They did advertise it though and it was reviewed. It wasn't given as big a campaign as P&P, but I think that's understandable, as a new adaptation of a novel that well-known is a big thing whereas, as lulu said, N&S was a less well-known novel from a less well-known Victorian writer.

There was a report from the set of N&S on GMTV, an interview with RA and DDA on Radio 5, at least one report from the set in a national newspaper (eg The Independent), a three page feature in the Radio Times, little questionnaires with RA in Time Out and The Independent, and several reviews and previews in the national press, eg The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent (preview, review) as well as The Scotsman and The Stage.

'Jenna Coleman is TOO pretty to play Victoria': Viewers of ITV period drama complain on Twitter that the British star 'isn't plain enough' to portray monarch

[...]

Sewell, 48, played the dashing but brooding Prime Minister to perfection and early reaction indicates he could join the ranks of Colin Firth as Mr Darcy and Richard Armitage as John Thornton in the period drama Hall of Fame.

[...]

January 10, 2017
Best On Netflix: Top 3 Costume Drama Series Now Streaming — ‘Reign,’ ‘North & South,’ ‘Medici: Masters Of Florence’

Britt Lawrence

If you are a Netflix subscriber and costume drama enthusiast, then you probably want to know what your best options are on the streaming giant. Because let’s face it, sifting through the plethora of titles on Netflix can prove quite daunting.

Below are three options currently streaming on Netflix to fulfill your costume drama needs. The CW’s Reign, the BBC miniseries North & South, and the Netflix original Medici: Masters of Florence all comprise the staples of a great costume drama, grand storytelling involving epic romances, and edge-of-your-seat tension.
1. Reign

According to Deadline, the CW series will be coming to an end with its fourth season. So catch up on the fan favorite series before it begins its end. Reign stars Adelaide Kane as the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots and loosely follows her life through the various travails, scandals, and triumphs that would encompass it.

Reign shares something in common with the third entry on this list, the Medici family. One of Cosimo de Medici’s real-life descendants, Catherine de Medici (Megan Follows) plays a central role on the CW series as one of the three queens vying for control throughout the lavish drama. It is an interesting connection between the two series, each of which provides valuable insight into the famous family.

So what can you expect when you watch Reign? Similar to Game of Thrones, you can expect court intrigue, plotting, and mental battles galore. Reign is more romantically inclined than Game of Thrones, an ingredient the HBO juggernaut has yet to explore full tilt. It is an aspect that enriches Reign considerably. The first three seasons of Reign are currently available to stream on Netflix U.S. Reign Season 4 premieres February 10 on the CW.


2. North & South

This 2004 BBC miniseries has a passionate following, and after you see it, you will know why. This enchanting, romantic drama is set in Victorian-era England. North & South follows the spirited Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) as she and her parents relocate from their southern home to an industrial town in Northern England, which they quickly learn is a far cry from their rural life in the south.

As she settles in, Margaret soon finds herself taking up the plight of the local mill workers and clashing with the headstrong and noble man, who owns one of the area’s most prominent ones, John Thornton (Richard Armitage). Armitage’s performance would serve as his breakthrough role.

Intricately told within the span of four one-hour episodes, North & South is a sweeping example of romance done right, patiently cultivated with two likable lead characters. Thanks to a stellar acting ensemble and a plethora of amiable supporting characters, North & South deserves to be binge-watched. North & South is currently available to stream on Netflix U.S.


3. Medici: Masters of Florence

If you have been missing Game of Thrones and been wondering what Richard Madden, who portrayed the ill-fated Robb Stark, has been up to since his curtain call, one of the answers is Medici: Masters of Florence. A rousing costume drama that charts the rise of the Medici family at the hands of Cosimo de Medici (Madden), who leads his family to become one of the most powerful dynasties in history.

A tale filled with sweltering schemes and scintillating drama, Season 1 of Medici: Masters of Florence runs for eight episodes, and if you have already binge-watched Netflix’s royal drama The Crown, Medici: Masters of Florence has the capacity to fulfill your regal appetite. Like Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, Cosimo (Madden) always has a fire to put out.

