Its summertime, which also means its binge-watching time. However, if you've exhausted the content on your Netflix account, perhaps its time to pick up a good book. But if you feel the need to watch something, head on over to the nearest YouTube account and view a great, classic, work of literature re-imagined in web-series form! Here are fourteen great literary-inspired web series to get you started!
1. "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries"
This web series was the first to kick off the literary trend. The story follows Lizzie Bennet, a 20-something communications student, and her two sisters Jane and Lydia, as the mysterious Lee Family moves into the neighborhood, bringing with them their robot-hipster friend, William Darcy. Any moments not caught on camera are re-enacted by Lizzie and her friends via the classic “Costume Theater.” If you’re new to the literary web series trend, this is the perfect one to start with.
Link to the full playlist can be found here
2. "Emma Approved"
Created by the same team as “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,” Emma Approved follows Emma Woodhouse, a Lifestyle coach, and the inner-workings of her company, Emma Approved, as the staff grows and evolves
3. "The Autobiography of Jane Eyre"
This was one of the first web series to air after the popularity of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, as content creators decided to make adaptations of their own. "The Autobiography of Jane Eyre" follows Jane’s adventures as the live in nanny at the mysterious Rochester Household.
4. "Nothing Much To Do"
This web series takes Shakespeare's comedy, “Much Ado about Nothing,” and sets it in modern day New Zealand, surrounding lovable high school students. Though the quality of the videos is more amateur then that of the four already mentioned, the “realistic” approach allows the audience to truly believe in the events that are happening.
5. "Lovely Little Losers"
Inspired by Shakespeare's “Loves Labors Lost,” "Lovely Little Losers" follows Pedro, Balthazar and Benedick, now university students, along with their new flatmate, Freddie. The story picks up about a semester after NMTD left off, and answers as well as expounds upon questions the audience was left with at the end of its predecessor. The series is also full of music inspired by characters and events in the series, and are even used as a mechanism to progress the story forward.
6. "In Earnest"
"In Earnest" takes place in a modern day university, imagining Jack, Algerno, and the majority of the original characters as college students. Just as the original play, all of the misconceptions and highjinks are prominently evident through the entire plot. Also, the characters themselves watch literary web series as well. "Nothing Much to Do," is noted to be a favorite among a few of the characters.
7. "Socially Awkward Poe"
Not completely based on a novel or play, "Socially Awkward Poe" follows the life of Edgar Allan Poe, as well as his live-in-ghost, Lenore. The creators are soon releasing a spin off of sorts, "Edgar Allan Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party," which will feature other classic authors from Charlotte Bronte and George Elliot, to Fyodor Dostoevsky.
8. "Jules and Monty"
A retelling of Romeo and Juliet, where the main rivalry is now between two opposing fraternities.
9. "The Writing Majors"
Not based on a literary classic, "The Writing Majors" poses the question, "What if classic authors such as Jane Austin, Emily Dickinson and Oscar Wilde were college roommates," and answers it perfectly with this delightful little series. Literally all the portrayals of these classic writers are spot on and practically perfect.
10. "Misselthwaite Archives"
An adaptation of "The Secret Garden," in which Mary is now a senior in high school, rather than a child.
11. "Green Gables Fables"
A charming and lovely web series adapted from "Anne of Green Gables." Though Season 1 is an adaptation of the first novel, the second season draws from the third book in the series, "Anne of the Island." The second novel, "Anne of Avonlea," was retold entirely through the characters twitter accounts.
12. "Northbound"
"Northbound" is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's, "Northanger Abbey," which follows the main character, Catherine's, first year away at college.
13. "Call Me Katie"
"Call Me Katie," is inspired by Shakespeare's, "The Taming of the Shrew." The story follows Katie Minola, an edgy feminist, her sister Bianca and all the elaborate scheming one is prone to expect from a Shakespearean retelling.
14. "Classic Alice"
Classic Alice follows the titular characters journey of living life according to classic novels. Though a clever idea at first, some of her choices in which works of literature to follow lead her into quite a few messy situations. Stories that she has lived according to include "Crime and Punishment," "Macbeth," "Walden" and "North and South."