Northanger Abbey...

I just realized that thanks to the crud, I had forgotten to share my impressions of "Northanger Abbey," last week's addition to PBS series of Jane Austen abominations...er, adaptations. Well, it was better than "Persuasion" but that's setting the bar a tad low. I first read the novel when I was thirteen or so and fell in love with its amusing send up of classic Gothic works. PBS attempts this but I couldn't help but wonder what someone who hadn't read the book got out of the weird fantasy sequences that go nowhere. I liked the performances better than "Persuasion" certainly and it actually bore some resemblance to the book, which is always nice coming from Masterpiece Theater. Oh wait, isn't that what they do? Must've been before Exxon took over funding it and worked their oil-smeared waterfowl magic on it.
But I digress...
Where was I? Ah yes. Isabella Thorpe and Frederick Tilney actually doing the nasty? In the barracks? Ummm...Isabella is shallow, manipulative and unpleasant, but stupid enough to give it away without gaining something in return? And in such a way that it's sure to destroy her reputation? Seems unlikely.
But at least I didn't want to hurl things at the TV.
Next up, "Mansfield Park." I bet they make the Crawfords boring. I have complete faith, alas.