Death Comes to Pemberley (2013) User Reviews (58)

Loved it spite of the bad bits

[mmsbk · 8/10 · 12 December 2014]

First , I do have to agree with reviewers who noted anachronisms of language and highly unlikely behaviours - Georgiana falling to her knees crying in front of male servants in the public rooms being one of the most obvious. I do not believe for a moment in the central premise that Darcy and family would be cast into Outer Darkness socially because his brother-in-law was a criminal. Gossiped about undoubtedly, but bad apples among the aristocracy are hardly uncommon now or then.

I feel also critical of the costuming and general appearance of Elizabeth , it become clear at the end as to why she might have looked tired but why she should be so badly dressed is beyond me . One coat-like garment resembles nothing so much as a hessian bag and she appears to only wear two plain dresses for weeks on end. Georgiana seems to have only one - though it is a nicer one . And Elizabeth's hair seem so be permanently dishevelled for no good reason. While I'm carping , I also have to say I don't understand why there appears to be almost no upper servants in the vast edifice of Pemberley. Such an establishment would have a steward and/or butler, several footmen and under-footmen and Mrs Reynolds would have many maids under her . Ah well, no matter really I guess.

On the plus side, I thought all the acting was great , especially the female cast. Lydia was beautifully cast and played, as was Lady Catherine and Mrs Bennett . I wish they could have had bigger roles in fact . So, in spite of the above mentioned criticisms, I have to say it was a very watchable period drama and , actually, much more fun than the the book . I like PD James very much , but this was NOT her best work and frankly rather a tedious dry read .

Loved it despite its flaws

[Johnaricka · 7/10 · 24 February 2018]

So many bad reviews that I'm surprised I watched it at all. I agree it was lacking in the costume department. Elizabeth seemed to wear the same dress or nearly the same one daily. A woman of her means should have better clothing. It also lacked in staff housing. No footman, not butler, not lady's maid. They're should have been a chef and a maid for the chef. All those maids in the kitchen should have been busy I'm the house. It wasn't true to the time. That aside I rather enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for period pieces. I loved seeing it all play out. I wanted more when it was all said and done.

So many mistakes but still...

[Amonute-Matoaka · 6/10 · 31 May 2014]

I know what you think if you have watched these episodes and I agree with you. In fact, I think I can enumerate every essential error this series has.

Character-wise it was most definitely not true to the book. Mr. Darcy would never treat Elizabeth in such a manner, he is a changed man after all. He is portrayed very harsh here and even though he is more animated(thanks to Elizabeth) he doesn't show real emotion, even reserved. Elizabeth was also wrongly illustrated. There was no liveliness about her, no spirit. She looked so tired all the time, which simply could not be possible since her way of living is utterly luxurious and as a notion it does not agree with her character. She is also a person with good judgment and self-awareness and she would not doubt her life the way she did in this film. She also wouldn't have taken things so seriously and would have tried to lighten the situation more. I will take this chance and complain about her wardrobe as well. I understand that the creators wanted to show that she didn't change her ways even though now she is incredibly wealthy. Still, three very similar and plain dresses is taking the matter too far. Even Lydia's clothes were better than hers.

Plot-wise, it had lots and lots of holes. I don't think the Darcys would lose their credit, their good name, their position in society and their friends just because Darcy's brother in law was convicted for murder. I am not that familiar with the customs of the early 19th century, but I think they have stretched things a little bit there. I also don't believe that they had a great grandfather who lost so much money, that they had to pay his debts for three generations in order to maintain their fortune. Such a story would be more likely to discredit them in society than Wickham. And relatives such as Lady Catherine would not be so proud to have them in their family. The plot is also problematic because it has relied a great deal on characters which were wrongly portrayed(especially colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgianna) so it loses a lot of credit from that(at least for me, as I have read the book and I am acquainted with said characters). I can also not forgive them for trying to show us a better version of Wickham. War hero, free spirited and broad-minded. Yes I am sure he and Lydia are a couple of liberal misunderstood people who want to live their lives to the fullest. YOLO etc. Utter nonsense.

