The 1995 BBC mini-series Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, tops IMDb's "The Best Period Dramas" list and can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
The drama is based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, widely considered one of the greatest books ever written and often ranked at the top of "best of" lists. The series synopsis reads: "Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet’s five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth."
How it ranks on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes
Simon Langton directed the mini-series, with Colin Firth playing Mr Darcy and Jennifer Ehle playing Elizabeth Bennet. It comes top of IMDb's "The Best Period Dramas" list, ahead of 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2007's Persuasion.
The series holds an 8.8/10 score on IMDb and a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has also drawn widespread critical acclaim and tops many period drama lists.
Fan reviews call it a masterpiece
A Google reviewer wrote: "I have watched it countless times over the past 20 years. I have watched every adaptation of this novel, but this, for me, is superior to all others, in every way. It's a timeless masterpiece which must be watched and experienced."
Another reviewer described the series as a "masterful adaptation", while a further Google reviewer said: "Absolutely fantastic piece of work. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle give an amazing performance, and you can feel all the emotion that was meant to be there. This did absolute justice to the book, and it's so enjoyable."
Vox praises the BBC adaptation
In an article, Vox called the series "the best adaptation of the book ever made" and noted that one scene was later replicated in Bridget Jones's Diary, where Firth plays Mark Darcy. Vox wrote: "The BBC version gave viewers what the Guardian called "one of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history": Firth’s Mr Darcy emerging, dripping wet, from a lake — only to encounter a shocked Elizabeth Bennet."
Pride and Prejudice is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
