That being said, I DID enjoy watching this production of P&P depite the fact that I think it not as true to the spirit of P&P as the 1980 production. I found Elizabeth Garvie’s portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet exactly what it should be, and I found Ehle’s Elizabeth too volatile. The superiority of mind and character of Elizabeth and Jane over their sisters was not as apparent in the 2005 production.

The 2005 Mrs Bennet I found to be almost enough of an annoyance to stop watching the series altogether. Her scenes were generally painful to watch. Austen’s Mrs Bennet was vulgar from ignorance and lack of common sense, but the 2005 Mrs B seemed almost spitefully intent on being rude and vulgar.

As for Firth, he certainly is easy to look at, but I believe Darcy’s pride and natural reserve would not have allowed him to display so much emotion in public. I preferred the understated portrayal of David Rintoul in the 1980 production. As for Darcy in the bath and in the wet open shirt, I found that a totally unnecessary and gratuitous sop to the modern demand for sexual innuendo or explicity, and certainly nothing Austen would have penned.

But, I DID enjoy this 2005 production and would recommend it along with the 1980. This one certainly was beautifully filmed and they obviously had the budget to make it lovely to watch.

I believe you have put in words my problem with Garvie’s portrayal! I’ve liked Garvie’s work – what I’ve seen of it – but her portrayal of Elizabeth didn’t quite hit the mark with me. I believe it’s this – too much of the sunny and sweet. I remember feeling like Jane and Elizabeth had switched places.