Episode 30 - "Wuthering Heights" - 'Not Rich Kids' Discuss

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Not Rich Kids Discuss Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights”: A Hate-Watch Review

On Not Rich Kids Discuss, the hosts – Kath Dolheguy, Dr. Alan Woodruff and Dr. Frankie Kanatas review Emerald Fennell’s newly released “Wuthering Heights,” outlining the novel’s basic plot and themes (including class) and contrasting it with Andrea Arnold’s 2011 adaptation. They describe Fennell’s version, starring Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, with Hong Chau as Nelly and Shahzad Latif as Edgar, as aesthetically ornate but narratively incoherent, emotionally empty, and driven by provocation, marketing, and TikTok-ready images rather than character motivation or cause-and-effect storytelling. They argue the film removes or flattens class and race elements, criticise the dialogue, soundtrack choices, and “performative” sex scenes and food imagery, note perceived whitewashing of Heathcliff alongside colour-blind casting, and ultimately rate the film a “big fat zero,” predicting it will still make money.

00:00 Cinema Excursion Setup

00:33 Bronte Background

01:05 Wuthering Heights Plot Recap

02:13 Past Adaptations and Cast

03:57 Spoilers and Hate Watch

04:41 Why This Film Exists

08:18 Aesthetics Over Substance

09:36 Erasing Class and Race