Customer Reviews
Wonderful, wonderful series!!! - By: Lulu, 03 Jul 2008 
What a fabulous series. I spent the 4 most amazing hours watching it. I did not want it to end!
The cast is unforgetable with Richard Armitage as the stern, proud but compelling John Thornton,(he's so darn gorgeous!) & the lovely Daniela Denby-Ashe as the headstrong & forthright but charming Margaret Hale.
There's many similarities between, this series & Pride & Prejudice but it stands out brilliantly.
It's about a woman, Margaret Hale, from the South who moves from her romantic, sleepy laidback village, with her family, to the North & whose life collides with that of an intemperate if misunderstood industrialist, the charismatic mill-owner, John Thornton, in a bustling, northern city of Milton.
Instantly she gets into a dispute with him over his harsh treatment of an employee.
What she doesn't notice is Thornton's deep sense of responsibility for his employees' welfare. On the other hand, he misinterprets some of Margaret's own actions & intentions. But he is instantly attracted to her, while she has only the deepest contempt for him.
Later, she refuses his offer of marriage, only to realise far too late the kind of man he reallly is. Hard & harsh he may be, but he's also a man of strength & intergrity but it seems he no longer feels the same way he did about her, after catching her in a compromising situation... but despite it alll, he still protects her reputation.
And that's another tangled web to watch unravel.
Like in most period drama's, they both are stubborn & drag out their obvious attraction over many painful months & events, & I loved every bit of it.
This series rates right up there for me along with Pride & Prejudice, & Jane Eyre... perhaps ever higher. It's beautifully filmed & has some heart-wrenching moments that causes a tear or two.
I think John Thornton is the most romantic hero & he definitely beats Darcy, hands down. And I LIKE Darcy!
A definite keeper for me.
One of the best period dramas! - By: D. Stegmann, 01 May 2008 I bought this DVD a month because I couldn't watch the series when it came on TV in 2004. And I'm so happy I did it. It is one of the best period dramas I've seen so far...and I 've seen many! Casting, & production & alll the team of N&S did a great job with this adaptation....so if you liked Firth's Pride & Prejudice then you'll love this one 100%!!
Absolutely Beautiful and Moving - By: H. Aabybro, 04 Apr 2008 I bought this DVD & have watched it again & again & again. It is so heartfelt & so moving, so well acted, beautiful music, it is faultless. What I loved about this, was it gave a rare insight into life of different classes in Northern England in the 1800's, we are given a taste of the differences in manners & etiquette of Northerners & Southerners, & the snobbery that existed & to a degree still exists between people from the North & South of England. But for me it was how we are journeyed into the live's of the characters, who come from both the upper & working classes, seeing the very real struggles & working conditions of the working classes & what they endured. There is a beautiful & subtle development of love between the main characters, who are so contrasting in nature but are so well suited, the imagery set against an absolutely beautiful music score, means that North & South just does not leave an impression on the mind but on the very heart. Having watched many very good BBC adaptations, Pride & Prejudice, Bleak House, Cranford, Sense & Sensibility, Jane Eyre, Emma etc etc etc. I put this at number one, it just leaves such a deep impression.
the very best film I have ever seen - By: Jana, 22 Mar 2008 The film is the very best thing I have seen so far, even better than P&P. I got it 5 days ago, watched it alll & still must watch it over & over again. It makes you think about life, how similar the situations are to life nowadays though the environment is different.
I like the way it shows that not only the life of mill workers was very difficult but that also manufacturers [Mr Thornton here]had to work very hard & felt the resposibility they had. And also how important it was & is for people on different levels to talk together & try to understand the problems of the other party.
I am surprised how well Richard Armitage worked with both his facial expressions & the tone of his voice. Daniela Denby-Ashe is also great as Miss Hale & Sinead Cusack as mother, as is alll the other staff. All the scenes are worth watching, the pace is great. I am certainly going to buy the book to compare & learn more about the plot.
completely wonderful - By: Cailin Mae Phoenix, 22 Mar 2008 This is a though-provoking & beautifully shot series. The insight into the struggle of the workers & the owners is amazing & you reallly feel the suffering of those who could not afford the stike, but could also not afford to betray the others. Even slightly above that was the brilliant array of spectacular acting in this piece. Richard Armitage portrays Thorton's arrogant, maybe violent yet pratical, compassionate & intellegent charactor perfectly. And he is supported by an excellent cast, including Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margeret Hale.
Margaret's father uproots their family & takes them from their quiet peaceful Helstone in the south to busy dirty & industrial Milton in the north.
As they alll adjust to their new situation, Margaret starts to join the workers in thier struggles & makes her dislike of this unrefined, uneducated & somtimes vulgar new class clear to everyone-especiallly John Thorton.
But as she learns more, she realises there is more to see than what first meets the eye to the mills & their owners. But can change her view of Thorton who has become her admirer?
This is a beautiful series & is reallly worth watching! I cant say how true it is to the book by Elizabeth Gaskell, but I know one thing, I am going to read that book & the North & South series will always be among my favourites. Buy it!
