lettered | North and South, BBC adaptation of Gaskell

North and South, BBC adaptation of Gaskell

Oh, I forgot to say, since I'm wishy washy and back from outer space, you should probably de-friend that RSS feed if you had it goin'.

I kept hearing about North and South from

bbccostumedrama, but I kept getting it confused with that Civil War mini-series by the same name. Anywho, it's an adaptation of a novel Elizabeth Gaskell wrote in 1855. I am only familiar with Gaskell through another BBC adaptation, Wives and Daughters. W&D is alright because it has a nerd in it, a Victorian nerd, but overall I wasn't overwhelmed. But it's period romance!

Y'all should've seen what Mr. Daroga did when I said I wished I had a period hat. Yes, he did go there. Halfway through watching N&S I emailed

my_daroga to tell her I loved it, so obviously she needed to see it. Now that I've watched the other half, I doubt she'll like it as much as me. There's certainly not much of a sense of irony or humor in it, and it tends to be socially concerned and moralistic. Now, I like things to be socially concerned and moralistic, as long as I don't feel preached at, or that I'm being told the difference between right and wrong.

But I do have a kink for Heroines Trying Very Hard To Do The Right Thing Because It Is Right, which I think might be less interesting to some than Clever Heroines Who Make Mistakes, Forgive Themselves, And Move The Fuck On. The former is Elinor Dashwood, you know, with her Sekrit Pain. The latter is more Lizzy Bennet. (In fact, these differing styles of heroines could bear more scrutiny, maybe one day I will do a post. Maybe it will involve pastries. Or something.) The point is, N&S did hit it a bit on the head at the end, had some rather too cheesy moments. At one point it actually said, "For the children! You must, for the children!" . . . but what I'm saying is this is probably why I liked it. I'm the sort of person who goes to Sound of Music Sing-A-Longs and says the line, "Oh please, Captain, love them; love them all!" right along with Maria. So, I dunno. The film might interest only a narrow cross-section of the ole flist.

Mostly, I'm just copying the email I sent off to

my_daroga:

The romance plot so far is sort of like P&P. Woman disapproved of Man because she is judgey and thinks she knows everything, but also because Man is a jerkface. Man does not let on he likes Woman but we know he does. Man gets busted, big time. Woman realizes Man is a bit of alright (even though she doesn't see his grounds at Pemberley). Man gets Woman out of a pickle! But the ending takes a Jane Eyre turn: Woman is heiress; Man is down and out. But unlike some other heroes, at the end Man seems to be fully aware that Woman does not want to be his nurse, nor his companion, and that her feelings aren't what they were last spring. AND HE'S IN HIS SHIRT SLEEVES AND HE ASKS HER TO COME HOME WITH HIM.

The attendant plots are political. Woman is old school gentry, clergyman's daughter, so virtually penniless but respected. But she goes to North England (where everyone's accents are different and cool!) where the Industrial Revolution is in full swing and her whole class system doesn't really fit in there. And they don't understand her thinking she's better than the new money and giving charity to the workers. And she doesn't understand them. And there's all this comparison to the old way of life and the new. And there's a worker's strike against the factory owners, and it's a bunch of hopeless situations.

As I mentioned, it hits the Heroine Trying Very Hard To Do The Right Thing Because It Is Right kink. She really has a Fanny Price thing going, except that I dislike Fanny and I love this heroine. The difference to me, I think, is that Heroine makes all kinds of mistakes. She thinks a bit too much of herself and judges people when she shouldn't, I think, and she's like Lizzy that way. She comes in to a situation she knows nothing about and tries to inflict her ideals on people who do understand the situation and are trying to make the best they can of it. But because she's all idealistic and an outsider she can see things the people inside the situation can't, and her ideals end up having some validity and people end up listening to her because she is strong and fiesty and doesn't back down even though she's clueless. I'm....a big fan of Christy by Catherine Marshall.