Richard Madden expertly leads the series, while his co-star Annabel Scholey blazes onto the screen with a star-making performance as Cosimo’s long-suffering and loyal wife, Contessina. This Netflix series is a winner. The entire first season of Medici: Masters of Florence is currently available to stream on Netflix U.S.

Between Reign, North & South, and Medici: Masters of Florence, Netflix has your costume drama needs covered.

5 Movies to Watch for that Pride and Prejudice fix
by Tisha Eaton

Here is a list of movies that will give you that same glorious feeling as Pride and Prejudice.

Have you worn out your 6 VHS box set of BBC's Pride and Prejudice? Watched it so much on your Netflix queue that some family members wonder if there is anything else that you will ever watch? Or maybe you are looking for something besides Colin Firth dripping wet after diving into the pond

Whatever your reason, you may find yourself looking for something else to watch for a few hours. Here is a list of movies that give you that same glorious feeling of love and loathing while putting it in different perspectives. And luckily, most of these can be found on Netflix as well!

BBC's North and South (2004)

If you are not quite ready to leave the period dramas, this is definitely the one to start with. North and South created by the BBC (not to be confused with the American movie of the same name) was a four episode mini-series based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel. It is similar to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, with both leads having preconceptions that would change over the course of the film of each other, a loathing on the part of the girl, and even a botched proposal. If you are looking for a movie with a lot of the same undertones, as well as a lot to learn about class and status, this is definitely the movie for you. And if the lead male looks familiar, you are probably a fan of The Hobbit, that is Richard Armitage who played Thorin. if you are a fan of his this is defintely a must watch.

Jane Eyre (2011)

Starring Michael Fassbender, of X-men: First Class fame, this is another period piece to get you in the mood. An overbearing man looking for someone to tutor his young ward, he flat out tells Jane that she is plain and thinks himself handsome. She finds herself angry with the man a lot, but grows to care about him over time as they get to know each other. However, he is hiding a dark secret that may break her trust in him forever and keep the two apart. A good movie, and surprising story, this is a good movie that is period but gets a little further away from the ideas set by Pride and Prejudice

Clueless (1995)

Based on another one of Jane Austen's novels, Emma, Clueless is the story about a girl who tries to help her friends and family in all aspects of their life, from their wardrobe to their hair and even to their love lives. Cher could very easily have become an annoying character, but Alicia Silverstone is charming and has a fun personality that makes you empathise with Cher and wish she was your best friend.

With familiar faces such as Paul Rudd, Breckin Meyer, Donald Faison and the late Brittany Murphy, this is a movie that should be required watching for every teenage girl with it's humor, insight and heart

Is this a movie you should skip? As Cher and her friends would say

"As if!"


10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Unfortunately, this is one movie that you can't find on Netflix, but is definitely a movie that you should watch.

Starring the late Heath Ledger, this movie was based on the Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew and follows Bianca and Cat through their days in high shool. Bianca can't date until her older sister Cat does, and so she tricks the boy she likes into having Patrick get paid to take Cat out. It sounds convoluted, but the plot is easy to follow once you are watching it. You see Bianca fight for herself, Cat stay true to who she is, and there is an amazing scene where Heath Ledger serenades Julia Stiles with "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" which, for that alone, is worth the price of renting


Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)

By this point, however, you may be missing Elizabeth's wit and Darcy's smoldering glances. What better way to start your way back towards that than with Bridget Jones' Diary? A modern day Pride and Prejudice, it has all the things that the original movie does, with a scheming liar trying to get into her heart, or rather her pants, an insufferable mother, and not to be outdone, but not only is there a Mister Darcy, but they were able to bring Colin Firth in from the mini-series to reprise his role as Darcy in the modern day.

