I kept hearing people talk about The Lizzie Bennet Diaries online but for some reason never looked into it seriously until last week when hubby was out of town and I was thus bored and in need of distraction. Two crazy days later I had watched the entire series and was unabashedly in love with it.

The LBD is an online modernized adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – told through youtube videos, tumblr pages and twitter conversations, all compiled for your viewing pleasure here. Told largely from the perspective of Elizabeth Bennet (obviously), the series does a really cool job of taking the original story and bringing it to a modern era. Some previously small characters get a much deserved reworking – some even become a different creature or relation all together.

I think they did a really great job balancing staying true to the original story but also making it make sense in a modern era. The girls are more focused on their education and careers rather than just on their love lives and other aspects of the story are changed up a bit while still keeping in theme. They also do a great job of making reference to things from the original book in a quirky way and sort of jabbing at that fourth wall a bit.

And okay, honestly apart from the wonderful story telling and creative use of social media, I think the thing that makes the show SO compelling is the amazing cast. Ashley Clements who plays Lizzie is amazing in this role. She is endearing and hilarious and basically amazing. I think her career is going to sky rocket soon. Her sisters on the show, Jane (played by Laura Spencer) and Lydia (by Mary Kate Wiles) embodied their roles perfectly and I would say brought them to another level entirely. The other two sisters from the book are reinvented in the web series as cousin Mary (played by Briana Cuoco – sister of Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory) and Kitty is… actually a kitty.

Another stand out performance is Julia Cho who plays Charlotte – a character who really doesn’t get a lot of fleshing out in the book, in the web series she is probably one of the Top 3 characters on the show. Julia is another actress that I see going really, really far in her career. And of course, Darcy. Oh Darcy – Daniel Gordh was amazing in this role and his chemistry with Ashley Clements was off the charts. Despite not actually being shown for most of the series, his character is definitely one of my favorites.

I could go on and on and on – but I think you get the idea. This show is a must see for Jane Austen enthusiasts and anyone who thinks they could maybe possibly by a Jane Austen enthusiast, maybe. I really can’t recommend it highly enough!

Ready to watch? Check out the first diary entry and prepare to be too busy for cooking or cleaning or socializing or coherent conversation for a few days. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Already watched the LBD and in withdrawals like me? Next up is Emma Approved, coming soon!