#stellasapiente

Everyone says it but everyone is right, and the answer is Slow Show (@mia-ugly) which wrecked me in ways I wasn't aware possible. It is a skillful and sensitive story. I feel profoundly lucky that I wandered into this fandom at the right time time that I encountered it early on. It's outstanding, and anyone reading this knows that because I know you've all read it.

GO Rom Com Spotlight: @stellasapiente

The most excellent @stellasapiente (Rachiel on AO3) has claimed Pride and Prejudice to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.

For reference, here’s a little background about the source material!

About Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen's novel about five sisters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia Bennet  - in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when wealthy young Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and his best friend, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), arrive in their neighborhood.

We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @stellasapiente a little better!

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goromcom: You chose to adapt Pride and Prejudice as your rom com. Has this book/these movie adaptations been favorites of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it?

stellasapiente: I do adore Jane Austen and while I do like Sense and Sensibility a tiny bit more than Pride and Prejudice, I felt that P&P was better suited to the event. But I do very much look forward to all of the Jane Austen adaptations in the event even if my favourite story is missing.

goromcom: What's your favorite moment of Pride and Prejudice, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?

stellasapiente: I mean, the first proposal is epic, but I always really loved the visit to Pemberly--how Lizzy is confronted with her view of Darcy and how the housekeeper just gushed about him… and of course the house itself.

I often wondered how Darcy would have reacted in his heart of hearts if she had said yes when he asked her the first time… He seemed to be prepared to marry someone who might only want him for his money, thinking that his affection would be enough to make it work. That was part of why I struggled at first with who should be Darcy since both Aziraphale and Crowley would fit the bill each in his own way.

As for the house visit itself, I haven’t written anything for that yet, but since we are talking GO and something to impress Crowley all I need to say is one word: Conservatory. HUGE conservatory. I’m thinking something looking like the Crystal Palace… just smaller. And gardens. Acres and acres of gardens.

goromcom: Do you plan to stick very closely to the story beats of the original story, or make bigger changes?

stellasapiente: It will be a rather boring retelling I’m afraid, and not at all historically accurate since I knew from the start that I do not want any of the phobias anywhere near it. So the cast will be queer and nobody will care. Or as I like to put it: Who needs historical homophobia when we have classicism.

goromcom: What's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?

stellasapiente: The biggest changes would be Hastur and Ligur--I made both female. Ligur (a.k.a Liane) is Kitty Bennet. It fits well, since Lydia’s role is Beelzebub and Hastur (a.k.a. Hyla) is a trans woman will take the part of Charlotte. And now I bet you all wonder who takes the part Mr. Collins. (Not telling you!) Also, there is no Mr Bennet, but two ladies who have a happy marriage. Personally, I never read it that Mr Bennet disliked his wife. Yes, he teased her a lot, but I always felt it was affectionate. I’m aware scholars disagree with me but the beauty in writing is that you can make your own world--so I did.

goromcom: I am blatantly stealing this last question from The Good Place: The Podcast, but here goes: Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.

stellasapiente: ZBS. Not enough people know them. They have produced audio dramas since forever and they are amazing! The soundscapes alone… listening to Moon over Morocco it’s like standing on the street corner in Algiers. They have great humour and are deep (ZBS stands for Zero Bullshit Spirituality) and sometimes ridiculous and just amazing.

goromcom: I’ve never heard of them, but now I will check them out.

The stereotype I hate the most about Canada is that we are somehow a more innocent country than our neighbours to the south. Yes, we do have more sensible gun laws, but we also have a hideous, ongoing legacy of colonialism. The treatment of indigenous people in this country is a complete scandal.

Thanks for the ask! ♥️