Something I’ve just recently discovered about myself is that I’m a sucker for British period dramas. Why I didn’t know this before I can’t tell you since I practically inhaled all the Jane Austen I could get my hands on after I read one of her novels and did just the same for any film adaptations of her work.
I’ll also be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for the brooding romantic hero archetype like Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice or Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility or, to name a lesser, non-Austen example, Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle By Diana Wynne Jones. So you can understand that my newest fictional obsession doesn’t exactly come out of nowhere.
While I was surfing Netflix the other day for something to watch, it suggested a BBC mini-series of the book ‘North and South’ by Elizabeth Gaskell based on my interest in all the other British period dramas I had watched (coughJaneAustencough). I’d never even heard of the book before far less read it, but still I clicked on it to read the full description. I still wasn’t completely convinced to watch it, but I left the tab open as “an option” before continuing my search for entertainment. Eventually I had three tabs of possible things to watch and I decided to read the viewers’ reviews (hey those two words are anagrams of each other!) to make my final decision. I’m so thankful now that I read North and South’s reviews first. Most, if not all, praised the series for it’s wonderful imagery or plot or just that it was plain old great.
I watched all four hour-long episodes in one sitting. It was so addicting! Not only is the artistry of the filming just magnificent, the plot itself is a mix of political commentary, coming-of-age and of course there’s some good old romance thrown in there too. I was speechless after the first episode (the end of which is brilliant), and by the time I had finished the whole thing I wanted more. The protagonists are both flawed and realistic and you can really feel the emotions throughout the story. I laughed out loud at some parts and yes, I did cry a few times too, but I cry at most anything.
John Thornton, the male protagonist played by one of my new favourite actors Richard Armitage, is officially my new poster boy for brooding and romantic.
Goodbye Mr. Darcy, hello Mr. Thornton!
He is a bit violent and himself admits that he has a temper, but all Byronic-esque heroes tend to be temperamental, just like they all have the best intentions. There always seems to be a good intention buried under all of Mr. Thornton’s harshness. Like Mr. Darcy, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the female protagonist, Margaret Hale. You can see very early on that he is smitten with her, but as it usually goes in these period dramas with strong female leads, she takes an instant dislike to him. As the story flows though, you can really see both their characters start to grow and change, and of course they fall in love.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Mr. Darcy and Pride and Prejudice. But I’ve always had a gripe about the fact that Elizabeth only really comes to see Darcy’s good side after he spells it out for her in a letter.
I do love that Darcy wrote her a letter, because I personally love letters. And I get that it’s a plot device that Jane Austen used to facilitate Elizabeth’s change of heart, but John Thornton never had to explain himself. He had his reasons for everything he did, and as honourable as they were, he didn’t feel the need to justify himself to anyone. Margaret grew to see that side of him all on her own. I feel like Elizabeth had to be prodded into a 180 degree turn. Both stories have their pros and cons, but for right now, Mr. Darcy is on the back burner for me. John Thornton is my new favourite aloof-yet-romantic male protagonist.
I really did enjoy the series as a whole though (not just the fictional eye candy), and I’m going to hunt down the book to read hopefully in the near future. When I finish reading it, I’ll let you know if I change my mind about John Thornton. If you are even vaguely interested in British period dramas or you like stuff by Jane Austen, I strongly encourage you to check out North and South, it was just wonderful.
Anyway, I’ve made it to week two! That’s a good start! I hope you’re having good luck with your resolutions too!
White Coat: A Journey 