Jane Austen fans are very protective of her legacy, so Netflix‘s yassified adaptation of Persuasion, her last completed novel, was always going to be a talking point.
The film, which arrived on Netflix on Friday, stars Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot, one of Austen’s most beloved literary heroines. When she was 19, Elliot was persuaded to break off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis) because he was a mere “commoner” without any fortune.
Around seven years later, Wentworth returns to England as a decorated member of the Royal Navy, leading to a painful reunion for the former fiancés. It would be a shame to say too much more in case you don’t know the story, but Anne certainly goes on a journey.
Throughout the novel, Austen writes Anne as an intelligent, sensitive and independent young woman, which is why she still strikes a real chord with readers today.
Directed by Carrie Cracknell, the new movie attempts to update Austen’s story in a way that many critics are comparing to Fleabag. Johnson’s Anne often talks directly to the camera – much like Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character – and the dialogue has definitely been given a modern gloss.
One line that’s drawing particular ire from Austenites: “If you’re a five in London, you’re a 10 in Bath.” Check out some of the most savage reactions below.
you could not convince me this is a period drama movie let alone a JANE AUSTEN adaptation with this dialogue… #Persuasion pic.twitter.com/r0JXg3Eqcs
— ً (@darcyslizzy) July 15, 2022
What is (preemptively) pissing me off about the new Persuasion is that it speaks to a much, much larger problem in adaptations of classics where studios seem to think all these female characters need to be glossed with a zany millennial girlboss patina to become Relevant™️
— meha (@chaipters) July 8, 2022
so far i’ve heard the new netflix persuasion has these horrifying lines:
—“It’s often said if you’re a 5 in London, you’re a 10 in Bath.”
—”I’m an empath…”
—“now we’re worse than exes, we’re FRIENDS”
haven’t we as a society suffered enough!?!?!!
— M ✨🔭 (@m_bee4) July 9, 2022
Currently watching “Persuasion” and I don’t know who Dakota Johnson’s character is because THIS is no Anne Elliot.
— Lonyia Taylor (@MagnificentLoni) July 15, 2022
I’m not 15 minutes into #PersuasionNetflix and I’m like 🙄😖🙃🤣 This is the most Bridget Jonesy Austin adaptation I have ever seen. “If you are a 5 in London you’re a 10 in Bath.” 😲 Also the frowny face on this note! I’m taking it as a full comedy from here on. #Persuasion pic.twitter.com/La9n47uHpD
— Kwana aka K.M. Jackson (@KwanaWrites) July 16, 2022
While generally not a believer in carceral solutions, I did just see the new PERSUASION and think everyone involved should go to jail for the line about how “It’s often said if you’re a 5 in London, you’re a 10 in Bath.”
— Alison Willmore (@alisonwillmore) July 3, 2022
Yes, she would. #persuasion pic.twitter.com/OdwKTsYnRZ
— Erin MacAlpine (@erinfmac) July 15, 2022
Still, there are also plenty of people sharing how much they enjoyed Persuasion, so it probably pays to keep an open mind before you give it a go. You can check out the trailer below.
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