The critically acclaimed BBC miniseries starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe.
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Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe star as John Thornton and Margaret Hale in North and South. (All images on this page are thumbnails; click to enlarge.)
Since it first aired on the BBC in late 2004, North & South has earned an almost cult-like following among those of us who have discovered it. I'll admit that it has sucked me in as well—it's now one of my absolute favorites. It is quite addictive, with the combination of a highly romantic love story, a rich historical atmosphere, gorgeous musical score, and an interesting secondary plot that never allows the pace to lag. (Please note: this drama has absolutely no relation to the 1980s Civil War TV miniseries—they are based on two different novels which happen to share the same title.)
Cries of "If you liked Pride and Prejudice, you'll love this even more!" are often repeated by North & South fans. Some are even claiming that Richard Armitage (as Mr. Thornton) has "de-throned" Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy as the ultimate brooding romantic hero. Well, I'm not going to say whether or not Firth has been "dethroned." Nor am I going to claim that it's "better" than any version of Pride and Prejudice. I think that these two stories are different enough so that fans can love them equally well, but for slightly different reasons.
L-R: Margaret and her maid Dixon (Pauline Quirke), Mr. Thornton amidst the cotton waste of the mill.
The story: North and South does bear some superficial resemblance to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. There's the "misunderstood" brooding hero who must suffer and wait for his true love to finally figure out that she returns his affections. The manner in which it is different from Pride, however, is not insignificant.
Based on a novel by Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell, this story does not have the light satire that we enjoy in Austen's novel, but is more of a serious tale with political and social underpinnings. Gaskell contrasts the industrial North of 1850's England to the more bucolic, slow-paced and cultured South. The heronie (Margaret Hale) and her family are uprooted from their beloved home in the South and move to the smoky, gritty, industrial Northern town of Milton. Margaret is very homesick, and takes an instant dislike to Northern ways—in particular she finds reason to disdain young cotton mill owner John Thornton, who is an honorable man but unfortunately gives her a very bad first impression.
On the other hand, Mr. Thornton becomes quickly smitten with Margaret, most likely in part because she is uniquely strong-willed and outspoken, and perhaps a little similar to his own mother (Sinead Cusak). Thornton is aware that, as a man who works in trade, Margaret might not consider him "good enough." (Back in those days, the genteel class looked down their noses at tradesmen and people who manufactured goods—i.e. "shoppy" people. This same snobbery is evident in Pride & Prejudice as well.) But, Thornton cannot help but be drawn to her anyway—and after all, he has some reason to hope that she might consider him to be an acceptable suitor: He is rich, successful, well-respected in the community, and most young women in town consider him to be a prime catch.
L-R: Margaret and Thornton's conversation is interrupted, Margaret contemplates recent events, Thornton feels thwarted in love.
As in Pride & Prejudice, the romance between these two is not seamless. Prejudices and misunderstandings must be overcome on both sides. Matters are not helped when Margaret aligns herself with Thornton's employees, who are planning (along with other workers in town) to strike. Thornton is regarded as a tough but straightforward "Master" (as mill owners were called), and does not possess the same soft-hearted empathy towards these workers as Margaret does.
L-R: Thornton and Nicholas Higgins (Brendan Coyle) talk, Mary Higgins and her dad, Higgins and other daughter, Bessy.
The poor, working-class Higgins family is vital to the storyline about labor relations and potential strike in the town of Milton. Margaret is lonely and seeks out the friendship of Bessy Higgins, an employee of Thornton's. Bessy's dad, Nicholas (portrayed wonderfully by the twinkley-eyed Brendan Coyle), is a "Union Man" and is attempting to unite all the workers in Milton to strike for higher wages. Higgins is a proud, strong-willed man and at first Thornton regards him as a radical trouble-maker. But Margaret's friendship with the Higgins family, along with Thornton's own gradual enlightenment about his employees and business, begin to change the relationship between these two men.
Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton, L-R: Giving a jealous, furtive glance at Margaret, gazing longingly upon Margaret's profile, Thornton without a cravat and looking hopeful.