In other news, the main actress probably would've been a pin-up girl in the '30s but these days she's not a classic, which of course makes me love her more. I find it interesting though that everyone kept calling her a beauty; I find her gorgeous but I wonder whether most people these days would. And the main actor dude is Very Stern and only smiles at her and when no one is looking. *sigh* OMG. He's hotness made of hotsauce AND HARDNESS.

Oy, did I promise floofy skirts?

OMG he's all broody. Look at them. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

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I clicked even though I hate everything especially children and small animals but I LUVS YOU.

I have barely been on LJ in days and I am so behind that I am weeping with the futility of catching up.

That actress is very familiar to me. Who might she be,pray tell (that's flouncy skirt talk, if you didn't recognize it.)

What is happening with you?

So, I didn't know, so I looked her up, and it turns out: SHE IS THE ALIEN WHO SEDUCES TOSH. In S1 of TW! No way! I thought that alien was hot, but in the much more traditional sense. must've been the eyeliner.

Well if you weren't crying so much maybe you could actually catch up!!! Just kidding.

OMG I LUVS U TWO. What is up with me is that I have returned to lj, come crawling back, yes. I was sick Sunday night and threw up FIVE times and called my mommy at 4am crying. I got better. I had a fic due for a ficathon yesterday and I still haven't turned it in. I'm stressed out but getting better and I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO HARD I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF.

What's new with you?

OMG the bit with the peacock dress made my day! Thanks for the much needed laugh, hon! *squishes*

I have Secret & Shameful aspirations to be a lolcat linguist one day and people like you only encourage me.

FOR SHAME.

It's totally peacocky, isn't it?

*laughs* You're quite on your way then, dear! lol

YES, I now have the horrible mental picture of Narcissa with such a dress made from the infamous Malfoy Manor white peacocks!

...okay, now I have that picture too, but mine is HOT.

I suck at drawing but this makes me want to try a hand.

Narcissa: Lookit it's the dress I married Lucius in.
Draco: Harry's not wearing that, mum.
Harry: Dude, she didn't mean it for me.
Draco: *is very afraid*
Narcissa: Draco, it goes with ur hair lol!

Or possibly Narcissa would BE an albino peacock. And Bellatrix would be a raven, and Andromeda would be an ugly duckling who turns into a swan.

Bellatrix: CAW CAW CAW.
Andromeda: Nevermore? *has last lol*

gardening.

I have to write my lynnevitaional, like immediately. Oh I suck.

Work, which no longer lets me access LJ which is why I am so far far behind. (Work, why are you not letting me goof off? I am more productive when I am happy. I mean it.)

I am behind on all my TV viewing except Bones because watching Dave makes me quiver.

I have a strange lump on the side of my finger. I am fairly certain a small piece of stem is under the skin. Gardening is not for wusses.

*falls over* OMG There so should be a crack! fic about this! It would totally pwn!

Draco: But Muuuum! It would make me look too wan and sickly! I refuse to look like I'm about to keel over on my wedding day! Besides Harry's hair is the perfect black to offset all that white! Even if he has no business wearing such a virginal colour *wink wink*

Harry & Narcissa stage whisper: So freaking gay

Draco: What was that? Did you just say-

Narcissa: Oh nothing, poppet!

Draco: I distinctly heard someone mention something about-

Narcissa: Look, Draco, here comes-

Draco: Ooh! *claps hands* Is it-

Harry: Something sweet

Narcissa: Something shiny

Lucius: Something that would end this horrific gay love fest and/or at least strike me blind? What? I thought I was being rather helpful here!

AND OMG Peacock! Naricissa and Bella plus Ugly Duckling Andromeda! *laughs* There should be a comic about that somewhere! *rolls around laughing*

Edited 2008-05-07 05:06 (UTC)

HAHAHAH. There should. I'm totally going to draw comics and it's going to be all your fault.