In the end though, even if I saw and understood all that I was left feeling somewhat fulfilled. Because there were some parts along the way, where I would catch a glimpse of the original characters. They would somehow manifest themselves in the little things (like the way Elizabeth banters with Lady Catherine de Bourgh or Mr Darcy). And in my heart I would recognize these beloved characters. They greeted me like old friends. And even though it was for a very short while, the faint picture of how they went on, left a smile on my face and filled me with gratitude for the creators, who tried and ever so slightly succeeded in such a demanding task. But Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books so I guess I'm a bit biased. I would recommend watching it as a way to spend a light evening.

Fanfiction Comes to Pemberly

[KurotsutaMurasaki · 11 November 2014]

Let me just preface this by saying that I am a fan of both Anna Maxwell Martin and Matthew Rhys. Anna is a beautiful, wonderful actress. I've found her enjoyable in Bleak House (2005) and The Bletchley Circle. Matthew is a talented, insanely attractive Welshman with a beautiful, robust singing voice (as evidenced in the Mystery of Edwin Drood). They are both very skilled at what they do when they are in their element.

Regency England is NOT their element.

There are a lot of problems with Death Comes to Pemberly. Some I can't even put my finger on.

The biggest problem is that Anna and Matthew don't feel like Elizabeth and Darcy.

We'll start with Matthew - he's too high-strung for this part. As the conflicted John Jasper, he works. As the Upright and dignified (but still slightly awkward) Darcy - No. He's handsome, but in a very unconventional way, which does not at all fit with tall, dark and striking Darcy. He swings about quite a lot which, apart from being improper for the time period, is simply not a way one would describe Darcy as moving.

Watching Anna in this was not unlike watching her performance in the Bletchley Circle or Bleak House - the parts she plays in both of the aforementioned are women who have been through trials. That's what Anna Maxwell Martin does. But Elizabeth has spent most of her life in comfort without any greater trial than an insufferable mother and a sister running off and eloping. She shouldn't look this tired. The past six years of her life has been spent living in her dream home with her loving (filthy rich) husband.

And then there's the way SHE moves in the part. Setting aside the manner in which they have her speaking, there's her body language. The way she walks and holds herself is quite simply NOT ON for the Regency. At one point she faces a pillar and leans against it with one arm over her head and her other hand ON HER HIP. It's a very masculine post and not at all appropriate for a well bred woman of the era. At another point (when she is speaking with Lady Catherine no less) she is sitting at a table, leaning forward (once again) with her hand on her waist. I half expected her to cross her legs. To top this all off, when she walks away from Lady Catherine, she swings her hips.

Now let's consider Georgiana and the way she falls - sobbing - to HER KNEES in full view of the SERVANTS. This is another unladylike thing for a woman as demure and well-brought-up as Georgiana. Also it seemed like an overreaction considering the situation. Maybe she would react like that if she'd, say, just received news that her brother had died.

We see Lydia (who at least was well cast with Jenna Coleman) wearing QUITE a lot of scarlet. While I'm sure well all amuse ourselves imagining her pushing boundaries without a though for convention, wearing scarlet dresses in that time period is a bit much, even for her.

The story seems to waffle quite a bit as far as the "true character" of Wickham goes. Also, Lydia is way too self aware. Then of course we have magistrates talking about "tampering with evidence" and completely convoluted subplots concerning Darcy's Great-grandfather nearly losing Pemberly (?), Making Col. Fitzwilliam judgmental and of poor character (he's the frickin' nicest guy!) and Mrs. Young being Wickhams half-sister? What in the name of all that's holy?!

Basically, what this all boils down to is that this is an adaptation of... well fanfiction. Published fanfiction by a well respected author, but fanfic nonetheless. And fanfiction (especially of the Mystery genre) get's way to convoluted, way too fast.

Not amazing, but an enjoyable mystery series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 5 September 2016]

A three part murder mystery penned by PD James, featuring the characters from Pride and Prejudice, a daring feat many would say. For those that have read the novel, I'm sure would agree it's very good, I believe, for the most part, in her re-creation of the characters, but is the television adaptation any good?

