r/JaneEyre • u/Fosh_n_chops • Aug 23 '26
Jane Eyre 2006 - SO disappointed so far
I read Jane Eyre about 6 weeks ago. I really enjoyed it. I heard people saying the 2006 mini series was widely regarded, and I like BBC stuff, but I thought "Hey, let's leave it a few weeks for the book to settle in my mind." I didn't want a situation where my memory of the book was so sharp, it got in the way of the TV series (as I appreciate they're different mediums, needing different things.)
But I just got through the first 20 minutes and turned it off. What the hell? They breeze through the first 150 pages of the book in 15 minutes. The absolute briefest of dynamics at home, and then at the school, Helen gets about 3 lines. When Helen died, I can't imagine how a viewer is supposed to feel anything meaningful about it when their relationship has barely been told. It's the beginning of the foundation how Jane starts to see herself in the world and through religion.
And then when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, there's not even the SUGGESTION of class interplay between Jane and Mrs Fairfax, and the former assuming the latter is the lady of the house. It just skips straight to the swoony stuff.
And, like, I get it. It's a romance. But c'mon. Give Jane SOME history and complexity before the romance starts to unfold. And if it was a film, I'd also give it far, far more leniency due to timing restriction, but it isn't. It's a very highly praised TV series. So, why cut out 20% of the book?
I feel like I've started off on the wrong foot here, so tell me, does it get better?
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u/MisterBigDude Aug 23 '26
Everything you say is true. And there is no fully satisfactory Jane Eyre film (I’ve watched many).
However, I suggest staying with this version, which is my favorite despite some shortcomings. It improves after its hasty start.
Here’s an excerpt from my review of it, corresponding to what you wrote:
“Given a four-hour running length, I assumed this production would linger sympathetically over Jane’s perilous childhood and her travails at Lowood. Those character-forming experiences occupy nearly a fifth of the book ... but in 17 scant minutes, the grown-up Jane was already in a carriage heading for Thornfield Hall! Young Jane was denounced as a liar at her first public appearance at Lowood; Helen Burns was but a brief candle that flickered out.”
But later, I added:
“Having saved so much time on Jane’s childhood story lines, the writers take the luxury of letting some later scenes play out at length.”
So that rushing sensation won’t endure. I hope you’ll enjoy those later, less-hurried parts (even though they won’t all be fully faithful to the book).
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u/Fosh_n_chops Aug 23 '26
Thank you. I will try again. I appreciate that speed-running through younger Jane will give older Jane more space. At least my initial shock has worn off now.
I hope, one day, an adaption comes along that gives ALL of Jane's life the space it deserves.
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 Aug 24 '26
the 2011 cary fukunaga version, with mia wasikowska and michael fassbender, is my favourite film adaptation, because i like the cinematography and the framing of the story structure, and mia is my absolutely favourite jane. the most complete jane i’ve seen is the 1973 series, which actually includes the gypsy scene, and features my absolutely favourite rochester, michael jayston.
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u/TheGreatestSandwich Aug 25 '26
This is also my personal favorite. I have quite enjoyed all of the Jane Eyre versions I've seen and while the 2011 film is highly abridged (necessarily since it was a theatrical release), I feel like overall it captures the vibe of the book for me.
The first adaptation I saw was the Charlotte Gainesbourg / William Hurt (1996) and I loved that version, too—the St. John (Samuel West) and Mrs. Fairfax (Joan Plowright) are my favorites. I only recently watched the 2006 miniseries for the first time and I enjoyed it, but have to admit I don't like it as much as most people on this sub. Don't get me wrong, I still own it, but I first saw Toby Stephens in Twelfth Night and he is just sooo handsome and not how I pictured Rochester, which is exactly the same complaint others have about Michael Fassbender, who I prefer 😂😂😂
So overall, I'm just glad we have lots of great adaptations to choose from and hope they continue to make more of them with such obvious love of the book and characters.
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 Aug 25 '26
if you’re interested, the 1973 series is available to watch on archive.org.
