#and seeing how latam values and morals and the time it was made (2017-8) affected the story. For example i think elizabeth most prevalently

[trabandovidas]

Oh god asdfghjklzdfgh i hope you don't feel deceived in any way after this, but to be honest, there is no way in which anything can prepare you for the brazilian adaptation, truly, It's...well, you have to see it for yourself, really

But let's still try:

For starters, Orgulho e Paixão is not exactly a P&P adaptation, but rather a Jane Austen-inspired telenovela. I’ve not had the pleasure to read all of her novels (yet), so I normally regard it as a P&P adaptation, especially because it’s even more hilarious that way. But it’s actually a sense and sensibility, pride and prejudice, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Lady Susan “adaptation” all together in one

I think it was aired somewhere around 2018, five years ago, and it has 162 episodes (or around 115 in the international version). It’s also rated as not apt for those younger than 12 due to scenes of violence and sexual hints and innuendos, so you know, there is also that 

The story revolves around the 5 Benedito (Bennet) sisters (Elisabeta, Jane, Mariana, Cecilia and Lídia), and it takes place in the Valle del Café (coffee valley) in the XX century. As I said, is not exactly an “adaptation” but more simply an “inspired on”. It’s also a telenovela, so there is, of course, a high amount of extra drama. I don’t think it should be regarded as something that is serious or that loyal to Jane Austen work, watching it that way will only cause one to be angry at it (and with reason). It would be worthier to just watch it as something light, and for the laughs only

If i were to describe it in any way, I would say it’s like someone has taken all the P&P fanfic tropes, made it latinoamerican, and run with it. Just so you see how bonkers this “adaptation” is, here are some moments that are regarded as “not that weird”  in the novel from the top of my head:

The jaguar attack. This is my favourite, as you may be able to tell, and i mean, it should say it all, really! I will never understand the why. But also, I get it, cause if P&P has taken place in latam, there would ve been several more wild animals attacks than in the original, but still! someone on the orulho e paixão writing team really said "Let's put a jaguar on our Jane Austen adaptation, maybe have it attack Lizzy even, it will be awesome" and everyone agreed. And i can’t said i didn’t enjoy it, to be honest

Elizabeth wears pants to Emma’s dress up ball. This is never mentioned ever again. Also why and how

Elizabeth running away in her underwear, to end up wearing only Mr Darcy Jacket over it in the middle of the country because why not, this is just some big old fanfic, believe me. The sooner you accept that, the more you will enjoy it

An Elizabeth- Darcy kiss after a fight between the first, what? 10 episodes? 5 episodes? There is totally a first kiss between the 4 first episodes. Also the phrase “if we don’t talk, we don’t fight” being spoken before another one. Again, as i said, fanfic as it best. But don’t worry, there is still a rejected proposal! Actually, i didn’t count them, but im preeettyy sure there is more than 2 proposals and a long -and several times interrupted- engagement. They end up “eloping” tho. Because why not

Darcy almost dies, like, at least twice. Maybe thrice. This is a basic telenovela move tho, so it was very much expected

At some point, Elizabeth walks over the roof of a train in motion with a bomb inside. Have i already said the storyline is bonkers? 

Georgiana ends up locking herself in a church with her aunt annoyingly playing the piano and making her aunt run after her in a try to disrupt and frustrate her and also take revenge for her brother and his girlfriend. At this point i had stopped questioning anything that happened, i just ran with it

Mr Bingley’s mother ends up with Emma’s father. Eh, whatever, this is nothing compared to everything else

and so much much much more. Sadly there are no more jaguars :(

And some facts i just love: 

Mrs Bennet is obsessed with saints, specially lationamerican saints. She knows them all by heart, and has a saint for every little thing and prays to them all the time. This is actually a key point for one of the many subplots. She even has 5 statues of some Saint upside down (San Antonio, maybe?), one for each of her daughters, until they each marry (Depending on the saint, this is normally done for either asking the saint to go find things or get them back, or for finding love. I have to say that, as a latinoamerican, i really enjoyed this little addition to Mrs Bennet character