It held my attention, and for the most part I enjoyed it, it is after all a very clever story, and as you'd expect from the BBC it boasts some super production values, the sets, costumes etc, all spot on. It's the performance of Matthew Goode in my humble opinion that steals the show, his Wickham is handsome, demands a degree of sympathy, whilst having a degree of villainy running through him. Matthew Rhys is very good as Darcy, cold and serious, even though in my mind's eye he doesn't match the appearance I have for him. Anna Maxwell Martin, a truly talented actress I felt was miscast, nothing wrong with her performance, but she just fails to add any spark into Elizabeth, for the entire three hours she looked like she had a headache.

Tom Ward, Trevor Eve, James Norton all good, Jenna Coleman and Felicity Kendall were both on great form, adding energy into their roles.

Flawed, but enjoyable, 6/10

Absolutely wonderful - especially Jenna Coleman

[Janet1612 · 10/10 · 27 April 2022]

I first watched this some years back and wasn't too sure about it, but watched it recently and absolutely enjoyed it.

Everything about it is enjoyable; the cast, acting, scenery, sets, costumes. I did laugh at one review which says that LIzzie is in the same costume all the time - and 'her with all her money!'. Obviously that reviewer doesn't know Lizzie from the original P&P, no airs and graces, happy to wear what she is comfortable in. This same reviewer also complains about the lack of house staff. Did they watch the drama? There are plenty of staff discretely attending in the background.

A murder mystery, love story, court drama and Lizzie and D'arcy finding their love again.

Jenna Coleman was great as the awful Lydia. Plus Matthew Goode as Wickham - what more could you ask.

Not Jane Austen

[catd55 · 7/10 · 11 May 2020]

This would have been a good series if it had not appropriated Jane Austen's characters and settings. I was surprised at the casting of Darcy and Elizabeth, who were both dour and unattractive. The plot was interesting, but rather than being an homage to "Pride And Prejudice", which, like "Gone with the Wind", should remain intact and untouched by those with less imagination. The production was excellent, with beautiful costumes and sets, as always for British period dramas, but the leads playing the Darcy's were too old. Elizabeth looked like a worn out servant of at least 45, when Elizabeth Bennet would have been 27 at most, with wit and sparkle. They could not rise to the performances of Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, who will always be the only Darcy and Lizzy. And why is the beautiful Georgiana so much taller than her own brother, who looks nothing like her? The mystery was a competent one and the performances of the supporting actors well done. But it does no justice to Jane Austen. This series would have been much improved as a period murder mystery with completely fresh characters.

Very catchy plot!

[tweatherlake · 9/10 · 25 March 2016]

If you are like me and enjoy your Pride and Prejudice, and a good murder plot, then you would love this series! The choice of the victim is good, but the one of the suspect is very smart, and I also love the way it delves into the soft points of the characters - Darcy's possible regret of marrying Elisabeth, or her not understanding of duty. I was fascinated by the re-creation of an inquest and trial from that period (who knew that judges were allowed to drink brandy during the trial?) and particularly by the depiction of the characters. Elisabeth in particular is just like I would have imagined, she is the same spirited outspoken person we know and love, while Darcy is more brooding, quiet and responsible (while I may have chosen other actors in terms of appearance, I think they portray the characters very well as reactions). I also enjoyed the way Lady de Bourgh is portrayed, and remarkably, I even grew a different understanding of Wickam!All in all, definitively worth to watch by P&P wit a murder twist lovers!

Not Pride and Prejudice but Okay Mystery

[tklamb-00591 · 7/10 · 14 March 2015]

Being a fan of PD James and Jane Austin I was looking forward to watching this show. It took a while to get past Elizabeth being totally out of character...at least from the stand point of Pride and Prejudice 1995 version. They dressed her down and made her look kind of dowdy and act miserable through most of the show. They didn't change the character of Darcy much--as my mother said, it looks like he has a toothache through most of the show. The colonel was also changed to be a rather secretive fellow, unlike his easy going character in P&P. The other characters seemed to mesh well with their original characters. If you have never seen Pride and Prejudice (1995 version) then you won't be disappointed. It is a good little English mystery.

