Though limited in my familiarity, I have always been drawn to Austen-esque stories. Something about the simplicity and romance of life in Austen times is appealing and comforting; these themes run constant in Netflix’s recent adaptation of Persuasion, and it was just as enrapturing as the classic Pride and Prejudice.

Now, I have not read the original Jane Austen novel, but in viewing the film without preconceptions, I found it a very pleasant watch. Those who have read the book seem to have been left with something to be desired after seeing the movie. As someone who had not read the work beforehand, I judged it at its face-value and still found it entertaining, relaxing and non-demanding.  

Dakota Johnson plays the witty Anne Elliott, who is in the thick of her wallowing after being persuaded to leave the love of her life eight years prior. The love in question returns to her with a greater fortune and level of honor than he had previously held. The stage seems set for a beautiful reunion between the two – but things have changed in those eight years. Anne and her past lover, Frederick Wentworth, navigate their social circumstances until finding their way back to each other. 

Cosmo Jarvis’ portrayal of Wentworth was, in a word, disappointing. I believed Wentworth’s character projected romance and desperation, but the actor fell flat and shallow. I had difficulty connecting with him and truly did not see much chemistry between the two love interests. Whilst I enjoyed Johnson’s time on-screen, Jarvis seemed frustratingly stiff and took away from the film that was, otherwise, a joy.

Anne’s sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, were considerably funny, and the domestic cacophony that follows them everywhere greatly added to the experience. Mary’s hypochondriacal, dramatic outcries were some of the best touches – there are few people I relate to more than Mary. 

Persuasion did remind me of Netflix’s other success in Bridgerton. They fused the modern and the era-accurate to craft a relatable and accessible version of a loved classic. It did go a little far with calling characters “tens,” but the shock of something so modern in something so vintage was a nice addition.

All in all, Persuasion proved a great watch with a strong cast, built on an even stronger story. Stream the new film on Netflix and let me know how the original book compares!

We can’t go over Volume 1 of Stranger Things 4 without also going over Volume 2! I was shaken; appalled; heartbroken over the finale of Season 4. Hopefully, it’s been out long enough so that there are no spoilers for you anymore. With that said: a moment of silence for our dear boy Eddie Munson, please.

Words cannot even touch how much these final two episodes rattled me. We nearly lost some of our strongest characters, and with the Duffer brothers mentioning there would be a handful of deaths, each near-miss felt real and raw. I am so thrilled that the series acknowledges that the good guys don’t always win. It’s nice to see a hero’s journey in television, but it’s also nice to be shocked and left wondering. 

The role music played in Volume 2 was utterly triumphant. Eddie’s climactic “Master of Puppets” scene will go down as a monumental piece of television – and I’m positive it will shake me just as much as it did the first time. These battles against Vecna and each monster from the Upside Down are already legendary, but some Metallica is just the cherry on top.

Dustin’s encouragement during this part melted me, and the way he handled Eddie’s death after the fact was incredibly touching. He told Eddie’s uncle about him when he knew he wouldn’t get much information elsewhere; he made sure his uncle knew that Eddie died a hero for the town that hated him. Few scenes have ever driven me to be as emotional as these. I bawled, and bawled, and bawled.

Also: Jim Hopper. David Harbour thoroughly evolved since season one, and he has gradually become one of my favorite characters. His time in Alaska, enslaved by the Russians, was extremely hard to watch, but his reunion with Joyce tugged violently at my heart. His reconciliation with Eleven hurt even more profoundly.

All of the kids in the Netflix series support each other in such an iconic way. Even if one doesn’t enjoy science fiction or horror, the interaction and connection between the kids is solely enough to make the content great. The writers ensured that camaraderie was steady throughout each and every episode of the series thus far, and we can imagine that season 5 will come to the ultimate point of no return. 

With Max in a coma and with Hawkins continuing to spiral – just more noticeably now – 2024 seems farther away than ever. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things will be released in two years. Every person in the Stranger Things 4 universe really put their all into this season. If you have yet to watch the series, please let this piece persuade you into jumping on the bandwagon. There is a good reason why there are so many of us already here. Trust me: Friends don’t lie!