North & South discussion

~ Episode Two, Part 1:
Starting at the start of the episode, ending with the Thornton’s dinner.

Okay, seeing as no-ones posted on this thread yet, and - being me - I'm stubbornly refusing to believe that Group Watch discussions are over (:P), I wanted to ask what people thought of the dinner party scene. I know a couple of people expressed the idea that Margaret was already in love with Thornton at this point, which I don't really agree with, but I wanted to know what other people thought, about this and other parts of that scene. :)

I think there's "something" there but she's not aware of it yet. She's looking for him in the room and following him with her eyes when he walks away, whether she knows she's doing it or not.

The dinner makes me uncomfortable as I feel like they're ganging up on the "foreigner" though she holds her own well.

Whoo, someone actually posted! Thank you, Robin, I was afraid this thread would stay completely empty! :)

I think you're right that there's 'something' there, and though I don't think that Margaret is at all in love with Thornton (as he is with her) there is sort of an intense awareness between the two of them, a heightened feeling of knowing exactly where the other is in the room at any time.

It is a little uncomfortable, isn't it? I agree, it is a bit like them ganging up on poor Margaret, though she resists them all admirably. I think we had a pretty in depth discussion about that dinner on a different thread, but for the life of me I cannot remember which! I don't have time to search it out now - Italian test in an hour, eek! - but I can find it for you later, if you like. :)

Also, what do you think of Fanny in this scene? I'm always a bit confused - at first it's like she's trying to acquiesce to her brothers request and be kind to Miss Hale - with the whole water mattress thing - but then at the dinner table she pretty much throws Margaret under the bus... Or under the carriage, I suppose, considering the time period. :P

Robin wrote: "I think there's "something" there but she's not aware of it yet. She's looking for him in the room and following him with her eyes when he walks away, whether she knows she's doing it or not.


I thought so too. I thought she was falling in love with him but not aware of it yet. I noticed them staring at each other and then looking away when the other turned their head. It was cute.

Fanny doesn't know what she's talking about. at all ever. She's such a snot.

Oh, Fanny, always jealous and attention-seeking. Why not just yell "stop looking at this chick I don't understand, brother, and pay attention to meeeeee"?

Although considering how little respect he has for her and how important he is to her, it's not surprising Fanny wants to impress him even if it is by tattling.

Re: Margaret and Thornton ~
I did think it was very cute how they both looked at each other and then looked away before they saw the other looking at them - rather sweet. But I still only take it as showing how much more aware of each other they are becoming. If that means Margaret was starting to fall I love, that's a reasonable argument I suppose, but I still don't think that she'd got that far yet - if she cared in that way at all about Thornton she would never have refused him in such a cruel manner. I always thought she started falling in love with Thornton somewhere in Episode 3, though their relationship always had a certain intensity to it.

Re: Fanny ~
Yup, she's a snot. But she does know what she's talking about occasionally... Doesn't she? As to your point, Kate, I think you're right, she really does want a bit more attention from her brother. But at the same time, even if Thornton doesn't respect Fanny in every sense of the word, I really do think he loves his sister. He just has a bit more of a connection with his mother, and sometimes I think Fanny doesn't quite know how to deal with being left just a little on the outside.

When do y'all think Thornton actually fell in love with Margaret? I haven't gotten the book yet but just based on the adaptation? I don't think he has the problem of realizing what his feelings are like Margaret. :)

Oh no, Thornton doesn't have much problem admitting his feelings to himself at all. Of course he was immediately attracted by her - and repelled in a way, I guess, seeing as she kind of attacks him quite a bit - which continues all through the first episode. I'm really not sure of the precise moment he fell in love with Margaret, but I would say that he's at least started to fall in love with her near the beginning of Episode Two. The moment it becomes really apparent to me that Thornton's falling in love is when he's talking to Fanny and his mother, and he says; "She would never have me," with that slightly sad smile on his face. Even though he says immediately afterward; "You can both believe me then when I say this out of complete indifference to Miss Hale..." it's obvious that he's not indifferent, however much he wishes he was. :)