Writer: Guy Andrews
Director: Dan ZeffCast: Jemima Rooper (Amanda Price), Gemma Arterton (Elizabeth Bennet), Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy), Alex Kingston (Mrs. Bennet), Hugh Bonneville (Mr. Bennet), Morven Christie (Jane Bennet), Tom Riley (Wickham), Perdita Weeks (Lydia Bennet), Christina Cole (Caroline Bingley), Lindsay Duncan (Lady Catherine de Bourgh), Guy Henry (Mr. Collins), Michelle Duncan (Charlotte Lucas) & Tom Mison (Mr. Bingley)
The final part of this surprisingly enjoyable rom-com fantasy tumbled to a decent climax, albeit one that will have the sci-fi crowd quibbling over heroine Amanda's (Jemima Rooper) existential crisis. Fact is, Lost In Austen is aimed at costume drama lovers first and foremost, so there was unfortunately no big mind-bending conclusion a la Life On Mars or Quantum Leap. Sadly, Jane Austen didn't descend from the heavens and give a baroque version of The Architect's speech from The Matrix Reloaded just before the end credits. But it did provide the usual mix of amusing dialogue, enjoyable performances and enough closure to satisfy most people...After a not-especially-thrilling dash to Hammersmith -- to find Mr. Bingley (Tom Mison), who had eloped with Lydia (Perdita Weeks) – Amanda's lies about her hometown existence were spared exposure by Wickham (Tom Riley), who had arrived ahead to spare her blushes and help Amanda tweak her cover-story. I caught inferences that Wickham is himself an inter-dimensional traveller like Amanda, primarily because of his unwarranted kindness in keeping her secret, and also through his agreement with Amanda that a nasty cut sustained by Mr. Bennet (Hugh Bonneville) would have to be sewn closed – a medical act that sounded preposterous to the ears of Mr. Darcy (Elliot Cowan).
The main source of entertainment in part 4 was Amanda's unexpected arrival back in modern-day London, along with a very puzzled Mr. Darcy. Guy Andrews didn't have long, but he managed to write an effective sojourn around contemporary London for the out-of-time characters, with Mr. Darcy as the archetypal fish-out-of-water: standing bemused in London traffic, sharing a bus with "a surfeit of negroes", identifying Teletubbies and scratching a TV screen's picture. Even better was the belated return of inter-dimensional exchange student Elizabeth Bennet (Gemma Arterton), who had actually managed to fit into the 21st-century with comparative ease: she's become a nanny, learned how to use a mobile phone, discovered and bookmarked a Colin Firth fan-site on the internet, and given herself a pixie-like modern hairdo.
Sadly, a full hour of this new adventure wasn't on the cards. The episode returned to the slightly less interesting Austenland for the last 20 minutes, where Amanda finally put the "Pride & Prejudice" storyline back on track with the help of Elizabeth. Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet (Morven Christie) got their chance of happiness, thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Lindsay Duncan) agreeing to annul Mr. Collins' (Guy Henry) unconsummated marriage, in return for Amanda's departure. Mrs. Bennet (Alex Kingston) lost her twittering obsession with finding male suitors for her daughters, finding an Amanda-like strength of her own. The great romance of Elizabeth and Darcy was more complicated to rectify – with Lizzie agreeing to try and fall in love with Darcy, as the story demands. Yet it was implied Elizabeth has outgrown this restricting Georgian lifestyle, thanks to her holiday in the more vibrant real world – likely hinting at a return trip to contemporary Hammersmith for another series.
Lost In Austen was also faced with a tricky storytelling problem in its final moments, as Amanda's attempts to get everything back on track was at odds with the audience's desire to see Amanda and Mr. Darcy become an item – however much Jane Austen would be "spinning in her grave". The final moments were vague about the success of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's pairing, ending instead on Amanda and Darcy having a full-blown kiss.
Overall, despite some creaking towards the end and the disappointing lack of a big surprise or twist (couldn't Wickham have been more openly behind it all?), Lost In Austen was generally very entertaining and richly written. The actors all did a superb job, with Rooper really growing into her role and Cowan proving to be very charismatic and watchable after a wobbly introduction. The supporting cast also left good impressions – particularly charming Bonneville, quivery Kingston, likeable Mison, poised Christie and sneering Christina Cole (sadly underused in this final part).
To summarise, Lost In Austen was a fine piece of populist drama from ITV1; probably the best light-hearted and wantonly silly entertainment Sunday nights never had. A sequel might be stretching things, but a spin-off would be very welcome. What The Dickens, anyone?
24 September 2008
ITV1, 9pm
