History WebVideo / ClassicAlice

%%* UsefulNotes/{{Roleplaying}}

%%* HeroesWantRedheads: [[spoiler:Andrew.]]

''Classic Alice'', found at [[https://www.youtube.com/ClassicAliceSeries YouTube.com/ClassicAliceSeries]] and [[http://classic-alice.com Classic-Alice.com]] is a dramedy web series by series star & creator, Kate Hackett. It is the story of Alice Rackham, a college student with a huge drive to succeed. When she gets a bad grade on an essay because she isn’t emotionally connecting to material, she decides to show up her professor and live her life according to classic novels. Her friend, Andrew Prichard, uses the opportunity to make a vlog-style documentary about the process, and together they create ''Classic Alice’'. The show is also told 'transmedia style', all of which can be found here: [[http://classic-alice.com/narrative The Narrative]]

Classic Alice takes on tons of books - they start with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DUbjMpIbvM&index=3&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Crime & Punishment]], which seems like a perfectly reasonable book to start on... (shifty eye). They venture through [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3Rkn9HzalI&index=14&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Pygmalion]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaEbL0OO_ew&index=26&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k The Butterfly]] (by Hans Christian Andersen), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vINvO-HXX6I&index=30&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Macbeth]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTEDG823WKQ&index=41&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Rip van Winkle]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGO0nfWVSB0&index=45&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k The Wind in the Willows]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYiaovfzwpo&index=52&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k A Christmas Carol]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLLyv61BjPw&index=72&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Walden]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZV43IgmC3s&index=80&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k North and South]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YgI233F_qo&index=102&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k The Odyssey]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z76_obVg4WU&index=110&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Dracula]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIqbDYTifs8&index=120&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Silas Marner]],and finally, Austen's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmzmxAMPWkA&index=127&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k Persuasion]]. Books 2-7 also had an overarching plot that mirrored themes in Bronte's Villette.

The show began with weekly vlog-style episodes shot in Alice's bedroom; the first six episodes acted as a pilot to gauge fan interest. Beginning with the second book arc, Pygmalion, vlog-style episodes on Tuesdays were followed by short reality TV-style confessional videos that took us beyond "just" Alice. With Walden (and a second crowdfunder), the CA team expanded beyond the traditional 'vlog style' camera and played around with a more documentary feel - the characters don't always necessarily know that they are being filmed, which marries the feel of the vlog to a 'real' TV show or film.

Because Classic Alice follows a ton of stories, it pulls in a ton of different little arcs while playing with its major storyline - that of Alice, her writing, and where Andrew may or may not fit into that picture.

* AbortedDeclarationOfLove: Alice and Andrew both struggle throughout the entire series to confess that they like each other romantically. From episode 6's angry fight to episode 17's reassurance that Alice is worth dating. Episode 31, 33 (Rippy V!), 39 40, and the ENTIRE arc of Christmas Carol revolve around these two idiots struggling.
* AdaptationNameChange: Alice, Andrew, and Cara often take on key roles in story lines - but so do other characters and, often, their names are homages to (or foreshadowing) the novel. For example:
** Alice Lucy Rackham - Lucy for Bronte's '''Villette''' character + Rackham, the illustrator of '''Alice in Wonderland'''.
** Ewan [=McBay=] - Eliza Doolittle + Macbeth
** John Brodribb - (real name of Henry Irving), character in the Dracula arc
** Lindsay - Off Camera character throughout Odyssey, Dracula, Silas, and Persuasion
* AlmostKiss: Too many to count. From episode 6 on it was ONE BIG TEASE.
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-3n1iXTsE&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k&index=62 penultimate]] & [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRiN1gVJ-Wo&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k&index=64 final]] episodes of the Christmas Carol arc, [[spoiler: Alice struggles to admit her feelings for Andrew. She finally kisses him, but he does not return it until the final episode]]

%%* BecomingTheMask: [[spoiler: Alice]] a few times in-series.
%%** Particularly during Dracula.
* BelligerentSexualTension: Alice and Andrew spend pretty much the entire first half of the show denying every feeling they've ever felt. As Cara says: Just make out with each other's faces!
* TheBigDamnKiss: Between [[spoiler: Alice and Ewan]] in episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0M0fAZm66o&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k&index=20 13]], the kiss between Cara & Lily in Musica Mundana, and finally the very slow burn kiss [[spoiler: between Alice and Andrew]] in episodes [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-3n1iXTsE&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k&index=62 51]] & [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRiN1gVJ-Wo&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k&index=64 53]]
* {{Bookworm}}: hi, alice.
** The entire show revolves around Alice wanting to read & identify with books
** Alice frequently mentions reading 'the greats' in order to be a better writer

%%** Andrew counts. And if [[spoiler:Nathan]] were to talk, I'm sure he would as well.

