Brandon makes good on that glare by kicking Willoughby's butt in a duel. I have to admit, it's rather fun seeing this "extra scene" instead of just hearing about it from Brandon. It's very chivalrous of him, no? *swoon* And the anger in his eyes! Wouldn't you love a man to fight for you like that? I love how they contrasted the fighting with Marianne writing her letter, especially when they compare the blood and the sealing wax.


Oh, Charity Wakefield ‹ even when she's heartbroken she still looks so darn pretty. And she's finally got a reply from Willoughby! (I love the look on the butler's face when he finally has a letter for her.)


Poor Marianne! And Elinor. Up until now she has had no idea what's been going on with Marianne and Willoughby, and she's only had her good faith in them both, trusting in an engagement. You don't know whether it's better or worse that there was no engagement after all! I love that last bit, with Elinor chugging back Marianne's wine.


Marianne leaves Elinor to visit with Colonel Brandon, who has come with some revelations about Willoughby. Poor Elinor ‹ she has to be the pillar of strength (pardon the expression, but it really fits) for everybody, it seems. My goodness, everyone really does load their secrets onto her! First Lucy Steele, then Marianne, and now Brandon. Granted, they're all under different circumstances, but each revelation is emotional. And poor Elinor can't share her secret with anyone else. Ohhhh, that middle cap of Brandon makes me swooooon. I'm such a David Morrissey girl. (Rickman who? ;) )


Back at home we are reminded of Margaret and Mrs. Dashwood, and Margaret reminds us that this is a modern adaptation, complaining of the plight of women in Jane Austen's time.


David Morrissey and the baby! SO CUTE. And the girl is very sweet. I rather like that we see more of this back story than just hearing about it. It brings it to life.


AHHHHHHHHH jhgjdsfvkadfjf! Can I please be Marianne? Minus the almost dying part?


The girls' brother comes to console Marianne by commenting on how she has now "lost her bloom." Yes, thanks for that. Again, Elinor must deal with all the details while Marianne is sulking. You can just see her empty smiles and nodds, thinking "How much longer is he going to talk? Please leave. Now." I like how they framed that upper-right shot, though. Very nice.


Now this I just find very funny ‹ the expressions on everyone's faces, and the shared secret between Elinor and Lucy. First, Lucy confides in Elinor that she is about to meet "the very person upon which all her hopes depend." (Or something like that.) Next, we see Mrs. Ferrers in all her pomp and circumstance who is quite unpleasant and almost humourous. The glances between Lucy and Elinor as Lucy's secret is almost revealed, and then Marianne makes some comment about Edward being happiest when he was visiting the Dashwoods. My paraphrasing based on these caps:

Elinor: *watching Lucy carefully as she mentions Edward*
Lucy: Edward is such a wonderful gentleman... :D
Marianne: I don't know what you're on about. I heard him say that he spent his happiest days with us at Norland.
Lucy: *grrrrr* >:(
Marianne: I'm sorry, did you say something?
Elinor: Oh dear...

It's almost like a catfight, haha.


Glances between Marianne and Brandon! *squee*


The next day, Lucy pays a visit to gloat over Elinor and boast of her accomplishment from the night before. Lucy has quite the sting to her comments, in that there's always an underlying meaning to her seemingly innocent words. It's like she's always got to show Elinor up and stake her claim on Edward. Then an unexpected visitor arrives...


Of course it's Edward. And ohmygoodness he goes to hold her hands!! *squee* Very intimate and forward for that time. Elinor is taken aback but quickly stops him from saying more, explaining that Lucy is there. I love the expression on his face! Talk about awkward ‹ for all of them.


Elinor tries to take a break to gain her composure by going to get Marianne... Unfortunately, Marianne isn't very helpful (as always) as she has already heard of Edward's arrival. She goes on about how lovely it is to see him again, and why did he stay away for so long? etc. Lucy is distressed and everyone is very uncomfortable ‹ well, except for Marianne. She is completely oblivious to the awkward love-triangle. And poor Edward ‹ he probably has no idea how much or how little Elinor knows about Lucy but he wants to get out of there ASAP.
As a side note, I love all the shots in this room. So light and cheerful, and very pretty with all the purples. It contradicts most of the scenes that take place here though.


Edward tries his best to flee the tension, but unfortunately for him, Lucy insists on coming with him to his mother's house. Before he leaves, there are some angsty glances exchanged between himself and Elinor. You can just see him trying to tell her everything with his expression ‹ he's dying to tell her more but he can't. And all Elinor can do is watch...


This whole scene was just hilarious. Anne Steele was perfect in her clumsy revelation about Lucy and Edward's engagement! Of course that's the exact moment when Edward and Lucy walk in together. You have to love how much of a gentleman Edward is ‹ with all this trouble, he still stands by Lucy because it is the right thing to do.


