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Original poster

Anyone else recently discovered North and South on iPlayer and fancy discussing/indulging me? I've also just read the book in 2 days!

73 replies

DuggeesWooOOooggle · 08/12/2018 12:34

Don't know how I managed to miss this - it was first on a whole 14 years ago now and I think has been on several times since but somehow I have always been watching something else. Spotted it on iPlayer the other day while looking for something to watch and my goodness what have I missed?! It would have been a perfectly serviceable period drama, bit of social commentary and worthiness but they went and cast Richard Armitage! I had not really thought of him as sexy but my God the way he looks at her! I would have been unable to get out any of my lines if I were Daniella Denby-Ashe (and what has she been in recently?). He is just pure smouldering sex throughout the whole bloody thing.

And then I borrowed the book from the library on Thursday and have already finished it as I needed to compare the two. I was surprised that some bits where I thought they must have deviated from the book (eg both Thornton and Margaret getting chummy with Higgins and the great unwashed) were fairly well depicted. The final scene (and The Kiss!) were obviously vastly different but you couldn't really argue with it. Wish they had done the first meeting as in the book though, the way he is taken with her from the start is so beautifully written, especially the fact she is oblivious.

Anyone else just discovered this too or feel like indulging in a bit of chat about it?

OP posts:
Original poster
DuggeesWooOOooggle · 08/12/2018 17:56

I think it was done to highlight the fact that Margaret was really very ignorant of the whole world of manufacturing and the fact that Thornton had to be strict to keep the mill and the workers safe. And to show a more contrasting manner to her 'soft' southern aristocratic upbringing. But the beating was totally unnecessary. Maybe the writers thought we wouldn't like Margaret as a character if her prejudices against people in trade were made more of but I am sure we could cope with that given she comes around when she learns more about it. But having him beating up the worker just made him look brutal.

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kikashi · 08/12/2018 19:11

I agree, the beating of the worker jarred. First time I watced it I shouted out about it.

I love the book ending about how to tell his mother. She'd be a MIL from hell. Can you imagine the thread on here about her?
I also liked in the book how Margaret starts to rate him only after she hears London people talking about and taking note of his opinions at the dinner party.

Original poster
DuggeesWooOOooggle · 09/12/2018 15:31

Just bumping this thread with another Thornton gif. Definitely my favourite fictional crush Grin Thankfully Richard A is far from fictional but I don't think I've seen him in anything else apart from the Hobbit and he's too well hidden under all the dwarf hair! Might just have to rewatch more closely when it.is inevitably on again over Christmas...

Anyone else recently discovered North and South on iPlayer and fancy discussing/indulging me? I've also just read the book in 2 days!
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Metheven · 09/12/2018 16:18

"Look back, look back at me." Oh, I've come over all unnecessary.

I love the way that at the beginning, when Margaret first moves up North, the colours are all subdued. As she gets more used to it (and she falls in love), the colours brighten.

Original poster
DuggeesWooOOooggle · 09/12/2018 18:18

Yes and the way the South is depicted in full colour, with Helstone being almost luminously bright, with a soft focus feel, like it's in her memory as a perfect place. I love the music too - such a beautiful score.

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Sarcelle · 09/12/2018 18:31

Look back, look back at me scene makes me go all of a flutter. That takes some doing these days! Funny enough I watched a few key scenes on You Tube recently. IMO this is the best costume drama - Thornton is a swoonier lead than Drippy Colin in P &P. The score is sublime too. And those scenes in the factory that look like it's snowing. I enjoyed the book too.

Andylion · 09/12/2018 19:19
Andylion · 09/12/2018 19:20

I am thrilled that people are still discovering this wonderful series and the sexy, smouldering JT/RA.

HermioneWeasley · 09/12/2018 19:26

Ooo, it’s a proper stare fest. I have quite a few fan fics downloaded

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 09/12/2018 19:29

OP, listen to Radio 4’s “In our time”’about the story behind the story.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08h0654

PlatypusPie · 09/12/2018 19:39

I have the DVD from when it was first broadcast and let’s just say it hadn’t lurked unplayed at the back of the cupboard over the years !

Ladytron11 · 09/12/2018 19:50

RA currently in Berlin Station on More4. You're welcome!

HermioneWeasley · 09/12/2018 20:05

Very different content, but RA in series 7 and 8 of “spooks”.

Original poster
DuggeesWooOOooggle · 09/12/2018 22:56

Ooh thanks for all the recommendations! Totally going to listen to In Our Time, PaulHollywoodsSexGut and immerse myself in the historical background of the novel. It's an era I have not really been all that interested in previously but actually what an exciting time it must have been. So much rapid change.

And I might just have to look up those Berlin Station and Spooks episodes. I have 14 years of RA to catch up on!

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Andylion · 10/12/2018 02:32

He was the best thing about Robin Hood. Here is a fanvid. (Not mine.)

Metheven · 10/12/2018 03:06

Oh, Guy of Gisbourne. Why she would go for Robin Hood when Guy was around I will never know. The leather and the guyliner - sigh.

Sarcelle · 10/12/2018 16:48

Totally agree about Guy. That freaking leather, that hair...that scene where he takes his top off.....

Sarcelle · 10/12/2018 16:50

Creaking, not freaking!

Bunnyhop1502 · 10/12/2018 16:56

Good lord I love this series! If I get an afternoon to myself then it’s N&S with a pot of tea. Why did Henry ever think he could marry Margaret? Or that creepy old guy!

snozzlemaid · 10/12/2018 17:07

I need to rewatch this. I've not seen it for years.
Made me fall in love with RA too.

Original poster
DuggeesWooOOooggle · 10/12/2018 19:09

Thornton's mother is also one of the finest literary mums I've come across. She says she doesn't want Margaret trying it on with her golden boy ('take care you don't get caught by a penniless girl, John's)) but then pissed off with her when he says she doesn't seem to like him ('what business had she to turn her nose up at you!') Classic 'can't please the MIL'. I do like that she's not one dimensionally horrid though and she has her reasons for being hard as nails. And she just adores her son (rightly so!) and doesn't want to lose him.

And I'm sure the magnificent Sinead Cusack hated every minute of those close up scenes and motherly embraces Grin

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TwitToWoo · 10/12/2018 19:13

I’ve never seen it. I take it you all recommend it? Am looking for something to watch too.

Original poster
DuggeesWooOOooggle · 10/12/2018 19:27

Yes I think it's safe to say we recommend it TwitToWoo Grin

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TwitToWoo · 10/12/2018 19:40

Yeah..don’t know why I asked that! Anyway, the GIFs of Richard have me sold Grin

Metheven · 10/12/2018 20:31

Imagine poor Margaret living with her mother in law!!!

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