Well, I watched a portion of episode 2 of North and South tonight. Yum! I forced myself to turn it off in order to save some for tomorrow, but it wasn't easy.
Hurry, Netflix, hurry! But I know it won’t come tomorrow.
Oh, the moments! A few favorites:
The mother tells Richard that Margaret loves him, citing the way she rushed out to him on the balcony and clung to him. I am loving the mother. She is such a rich character! And I love when characters point out stuff to me that I stupidly don’t catch. Like the significance of that. I wouldn’t have drawn that conclusion, but I think mothers have certain psychological powers around their children, so I bought it. And it was so touching, she asks him not to go to Margaret, and that she wishes to be first in his affections, if only for one more day.
Also, I wonder if Margaret only realized she loved Richard at that moment. She tells him to go out there, and then he goes and then, after he’s out of the room she says “…and take care.” And then she rushes after him.
The handshake. Or perhaps I should say the titillatingly slow release from the handshake.
Our hero and heroine look back on the balcony scene. Richard looks back and the image that comes to him is her laying there wounded. Margaret looks back and it’s the brief embrace she recalls most strongly. What a great touch!
Richard removes his cravat. Katie(babs), I believe, said in recent comments here, “Isn't Richard so sexy in his cravat?” Yes indeed he is. The sexiness of Richard in his cravat, however, is but a dim candle compared to the brilliantly blazing sun of him ever so casually removing his cravat in a scene…what scene WAS it? What was happening? I don’t recall. All memory functions were overridden by the staggering view, there within the stiff V of starched shirt, of Master Thornton’s fine and masculine neck.
Margaret. Overall, I love Margaret, and I love the way she looks, and her sort of wonderful plumpness. Oops, that’s not a moment.
This isn’t a moment either, but people really look out windows a lot in this series. I’m sure it’s been mentioned in the many posts on it, which I tended not to read as not to spoil things, but I like it thematically. To me, it sort of heightens the sense of the series being about separation and perspective, in addition, of course, to Richard’s cravat, and one’s feverish hopes that he will remove it again.
Okay, question: I’m not entirely clear on Richard’s position vis a vis the strike. He won’t back down…is it because he can’t? Is there no compromise here? Do the strikers have no merit? I am having a hard time evaluating his position. At the dinner party, Richard seemed to appreciate her seeing different sides of an issue, but then he’s like, it’s horrible to bring them food.
Oh, how I could go on!
57 minutes ago
49 comments:
I think it's a combination of A. He can't back down because it would make him look like less of a man to the other masters. B. He's already put his foot down (so to speak) and can't relent because it'd make him look weak. That's my interpretation anyway. :)
He's all about his manliness & masculinity. And it's also all about the time period on which the story is based. :)
For me the reason he won't back down is two-fold. He's spent his life building the mill and working hard doing it. It's HIS, his life's work and he doesn't want others telling him what to do. The second reason is unlike the other Master's, he's honest. There's the conversation he has with Margaret where he tells her there's a surveyor telling what everyone's wages are and he doesn't mind in the least.
And I think he pays better than some of the other mills already. There is the brief conversation Margaret has with the two young girls and the one says she makes more at Marborough Mills than the one she was at before. I think for John Thornton - he's already paying his workers all that he can and still make the mill successful. As far as I know, he's the only one......oops - can't continue as it's in the episodes you haven't seen yet.
And by the sounds of it, you haven't gotten to the final scene in episode 2 so all I will say is it's a real heartbreaker. I'll only say that Margaret still doesn't realize she loves him.
Kristie here again!
I'm almost giddy to hear your thoughts by the time you've finished watching the final episode!!!
It's kind of like watching it again myself for the first time.
I've never seen this! Is this American or British television? (Is it new?)
You point out one of my favorite scenes in N&S is the party scene. If you notice, John barely touches the female guest's gloved hand, but when it comes to Margaret, he grabs her naked hand and doesn't let go. That is so romantic!!
And yes, I am lusting after Richard's neck in his stuffy cravat. So many things he could so with that neckware :D
Katie R: It originally was a BBC production but I believe Masterpiece Theater which airs on PBS in the US aired N&S also.
Bridget and Kristie:
Thanks for those insights. They really help. There was also that thing about the wheel, so it sounds like his conditions are safer. Oh, I just want to understand, you know, and this helps.
I will be watching the rest tonight...I think. I am now apprehensive!! But excited!
Katie Reus: You will be assimilated!
KB: you are SO observant. I want to re-watch that scene now. It was quite delicious.
OMG I am so glad you are loving it. I love the balcony scene and the handshake *sigh* OMG I am going to have to re-watch this weekend. OH NETFLIX arrive for CJ already!
Katie R: You can get it from Netflix or Blockbuster in the British TV or TV sections it is VERY GOOD and definately worth renting *coughorbuyingcough*
Sarai, you are so funny. And yeah, now I'm like...maybe I'll buy it. And perhaps a Richard Thornton screensaver...
LOL - oh I have a N&S Screen Saver - and Wallpaper - both the one from my latest avatar as a matter of fact. They have some really GREAT ones here:
http://www.foolishpassion.com/
Katie Reus: Others have said where you can get North and South but I’ll tell you a bit of what it’s about – since I’ll NEVER get tired of talking about it. It’s the story of a young woman, the daughter of a vicar, Margaret Hale who was born in the rural South of England. When her father has a change of heart regarding being a vicar, he moves his family to Milton, an industrial town in the North – thus the title North and South.
