A review of BBC’s beloved period drama, North and South (2004), starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe.
North and South 2004 Review
It’s hard to believe the beloved adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South first aired 11 years ago. Since its premiere, North and South has easily become one of the most popular and cherished period dramas of all time.
Adapted by Sandy Welch (who also wrote the brilliant script for the 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre as well as Emma in 2009) and directed by Brian Percival (who later went on to win an Emmy for directing Downton Abbey), this adaptation of North and South helped bring a somewhat forgotten story once again into the limelight.
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North and South was one of those quiet surprises that no one saw coming. In fact, the BBC didn’t have very high expectations for the series and did not heavily promote it.
However, when the series first aired in November 2004, the BBC’s message board for the series crashed because there were so many visitors. From there, word of mouth has only become stronger as it continues to spread to period drama lovers (or any drama fans) everywhere.
Not since Pride and Prejudice 1995 had there arguably been such a popular period drama based on a classic novel. No doubt the impassioned performance of Richard Armitage as John Thornton had something to do with its runaway success.
The Story
If you’re not familiar with the story, North and South is a four-part miniseries of Elizabeth Gaskell’s 1854 novel of the same name. It tells the epic love story of a young woman, Margaret Hale, from the South and an industrialist from the North.
When Margaret moves to Milton, a poverty-stricken factory town (after her father resigns as Vicar due to a matter of conscience), she crosses paths with John Thornton, who runs a cotton mill.
The first time she sees him, Thornton is treating a worker severely. Margaret misunderstands him from the start, thinking he’s a cruel master over the poor people who work for him.
Thornton, on the other hand, is attracted to Margaret despite her initial disdain for him. So with her prejudices of him in hand (there are some major similarities here to Pride and Prejudice), the romance between the two develops slowly.
In another important subplot, there’s a strike going on with all of Milton’s factories, which threatens to shut down Thornton’s business for good. Margaret befriends the Union leader, Nicholas Higgins (played by Brendan Coyle of Downton Abbey fame), which causes even more friction.
And then there’s the matter of Thornton’s controlling and overbearing mother (Sinéad Cusack), who is threatened by Margaret due to her son’s attraction to her.
The Modern Period Drama
So with a strong story frame to work with from Gaskell, a character-driven script with period-perfect dialogue from Welch, and some flashy filmmaking techniques from director Brian Percival to make it more visually appealing to a modern audience, North and South hit all the right notes.
North and South, in fact, is quite visually stunning. The costumes are gorgeous, the production design artistic, and the cinematography haunting. One of the most striking scenes is that of John Thornton moodily walking through his cotton mill as the cotton blows past him like snow.
The Brilliant Cast
And then, of course, there was that cast. With Richard Armitage’s casting as John Thornton and Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margaret Hale, the perfect blend of chemistry and talent was put together to produce on-screen magic.
The two worked off each other with wit, passion, and intelligence, encompassing their now-iconic characters with a modern sense and a classic sensibility. They both understood the essence of the time period they were capturing while also being aware that they were telling a story to a modern audience, which no doubt is partially due to Percival’s direction.
Though relatively unknown at the time, Armitage was in a perfect position to steal the hearts of viewers everywhere with his performance as the stormy (and yes, very dreamy) John Thornton.
While there had been previous adaptations, including one from the ‘70s starring Patrick Stewart, it was not so well known as Pride and Prejudice 1995, so there was no one really to compare his performance to. And like Firth, Armitage embodied the role of Thornton in a way that will continue to be one of the quintessential period drama leading man performances ever to grace the screen.
Perhaps what makes Thornton such a memorable romantic hero is that he is a classic hero in the likes of Mr. Darcy while also having the impassioned romantic nature of a Bronte Byronic – without the secretive dark side. Gaskell created a figure that encompasses both Austen and Bronte (Charlotte was a close friend of hers) with Dickens’s touch (he was the Editor of this book).
A Love Story to Remember
One of the most popular aspects of North and South is the romance between John Thornton and Margaret Hale. I’m not sure anyone pulls off the smolder quite like Richard Armitage.
Those longing stares (sometimes lasting for entire scenes), heated arguments, the brush of a hand, romantic declarations, and more – there’s a lot to love in this romance, and there’s a lot to swoon over with Mr. Thornton – just watch the ending.
