she finds out that Frederick is coming to dinner. Then, not so much.
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Fortunately for Anne, her nephew has a fall.
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“Nope, not using my nephew to get out of an akward social situation with my ex. I’m just a devoted aunt.”
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The next morning; however, Anne has no way to get out of the inevitable reunion with Frederick. perhaps he’ll declare his undying love for her that very moment and beg for her hand in marriage.
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Or mabye not.
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Poor Anne has to endure endless social encounters with Captain Wentworth. He gets to stand looking all hot and wounded, while she, poor thing…
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…has to look at him being all hot and wounded, and listen to what kind of wife he wants. His criteria?
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Anyone but Anne. Ouch.
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Ah, but what’s this?
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Sexy piano playing watching. Perhaps there’s hope.
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Then again, mabye not. What with the shameless flirting with Louisa Musgrove and all.
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That stings!
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Can someone please tell Mary to stay out of the camera shot! It’s getting really creepy.
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Sexy horseback riding. *sigh*
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If Anne wasn’t already planning on hiding in a cave of loneliness, we have the perfect man here to persuade her.
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This does not really advance the plot, but come on, do i even need a reason?
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Not looking at her. *
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Seriously, I’m not looking at her.*
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See? Not looking.*
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But someone else is looking. And he likes what he sees.
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Introducing the false hero. See also: Mr. Willoughby, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Wickham, etc.
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“There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise…” – Persuasion, Ch. 12. Or, you know, maybe there was. Anne it seems has spent these last eight years attending medical school. Those skills have certainly come in handy in this adaptation.
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Sexy cravat untying!
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Sexy Regency scruff made even hotter by the pleading look to his former love! Yes, we saw that sneaky glance Frederick.
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Sexy Regency shirtsleeves!
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It hurts because I’m so good looking.
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Trying not to look pleased that this unfortunate tragedy has brought her back into Captain Wentworth’s good graces.
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Yeah. So much for that
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Anne now has to schlep to Bath…
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…to live in a house with a politically incorrect staircase. (Those figures, incidentally, were used in the 1970s BBC version.
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Brutus! I mean Mr. Elliot!
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Meanwhile, back in Lyme, Captain Wentworth learns what happens when you flirt shamelessly with a girl you have no intention of marrying while trying to make the girl you’re really in love with jealous.
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Sucks, doesn’t it?
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Anne likes riding in the carriage
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See? Look at that smile! She has no idea who she is going to meet next.
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Mr. Elliot and his sideburns are endearing themselves to Anne.
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Anne gets a letter from her goofy brother-in-law informing her of the upcoming marriage between Louisa and he-who-shall-conveniently-not-be-named.
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Okay, my heart is breaking for her.
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In spite of the ugly coat.
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Uh oh! I think Buffy went to the Bronze last night with Xander and Willow instead of staking out vamps in the cemetery.
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Wet naval captains! (Somehow made even sexier by water.)
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Admiral and Mrs. Croft have some news.
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I’m sorry? What now?
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Guess who’s come to Bath? (By the way, need some cheese? I know a good cheesemonger.)
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But look who it is! And apparently he’s still wet. (Not that I’m complaining, mind you.)
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I have nothing to say. Insert your own dirty thoughts here.
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Adorable crow’s feet!
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Again, I have nothing to say other than, “Dammit, just kiss her already!”
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Stupid Mr. Elliot and his bad timing. I choose to blame the sideburns.
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I’m sorry. I’m momentarily distracted by the basket on top of Elizabeth’s head. Moving on.
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Oh, Captain Wentworth. You should be followed by candlelight wherever you go.
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Anne agrees.
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If you listen very carefully, you can actually hear his heart breaking in two.
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Pwned.
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Again with the bad timing. Urgh slimy hands, i think i’ve just vomited in my mouth. Sorry Jane.
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The next morning, Charles’ man-crush on Captain Wentworth is revealed.
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Captain Wentworth, after letting Charles down easy, gets down to the business at hand. His business? Looking hot.
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“My feelings for you cannot be denied. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love…” Sorry. Wrong book.
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Anne learns how much gossip can suck. Or help, as the case may be.
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This is Captain Wentworth’s “I’m using every ounce of self control I have not to throw you up against the window and have my way with you” face
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Mrs. Smith, conveniently, catches Anne in the Royal Crescent to inform her that in case she – or the audience – had any lingering hopes that Mr. Elliot is a catch, he’s really not. As if we care at this point. (By the way, whatever Mrs. Smith is paying Nurse Rooke, it’s not enough. A miracle worker, that woman.)
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It’s very hard to pay attention to the Most. Romantic. Thing. Ever. Written, especially when your heroine is dodging geese. (Trust me. There were geese.)
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Back to the Bath 500 meter dash. Run, Anne, run!
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Thankfully, the finish line is worth getting to. Please make some effort to reduce your height Frederick, Anne is struggling down here
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Excuse me. I’ll be over here in the corner melting into a puddle.
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Wait a second, is he kidnapping her? When did he become the Dread Pirate Wentworth?
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Because £25,000 could really buy a lot back then. Including entailed properties.
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That?
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Is a man in love.
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Now all there is to do is to hold Rupert Penry- Jones hostage, and make him dance with myself and Miss Smith.
There we have it, the end of Persuasion through the eyes of a Janeite. Hopefully it has entertained you for a while. Now i shall get back to work on the many other Jane Austen adaptations (whilst crying in the corner screaming “Please! No more screencaps!”). Mansfield Park 2007 I think should be next. Well, mabye I’ll watch Persuasion one more time…