Episodes
Sunday May 10, 2020
Ep 50: Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice 2005
Sunday May 10, 2020
Sunday May 10, 2020
Big news! Maggie and Kristin are back to review the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen and directed by Joe Wright. Knowing that this adaptation has generated some controversy in the Austen community, the girls attempt to tread lightly over difficult ground, acknowledging where this movie shines while also attempting some thoughtful critique. While we'll never be able to love this version wholeheartedly, we fully support and respect our fans that do! We hope you enjoy our thoughts on the movie, the direction, the performances, and the "Brontefication" of Jane Austen. For purists, please note that Kristin says something historically inaccurate in this podcast: by 1797 there was a trend toward natural hair color because of the 1795 hair powder tax. So please disregard her assertion that all the men would have had powdered hair!
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Minipod 2: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Hi y'all! We're back with another fluffy minipod for those of you who need extra podcasty-goodness during this time while we're all staying home. In this mini-episode, Kristin and Maggie talk about something ENTIRELY unrelated to Jane Austen - the recent theatrical release of Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. Despite not having even a whiff of Jane Austen about it, Maggie and Kristin greatly enjoyed this darkly funny superhero movie from the DC-comic universe, and highly recommend it.
Thursday Apr 09, 2020
Ep 49: EMMA Part 2: It Was With the Gloves
Thursday Apr 09, 2020
Thursday Apr 09, 2020
Okay, we know, it's been out for months. But we asked ourselves, did we REALLY understand the new Emma movie on our 3rd, 5th, or even 8th viewing? Of course not! It darted through us with the speed of an arrow that we had to do a second EMMA podcast! Here are all the things we SHOULD have said, all the things we FORGOT to say, and all the things that were too brilliant to burst upon us until our brains had marinated in this movie for weeks. Join us for our laughing, crying, singing, essential second podcast on the movie EMMA.
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Minipod 1: Emma and Harriet in "Three Loves," a Duologue by Rosina Fillipi
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Maggie and Kristin bespeak your indulgence as young performers, because they've decided to amuse themselves with a mini-podcast format during this time of social distance! Today, they're tackling a duologue from Rosina Fillipi's collection, first published in 1895. For the history of these duologues, check out the book The Making of Jane Austen by Devoney Looser, which explains the cultural significance of this collection, which was intended for drawing room performances. In honor of our current obsession of the moment, we've chosen a selection from Emma!
Sunday Mar 08, 2020
Ep 48: EMMA.
Sunday Mar 08, 2020
Sunday Mar 08, 2020
The wait is over! At long last, we're back to talk about the new movie EMMA. directed by Autumn de Wilde, screenplay by Eleanor Catton, and starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn. This totally bonkers adaptation subverted our expectations at every turn, yet still managed to be wonderfully faithful to the source material. The movie's score is inspired, the sets and costumes are divine, and every cast member is downright fantastic! We loved the deft insertion of slapstick comedy, the honest exploration of Emma's relationship with Harriet Smith, and also the butts. If you want to listen to two dorks rave about something for an hour, this is the podcast episode for you.
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Ep 47: Sanditon, Or, a Once-in-a Lifetime Investment Opportunity!
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
[UPDATED 11/29/2020: This episode was updated to remove an extended discussion of medical and pharmaceutical research practices which we feel is no longer appropriate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the record, we have full confidence that the pharmaceutical companies who are developing COVID-19 vaccines are doing rigorous medical research according to best practices]. First Impressions fans, we're back with a discussion of Jane Austen's Sanditon, the unfinished novel fragment, now a major motion picture! (Uh, make that a BBC miniseries written by Andrew Davies). In this podcast, we examine Jane Austen's opinions on medical science, her feelings about her own illness, and the question of whether the Sanditon enterprise was ultimately destined to succeed or fail. We also include a discussion of the first three episodes of the miniseries that have so-far aired in the US. Jane Austen may have died before she could render her verdict on capitalism, but we like to think she would appreciate our... speculation.
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Ep 46: Movie Review - Northanger Abbey 1987
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
We're ringing in a new decade with a very special movie review episode! Hardcore Austen fans out there may be aware of the delightfully weird 1987 BBC adaptation of Northanger Abbey, starring Peter Firth and Katharine Schlesinger. Despite "missing the joke," this bizarre adaptation throws the viewer many delightful curveballs, including the surprise new French characters, the steamy Roman baths, and the unexpected saxophone solo! We review the movie, discuss our thoughts, and take a look at the year ahead. (Sadly, since finishing this episode, the white rosebush has died of grief.)
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
Ep 45: Northanger Revisited
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
Gentle listeners, after having been schooled at this year's JASNA conference, we're re-reading Austen's fantastic first novel with new appreciation for its extreme genius. Join us as we revisit everything Northanger has to offer, from its always-hilarious narrative voice, to its lovable and intuitive heroine, to its unique and inimitable way of elevating gothic storylines so that they become "real." Austen's genius shines through every aspect of this sublime work of comedy, and we hope you enjoy our enthusiastic discussion of it.
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
EP 44: JASNA Recap
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
If you hadn't heard, Maggie and Kristin recently attended the Jane Austen Society of North America's Annual Meeting! Are you ready to hear about all the fun we had at JASNA 2019 in Williamsburg? Wondering what new insights we have into the conference's theme, Northanger Abbey? Or just wondering if Kristin and Maggie managed not to embarrass themselves? Check out this JASNA recap episode where we share funny stories, fascinating details, and all our favorite moments from the conference.
Thursday Sep 12, 2019
Ep 43: Among the Janeites Part 2 and JASNA Pre-game
Thursday Sep 12, 2019
Thursday Sep 12, 2019
Hello dear First Impressions fans! We're back with the second part of our discussion of Among the Janeites by Deborah Yaffe. This time, our discussion focuses on the founders of JASNA and the fascinating history of the organization. After wrapping up our remarks on the book, Maggie and Kristin share their views and expectations about their upcoming trip to Williamsburg - because if adventures will not befall these 30-something women in their own villages, they must seek them abroad!