And what makes it so memorable is that it’s not just a romance. No doubt the romance is front and center, but there’s also quite a bit of social commentary and important subplots that only work to make the story stronger and the romance more epic.
To this day, North and South is one of my go-to recommendations to just about anyone. I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like North and South. Men. Women. Even some children. I always run into new people who have never seen or heard of it.
And, of course, after watching it, they too become fans. As a quick sell, I often pitch the series as “Jane Austen meets Charles Dickens with an epic romance similar to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, only more passionate.”
Overall, North and South is one of the most wonderful dramas ever on television and certainly one of the most romantic. If you love classic literature, period dramas, old-fashioned romance, intelligent storytelling, and more, North and South is THE period drama to see. North and South is available on DVD and can be streamed on sites like Netflix.
How much do you love North and South? Let me know in the comments!
Photos: BBC
OVERALL RATING
“The stuff that dreams are made of.”
ROMANCE RATING
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.
I have loved none but you.”
I absolutely adore N&S! Great review; I wholeheartedly agree. I only happened upon it this summer and have watched it too many times to count. Stunning, epic, romantic…words cannot truly describe it. I have recommended it to friends, who also have loved it. Part of what “gets” me about it is the story isn’t just epic…it’s about small, personal things as well: duty, obligation, worthiness. I like that Mr. Thornton is complex, not just the tough-but-usually-fair master but a man who grapples with his feelings of unworthiness and his new feelings of unrequited love. I like that John and Margaret challenge each other; they become better people, knowing the other And those looks at the train station…OMG…If I were Margaret, I couldn’t get two syllables out, let alone full sentences!
Thank you. And I agree with you on all counts! Every little small, personal detail only enhances why this miniseries is so fantastic. The themes are rich, the characters layered and it’s just plain, good drama! And don’t we all wish we were Margaret? 🙂
Agree, agree, agree! Yes, I think we all wish we were Margaret! 🙂
Thank you for this article. North and South will always be my #1 favorite period drama. I love reading about it, especially when I can agree with everything the author has to say about it. Can you imagine a more perfect cast?
North and South was one of those quiet surprises that no one saw coming. In fact, the BBC didn’t have very high expectations for the series and did not heavily promote it.
If the plot for North and South had been something like Cranford or Wives and Daughters, the BBC would have gone out of its way to promote it. I think the network’s bigwigs shared the same opinion as many literary critics (especially male critics) who seemed to believe that Elizabeth Gaskell had no business writing a novel with a strong, social criticism. Labor strikes? I guess they felt that such a topic should be the métier for Victorian male authors like Charles Dickens.
I think North and South became a victim of gender bigotry.
You make very good points and are probably spot on! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I really love this movie and I watched it five times
Wow, just wow. I finally pulled myself together and watched this and I’m in love! So good, so good. What transformations in both the leads. And when Mr. Thornton finally smiles at the end there — oh man, be still my heart. Sigh…Definitely one I need to own.
I watched North & South for the first time in 2014, it is now 2018 and I’ve gone back to it and I’ve already watched it FOUR TIMES. Each time it gets better. The cast is stellar. Mrs. Thornton, Fanny Thornton, Dixson, Boucher, Higgins, Frederick — all perfectly casted and each performance riveting, even the briefest roles such as the little boy learning to read. It’s truly a jewel. This time I bought the novel and read it, the series script is a perfect adaptation and the dialogues are even better than in the novel. Well, the final scene in the train is definitely much better than the original. Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe –Thornton and Margaret– are my romantic cup of tea, much more than Romeo and Juliet. Absolutely the best period drama from BBC ever.
I found the dvd amongst my collection I had forgotten how brilliant it was I binged watched it all in one go again it has for me the most romantic moment in anything I have ever seen when he hands her the rose from Helston so wonderful . It has now become my favourite series I loved Richard Armitage anyway he was great in spooks as Lucas and thorin in the hobbit but in this he excels . The station scene is a romantic classic she tries to make her offer to help him a matter of business and he gives her the rose they kiss . Loved it also when she faced the angry mob to defend him! I loved the dance scene in Sanditon but north and south is a quiet unfolding love story just perfect now my all time favourite romantic drama . Richard Armitage smoulders as the brooding moody John Thornton Daniela denby Ashe perfect as Margaret Hale great chemistry.
It really is a brilliant romantic period drama! Just perfect. 🙂