Lost in Austen, Episode Three Review: Miss Amanda Regrets

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.

• Click here to go to ITV’s website
  
• Episode Three on Pop Sugar
• My review of Episode Two