Jane Austen would approve.

[johns-79280 · 10/10 · 2 June 2019]

Beautiful screening of the P.D. James novel which borrows characters from Pride and Prejudice. Won't disappoint.

Much better than the book

[caitriona-shanahan · 7/10 · 29 October 2014]

I am a Jane Austen fan. I also enjoy reading PD James, but in my opinion, her spare writing failed to make her sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" an enjoyable read. Surprisingly, and pleasingly, this adaptation is a great improvement on the book, and is an enjoyable piece of romantic drama.

The screenwriter moved Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship back to the core of this story, where it belongs. In fact, the screenwriter ensured that this entire story focused on the relationships between different couples, and the impact of societal norms, to great success. PD James, in contrast, focused on the actual crime, and individual characters such as Wickham and Col Fitzwilliam. The screenplay has a careful examination of the relationship between Darcy and his sister Georgiana, and the damage inflicted on that relationship by Wickham's original sin. Austen did not travel down this byway, but it is interesting.

The screenwriter also took the opportunity to add back in the characters of Mrs Bennett and Lady Catherine de Bourgh and to use their magnificent characters to create scenes that add little to the plot, but give us a chance to enjoy these legendary grands dames of literature. The comedy generated by Lydia and her mother is great fun, and adds some much needed levity.

The reveal of the instigator of Captain Denny's death is well handled, and the identity of the individual was a genuine surprise to someone watching with me, who had not read the book. But, in retrospect, it was not surprising - which is the hallmark of a good murder mystery.

As befits a BBC programme, the photography is beautiful, and the costumes and settings are gorgeous.

However, it's a long way from perfection. The screenwriter needlessly added some elements of overwrought drama - especially (spoiler alert) Elizabeth's overnight drive through the forest and dash to the gallows to save Wickham's life.

Others have commented on the use of contemporary language, which was disappointing, as so much effort was expended to have correct costumes and set design. However, the dialogue as not as grating as the casting of Elizabeth Bennett. Alone among the cast, she carries herself as a creature of the 21st century. Her walk and mannerisms are entirely inappropriate for the times. It should also be noted that she alone of the Bennett girls seems to have lost her bloom rather quickly. I understand that Darcy came to love Elizabeth for her fine mind and quick wit, but the book is clear that all the Bennett girls (with the exception of Mary) were English roses. This actress is more of a lily - striking and elegant, but lacking warmth.

Still, a pleasant experience and a far happier experience than reading the original book.

Brilliant & Romantic Continuation of a Classic

[kmpearce-50897 · 9/10 · 15 July 2019]

I consider myself a pretty die-hard fan of both the original book and 95 adaptation, and this version of what could possibly be the future Jane Austen left off the page for her P&P characters was everything I didn't know I needed; a Darcy who smiles and laughs but whose core broody proudness also still makes an appearance, an incredibly sweet romance for Georgiana that thank heavens isn't with Colonel Fitzwilliam, a relationship progression for Darcy and Elizabeth which feels authentic within the context of their past, a more fleshed out in person back and forth between Darcy and Wickham, and a surprisingly deep side of Lydia... or at least as deep as Lydia can get, haha. The script is also witty and sharp, the cinematography gorgeous, and most importantly, I could see pretty much every actor they cast playing their characters in a straight adaptation of the original classic story.

Good but irrelevant to Pride and Prej

[emilybowdidge · 7/10 · 17 November 2018]

I would think of this as a mystery series that has no relation to Pride and Prejudice, as it seems like thats what they said when they made it! Acting is great-good cast HOWEVER They are not true to the characters of Darcy and Bennet...it's just not them-the dialogue and personality does not suit them. Matthew Rhys-great actor howeverr Darcy is cold and harsh-he doesn't show his emotion through expression which is what Matthew Rhys does.It ruined it for me so as an adaptation/spin off of pride and prejudice it is Badly done but for a mini series its made very well and acted brilliantly especially by Matthew Goode who does a great performance as always.

