Last week we watched Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights"...and yes, we have a LOT of thoughts.
We talk through the casting choices of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the artistic direction, and why adapting this story always feels like such a bold, yet risky move. What makes a good adaptation? And why do we keep coming back to this one in particular?
We unpack Emerald Fennell’s creative choices, the film’s overall aesthetic, and how this version handles some of the story’s biggest themes: love, obsession, cruelty, sex, abuse, and death.
We spend a lot of time on Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship and why it’s so complex, and whether this adaptation actually portrays the reality of it. Did Fennell truly turn it into "the greatest love story of all time"? Because we certainly don't believe the original story matches that description. Since this isn’t the first time Wuthering Heights has been adapted, we also compare this version to the original novel by Emily Brontë and past adaptations (Isa watched ELEVEN leading up to the premiere of this movie). We discuss how the story is impacted when it's filtered through a modern lens, when Heathcliff's race is removed from the conversation, and when key themes such as generational trauma, nature vs nurture, and breaking the cycle of abuse are missing from an adaptation. By the end, we’re asking big questions like why do so many people frame Wuthering Heights as a "tragic love story"? Is Nellie an unreliable narrator? Was creating a steamier version the right creative choice? And can Wuthering Heights ever be adapted without losing something essential? Ultimately, this episode isn’t just about whether this adaptation “worked”, it’s about why Wuthering Heights still provokes such strong reactions, and what that says about romance, the viewers interpretation, and storytelling in modern time. Share your thoughts on the adaptation in the comments and don't forget to like, share, follow or subscribe! Keywords:Wuthering Heights, film adaptation, casting, cinematography, cultural impact, classic literature, Emerald Fennell, Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie, film adaptation, Emily Bronte, Heathcliff, Cathy, movie analysis, film review, movie review