I think you gave a good answer, Nerin.
I am not sure of how much my comments will add to it, but here goes. Emma's essential nature is to be exuberant, forceful and assertive. In all of that, she is also pictured by Austen and redrew here by the Emma Approved makers, as a kind person who loves her friends and wants to do good for them... and the world. A person who is naturally more shy might also want to do some of the same things that Emma wants but would not style it world-shaking.
Like the conversations on this board recently about another Austen heroine, the rather maligned Fanny Price, the discussion about Emma comes down to whether you like her or you don't. There are things about each that would never change. Fanny can learn to speak up more quickly for herself and in the care of her loving husband, she will no doubt blossom. Similarly, Emma can learn that she does not have to take charge of everything and she may stop longer to consider that she might be wrong about something. But the essential Fanny and the essential Emma will always be what they are, like 'em or leave 'em.
So, to Shannon, who writes
I hope I can be forgiven for looking forward to others disagreeing (I love a good discussion!) and explaining to me why the personal growth Shannon references as necessary for Emma must happen.
Yes, I know Emma can be irritating but how much does she really need to change? As long as a person is without spite, malice or ill intentions toward others, then can't that person be accepted, quirks and all? I'm not talking about accepting Caroline Bingley's deceitfulness, or Augusta Elton's mean-spirtedness, or George Wickham's misguided sense of entitlement or even Lydia's foolish disregard for others as she rushes headlong into her own ruin--but Fanny Price and Emma Woodhouse? They're the good guys already.
I am not sure of how much my comments will add to it, but here goes. Emma's essential nature is to be exuberant, forceful and assertive. In all of that, she is also pictured by Austen and redrew here by the Emma Approved makers, as a kind person who loves her friends and wants to do good for them... and the world. A person who is naturally more shy might also want to do some of the same things that Emma wants but would not style it world-shaking.
Like the conversations on this board recently about another Austen heroine, the rather maligned Fanny Price, the discussion about Emma comes down to whether you like her or you don't. There are things about each that would never change. Fanny can learn to speak up more quickly for herself and in the care of her loving husband, she will no doubt blossom. Similarly, Emma can learn that she does not have to take charge of everything and she may stop longer to consider that she might be wrong about something. But the essential Fanny and the essential Emma will always be what they are, like 'em or leave 'em.
So, to Shannon, who writes
I reply, probably not going to get rid of those cameras. Don't we all have friends we would love to change some part of? But, as Emma must learn to do better, we accept people for who they are, not demand that they reconfigure to fit our tastes. Yes, Emma is a handful. That is Emma.Quote
Emma getting rid of the cameras and all they represent would do much to convince me she’s truly changed.
I hope I can be forgiven for looking forward to others disagreeing (I love a good discussion!) and explaining to me why the personal growth Shannon references as necessary for Emma must happen.
Quote
She’s more pushy/creepy about it now than ever, as evidenced by her interactions with Jane. While it was nice to see her shift from “documenting my greatness” in ep. 1 to “documenting our greatness” in ep. 49, she is still at least as concerned about getting the credit for doing good as she is about actually doing good. Much more concerned, I’d say (perhaps unfairly).
Yes, I know Emma can be irritating but how much does she really need to change? As long as a person is without spite, malice or ill intentions toward others, then can't that person be accepted, quirks and all? I'm not talking about accepting Caroline Bingley's deceitfulness, or Augusta Elton's mean-spirtedness, or George Wickham's misguided sense of entitlement or even Lydia's foolish disregard for others as she rushes headlong into her own ruin--but Fanny Price and Emma Woodhouse? They're the good guys already.