** During Crime & Punishment [[spoiler: Alice and Andrew have a fight about him "white knighting" her that drives a rift between them so large it is unsure if they will continue the show]].
** During Pygmalion [[spoiler: Alice starts dating Ewan McBay, her 'subject'.]]
** During The Butterfly [[spoiler: Andrew starts seeing a girl named Heather]].
** During Macbeth, [[spoiler: Ewan dramatically outs Cara and her girlfriend Lily as gay AND announces Andrew as the test-thief from book 1]].
** During Wind in the Willows, [[spoiler: Alice and Reagan are in a terrible car accident that leads to Alice becoming so shaken that she nearly kisses Andrew]].
** During The Odyssey [[spoiler: Alice and Andrew ambiguously seem to break up; they have a conversation we cannot hear then a 4 minute episode with no dialogue]]
* DropInCharacter: James Brent Isaacs, from {{WebVideo/EmmaApproved}} appears as Marcus, a stoner friend of Cara's who pops in from time to time.

* EatingTheEyeCandy: Alice insists that she [[spoiler: does not like Andrew romantically]] through books 1-6. In book 7, however [[spoiler: Alice realizes she does, in fact, love her friend and "goes for it".]]
* EvilHero Who saw [[spoiler: Ewan]] being the major villain through books 2-7? And who thought [[spoiler: he'd come back in 10 & 11?]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Kate sprinkles SO MANY of these throughout the show and on the transmedia elements.
** McBay = Macbeth
** The major fight at the end of book 1 foreshadows a serious fight in North & South, then later Dracula.

** "Get it, got it, good"
** Alice references '''Harry Potter''' frequently & Andrew (and Ewan) call her Hermoine ...and Draco.
** Alice compares the stolen test in book 1 to the "hideous beating heart" in Poe's ''A Tell Tale Heart''
* GrowingUpSucks: Much of the story revolves around what happens AFTER college; all the characters seem acutely aware of how difficult life is beyond hallowed halls and both fight against and and struggle to be accepted by adulthood.
%%* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Reagan
%%* HeroesWantRedheads: [[spoiler:Andrew]]
%%* HighClassGlass: Andrew. Though we only see it once.

** Northfield estate is the 'north' in North & South

%%* ParentsAsPeople: Mama and Papa Prichard
%%* RelationshipReveal [[spoiler: Cara and Lily]]
* RelationshipUpgrade: [[spoiler: Alice and Andrew]] go from friendship to coupledom.

* ShipperOnDeck: CARA for [[spoiler: Alice and Andrew]]. Also Nathan. So much for "uninvolved participants."

* SilentCredits: Well trained Classic Alice fans know that when the credits go quiet, bad things are happening.
%%* SmugSnake: Ewwwwan!
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Alice [[spoiler: dresses Ewan just like Andrew when she makes him over.]]
%%* SpinOff: Musica Mundana
%%* TheChessmaster: [[spoiler: Ewan]] thinks he is this
%%** [[spoiler: Alice]] in the Dracula arc.

%%* TheUnseen: Also Nathan.
%%* UnrevealAngle: Nathan
* UnresolvedSexualTension: SO MUCH TENSION. Especially through the ENTIRETY of books 1-7 season - the long looks, the accidental touching, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoeFnLBnGSY&list=PLgRMT7lzLTVeDHz3xi8A2dJ_4JGIaUv4k&index=22 SHOE EPISODE]]. So much almost kissing.
%%* WHAMEpisode

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: "Somewhere in New England" is all we know of Valeton's location. Because of the leak of Alice & Andrew's phone numbers, we do know that he is from somewhere around Long Island and she is from somewhere with a Connecticut area code. We actually know less of Alice's background and family than Andrew or Cara's because (as we learn in '''Walden''') her family is very private and was not open to being included in the videos.
%%* WillTheyOrWontThey: [[spoiler:Alice And Andrew.]]
%%* VitriolicBestBuds

%%* {{Meganekko}}: Alice, on the rare occasion that she wears glasses.

* AdultFear: Much of the story revolves around what happens AFTER college; all the characters seem acutely aware of how difficult life is beyond hallowed halls and both fight against and and struggle to be accepted by adulthood.

%%* {{Roleplaying}}

* {{Adorkable}}: Alice is a main character that just oozes adorkability; she is cute, loves school and books, and seems blissfully ignorant of her nerdiness.

%%* BiTheWay: Possibly [[spoiler: Sam]]

** Ewan McBay - Eliza Doolittle + Macbeth