Pride & Prejudicehas long been one of the most critically acclaimed period pieces of all time. The original novel, written by Regency-era author Jane Austen, centers on an enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet amid the frenzy of the English social season. The reason it still resonates with so many readers and viewers today is rooted in its modern female-led central story, in which women have a rare sense of agency during the Regency era.
The novel has been adapted for film and television a number of times, but the most famous out of allthePride & Prejudiceadaptationsis arguably the 2005 rendition starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in the titular roles. What makesPride & Prejudice,despite its book differences, such a memorable watch is the organic chemistry between the leads, made stronger by one now famously improvised scene - Mr. Darcy’s hand flex.
Matthew Macfadyen’s Improvised Hand Flex Explained
It Wasn’t In The Script, But It Worked Out Wonderfully
After helping Elizabeth Bennett into her carriage, briefly holding her bare hand sans gloves (scandalous for the time), Darcy walks away after saying his goodbyes and flexes his hand, in awe of the electricity of her touch. In the nearly 20 years since the film’s release, Macfadyen explained in an interview withNPRthat he improvised the hand flex during a rehearsal, and director Joe Wright liked it so much that he planned a specific close shot of it in the film’s final cut.
Despite the cultural impact of the hand flex alone, Macfadyen revealed that he wasinitially hesitant upon accepting the role as Darcy. However, critics beg to differ on this hesitation, as the film still sits at a solid 87% critic score onRotten Tomatoes.The hand flex scene later made waves on social media following the film’s mention in Greta Gerwig’s 2023Barbieand the rise of period pieces likeBridgertonattracting newfound fans of the genre.
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The hand flex was a subtle yet immensely memorable gesture that proved a pivotal moment in building believable chemistry between his bumbling Mr. Darcy and Knightley’s bold and audacious Elizabeth Bennett. It was a rare moment in which a male lead felt as if he had a hard time hiding his romantic feelings and undoubtedly coming undone under the weight of his affections in a British period piece. Despite their disagreements and misunderstandings,he cannot contain the love he has for her, and the hand flex was the perfect way to depict this sentiment in action.
Audiences Love Enemies To Lovers
It’s An Extremely Popular Romance Sub-Genre
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet’s sparring that leads to a deep romantic connection has largely influenced the way that filmmakers and actors alike have approached the enemies-to-lovers dynamic. More recent period pieces, notably season 2 of Netflix’s hit showBridgerton,features Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma vexing each other all season until Anthony’s famous confession that Sharma is “the bane of his existence, and the object of all of his desires.“Bridgerton’sanswer to the hand flex is Anthony’s whiff of Kate Sharma’s perfume, which Lady Danbury playfully catches.
In Hulu’sThe Great,a historical dramedy surrounding the rise of Catherine the Great of Russia, the show’s central couple, Catherine and Peter, have a much more exaggerated enemies-to-lovers approach. Catherine, played by Elle Fanning, stages a coup to usurp the throne of Russia from her husband Peter, played by Nicholas Hoult. As the couple spar for power, they also build feelings for one another in an excellent slow burn. While Peter is known for his mercurial violence, Hoult’s precise facial expressions slowly soften when discussing Catherine, illustrating his changing feelings towards her.
Most recently, Amazon Prime Video’s fiery fantasy romanceMy Lady Janefollows an enemies-to-lovers story line in a Tudor-era setting. Series star Emily Bader, who plays the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey (who manages to survive in this alternate history story) revealed in an interview withEntertainment Weeklythat herself and costar Edward Bluemel looked toPride & Prejudicefor inspiration. Their study is clearly evident throughout the show, through a series of subtle movements on Bluemel’s part (his head shake in the wedding scene) and Bader’s brazen delivery. The show’s critical acclaim is only further testament thatPride & Prejudicereally is the blueprint for every British period piece that comes after it.