With humor and an awkward poise, Bridget is the kind of girl that you feel like you have known your whole life, or that you are. She is self conscious, always trying to better herself, and has a way with words that is as biting as Jane Austen's pen

Once you have made your way through the list, grab yourself a glass of wine, a pint of ice cream, or whatever comfort you take while watching a great romance, and enjoy your 6 hour break from reality with Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, waiting once again to fall in love.

Well deserved, Mr. Armitaaasch
Es ist doch nicht zu fassen, und das bei einer britischen Seite...

Grazia UK‏@GraziaUK

The ultimate comfort viewing: 11 of the best period dramas to stream on @Netflix http://bit.ly/2B0eBlY

11 Brilliant Period Dramas To Stream On Netflix

by Katie Rosseinsky | 04 12 2017

Period dramas are the ultimate form of escapist comfort viewing - and luckily, Netflix is currently streaming some of our favourites, from the Sunday night BBC adaptations you missed a few years back to lavish, Oscar-nominated features, via a handful of original dramas (of which last year's The Crown is the obvious standout). Plan your viewing session with our guide to the best, but be warned: the below content may give you unrealistic expectations of romance...

1 / 11
Sense and Sensibility

It's hard not to fall for this sweeping big-screen version of Austen's first published work, which stars a who's who of well-mannered British acting. Emma Thompson doesn't just star as quiet, thoughtful heroine Elinor Dashwood: she also laboured for five years on Sense and Sensibility's screenplay, an endeavour which eventually won her an Oscar. A pre-Titanic Kate Winslet stars as her impulsive sister Marianne, with Alan Rickman and Greg Wise as her two drastically different suitors, while Hugh Grant takes his trademarked floppy-haired, charming-but-useless schtick back to the 18th century. Austen herself would surely be amused that the film ended up sparking a real-life romance between Thompson and Wise, who've been together ever since.

2 / 11
North and South

Dour Northerner with a mill meets well-meaning middle class girl with lofty ideals. Such is the premise of this four-part version of North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell's socially conscious, often forward-thinking novel. The privileged Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) forced to move from the leafy south to the grim industrial town of Milton, Darkshire (do you think Gaskell was trying to make a point?) She's immediately appalled by the harsh working conditions at the local mill - and by its owner, John Thornton (Richard Armitage) Spoiler alert: regional opposites eventually attract.

3 / 11
Pride and Prejudice

The 2005 take on Jane Austen's best-loved novel, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, is all well and good, but it's a truth universally acknowledged that this brilliant six-part BBC adaptation will always be the definitive on-screen version. Still best known for the scene in which a soggy Mr. Darcy emerges from a lake - which you definitely won't find in the original text - it's the series that made Colin Firth a national treasure (and gained him a mention in Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary and a role in the eventual films). Lake-dipping aside, screenwriter Andrew Davies lets the novel's sparkling dialogue speak for itself, making this a total joy for dedicated Austenites and for more recent initiates.

4 / 11
War & Peace

If you missed the BBC's lavish version of Tolstoy's sweeping epic when it aired last January, now's your chance to catch up (we get it, that thousand-plus page copy you bought a few years back is just too heavy to read on the tube...) Once again on script duties is Andrew Davies, the writer behind the Beeb's iconic Pride and Prejudice mini-series, who manages to make both the war and the peace compelling. Lily James stars as ingenue Natasha Rostova, with indie star Paul Dano as the slightly sappy Pierre, while James Norton makes a suitably dashing Prince Andrei. We won't judge you if you skip some of the battlefield action, but the dazzling ballroom scene upon which the series hinges can't fail to take your breath away.

5 / 11
The Crown

Netflix's deep-dive into the personal conflicts, political intrigues and public controversies of Queen Elizabeth II's reign is the streaming service's most expensive original drama to date. Luckily, every penny of The Crown's rumoured £100 million budget appears to have paid off. Claire Foy gives a brilliant, sympathetic performance as Elizabeth, nailing the plummy vowels and poise of the monarch without descending into caricature - but it's Vanessa Kirby's Princess Margaret (and her controversial romance with a divorcé) that will have you gripped.

