22 thoughts on “MCM: George Wickham

  1. The “Lost in Austen” Wickham was inexplicably out of character in a way that made 0 sense. Boo. Very attractive, though.

  2. If Matthew Goode had played Wickham in an actual adaptation of P&P, I would have rooted for him regardless of his being a rake!

  3. I rather thought that Jack Huston wins, here.

    Adrian Lukis was more than a little skeevy to be “hot.” I know, I know, that’s character, hunting after Regency teeny-boppers, but it’s so jarring to see how much more mature and, well, older, he looked compare to his quarry, Georgiana and Lydia. It made me not find him remotely attractive.

    Matthew Goode is to refined to really be an effective scoundrel, imho. He’s beautiful, but not at all rakish.

  4. I mourn the Wickham that almost was… Rupert Graves had the roll in 1995, but had to pull out at the last minute.
    Let’s just say I would’ve had a hard time rooting against him.

    1. Jack Huston fit the bill for me. Matthew Goode is gorgeous, of course, but Huston had that aura of a man you want to believe, yet somehow don’t entirely trust, and you aren’t even sure if you care because he’s so… you know.

  5. Hmmmm Rupert Friend is the prettiest but he was never skeevy enough to be a real Wickham to me… Matthew Goode is the prefect blend of gorgeous and rakishness to be the perfect Wickham for me – I’d head to Gretna Green with him!

  6. Adrian Lukis may not have been the most handsome looking George Wickham, but I’ve always believed he had the character’s charm down pat.

    Tom Riley, Matthew Goode and Edward Ashley tie for second place on my list.

  7. I know it was modern and doesn’t entirely count, but the omission Wes Aderhold and his abs in the Lizzie Bennett Diaries is tragic nonetheless.

    1. I know why he wasnt included but damn, he worked hard for those abs, the least I can do is appreciate them! (brb off to Youtube)

  8. Tom Riley nailed it. Matthew Goode was excellent too bringing a little depth to the character but he was not Jane Austen’s Wickham. Neither it turned out was Tom Riley. I thought the casting of Adrien Lukas as Wickham was the only misstep in the 95 P&P. He had a little too much of the used car salesman about him. the viewer should be seduced by Wickham initially just as Elizabeth is however we are never in doubt that he is a villain and so wonder why she falls for him.

  9. He’s not on here because he wasn’t “period” as it was a modern telling but George Wickham from “The Lizzie Bennett Diaries” nailed it…..in my humble opinion! :)

  10. Totally agree with others here that Wes Aderhold made an incredible (non-Regency) Wickham in LBD, he nailed that manipulative charm that makes Wickham such an effective character. Tom Riley’s Wickham was also fun because you could love him without feeling guilty, even if it wasn’t what Jane Austen intended. It would have been great to see Matthew Goode as Wickham in a real adaptation of P&P, he has that whole rake-vibe down.

  11. Matthew Goode (he had all the elements just right)
    Rupert Friend (ditto, but still, Matthew wins out in my opinion)
    Jack Huston (very close 3rd behind Rupert. It’s been a while since I’ve seen PP&Z, but in my memory, his Wickham had elements of mischief about him from the very beginning. As many people have pointed out, the true nature of Wickham’s character is meant to be a heartbreaking surprise, not a forgone conclusion.)

  12. This is a bit late but I still want to vote for Adrian Lukis. He’s a bit too charming from the beginning, which I think has basis in the text. After all, Mr. Bennet thinks he’ll disappoint the ladies from the beginning.
    Yes, he’s charming but Austen gave some subtle indications that there is something wrong from the beginning – the Bennet women and the other residents of Meryton just don’t see it.
    And when Lukis turns on the charm, it’s ON. He dominates the screen.
    Ashley is also good.

    More controversially, i feel Rupert Friend is one of the biggest problems in the 2005 version, which has a general antagonist weakness. Lady Catharine is too reasonable, Mr. Collins is not pompous enough while also missing in servility, and Rupert Friend is just forgettable when he’s not decidedly whiny. Wickham needs charm and persuasiveness. Friend projects neither.
    Together, that leaves the total movie without a real antagonist, and that’s where it fails in totality, not the pigs or Keira Knightley

Comments are closed.