Lucius: *secretly tries on the peacock dress when alone*

Yay! \o/ *basks in teh blame and impending notoriety* LOL

Lucius: *twirling with peacock dress on*

Harry: *passing through, dies laughing, returns by doing his nifty Jesus trick & records moment for prosperity*

Edited 2008-05-07 05:36 (UTC)

Dream Dumbledore in King's Cross: Back so soon?
Harry: *wiping eyes* I saw Lucius twirling in Draco's mum's peacock dress.
DDiKC: Ah, the albino one.
Harry: How do you know about that?
DDiKC: *looks shifty*
Harry: You didn't ...um, sir, you didn't--with phoenix feathers--
DDiKC: No! Of course not, my boy, what a thought.
Harry: Thank God.
DDiKC: *still looks shifty*
Harry: ...did Grindelwald? Because it's alright, sir. I found out about that.
DDiKC: It might be . . . what I really saw in the Mirror of Erised.
Harry: ...Socks, huh?
DDiKC: Sorry, Harry.
Harry: No, it's okay. I see "socks" now too. If that means Draco in thigh high hose and garters.
DDiKC: ...I think you should return to life, now, Harry.
Harry: Er--yeah, I better.
DDiKC: The world must know about Lucius.
Harry: Yes. Er--if he dies of shame, don't tell him I said that about his son, okay?

*falls over laughing* OMFG! That's brilliant!

*bright flash*

Lucius: *stops twirling and gapes* Potter!

Harry: *freezes* Malfoy!

Lucius: Potter!

Harry: *still frozen* Malfoy!

Lucius: Nyahhh! Get out of here!

*Harry flees*

Lucius: Blasted boy! He'll pay for that! *huffs* I do hope he got my good side though. Everyone knows I look like I have a bit of a pouch from my left. *ponders*

LOL

WHAT COLIN CREEVY WOULD DO WITH THE INFORMATION WE NOW HAVE.

Narcissa: Why is my dress all stretched out on the left?

He would totally sell his soul AND his brother! *laughs*

Narcissa: *ponders over dress*

Lucius: *whistles innocently albeit a bit off key* Must be a misdirected spell. Shall I punish the House Elf, dear?

Narcissa: Aww, you're so sweet sometimes, darling! But I'm beginning to be seriously concerned with the quality of our House Elves. Do you reckon we got a bad batch this year? I mean yesterday I couldn't find my silk nightgown. You know the one you said you loved so much because of how it felt on your skin? And I swear I just bought a new pot of rogue but when I looked the tin was empty!

Lucius: *gulps* Um you don't say? Yes, probably a bad batch! Shouldn't have -ah bought them during the Two for One Merlin's Day Sale.

LOL

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA OH EM GEE.

Draco: Sounds like Father's punishing the House Elves again.
Harry: Fine, fine. We'll take back the garters. [...] Will he ever admit it to your mum?
Draco: What?
Harry: You know, that he ... wears her clothes?
Draco: He WHAT?
Harry: You ... didn't know?
Draco: I thought it was the House Elves.
Harry: ...No. I'm sorry, really I am.
Draco: Are you kidding? I'm bloody relieved.
Harry: ...what?
Draco: I thought Father was making the HOUSE ELVES wear them. So he could punish them--you know--while he--
Harry: Oh, ew! Never finish that sentence, ever.

*laughs until wheezing* HAHAHAHAHA

Draco: But, Harry! Don't you see? It explains so much! I mean I might be gay but even I know I've a bit extra in the dramatic flair department. And Mum's always a bit more refined, Dad's the extravagant one!
Harry: *coughs* Really? I hadn't noticed...
Draco: Oh shut it, you! Anyway, I am so glad. A lot of my childhood makes sense now.
Harry: *wisely keeps mum*
Draco: You know from the age of five 'til I was about ten I was convinced I had two mothers? *laughs* You should've seen the look on the Minister's face when I grabbed my dad by his hair during one of his parties and bawled about how I didn't understand why my mummy was spending all night talking to this fat walrus man who smelled like eggs!