It’s a complete culture shock for Margaret as it’s a total different kind of life and life style then what she is used to.
Her father is now a teacher and one of his students is John Thornton, a mill owner. Margaret’s first introduction to him is hardly the thing friendships are based on and he leaves her with a very bad impression. But as it goes along, we, and Margaret, begin to see another side to him.
This is a love story, but it’s also SO MUCH MORE. There is a class clash as part of the story line deals with the mill workers. It’s a difference in cultures – although John Thornton is wealthier than the Hales, class wise he is much lower.
There is a wonderful beautiful subtlety to this production and it has zoomed to the top of my all time favourite television or movie viewing. So much so, that I, along with Katie and Sula had a whole crusade trying to get romance readers (and anyone else remotely interested) to watch this incredible series. I have a list of bloggers who have watched and blogged about it on my sidebar. So far everyone has loved it with one exception – and she still gave it a B.
The goal is to get bloggers to watch it and blog about it – they then become Crusaders who pass the word along about this Most Excellent Story.
Oh, Kristie, I enjoyed that description. And I never really understood the purpose for the crusade! I have plans to turn my MOM into a crusader, though she is not a blogger. I am SO into this series, though! It is so fine and enjoyable!
Oh, right, and thanks for the wallpaper tip!
CJ: *g* you're welcome! The point is to share the love of N&S with anyone - drag strangers off the street to watch it *g*. It's just that us with blogs can blog about it - like you are doing so wonderfully well!!
I pimped N&S to my mom and she was all swoony over Richard also :D
Ah! I read stuff I didn't know! My eyes!!! ;) Guess that means I should watch it soon.
Hehehe.
I see no mention of Higgins. Evidently the bear made no impact.
More for me.
oh so happy to see you loving this, CJ. it really is teh awesome.
wish i was not sitting here in econ class and was watching N&S instead. le sigh.
LA: You should watch it!
LB: I'm not getting the Higgins angle. A fine enough man, but he sort of reminds me of Fred Flintstone.
Sula! Welcome back. Just close your eyes and replay the movie in your mind.
Oh CJ - You will 'get' Higgins - never fear. He just hasn't had as big a role yet as he does in the final 2 episodes.
"Let's just say he plays a pivotal role." she said mysteriously.
OH and LA - you really should watch it!! It's wonderful.
And so should...............
CHRISTINE!
*evil laugh*
Thank you Kristie (J). First beer is on me.
KJ: Now I am SO curious!
LB: Don't hate me for not getting Higgins! I will try harder. I didn't really mean the Fred Flintstone thing.
Fred Flintstone?!?! HAHAHAAAA
Then who is Barney? It sure isn't Richard. Hmmm sex on stick that one is.
Hey that was funny. No worries. I think few folks get the Higgins thing. I find Richard sneery! I can't help it! Higgins is the smart, down to earth dad who makes mistakes but overcomes them and turns out to be this great guy. Y'all can fight over wassit. I'll keep the bear.
No, definitely NOT Richard. Thornton's mother is sort of like Wilma. Fred does work at a factory.
Are you the lone holdout who didn't love this? I think it was you! LB, do you know what happens when a crusade gets angry?
This is too funny!!
we need the little Martian guy to show up.
So that makes Richard who, exactly? Hmmm?????
Torches? Castle VonLisabeanstein gets stormed by angry villagers with pitch forks and cravat fetishes?
I liked it. I did.
VonLisabeanstein?
Sounds like a new character from The Sound of Music.
LOL! Okay Von L! We will not burn your home or kill your singing family.
Careful KB. You know I'm liable to burst out into song. It happens.
There something about Lisa!!I can hear the nuns singing now.
Oh, right! I bet you totally could!
High on a hill lived a lonely factory owner, yodel yodel yodel yodel lay he who.
yodel yodel lay Richard Armitage.
Ok - I loved the balcony scene moment.
When the book blows
When the movie stinks
When I'm feeling dooooowwwnnnn
I simply remember my Naaaaa-aaaate
and then I don't feeeeelll sooooo baddddd.
Er. Hi Tracy. Nothing to see here.
OMG! Where did Nate come from!
Hey Tracy! Yes, that was one stellar moment.
The hills are alive with Kate screwing Richard!!
Run, bambi!
were there deer in the Swiss Alps?
Sorry? Nate? Did I say Nate? Sorry. Surely I meant someone else.
LB: I will take you up on that beer and we can toast Higgins together!!
I have a video - The Glass Virgin where he plays the love interest. But I kind of got a new VCR and I don't know how to work it
Oh -- and there are two balcony scenes. The one CJ has seen - and the one she hasn't yet.
Ooohh. I remember your post on that. He looks cutie pa tootie.
And he probably is - if I could get someone to show me how to work the VCR. But my kids think I'm dorky enough as it is. I don't want to confess to them I can't work a VCR. And I can't ask my sister 'cause she got it for me for Christmas - 2 years ago - and she might be upset to realize I've never used it.
I have the most unusual dilemas I tell you!! The latest one is the thousands of trees I have growing in my eaves trough
Kristie (j) I will never forget that picture of the gorgeous book shelves you ordered...and then a few weeks later the post about how they were too tall for the room. DOH.
Sooooo something I would do. And yes. My fridge sticks out by 3 inches.
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