Darcy name in the adaptation is actually Darcy Williamson which i find hilarious. (I mean, yeah, sure, let’s pretend naming him Darcy will make more sense/ be more “normal” in latam). Also i just adore the way Elizabeth says his name to tease him. Likewise, Wickham name is Diogo Uirapuru (a bird), and there is, so so so many bird play words because of this. He is also a "poet" that steals other people poems, and i love this new take of him

Elizabeth's best friend (after Emma) is a horse. A horse. Elizabeth. I-will-rather-walk-to-Netherfield-than-take-a-horse-Elizabeth. Now being best friend to a horse. ok sure why not

Also said horse almost dies once, too. Lady Catherine is too blame, of course

There is a whole “respect workers rights god fucking damnit” thing going on on the background which i absolutely love (and i mean, it totally makes sense given the time it is set on but still)

All the references to latam food and traditions and its relationship back at the time with the wave(s) of Italian immigration and the UK interference in Brazil economy and politics

the bennet sisters are colour coded for the entirety of the show for no reason at all. Elizabeth is red. Jane is light blue. I really don't know why tho

the jaguar (seriously, im not getting over it. ever. not a chance)

Also -and this is my favourite part- since the time period is different, and the continent and country is also different, society and its rules are too different, the story changes. For once, we get to see them all just date for a while before they marry. A long time, for cases like Elizabeth and Darcy, even if they go through all the imaginable troubles for one of the main couples in a telenovela. And even then we get a jump to several years after, when they are married and settled and have a kid

But we still actually get a lot of scenes of Elizabeth and Dacry just being a couple: Them cuddling in bed or the sofa, one of them resting in the other lap, so. many. kisses. going on walks, i think there is also a scene with both of them having a bath together at some point? going to picnics, talking about their relationship, growing up and improving themselves, fighting and bantering (of course), dancing, just talking and gossiping about their friends’ relationship etc, as well as seeing Bingley teasing Darcy about his relationship, seeking advice and sharing experiences, Mrs bennet reaction (several times, actually, and to all their relationship stages), as well as the rest of the bennet sisters. (We also get to see more of Mrs Bennet love for her daughters, and Lydia gets a happier ending at the end, which will always get extra points from me)

We don't get to see exactly all the scenes JA gives us, sadly, but this is more than most adaptations gives us. This is the only part where i allow myself to actually analyse this show, because it is -as far as i know- the only one that provides us with this chance, so you can sit down and try to see, if we stayed true to their characters, if they would actually say and do that which the show shows us or not. Other parts of it... as i said before, i don't think this is a show to be regarded with that much critical eye

I think some of JA most appreciated characteristics in her work got lost to those in the writing team, and they certainly took just some characteristics and personality traits from her characters and ran with that, making them a little more two sided (or even 1 sided) than the deep 3D characters she gives us, but as i said. This is not a work you sit down and analyse too closely, or else you will end up in a very bad mood. I mean, there is a whole ass jaguar attack on it and no one mentions it again after it happens! 

If you would love to see lot of this, mixed with the actual story (with several extra drama to it), or even just laugh and have a god time, then this an "adaptation" for you

If you expect something deep and that doesn't deviate at all from Jane austen work...then this is most definitely not the "adaptation" for you

it kinda bumps me out that no pride and prejudice adaptation gave us the post-second proposal scenes. i don’t know maybe it’s just me (or not), but i so wish i could see blingley silently congratulating elizabeth on the news, darcy and elizabeth walking around beautiful hills and talking about their relationship, about how darcy first fell in love, elizabeth explaining how she knew she was different and that’s what caught darcy’s eye.

i would also die to see them trying to act like they’re not secretly engaged and then when they decide to reveal the whole thing darcy standing close to her and gently whispering in her ear that her father wants to talk to her… i’m shaking in my legs just thinking about it.

and don’t let me forget about mrs. bennet’s reaction to the news and then finally trying to be nice to mr. darcy for the first time in her life. just comedy gold right there.

and now that i think about it, it would be amazing if we could also have a glimpse of their married life and their relationship with the bingleys and the gardiners.