The characters are the same only by the name

[ErinNavan · 2/10 · 3 January 2014]

First of all, I am a huge fan of "Pride and Prejudice", and before you say that this is a separate work of art, written by a different author and therefore a different thing, I would like just to add - if they didn't want to follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen, they should had written about new characters. However, they didn't.

Aside of that - story is stretched, unbelievable and unreal.

So... While I could get used to Matthew Rhys as Mr. Darcy and Matthew Goode (whom I really like) as Mr. Wickham, Anna Maxwell Martin doesn't have that "something" to be Elizabeth. Still, I could bear that - but each and every character (except for Mr. and Mrs. Bennett) had been so changed, that we wouldn't recognize them without their names.

Darcy is more narrow minded than in the beginning of P&P - although JA stated that marriage made him milder.

Elizabeth and Lady Catherine still can't stand each other - although JA made it clear that Lady Catherine overcame her share of prejudice and became a dear guest to new lady of Pemberley.

Wickham is all of sudden brave soldier, as if we forgot that he really had no qualities whatsoever, except his charm.

And, just when you thought you saw all, you realize that Lydia is a wise woman, devoted to her marriage, that deliberately closes her eyes to her husbands affairs. As if we don't know that she is spitting image of her mother - not deliberately blind, but truly blind. And while Jenna Coleman was the best casting part of the show, some things, like her recklessly throwing her coat behind her and generally wearing red, were just pushing over the borders of normal, even for Lydia.

Georgiana's falling on the floor in tears and despair in front of the servants is something that Georgiana would never do.

Mrs. Younge to be governess to Georgiana needed to be at least a decade, if not two, older and her being Mr. Wickhams sister is plain silly.

And, above all - The Fall of Col. Fitzwilliam is probably the saddest part of the show. Darcy, knowing him his all life, could not have been so blind about him.

And, just one more thing - the Darcys are one of the richest people in England of that time. It is: 1. Next to impossible that his grandfather nearly lost everything; 2. Impossible for him to lose reputation so easily and quickly, based on scandal with his brother-in-law; 3. Absolutely impossible to have that scandal ruin him financially that he would need to rely on Col. Fitzwilliam.

p.s.

There are no elements of horror. They talk about a ghost, but that is all.

Austen meets the Poirot Christmas Special

[alfa-16 · 27 December 2013]

Firstly, I hate fanfic. My teeth start grinding after a few paragraphs, even when it's written by PD James.

Secondly, if you're going to do anything with P&P you have to judge your two main casting decisions with a perfection required almost nowhere else. We all know Elizabeth and Darcy so well. So the producers of two productions which have dared to go off piste, Lost in Austen and this one, must have thought long and hard. Gemma Arterton did extremely well in Lost in Austen, a blend of period drama, summer RomCom and Dr Who, and Anna Maxwell Martin, as you might expect, is simply perfect here, in Austen meets the Poirot Christmas Special.

Anna gives us the mature Elizabeth, holding court at her more informal Pemberley, with an older Darcy who has recovered all his manly confidence in personal relationships and yet is even more deeply smitten. They have a son and are clearly wonderful parents. Both characters have changed in exactly the way Austen predicted in her last chapter. Elizabeth has risen in status and now wears the authority of Mistress of Pemberley, rationally softened, like its master. They are unusually sparkly together and very reminiscent of the Netherfield scenes. This is principally down to the extremely good performances from two actors and an their understanding of their characters which goes way beyond the script.

The whole cast is outstanding, the best in a period drama since Emma09 and the mystery is satisfyingly interesting. There's lots of clever 'dialogue' with the original and arch references to earlier productions (it's the 95 Pemberley).

What's not to like?

Can't wait for the next instalment, as Pemberley itself is challenged and their relationship is tested. I do hope the Bingleys, Caroline at least, turn up soon.