And now Elinor can finally confide in Marianne! It's heartbreaking to hear Elinor's feelings, but at least she can share them with her sister. I liked that in this version, Marianne is more comforting, and just in shock of how little she knew about the whole thing. In the movie, Elinor has to comfort Marianne because Marianne is so upset.


Another angsty Elinor/Edward scene! Elinor is relaying Colonel Brandon's offer of a parsonage on his estate. (Is that even the right wording? Ah well.) They still don't say much, but Edward wonders why Elinor has always thought well of him. Elinor replies that she could never have thought so well of him had he acted in any other way... And then they are parted, and Elinor is left alone. :(


Now the Dashwoods are off to visit the Palmers with Mrs. Jennings and the Colonel. You can see that Marianne is warming up to Brandon, and Brandon is as much in love with her as ever. *swoon*


Cue the second Marianne-running-off-in-the-rain scene. I thought this was all beautifully done, from the shots, to the music, to the acting... Poor Marianne is still heartbroken.


But instead of Willoughby, it's Brandon's turn to shine! Don't you just love how concerned he is for her? Apparently this rescue scene isn't in the book, but it does make for good watching.


Aw, he's so worried about her. GUH...


And then Elinor comes down and says that Marianne is asking for him. He's so sweet... And that look, when Marianne puts her hand on his ‹ it's like he didn't dare to hope for that much, so he's taken aback by that gesture.


That night, he is teased by Mrs. Jennings for worrying so much, but his fears prove to be well-founded. Marianne is very ill, and he rides off as fast as he can to get her mother, desperate to do whatever he can to help.


This scene is very emotional. You just feel for Elinor when there's that heart-stopping moment that Marianne may not have made it. Then she breathes, and you can just feel the utter relief and joy of it! *hugs Elinor*


Willoughby then has the nerve to show up and ask Elinor for sympathy. He explains his wretched existance, to which Elinor replies, "Marianne can never be more lost to you than she is now." Marianne is secretly watching, and in a way it seems like closure for her. She does not want to talk to Willoughby herself, and she sees her big sis standing up for her.


After Marianne has recovered, Colonel Brandon accompanies them back to Devon. Marianne is warming up to Brandon, declaring him the true romantic. (And of course he rides a white horse, lol.)


A lovely homecoming! Followed by a metaphor, comparing Marianne to a wild animal which is very uncalled for, if you ask me. Takes the romance out of it.


A short scene between sisters, with Marianne apologizing to Elinor for her behaviour. Marianne has done a lot of maturing throughout the series.


Aw, another cute Marianne/Brandon scene! Spoiled by the comparison of Marianne and the hawk, and Brandon as the tamer. Although if you look at it a certain way it's not too bad ‹ rather than comparing Marianne to a hawk, it is showing Brandon's gentler-yet-masculine side. Oh, well, it's still cute that Marianne is falling in love with Brandon! *squee*


Meanwhile, news of the Ferrers' marriage has reached the Dashwoods, and both Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne are concerned for Elinor. Elinor insists she is fine and goes about her life. I like the end shot, with her replacing the painting of Norland with the painting of Barton cottage. She is at home.


Marianne reveals that she is going to marry Brandon! YAY. Elinor is a little wary, warning that gratitude is not enough to marry upon. Marianne assures her that she is truly in love, and both sisters are elated!


So that just leaves us with Elinor's happy ending to be sorted out. Margaret spies Edward approaching the house, and everyone rushes to get ready (à la Pride & Prejudice, 2005, when Charles Bingley comes to propose to Jane. ;) ) Edward keeps trying to speak to Elinor, but politely answers Mrs. Dashwood's questions. Seriously, this has got to be one of the best endings ever! Talk about miscommunication. Elinor believes he is lost to her forever, so when it turns out that he is not married, she doesn't know what to think. It's soooo cute when she bursts out of the room and tries to go on with what she was doing, trying to hide her emotions. Of course, she fails miserably, and Edward is not about to let her get away this time. :D


Seriously, who is not squeeing like crazy at this point? There has been such a buildup, and Elinor has had to go through so much, that you have to be so happy for her when her dream comes true! Edward wastes no time in proposing, too. And when she looks around with that big smile, and he knows for sure that she really is his...


They get their fairy-tale, happily-ever-after ending after all! SO SWEET. And did anyone else think the music was remarkably similar to the music in North and South when Margaret and Thornton kiss at the train station? ;P


They're both so happy, it's adoable!! I just love them both to bits.


And Elinor and Edward get their domestic bliss in a cottage, with Elinor laughing at Edward as he tries to catch a chicken. Minus the whole chicken thing, it really is appropriate that the series ends on Elinor's smiling face. She so deserves to be happy! :D


Caps by Angelfish Icons.

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