Classics to Modernly Adapt _ Top 5 Wednesday
**Top Five Wednesday: Classics That Deserve Modern Adaptations**
Hey guys! It’s Sam, and this is *Top Five Wednesday*. If you’re new to *Top Five Wednesday*, I’ll leave a link to a Goodreads group down below for topics and such. This week’s topic is **classics that we want turned into more modern adaptations**, and this idea is completely inspired by the fact that I just finished binge-watching *The Lizzie Bennet Diaries* for the fourth or fifth time.
Let me tell you, we literally just finished watching it as I was doing my makeup and stayed up until 3 a.m. to watch a lot of episodes last night. And this happens every single time I watch the series. If you guys don’t know, *The Lizzie Bennet Diaries* came out in the early 2010s and was a YouTube webseries produced by Hank Green and some other people. It was based on *Pride and Prejudice* but told in a vlogging style. This format inspired a bunch of other adaptations like *Emma*, *Sense and Sensibility*, and even *Carmilla*. And honestly, it makes me incredibly happy.
Now, this topic could also be inspired by other modern adaptations like *Clueless* and *Bridget Jones’s Diary*, but I specifically love the vlog-style adaptations because they’re so great at handling the angst in these stories. These adaptations bring out the quiet intersections where characters talk about their feelings, which is something I think works really well with the source material. Speaking of which, I’m trying to fight off watching *Emma* again for like the third or fourth time because I literally don’t need to spend my time doing that right now—I have other things to do! But these adaptations bring me so much joy.
Now, onto the main topic: **classics that I would love to see in vlog-style adaptations**. To be honest, I only have four books for this list because I haven’t read all the classics and I haven’t loved them on classics—these are just the ones I’ve read and loved enough to want to see in a modern adaptation.
### 1. *A Tale of Two Cities* by Charles Dickens
First up is *A Tale of Two Cities*. This is one of my favorite classics, even though I need to reread it because I don’t remember most of the plot anymore. I loved it in high school, but Dickens’ works are known for being lengthy and angsty. Now, adapting *Tale of Two Cities* into a vlog-style adaptation might be a lot, but I think it would work well. The story is full of angst, misunderstandings, and drama, which really lend themselves to the quiet, character-driven style of vlogging. Plus, the opportunity to explore the deep emotions and complex relationships in the story through modern storytelling could make for a compelling adaptation.
### 2. *The Great Gatsby* by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Next on my list is *The Great Gatsby*. There have been so many adaptations of this classic over the years, but I’m specifically interested in a vlog-style version or even just a modern take set in a contemporary setting like LA. The story’s themes of love, obsession, and social climbing could translate beautifully into a more modern context. Imagine something like *Laguna Beach: The Hills* meets *The Great Gatsby*. It would bring a fresh perspective to the classic tale while staying true to its essence.
### 3. *Wuthering Heights* by Emily Brontë
Alright, let’s talk about *Wuthering Heights*. Every time I mention this book, people remind me that it’s not exactly a romance novel—it’s more of an angst factory. And honestly, that’s why I love it! My favorite adaptation is the one with Tom Hardy, which is super melodramatic and intense. But I would love to see a modern take on this story. The characters are all horrible people in some ways, but you can’t help but pull for them despite their flaws. A modern adaptation could explore the tragic elements of the story while bringing it into a contemporary setting.
### 4. *Persuasion* by Jane Austen
Lastly, I want to shout out *Persuasion* by Jane Austen. If you haven’t heard of this one, it’s another gem from the author of *Pride and Prejudice*. Now, where is Pemberley Digital? (Dramatic sigh) They did such an amazing job with *The Lizzie Bennet Diaries*, and I’m still upset that they haven’t returned to adapt more Jane Austen classics. I know they’ve done other things like *Frankenstein*, but I need my *Persuasion* fix! This book is all about miscommunication, angsty stairs, and the kind of slow-burn romance that would thrive in a vlog-style adaptation. Imagine both characters vlogging their feelings, their misunderstandings, and their pining for each other—it would be absolute gold.
I’m honestly heartbroken that this hasn’t been adapted yet. I thought back in the early 2010s when *The Lizzie Bennet Diaries* was doing *Pemberley Digital* adaptations, they were going to tackle all of Jane Austen’s works. But then they stopped, and now we’re stuck in this “dark timeline” without any new content. Give me my light at the end of the tunnel—give me *Persuasion*!
### Conclusion
These are my four favorite classics that I would love to see turned into modern adaptations, especially in a vlog-style format. They bring out the best in these stories by focusing on character emotions and relationships, which is exactly what I love about the adaptations I’ve seen so far.
If you guys have any other classics you’d like to see adapted or if you know of some adaptations that have already been done, let me know in the comments below! And as always, thanks for watching. I’ll see you all next time!