6 / 11
Love & Friendship

Bonnet fatigue? Love & Friendship is the perfect tonic; a barbed, breezy dash through Lady Susan, the largely forgotten Jane Austen novella that the author worked on before the greatest hits, and would never see published in her lifetime. As the recently widowed Lady Susan, Kate Beckinsale is an amalgamation of all the best, bitchiest minor characters in Austen's canon, finally given their time in the spotlight, while indie queen and fashion icon Chloe Sevigny is her American sidekick. Playing fast and loose with the conventions, it's a period drama for the 21st century.

7 / 11
The Duchess

Keira Knightley does what Keira Knightley does best in this beautifully turned-out period drama. The 'Duchess' of the title is the scandal-prone Georgiana Cavendish, née Spencer, the 18th century socialite trapped by a loveless marriage and the sexual double standard. With all the lingering shots of stately homes and Keira's intricate costumes (and wigs), you could argue there's more style than substance here, but by shedding light on just how badly women could be treated after their 'happy ending,' it's an interesting counterpoint to the classic period romance. Some striking, achingly sad parallels, too, can be drawn with the life of Diana, Georgiana's great-great-great-grand niece.

8 / 11
Brooklyn

Coming-of-age romances are ten a penny, but Brooklyn, adapted from the novel by Colm Toibin, is something special. Saoirse Ronan stars as Eilis, a young Irish girl whose tiny village holds nothing for her. Like many before her, she crosses the Atlantic, gradually finding her feet (and falling in love) in 1950s New York until a family tragedy forces her to temporarily return home. Capturing the very particular sensation of feeling caught between a big city and your home town, not quite at home in either, Brooklyn tugs at the heart-strings without ever feeling manipulative or gushy. While this is very much Ronan's show, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and Domhnall Gleeson are brilliant in their supporting roles.

9 / 11
Wuthering Heights directed by Andrea Arnold

There have been many attempts to bring Wuthering Heights to screens big and small, but the fact remains that Emily Bronte's only novel tends to elude straightforward adaptations: it's far too weird and uncomfortable a proposition for that. But director Andrea Arnold (the woman behind Fishtank and last year's American Honey)'s take on the classic is anything but straightforward. Ditching the bonnets and flowery speeches (and generating some flustered headlines for casting a black actor, James Howson, as Heathcliff) this is Wuthering Heights redux, a film that's as stark and moody as Bronte's original.

10 / 11
Wolf Hall

Before Claire Foy was The Crown's Queen Elizabeth II, she played another, rather more ill-fated royal, Anne Boleyn, in this jaw-dropping adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Booker Prize-winning historical novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. Across six episodes, the back-stabbing, political machinations and romantic intrigues of Henry VIII's court come to life through the eyes of his 'yes' man, Thomas Cromwell (played by the brilliant Mark Rylance). With the long-awaited third installment, The Mirror and the Light poised for release next year, a second series is reportedly on the cards (Foy, obviously, won't be returning...)

11 / 11
Poldark

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two years (in which case, we salute you) you'll doubtless be familiar with one particular image of potential Bond Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark, which may or may not involve scything. From the melodramatic twists and turns of the plot to the gratuitous shots of Turner brooding against the backdrop of the Cornish coast, Poldark is the ultimate period drama guilty pleasure (your mum probably agrees...)

Today’s News
10 Things to Stream During the Polar Vortex Before Climate Change Kills Us All

By TV Guide Editors | Jan 30, 2019 3:51 PM EST

00:1707:04

If you're one of the millions of people who've been advised to stay indoors during the arctic freeze that is the Polar Vortex, you might be looking for something to stream that can help keep you warm and entertained during your impromptu staycation right about now.

Well, look no further because this is TV Guide, and that's what we do. Below, our staff of TV fiends have shared what shows and movies they'd be watching in your snow shoes today, so binge on (and stay warm)!

