Adaptations of literary classics have always been a part of cinema, whether it be the Harry Potter series or that awful film adaptation of Percy Jackson that everyone pretends to just not exist because it was honestly terrible. Through web series, the viewer gets to see the multiple perspectives of the characters via the character's vlogs, other means of social media that the characters use and just simply their personalities shining out from behind the camera.
1. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
Based on: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Stars: Ashley Clements as Lizzie Bennet
Plot: Lizzie Bennet is a mass communications graduate student who lives at home with her sisters, Jane and Lydia. She begins to start a vlog series for her thesis to illustrate her chaotic daily life. The story continues with the drama that follows with family conflicts and many boys vying for attention.
My opinion: It has an engaging story and continuous plot. I thought the actors did a wonderful job and the viewer could really feel the emotions of each and every one of the characters. My only criticism is how long the viewers had to wait for Darcy and sometimes it felt like the plot moved very slowly.
2. Emma Approved
Based on: Emma by Jane Austen
Stars: Joanna Sotomura as Emma Woodhouse
Plot: Emma Woodhouse is lifestyle coach, a matchmaker and an event planner. She decides to show off her business successes through vlogs. While meddling in the lives of her friends and coworkers, chaos ensues and Emma gets more and more wrapped up in the lives (and secrets) of others.
My opinion: A common theme I really like about these web series is that they have a lot of diverse characters- something Hollywood cannot say sometimes. Joanna Sotomura does the character Emma justice, especially with the stylish outfits and the personality Joanna Sotomura presents to the audience. The actors are also very genuine.
3. The Autobiography of Jane Eyre
Based on: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Stars: Alysson Hall as Jane Eyre
Plot: Jane Eyre is a 21-year-old nursing graduate who becomes a live-in home tutor for a girl named Adele at a mansion called Thornfield. She meets the mysterious Edward Rochester who has a terrible secret...
My opinion: The character herself is described as being plain and her humble beginnings are illustrated in the motif of her videos, especially through how natural the videos are taped. I felt like I could better resonate with the characters here than in any other web series I've ever watched. The web series explores darker themes too which feel truer to life.
4. Green Gables Fables
Based on: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Stars: Mandy Hammon as Anne Shirley
Plot: Anne Shirley is a high school senior in season one who has big dreams and is passionate about life in general and her studies. She makes a few wonderful friends, such as Gilbert Blythe and Diana, and has even more growing up to do in college. Season two is focused on Anne's college life.
My opinion: I love the humble nature of this web series. The actors also seem like the actual age of the characters in this web series and I honestly really like the characters' personalities. My only con is that the speed of this series is very slow and it sometimes take awhile for it to get to the point.
5. Carmilla
Based on: Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Stars: Elise Bauman as Laura Hollis and Natasha Negovanlis as Carmila Karnstein
Plot: This series has two seasons right now- season one and season two. There is also a mini web series prequel and season three should be coming soon.
Laura Hollis is a freshman studying journalism at Silas. Her roommate suddenly goes missing and is replaced by a broody vampire. Girls begin to go missing...
My opinion: Most of the female characters in this show identify somewhere on the LGBT+ spectrum and it is wonderful to have that representation. The plot is perfectly orchestrated in terms of drama and mystique in season one especially. I loved season one more than season two because I liked the plot more in season one, but that's for reasons you'll find out if you watch the series.
6. All For One
Based on: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Stars: Gwenlyn Cumyn as Dorothy Castlemore
Plot: Dorothy Castlemore comes to Dumas College to join Mu Sigma Theta. She quickly becomes friends with three of the sisters of the sorority and two other people. Dorothy Castlemore keeps fighting with Owen Rochefort. The drama begins when she hears unexpected news about Mu Sigma Theta....
My opinion: Honestly, I just started watching this series. So far, I really like the main character's personality and I appreciate the LGBT+ representation. It seems really well done so far and I look forward to upcoming videos.
Honestly, this list just proves I'm a huge web series nerd. People are always making web series based on books or just original series in general. There are a few web series that I did not include such as Frankenstein, M.D. (based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley,) The March Family Letters (based on Little Women by Louisa May Alcott,) Couple-ish(original series) and Riley Rewind (original series.) Enjoy your YouTube binging!
