Why You Should Be Watching ‘Emma Approved’

Photo via Randomkiwibirds on Livejournal.

I don’t talk about web series too often–because I watch too much TV as it is and adding multiple web series would be absurd. Although there was that time that I tried to convince the world to watch The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. But I’ve noticed, as many others probably have, that fictional web series are becoming more and more popular. The CW network even launched it’s own website to host its four original web series called CW Seed. With the increase of quality writing and production values in web series, as well as the shift toward watching more media on web devices, it’s no surprise that the audience for this kind of medium is growing.

Photo via Pemberley Digital on Twitter.

Although I don’t keep up with all the web premieres and continuations as well as I do with television, there was one series I was particularly excited for: Emma Approved. The series was created by Hank Green and Bernie Su, the minds behind Pemberley Digital (the hub for all these series.) Their immediate follow up to the LBD was Welcome to Sanditon, an interpretation of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, Sanditon. Now, Pemberley Digital is adapting a more well known Austen novel with Emma Approved: Emma (obviously.) Although Emma Approved is only on it’s 8th episode, I’m already in love.

Why ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’ Is My New Obsession

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries posts two new videos a week. Photo courtesy of DFTBA.

It’s been a whirlwind romance. At first, I only saw the occasional gifset of those snarky Bennet sisters–and the charmingly awkward Darcy–on Tumblr. Then, everything changed when I came down with one of those nasty bugs going around this time of year and was couch bound. I watched all 6 hours of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries currently on YouTube, and fell in love. It’s fresh! It’s hip! It’s a new take on a classic story! Plus, did I mention it’s freaking awesome?

The LBD is a mixture of new media with classic literature, which is a perfect marriage in my opinion. It tells the story of Lizzie Bennet, a 24-year-old graduate student, who, along with her sisters and friends, narrates her life through confessional-style vlogs. The web series premiered on YouTube on April 9, 2012 and has amassed a rather large fanbase, as well as some media attention. The Guardian named it “the best Austen adaptation around.” While this series seems to be growing in popularity by the day, I decided to try my own hand at forcing people to watch the Lizzie Bennet Diaries (because you definitely should.)