North & South discussion

~ Episode Four, Part 2:
Starting with Margaret’s aunt coming to take her home, ending with the most beautiful, romantic scene ever beheld in any film, ever. (Am I coming it a little too strong here? :D)

No not too strong. Seriously. Most romantic, most beautiful, most swoonworthy scene in all romances!

It certainly is! Seriously, I'm in either sad, happy or simply emotional tears for the entire last half of this episode. (Except when I'm dehydrated, which is extremely annoying, let me tell you. I always have to remember to drink tons of water before watching N&S, so I don't end up wanting to cry but not being able to.)

Becca wrote: "It certainly is! Seriously, I'm in either sad, happy or simply emotional tears for the entire last half of this episode. (Except when I'm dehydrated, which is extremely annoying, let me tell you. I..."

HAHAHAHA!!! That is so funny!!! LOL drinking water so you'll know you'll cry! I've never heard that before :P

Well, don't laugh at me, it's actually quite reasonable :P - I know I'm going to want to cry, so I have to remember to drink water, otherwise I'm in the extremely irritating position of being really emotional and not being able to bring forth any of those pesky tears. All too often I forget to drink enough though... It's so annoying. Trust me.

Can we talk about something else in this episode, before other members get onto this and start teasing me mercilessly? :D

I like the emotional journey she goes on throughout the story to come to the point where she accept Milton as her home. I love how Margaret takes charge once again. She's a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. She's so sweetly adorable when she proposes her business plan to Thornton and he's sitting there with a cheesy grin on his face not even paying attention. His emotional journey is important too. Before he was all business and working too hard. He had to become bankrupt in order to stop and smell the roses, literally. He needs Margaret to balance him out just as the country needs the North to make it whole.

Qnpoohbear wrote: "I like the emotional journey she goes on throughout the story to come to the point where she accept Milton as her home. I love how Margaret takes charge once again. She's a woman who knows what she..."

Oh, you make me laugh! I completely agree that their emotional journeys are amazing to watch, and your description of Margaret as "sweetly adorable" during that scene is spot on; though I think also "adorably nervous" is a description that could also be used. But I think calling Thornton's expression a "cheesy grin" is quite far out! :D I don't know what I'd call it, but I don't think "cheesy grin" quite fits...

Well done on that play on "smell the roses" - it works particularly well in this case, doesn't it? :)

There was something I'd been wanting to mention about this scene. In the book, during this scene, I believe Thornton says Margaret's name several times. When I remembered that, I realised that unless I'm quite mistaken, there isn't one moment in the entire piece when we hear Thornton say Margaret's name to her face. He says it to Higgins, I know, but not to her. God forbid I should speak ill of this final scene in the series, but I would have loved to hear Thornton say her name, in her presence, just once.

Right! Now that you mention it. But do you remember that Emma never once called Mr. Knightley by his given name even after they were engaged. (From now on I shall call you my Mr. Knightley). It has something to do with propriety at that time. Calling people by their given names was just too intimate. But I totally agree with you. I think it would sound beautiful with his voice (damn that voice!) :)

It was an intimate thing but it was done. Darcy actually used Elizabeth's name to her have - "dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth." I wish he had used her name as well!

Indeed, I know the reason behind his not using her name - in fact, I think it shows how deeply affected Thornton was when he slipped up and called Margaret by her first name in front of Higgins, right after he was told that Mr Hale was dead and Margaret was leaving. But surely, the train station scene was the perfect time to call her by name? I think we can all agree the intimacy of saying her name would not have been misplaced, there.

And in his voice, too, it would have sounded so perfect! I just have to cling to the memory of that one instance when he uses her name. And it just occurred to me, I don't think Margaret ever uses the name "John" either... It just seems a little less of a loss because I don't believe she uses his name in the book, either - though I could be mistaken.

Margaret never uses to John, to him or anyone.

No, I thought not. :( How sad that is. Although, just calling him Mr Thornton, or Thornton, does suit him remarkably well, doesn't it?

Yes it does!

I love the way Thornton says 'Margaret' that one time to Higgins. Just that one utterance of her first name evokes the desperation and tenderness he feels. Armitage is amazing. I can imagine him saying her name as lovers - the way he says it has that sensual, possessive edge to it. You can get tingly just imagining it. Oh, and that's how I imagine him saying it in the book, on those last two pages! That he drops the formality and uses her name is so intimate. Love that the film allowed us that one glimpse of intimacy in his saying her Christian name (as we all know he will do forevermore in his future!).

I love the way he says 'Margaret' too, Trudy: how his voice comes ever so close to quavering but stops just short of doing so. You can see - as you call it - the desperation he feels, a moment later, the look on his face and the way he presses his hand to his lips, barely managing to keep his emotions in check... You are right, Armitage is amazing: I've no idea how he manages to convey so much in so few words, and a few small actions, but he does, and it absolutely takes ones breath away. I just love those last two pages that you mentioned, and I'm so glad that the series allowed us to hear Thornton say her name! because otherwise I don't know I would have been able to visualise (what's the word for that in sound terms???) how he says her name.

Speaking of intimacy - though of a slightly different kind - I think another example of amazing acting was Sinead in that final scene in the mill. Still keeping Mrs Thornton's pride in place, but allowing her hard exterior to slip just enough... such a touching scene, I thought.

Be honest now! How many times have you repeated the last scene during this group watch?! :D

In all honesty, Samanta? I am ashamed to say it, but only once, this time around anyway. Usually it's at least twice, but this time I had a friend coming to visit and I was in a hurry to get to the end before she got here. *shame face*

Oh, you are a horrible person! :D :D I watched it twice...only :D

I know, I know, I'm terrible, I can't bear to live with myself any more... :P

The final scene is beautiful. The music is so soft and subtle and romantic....and they kiss, and I sigh...and it's just so sweet and romantic and simple. I loved it!

BTW...is there anywhere that I can talk about the music in this movie? I love it!

Beautiful is really a perfect word for this scene, isn't it? :) That scene was so utterly perfect... *sigh* ...

Now why hadn't I thought of that before? I love the music too, so why in the world have I not created a thread for it?! I'll go and do that this minute - thank you for suggesting it! :)

I know...it's just...beautiful. *another sigh*

Oh, I absolutely love the music. I play the piano and actually found sheet music for it.

I'm going to make a supreme effort not to sigh again here, otherwise I'm never going to stop...

It is really beautiful music - which pieces did you find sheet music for? The only sheet music I've been able to find (I play the piano too) has been for "I've Seen Hell" and "Thornton's Walk". :)

Yes, those are the ones I have. They are just beautiful. I want to find "Northbound Train." Did you get them from Tweedledee1 on youtube?

Ah, yes, I believe I did. :) If you ever find "Northbound Train", can you please, please let me know? I am desperate to find that one. Though I do love the ones I have already.

Tweedledee1 is amazing!!! He does quite a lot of the BBC dramas. If I find it, I'll try to remember to let you know. :)

Thank you! :)