Of course, it isn't Austen. If it hurts to think that it is, then imagine it as a 100-year prequel to Downton Abbey, 10 times better acted and 50 times better written.

Intertextual Combination of Heritage Drama and Whodunit, Inspired by the 1995 Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 27 December 2013]

Daniel Peacock's adaptation of P. D. James' reworking of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE offers a fascinating combination of styles and stylistics. It unfolds in the leisurely manner of most British television detective thrillers, taking care to sketch in the characters and define their relationship to one another. A murder occurs two-thirds of the way through the first episode, and the remainder of the time is spent outlining the series of hypotheses, assumptions (some mistaken), and clues that lead to the unmaking of the culprit. DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY also situates itself squarely in the heritage adaptation genre, with plenty of exterior shots of the Darcys' house (I counted twelve in episode one alone), augmented with moments of period 'realism' as various types of coach and horse arrive and depart from the front entrance. The cast comprises a series of star names calculated to appeal to different generations of television viewers; Jenna Coleman from EMMERDALE and DOCTOR WHO shares the screen with Trevor Eve (WAKING THE DEAD, SHOESTRING) and Penelope Keith (THE GOOD LIFE, TO THE MANOR BORN). The acting is competent without being out of the ordinary, although I do wonder whether the Lydia Bennet of Austen and James would have reacted with quite such ferocity to her husband's arrest. What gives this production is true fascination, however, is the way in which director Peacock deliberately references Simon Langton's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1995) throughout the mise-en-scene. This can be seen in the costume- designs (by Marianne Agertoft), as well as in the characterization: Elizabeth Bennet (Anna Maxwell Martin) communicates the same spirit of quiet determination embodied by Jennifer Ehle in the earlier production. She is also shot in much the same way, with the emphasis placed on her reactions to what happens around her. Her mother (Rebecca Front) seems completely oblivious to her offspring's feelings and shrilly complains of having had a fit should anything go wrong, in a performance inspired by Alison Steadman's reading in the earlier revival. Likewise her husband; James Fleet follows Benjamin Whitrow in maintaining a facade of polite loyalty to Mrs. Bennet, while searching for any opportunity to escape. The experience of watching DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY is a fascinating one, an exercise in identifying intertexts as well as understanding how adaptations are shaped as much by other adaptations as by their source-texts. Definitely worth watching.

Substantial addition to Pride and Prejudice!

[sophiedianne-95947 · 10/10 · 27 November 2020]

I am DEFINITELY an advocate of period dramas. And like many others, I've seen 'Pride and Prejudice' a few times before. I love seeing stories progress and thanks to P.D James, we have the opportunity to see Lizzie and Darcy's journey continue. Albeit turbulently.. 'Death Comes to Pemberley' has been written with respect and keeps audiences on their toes. I think it would warm Austen's heart to know that her work has inspired others. Whilst keeping true to its original themes and characters. My only criticism would be the casting choices. I'm still not convinced by James Fleets performance. He certainly isn't my first choice as Mr Bennett, but he was okay.. Maybe I've watched 'the Vicar of Dibley' too much?! Overall, I would highly recommend this adaptation. And it's definitely worth a rewatch.

Whodunnit? Not Jane Austin

[souplahoopla · 6/10 · 13 September 2021]

Okay I know this is a piece of fan fiction, and I did enjoy it. It does keep you guessing til the end and it's worth watching. But....

When you use well known and loved characters from something as famous as Pride and Prejudice, they should at least stay faithful to their original characters. Which it does, mostly, but the portrayal of Elizabeth Bennett was just really off. She's supposed to be beautiful, witty and fun loving, whilst perceptive. In this she comes across as a plain, almost miserable woman. I did not like this portrayal at all and it did ruin it for me a bit.

Its not Pride and Prejudice, But maybe that's not a terrible thing or at least something new.

[ashleywetherall · 8/10 · 19 August 2022]

This is not Jane Austen this is P. D. James.

The thing about this mini series is that it actually gets better with repeated viewings. These are more complex than the characters presented in Pride and Prejudice, Complex because this is set 6 years into the Darcy's marriage.