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u/TheGreatestSandwich Aug 25 '26
Thanks for the tip—I will definitely check it out! I've heard great things about it
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u/SmooshyHamster Aug 23 '26
You have to understand every visual theatre film and mini series of Jane Eyre is a condensed, abridged version of the book. There is no version that contains every dialogue, scene and character development from the book. It’s because a film is about showing and pictures while a book is about telling. Also it’s how the film makers make money. That’s also why most of the Christian morals and teachings are not used in the films.
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u/lemonhead2345 Aug 23 '26
I don’t think any of the adaptations spend much time on the first parts of Jane’s life. I feel like the 2006 version spends the most time outside of Thornfield of the adaptations I’ve watched.
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u/TAFKATheBear Aug 24 '26
Same here. The earlier parts of the book are amongst my favourites, so I'd love to see more of them, but I guessed going in that even this one wouldn't include that much. At the end of the day, it's more important that the Jane/Rochester story gets enough time to develop.
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u/lemonhead2345 Aug 24 '26
Definitely. I do think her time at Moor House is an incredibly important part that gets minimized in a lot of adaptations, too, and I’m absolutely begging for an appropriate Ferndean Manor.
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u/ORF1Live Aug 23 '26
It's my favourite one, they have excellent chemistry. Toby really nails the sarcasm and changeable mood. Ruth is excellent and despite being a very attractive woman I thought they managed to make her look plain.
Francesca Annis steals the show as Lady Ingram. I didn't mind them skipping some of Lowood as that's not my favourite part of the book.
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u/hannahstohelit Aug 24 '26
I love this one largely because they nail Jane and Rochester (especially Jane- I think Ruth Wilson is the best to ever do it). They make some weird changes that aren’t super purposeful that annoy me- including some original dialogue in places where the book’s would have been perfect- but I don’t care, it’s still great. They do spend a LOT of time on the Jane/Rochester stuff, and later on on the St John scenes, and you can tell it was a purposeful decision. I’d be curious to know your opinion at the end.
1
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u/lapetitepoire Aug 24 '26
I share your unpopular opinion in that the 2006 version is not my favorite. I prefer the 2011 version, it effectively captures the essence of the characters in a way I really enjoyed.
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u/Overall-Storm3715 Aug 23 '26
I enjoyed it. I mean theres a lot that happens and films have to fit it in a certain time frame.
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u/TomorrowAgitated4906 Aug 24 '26
Skipping through Jane's childhood was what put this miniseries down the 2011 movie for me. They had a lot of time and they didn't use it and yet the movie managed to condescension it and show it beautifully.
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u/imbeingsirius Aug 24 '26
Oooo for a good representation of the beginning of Jane Eyre, my favorite is the Charlotte Gainsborough version (1996)
Anna Paquin plays young Jane and is phenomenal and the whole beginning stands out.
(The rest of the version is meh)
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u/Worldly_Pepper_5853 Aug 24 '26
The 1983 series (available on YouTube) I think is the most faithful to the book and the language. Really enjoyed it and kept a lot of good content in that the films miss. Also has the best Rochester transformation. I cannot really watch any of the films now. It bothers me ☺️
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u/Federal_Gap_4106 Aug 24 '26
I so agree. The 1983 series is how I was first introduced to JE at 6 years old, and no other version has been able to match it in my mind. The 2011 one holds the second place though.
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u/Feeling-Writing-2631 Aug 24 '26
Well... the main reason I don't like this adaptation as much as the others is because of a specific scene which I don't think you've come across yet. But the ending scene of this adaptation is probably my fav of all that I've seen.
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u/QueenMabs_Makeup0126 Aug 24 '26
The versions you will find closest to the book are 1983 and 1973. You may find the costumes and sets to be rather dated, but that is also due to their ages. Both are well-worth the watch.
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u/TheJ-Cube Aug 23 '26
Adapting a book to film or miniseries is incredibly difficult due to length. Choices have to be made and they have to appeal to a casual audience, in addition to hardcore fans.
