Courtesy | Netflix

Netflix just dropped the trailer for a new “Pride and Prejudice” six-episode series, releasing on Dec. 3, and the trailer was surprisingly good — but surprisingly modern.

“Pride and Prejudice,” written by Jane Austen and first published in 1813, is a close look at Regency-era marriage and love from the perspective of the genteel but poor Elizabeth Bennet. The story follows Elizabeth as she overcomes her prejudice to fall in love with the reserved, wealthy Fitzwilliam Darcy, who learns to moderate his pride. 

Written by Dolly Alderton and directed by Euros Lyn, Netflix’s new series will feature Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Fitzwilliam Darcy. 

Judging a movie by its trailer is like judging a book by its cover. But first impressions matter, and early judgment is inevitable. Janeites, Austen’s many obsessed fans on the internet, want to know what to expect from this series, especially after Netflix’s disastrous take on “Persuasion” (2022).

In a “Still Watching Netflix” YouTube video made to break down the trailer’s scenes, Alderton said her vision for the series was reinterpretive.

“I wanted to express in this trailer all the ways in which we have been faithful to the book to reassure people and yet give them glimpses of all the ways in which we have reinterpreted or reimagined or reanalyzed those beloved moments from such a classic,” Alderton said. 

The trailer begins with Elizabeth addressing her older sister, Jane (Freya Mavor). She says, “One day, Jane, I shall either be a governess and a spinster or a wife and a mother. And then finally, we may talk about something else.” 

Jane responds, “Such as what?”

The trailer doesn’t answer that question. (In fact, it’s a false dichotomy — since the Bennets were not educated by a governess, she would be more likely to act as a companion to an older woman.)

Alderton said she always knew she wanted that line from Elizabeth to be the opening line of the trailer. 

“She really is, in moments throughout the book and throughout our adaptation, trying to work out what her thoughts are on love, how much of a romantic she is, how much of a pragmatist she is, what kind of marriage she wants to replicate, what kind of marriage she doesn’t want,” Alderton said. “Having that kind of contemplative moment from her at the top is a part of the central drama and her quest that she’s on.”

Based on the trailer and Alderton’s interview, this adaptation will highlight a more modern perspective on the novel than the classic 1995 and 2005 versions.

Featuring pastel colors and sweeping landscapes, the trailer highlights the book’s happiness and life. Bright music adds to its lively feel. Quick jumps show snippets from many scenes, from Elizabeth and Jane perched on a roof to dancing at country balls and Mr. Darcy dramatically skipping rocks. 

The architecture, interior design, and use of candles appear period-accurate without overdoing it. In contrast to the lived-in, earthy feel of Joe Wright’s 2005 movie adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” this series already feels brighter.

However, the characters’ behavior and dialogue immediately felt wrong. Out of the 14 lines spoken by various characters in the trailer, only three are directly from the novel. One additional line, the book’s iconic opening statement, is spoken by Mrs. Bennet in the trailer. The other 10 lines are completely new — written by Alderton, not Austen.

In an adaptation of a novel, viewers normally expect most of the characters’ lines to be true to the book, but that’s already not the case here.

The younger Bennet sisters run around (literally) with curl-papers, or papillotes, in their hair — an accurate method for curling hair in the Georgian and Regency periods. 

Though the trailer shows many scenes around their home, Elizabeth and Jane only interact once. This de-emphasizes their close relationship in the book. Overall, the five sisters’ interactions in Longbourne, the Bennets’ home, feel playful, similar to the familial atmosphere of Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” (2019). 

Modern-sounding lines such as “home is noisy and somewhat chaotic,” spoken by Elizabeth to George Wickham (Louis Partridge), feel out of place in a 213-year-old story. 

But I’m most skeptical of Elizabeth and Darcy’s chemistry. Corrin’s critical attitude and Lowden’s stoic act seem flat. 

Both of them are too old; Elizabeth is supposed to be 20, but Corrin is 30. Lowden is 36 while Darcy should be 28. While Corrin looks reasonably young, Lowden looks his age in the trailer, which worries me; Darcy should be young and handsome, not old and emotionless. 

The dialogue diminishes Elizabeth’s charming wit by modernizing and changing her speech. In comparison to her seven lines in the trailer, Darcy only says one line on-screen and one off-screen.

And worse, the two of them hardly interact in the trailer, meaning we can’t really see their chemistry.

One important character hardly appears in the trailer — Mr. Bingley, played by Daryl McCormack, who is half African American. Bingley’s sister Caroline is played by Siena Kelly, a black woman, and does not appear in the trailer. Elizabeth’s aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, also played by a person of color, does not appear either. 

Netflix’s reluctance to cause a controversy over their casting is one theory to explain these characters’ absence. Or perhaps the series will downplay their importance.

All told, this adaptation feels like a unique, female-forward approach to the novel. Perhaps that’s Netflix’s justification for a new remake of “Pride and Prejudice.” They created a more “modern” version of the film, with people of color in important roles and a reinterpretation of Elizabeth’s character and story. 

Financially, this series also makes sense for Netflix. The novel and existing films have a huge fanbase which could generate a massive income for this adaptation. 

On Dec. 3, fans will see if this series justifies its creation.