Everything is seemingly Ideal, or is it? But after a killing on the grounds some cracks begin to show.

We get a very different Elizabeth Bennett from Anna Maxwell Martin, Her Lizzie seems unsure about her role as Mistress of Pemberley. She fears she is out of her social class and seems more happy talking to the servants and grounds staff.

Darcy hasn't changed much but this is because he is more at home. But the murder and its repercussions seems to make him doubt himself and maybe the last 6 years. Matthew Rhys plays him with assured confidence never trying to emulate previous actors in the role.

The rest of the cast of seasoned actors and actresses are universally excellent with special praise for Matthew Goode as Wickham and Jenna Colman as a hilarious but also a more complex Lydia.

I won't go into plot details but only to say that this is a very good sequel of sorts and in my opinion actually improves on its source novel.

Cheeky fan-fic sequel to "P&P" will irritate Janeites, but it's still pretty entertaining

[The_late_Buddy_Ryan · 7/10 · 10 October 2015]

My wife likes to drift off to sleep to the murmur of well-bred British voices, but this isn't that kind of series. I guess you could call it fan fic, since it's a Jane Austen sequel-murder mystery mashup based on a novel by P.D. James. The storyline's very involving, the cast is just about perfect, and the way the murder plot dovetails with the backstory (i.e. "Pride and Prejudice") is especially ingenious--though you may find that several of JA's original characters, like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, have undergone a startling personality change, and Mrs. Bennett has evolved from a fluttering fusspot to a full-blown hysteric. There are no trench-coated DCIs or cops of any kind in Regency Yorkshire, so it's all up to a whiskery magistrate and his constables to arrest the obvious suspect and to Mrs. Darcy to find the real killer.

Fine performances by costume-drama veteran Anna Maxwell Martin and Matthew Rhys (the sardonic gay brother on "Brothers and Sisters") as the Darcys; Matthew Goode ("Stoker") is always convincing as the charming ne'er-do-well (in this case, Mr. Wickham). Janeites will surely object to the anachronisms in the dialogue ("even as we speak"); Jenna Coleman, as Lydia, seems more like a Kardashian at times than an Austen ingenue, and I'm not sure that even Mr. Darcy with his £10,000 a year ($1.2 million in today's money, they say) could afford the upkeep on Castle Howard...Still, if you're not too serious about period authenticity and the Austen legacy, it's all pretty entertaining. Available on streaming Netflix.

A truly thrilling mystery that pays tribute to Miss Austen

[sammit-22641 · 9/10 · 18 July 2016]

I would like to start by saying I am a huge Austen fan. I've read Pride and Prejudice multiple times and the Keira Knightly version of the movie is a favorite of mine. That being said, I loved this adaptation of the Bennets/Darcys. I think the casting is excellent. As for Lizzie being too old, I disagree. Lizzy would have been close to 30, and the actress playing her is well within appropriate age. I also think her "fairness" is closer to the novel's version of Elizabeth than Keira Knightly. In this adaptation, Darcy is truly his broody self, not a pretty, sad, misunderstood gallant. The actors have been chosen not for their "beauty" but for their acting. The rest of the cast plays their parts with easy believability. The story line is wonderful mix of murder-mystery and flashbacks to the original novel. The story gives plenty meat for the characters and satisfies in many ways the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth that was not continued in the books. I was happily surprised by the ending, it caught me by complete surprise and that made the wait all the better. I only wish this excellent cast could create more story for this beloved novel. I've watched it 3 days in a row, no regrets!

If you read the book...........

[sirocco-1 · 7/10 · 11 February 2016]

you would know who Captain Denny's murderer is and why Denny was extremely angry with Wickham. You would know that the story came to a satisfying end; and there was never an estrangement between Darcy and Elizabeth; that they have two sons - Fitzwilliam and Charles; or that Mrs. Bennet never arrives at Pemberley being her idiot self, and finally you have the pleasure of reading about the Gardiners and their home on Gracechurch Street. In the book - Hardcastle never discovers the real reason Wickham was in Pemberley grounds, he never learned about Wickham's affair with Louisa Bidwell because he doesn't care - that is who his character.

