On another note, Happy New Years! I hope your celebrations were joyous and safe.
So, as I was saying, new obsessions to start off the new year. Or maybe a better word is preoccupations. Or areas of intense interest.
I blame The Hobbit.
Because Peter Jackson just had to go and cast Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. And Richard Armitage, the tricky blighter (see below), portrayed him in a way that can only be described as "majestic."
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| Okay, seriously. Not my fault, people! |
Also disconcertingly good-looking, for a dwarf.
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| You can not possibly blame me. |
And I, in my fan-girl-ness, had to go watch on Netflix North & South, BBC mini-series which has nothing to do with the Civil War, but everything to do with the gentleman pictured above.
It's essentially Pride and Prejudice, but with the Industrial Revolution. And strikes. And the hero (portrayed by the gentleman pictured above) is a lot more brooding than the immortal Darcy. Actually, Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote the novel in 1855, on which the mini-series is based, must have based her hero John Thornton more on Edward Rochester than Fitzwilliam Darcy; John Thornton fits in pretty well with the "intense, brooding" hero dynamic.
And who offsets him?
Margaret Hale, the lovely lady pictured here:
The daughter of a contentious clergyman, Margaret Hale and her parents move from the idyllic south of England to the colder, harsher climate of Milton, in the north, thus the title. Milton is an industrial town specializing in cotton mills, which were by anyone's standards, no safe place to work in. Margaret is horrified by the condition of the mill workers and her horror is only compounded when meeting John Thornton, the owner of Marlborough Mills.
And who offsets him?
Margaret Hale, the lovely lady pictured here:
The daughter of a contentious clergyman, Margaret Hale and her parents move from the idyllic south of England to the colder, harsher climate of Milton, in the north, thus the title. Milton is an industrial town specializing in cotton mills, which were by anyone's standards, no safe place to work in. Margaret is horrified by the condition of the mill workers and her horror is only compounded when meeting John Thornton, the owner of Marlborough Mills.
(I do love these image thingies.)
Of course, as I said--think Pride and Prejudice. Including the happy ending. But what I liked about this mini-series (besides Richard Armitage, I swear!), is the fact John Thornton is this very direct, blunt fellow who may seem ruthless and unfeeling, but he remains honest and keeps his word; he loves his mother who raised him after the suicide of his father fiercely. And I love Margaret, how she grows and changes from an idealistic girl into a seasoned young woman and doesn't back down, even when faced with John Thornton's wrath.
And the one kissing scene made up for all the drama and sexual tension we had to put up with.
Upon realizing I can watch it for free on Amazon streaming, I shall go do that presently. And I hope you all too, go forth and explore in this new year some new...preoccupations.
Over & Out,
Rachel