What makes it all work so well: The combination of Gaskell's wonderful book, an excellent screenplay by Sandy Welch, and an outstanding performance by relative unknown Richard Armitage all contribute to the phenomenally positive response this miniseries has received. Armitage arguably out-broods Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy—he's able to express Thornton's yearning and heartbreak through subtle expressions and body language. He doesn't portray the character as soft or overly-sensitive, but instead exudes strength and masculinity. And, while the actor might not have classic movie star "pretty boy" looks, his bearing and attitude are very attractive—so much so that by the end of the miniseries, most female viewers cannot think of him as anything other than extremely handsome.
Mr. Thornton also differs from Pride's Mr. Darcy in that he more obviously wears his heart on his sleeve (in a brooding, suppressed Victorian sort of way, naturally) and we learn more about what makes him tick. While Mr. Darcy is a fine gentleman, Thornton has a rougher edge to him—is a self-made man who struggled to bring himself up from very humble roots. Mr. Darcy is more of a mystery—we only get a few glimpses of his intimate feelings. We are allowed to see Thornton more fully as a multi-faceted and complex personality, with flaws, insecurities and strengths.
The compelling Mr. Thornton isn't the only attraction in this miniseries, though. Actress Daniela Denby-Ashe portrays a lovely, spirited Margaret Hale, and has undoubtedly captured the hearts of many male viewers. Furthermore, the supporting cast is excellent.
The storyline involving the labor union and potential strike, the glimpses of a working cotton mill, and all the historical details will make North & South appealing and interesting to a diverse audience. With the exception of a few intense scenes, there is very little that you could not show any member of the family. It does not require gore or sex to captivate its audience. This is what might be called "clean" entertainment—safe to show anyone in the family (with the exception of small children).
Comparing the dramatization to the original Elizabeth Gaskell novel: I read the novel by Gaskell (a contemporary of Dickens) after seeing the miniseries, and cannot pretend to be a scholar of the book. I will say that the TV adaptation does a pretty good job of capturing the "spirit" of the novel, while compressing and adapting certain portions. However, some Gaskell fans are offended by two portions of the adaptation in particular. Near the beginning of the first episode, screenwriter Sandy Welch felt it was necessary to give Margaret a more compelling reason to dislike Thornton—her snobbery about his profession would not resonate well with contemporary audiences, it was feared. So, a scene was added where Thornton does something that really (really!) makes a bad impression. Though his behavior is explained later and most viewers are able to understand it, others may not be able to accept the change. The other major alteration to the novel comes in the last scene, which is viewed as anachronistic—not historically appropriate for the time. But, despite this, many fans of the book actually prefer the new ending. In fact, it's safe to say that overall, most viewers loved the ending very much, and felt that it retained the "spirit" of the book.
L-R: Thornton's sister Fanny, Mr. Hale, Dixon, Fred Hale, Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Thornton, Mr. Hale and Mr. Bell.
A rich selection of supporting characters: It seems as if everyone in North & South is interesting in some way. I never found any part of the story lagging, nor did I feel that any storyline was dull or unnecessary.
Tim Pigott-Smith and Lesley Manville play Margaret's parents. Rupert Evans plays her brother, Fred. The Hale family are genteel, well-educated and soft-spoken. Their maid, Dixon (Pauline Quirke) has been with the family forever and is regarded as more than a mere servant.
Sinead Cusak is absolutely brilliant as the "Old Dragon," Thornton's mother, Hannah. She is rather formidable and very protective of her son, but somehow their relationship does not stray into "unhealthy" or "too smothering" territory. Cusak and Richard Armitage (Mr. Thornton) are brilliant in the scenes they perform together—both are subtle in their body language and can convey so much through gestures and expressions.
Comic relief is achieved through Jo Joyner as Fanny Thornton, John Thornton's flighty sister. Brian Protheroe plays the mischievous Mr. Bell, a friend of Mr. Hale's and Thornton's landlord.
See some more photos in the North and South photo album >>
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North & South on DVD:  "In what other shows can we see Richard Armitage?" Fans who are wowed by the actor's portrayal of Mr. Thornton keep on asking this question, so I felt compelled to make this special page, which gives short reviews of some of his other works available on DVD. |
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