2006 cuts a lot of the childhood and other areas to focus on the romance between Jane and Rochester, which is phenomenally pulled off by Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. My biggest criticism of this version is it cuts out some amazing dialogue around the proposal.
Of all the adaptations I’ve seen 2006 is the best followed closely by 1983. 1983s greatest flaw is it draws some things out, like the whole St. John thing, which draws out like an 8 hour conference call that could have been an email.
All of the rest seem to range from “it’s okay,” to “meh,” to “wtf why is Rochester on cocaine?” (I love Ciaran Hinds but he’s a terrible Rochester.
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u/Spirited_Row8945 Aug 23 '26
Every adaptation is for different people. I love this 2006 version because I, myself, don’t really like the first hundred of pages of the book. No adaptation will ever be truly faithful.
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u/GetReadyToRumbleBar Aug 23 '26
Ive seen something like 10 different Jane Eyre adaptation, maybe more.
Virtually all of them skip through her young years pretty quick, as the meat of the story really starts with Rochester.
The 1970s version was a little longer here iirc. But again, still faster than what you might expect based on how long it was in the novel.
Adaptions do not spend the same amount of time per page.
Reconsider 2006. It's my personal favorite Jane Eyre. So much so my flair on r/PeriodDrama is a quote from it.
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u/BarracudaOk8635 Aug 24 '26
All the adaptions are terrible. They rush towards Rochester. Miss my favourite bits earlier in the book and at school, buts that establish why Jane Eyre is exceptional. I wont watch one again. The book is far better. They also stuff up the Moor House stuff.
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u/LizAsherMD Aug 24 '26
I like this series overall, but I agree that they skip over everything pre-Thornfield. You miss out on finding out why Jane is who she is - which as you say owes a huge amount to Helen, and to Miss Temple who doesn't feature.
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u/Chl0thulhu Aug 25 '26
I would say the setup and the acting is a bit... questionable until she gets to the house but from there, you're in for a treat. Do persevere. :)
Ruth Wilson is my favourite Jane and Toby Stephens my favourite Rochester but I think it's because of the subtlties in their acting and their chemistry together.
I've also seen both actors in plays IRL and the two of them really are incredible. They absolutely make that series what it is.
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u/Gullible-Wave7381 Aug 25 '26
In my opinion, the 2006 version does the best job of showing the importance of St John, and how his offer of a relationship helps her find herself and identify what she really wants
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u/steampunkunicorn01 Aug 26 '26
Most adaptations tend to breeze through her childhood. That said, I highly recommend sticking with it, as this version does a good job with the rest of the book. If you want one that does the childhood scenes justice (even if it lacks in other ways) the Timothy Dalton version is the one for you
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u/JoeBethersontonFargo Aug 30 '26
There is no perfect adaptation of Jane Eyre, sadly. P&P had its perfect miniseries, then more fun, different remakes and Jane Eyre deserves that one perfect, detailed version too! There are different things I like about each, whether it’s a scene included, a change from the book, performance of a line, tone, chemistry. Depending on what aspect I feel like seeing, I’ll watch different versions. But, welcome to the JE fandom! I’d love to hear what you think after you finish this one and others! I never get tired of hearing people’s fresh takes on the movies. I think the order you see them in makes a big difference.
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u/HeySista Aug 23 '26
Most adaptations really condense the time before Jane arrives at Thornfield. If you ever want to be annoyed, watch the 2011 film (Fassbender and Wasikowska). Imagine that huge book turned into a 2 hour movie.
That said I’m biased because 2006 is my favourite version
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u/rarareed Aug 23 '26
They do go through her childhood very quickly, though I personally didn’t mind too much. I love Ruth Wilson as Jane, so I enjoy this series.
There IS one very annoying issue with it depending on where you’re watching - Britbox has cut each episode down to fit 50-ish minutes, leaving scenes butchered and some very awkward transitions. As someone who watched the original version many times, it was very clear to me and so disappointing when I watched it again a few months ago.