Pemberley Digital is a channel that adapts entire classical books, such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma Approved, into a web series. They don’t provide basic reviews like you’d see on SparkNotes or Wikipedia; they produce videos that adapt the entire novel’s plot in a series of five-minute vlogs.
Their most recent web series is Frankenstein M.D., a modern adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Now, if you recall anything about that book, you’ll remember that it involves the scientist, Victor Frankenstein, creating a monstrous creature out of mismatched body parts. What Pemberley Digital has done is recast the main character as a female (Victoria) and set the story in today’s modern world. Victoria Frankenstein is a highly motivated medical student, and despite her supervisors constantly reminding her to remain grounded in reality, she is determined to conduct her highly ambitious experiments. Following the death of a close friend, she is intent on bringing him back. The web series follows her as she creates the infamous monster that we all know. The ending is similar to the original Frankenstein novel, but the web series has a few interesting twists.
I know what you’re thinking—it’s a web series based on an ancient classic book; why would you bother watching it? I’d agree with you, except for the fact that these web series are truly phenomenal. The vlog format allows viewers to see everything from the characters’ perspectives. And it isn’t just one character—there are multiple side channels devoted to other minor characters too. The acting is on par with regular TV shows, and even the sets and props are remarkable. In fact, last year their adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was the first YouTube series ever to be awarded a Primetime Emmy Award.
I highly recommend these highly addictive web series to everyone.