Death Comes to Pemberley was PD James tribute to Jane Austen and reads extremely well - finished it in about 3 hours because PD James knows how to tell a story, keeps you engaged and I have to say she skillfully continued the Pride and Prejudice story that was about 8 years after Darcy and Elizabeth marry.

But alas, the PBS series made a hash of an excellent book and created something that doesn't fit the characters we know and love from Pride and Prejudice. I wonder if it was done all for an assumed need to modernize? The only reason I'm not trashing the entire series is well the acting isn't bad for what is it - otherwise if you want to enjoy an awesome tribute to Jane Austen - I highly recommend the book.

A better Mr Darcy needed??

[debbiekvj · 9/10 · 11 July 2021]

I've only watched the first episode on PBS. Mr Darcy is cute in his own way and his voice is so much like the Mr Darcy I would imagine, but I think Matthew Goode would have made a Mr Darcy that we could have really wanted to watch.

Nearly but not quite

[Malteasergirl · 7/10 · 11 December 2018]

Being mainly an Austen fan rather than a murder mystery fan I was watching this mainly in the hope it would prove a satisying sequel to P&P. In some ways I felt it succeeded, but this may be because its the only opportunity we've ever had to see a post P&P story on screen and therefore it has no competition. I enjoyed the first episode very much for this but sadly after that it became a bit too serious and uncheerful. I felt the interaction between Darcy and Elizabeth was not affectionate enough, they barely ever make eye contact and when they do it's usually only to glare at each other. I love Matthew Rhys as Darcy and wouldn't object to seeing him play Darcy for real but just couldn't see Anna Maxwell Martin as Elizabeth, although she is a great actress and I've enjoyed her in everything else I've seen her in (North & South, Bleak House). I can see why they cast her but it just didn't work for me, as many others have said.

I loved Mr and Mrs Bennet (Mr Bennet quite rightly gets the best lines, the bit where he almost begs Darcy to let him come with him into the woods to chase a potential murderer rather than stay with a hysterical Mrs Bennet is brilliant). Jenna Coleman is a great Lydia, as annoying as she's meant to be. Matthew Goode as Wickham is a good casting, he plays him well, perhaps a little too sympathetically but I think that may be more of a problem with the plot than the acting.

Its a clever plot for a murder mystery but having Wickham as a potential victim of a miscarriage of justice is weird because it made me feel torn as a viewer as to whether I should feel sympathy for him or not? And can i just say I HATE what was done to Col Fitzwilliam in this! In most Austen fanfic he's portrayed as cheeky and mischievous but always a faithful brother-in-arms to Darcy who often comes to his aid when needed (as in the original P&P).

All in all I enjoyed parts of this production, it looked beautiful and was an interesting idea but would please like another P&P sequel more in the spirit of the original P&P and not quite so dark. There are many fine fanfic books out there that could be adapted or more mashups in the vein of Lost in Austen (which I enjoyed very much).

Death didn't come soon enough

[joesgirljeri · 3/10 · 21 October 2015]

The book was an anachronistic festival of weak plot turns and loose ends, that the movie could have tightened up and made into a compelling story. The locations are gorgeous and the pacing has that deliberate BBC period drama feel. But that's about all that's good.

Darcy has regressed into WORSE than the beginning of P&P - an overbearing, bull-headed cuss with no regard for the feelings of his sister or wife.

Col. Fitzwilliam as the baddie? Puh-leaze.

In 5 years, Elizabeth has apparently aged into a nagging, care-worn fishwife. She is haggard and tired. Her dresses are dowdy. She was awful and I REALLY LIKE this actress.

And in all this mess, Wickham and Lydia emerge as the likable characters? I mean, Matthew Goode would be sultry and delicious playing a bridge troll. But the mis-casting is really obvious here.

Overall a swing and a miss. Watch it with no sound and just make up your own dialogue. It will be better. I promise.