Edited 2008-05-07 07:07 (UTC)

Harry: Fudge? I always thought he smelled like boiled cabbage.
Draco: *scowls* You're ruining my glorious moments of revelation.
Harry: Oh, right, sorry. *pause* You're not going to faff about in girly clothes now, are you?
Draco: *looks seductive* Only if you want me to.
Harry: Oh-dear-god-no.
Draco: WELL FINE.
Harry: You can dramatic flair all you want though. *looks seductive back* In fact, I could use me some dramatic flair right about now.
Draco: I'M ALREADY DOING THAT.
Harry: Yeah, with the capslock. *ardent look* That's hot.
Draco: *relents* *plays with Harry's hair* You can see why I fell for you in fifth year.

*chokes and tries not to die* That was so much fun! *wipes tears from eyes* Thanks for the laughs, hon!

...all I did at work today was draw peacock dresses. For serious.

Thank you too!

...Lynnevitational? Are you telling me the due date is looming? Pls to be not telling me this?

My work took away my internets AND my reading AND my writing. I am reduced to drawing comics. WHy do they hate us? Totally true about the Happy //s production thing.

I am not watching any currently airing tv at all! I miss quivering over DB though. Certain people I live with, namely everyone I live with, would laugh at me for doing so. I would just bite my thumb at them though.

The other day when my_daroga and I were gardening I started freaking the fuck out because an ant was on me. Then I remember I was not in Texas and I would not come away with 40 welts I would itch until they bled as a result. Dude, gardening up here as opposed to Houston is like drinking mint julips on rooftops. Possibly because we are not hard core like you, though. And my_daroga did most the weeding :o)

Now that I've watched the other half, I doubt she'll like it as much as me. There's certainly not much of a sense of irony or humor in it, and it tends to be socially concerned and moralistic.

Hahaha. I hate morals!

I know that's not what you're saying. But it sounded funny. And also you are a big poseur and hiding your sentimental gooiness from us under a veneer of Daroga-approved cynicism. ADMIT IT!

How do you spell goeyness?

Anyway I still want to watch this but have not. But you'd better bring it back to Scarecrow or they will eat you.

I knew if you read that post you'd say something like that. So I thought about fixing it to sound better, but decided I wanted to hear you say you hate morals.

I don't hide my sentimental gooeyness. Most things we have been watching though have not activated my gooeyness buttons. It only comes out at special times.

(BECAUSE IT SPARKLES.)

I brought it back. I want to watch it again and again and again and drown in fanfic except I can't find any good ones so far.

This is a good decision, to goad me into saying things I don't mean and further my reputation as a heartless thing of stone.

That said, I have gooey too, but I'm not sure where. So I hope I don't keep you from accessing that, though I am very sorry about inadvertently belittling your Onegin experience.

I will watch N&S. But you have already watched it twice, yes?

I know; I'm diabolical.

I also know you are gooey; for I have seen it, and I am all seeing. You get gooey for Lawrence and Esteban; I know you do. I hope you keep accessing that too.

You didn't belittle my experience; I just couldn't appreciate what you showed me then because I was in a different place. You could never block my goo!!!

Did I mention the again and again and again part? I can't wait to see it with my mommy; she will love it so. I just do not think you will, you know, go gah gah for it. But not because you do not have goo.

Hell yeah, I do get gooey for Lawrence. And Esteban (and also Mendoza, dammit).

But not because you do not have goo.

No, we covered that, it's because I don't have morals.

Yes, but usually I don't have morals either. Something has to be moralistic in just the right way for me to go gooey, otherwise I am as stone. Which was my point. Which I assume you got, so now I'm talking just to talk.

Oh, I know, me too. I think we both know what we mean, and have similar, but slightly different kinks in that area.

I've recently joined and wanted to introduce myself :)

Hi!

...You should be aware I still don't know who you are since you are commenting anonymously.

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North and South, BBC adaptation of Gaskell

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Hey I'm new here

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