Polar

What list of movies to stream during the Polar Vortex would be complete without Polar. An adaptation of the Dark Horse comic of the same name, Polar finds Mads Mikkelsen playing Duncan, an assassin on the cusp of retirement who becomes the hunted and must fend for his life... while also contending with a hit from 20 years earlier that left him emotionally scarred. The highly stylized action is directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the famed video director who's worked with Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kesha and more. Vanessa Hudgens, Johnny Knoxville and Richard Dreyfuss all costar. -Christopher Rosen

Where to watch: Netflix

North & South

If the polar vortex has you reaching for a warm blanket, hot tea and the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice (all six episodes are streaming via Amazon Prime Video), you might consider curling up with another BBC miniseries instead: North & South, currently streaming on Netflix. The 2004 adaptation follows Margaret Hale, a heroine every bit as fiery as Lizzie Bennet, whose family moves from their summery home to a frigid northern mill town on the brink of a strike. There, she meets Richard Armitage's dark and serious John Thornton, a mill boss who could give Mr. Darcy a run for his money in the brooding department. The setting may be chilly, but the sparks that fly between Miss Hale and Mr. Thornton will warm you right up. -Noelene Clark

Where to watch: Netflix

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Here's a chance to experience all four seasons in one sitting. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life gave Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino a chance to button up the story of the Gilmore Girls as they originally intended it to, and it was a welcome adventure back to Stars Hollow indeed. Of course, you could always go back to the beginning of the full series and learn to embrace the snow Lorelai Gilmore-style, but if you're not planning to spend the next two weeks locked up in your room, the sequel series is a great way to kill the day. -Amanda Bell

Where to watch: Netflix

The Terror

If you think the unwelcome blast of Artic temperatures is bad, watch this piece of supernatural historical fiction to know that it could be much, much worse. Season 1 of The Terror recounts the very real doomed Arctic voyage by the British Royal Navy to find safe passage through Canada in 1845, but adds horror elements inspired by native folklore to the mix for the most terrifying television in recent memory. The self-contained season (Season 2 will turn The Terror into a full-blown anthology) is a flurry of snow and ice as two vessels get trapped in the desolate Canadian winter seas, and becomes a tale of survival as the men aboard struggle with disease, lapses in sanity and an unknown monster ripping them apart. One watch of this engrossing and morbid journey, and a trip to the corner store in freezing temperatures to pick up a box of Hamburger Helper will feel like a walk on the beach. -Tim Surette

Where to watch: Amazon (for purchase), AMC

Trapped

Is it weird to watch a show called Trapped while you're trapped inside? Or is it actually genius? I'm not really sure. But if you're into crime dramas and don't mind reading subtitles, seek out Trapped on Amazon. Set in a remote Icelandic town during a snowstorm that cuts off the village from the rest of the country, the first season follows a local police officer as he attempts to solve the grisly murder of a man whose dismembered torso was discovered in the port. -Kaitlin Thomas

Where to watch: Amazon

The entire 90 Day Fiancé universe

Thanks to this polar vortex, you probably don't want to leave the house for a very long period of time, so what you need right now is something with a deep bench of seasons and spin-offs to keep you more than entertained until you're ready to brave the winter weather again. I can think of no better distraction than TLC's 90 Day Fiancé franchise. Not only do you have six seasons of the flagship reality show — which is about couples consisting of one American and one foreign partner who have 90 days to get married or else the foreigner will be deported — but you also have two seasons of the equally addicting Before the 90 Days, which follows couples meeting in person for the first time, often with the intention of getting engaged; five seasons of Happily Ever After, which follows couples after their appearance on the flagship series; and 10 episodes of What Now?, which provides updates on various couples. This wealth of programming might seem overwhelming under different circumstances, but when you have nothing better to do, it becomes the perfect form of escapism that will easily make you feel better about your own life while also giving you plenty of reasons to scream at your television. And if you're looking for a place to start, may we recommend 90 Day Fiancé Seasons 5 or 6, or Before the 90 Days Season 1. You're welcome. -Sadie Gennis

Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon (for purchase), TLC.com

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Can't decide if you'd rather take your mind off the cold with a sunny TV show or just lean into those polar vortex blues? Have your cake and eat it too with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The teens in Sunnydale, California, spend most of the year in halter tops and shades (and '90s-appropriate platform heels, obviously), but they also have to fight vamps and demons in their downtime, so it's kind of a wash. Wrap yourself in a blanket and fire up that Buffy marathon to remind yourself that, sure, you could move to California — but then you'd be closer to the Hellmouth. (As a bonus, you can feel superior about that time the whole town shut down at the first sign of snow.) -Kelly Connolly

Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon (for purchase)

Baywatch

It may be cold outside, but Baywatch has been making people hot for 30 years! And by "making people hot" we mean it introduced Pamela Anderson to the world. And also everyone on the show is ridiculously hot and wearing a bathing suit all the time. It just hit Amazon Prime for the first time ever, digitally remastered and with new original songs written for the soundtrack (a big part of why it never reached any streaming services until now was music clearance issues). -Liam Mathews

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

30 Days of Night

If you want to embrace the freezing darkness, watch the cult fave horror flick 30 Days of Night, in which vampires take over an Alaskan town during a month-long polar night. It'll be so cold during the polar vortex that when Danny Huston says "God?", looks around like he's seeing if He's coming, then says "No God," you'll be like "I felt that." -Liam Mathews

Where to watch: Starz, Amazon (for purchase)

Frozen

If you've got little ones who are also hunkering down in the middle of this freeze and/or suspect that there must be some misunderstood ice queen who is responsible for all of this, now's a good time to revisit Disney's Frozen. Sure, that will mean that the movie's theme song — you know the one — will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day, but that'll just give you an excuse to dance, and dancing is a rather excellent way to get those toes feeling toasty again. -Amanda Bell

Where to watch: Starz, Amazon (for purchase)

Classics Revisited: 'North and South' is a Period Romance with Something to Say
1/8/2022 in Drama by Lacy Baugher

As part of our new "Classics Revisited" series, we're taking a look back at some of our favorite series and movies from days gone by. Next up: The 2004 BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South, which happens to be one of the best - and most underrated - period dramas ever made.

When we talk about period dramas, we tend to think of the big, sweeping multipart epics like Downton Abbey or Poldark. We think of the adaptations of various Jane Austen or Charles Dickens novels that seem to roll around every few years. But this series is not that. Clocking in at a lean four episodes, North and South is fairly economical with both its time and its narrative. But it still manages to be that rare period series with a legitimate message, and a story that goes well beyond the romance at its center.

Because although North and South is a love story - and John Thorton (Richard Armitage) and Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) are truly a period romance for the ages - it's also one in which its central relationship cannot be separated from the larger social context in which it takes place. It is not just a tale of two very different people finding common ground and falling in love, but a story about social justice, moral responsibility, the perils of capitalism, and what we owe to one another.

Margaret and her family move are forced to move north to the fictional town of Milton (it's basically Manchester) because her father leaves the clergy over a matter of conscience, a move that means they're not as financially well off as they once were. They find the hardscrabble nature of life in Milton offputting: The town's residents are constantly worried and talking about money, in a way that those in the southern part of the country would surely have found gauche.

Unlike many other series of its day, North and South doesn't try to sugarcoat anything about its setting or its story. The colors are muted to visually reflect the dank, industrial vibe of the North, with its coal belching factories and pollution. While there is certainly beauty to be found here, it's often presented in ways that are meant to make viewers a little uncomfortable, such as the scene where Margaret first meets John, as bits of cotton drift through the mill air so heavily it looks like snow. Gorgeous, in all honesty, but awful, as well.

Even the most elevated of Milton's residents are generally rough, uncouth tradesmen who all speak with an overpowering Northern accent. There are no balls or charming parlor dances. And there are no genteel broke aristocratic families or charming Dickensian poor here. Just ragged, struggling people, many of whom don't know how they're going to feed their children if they take part in the strike that's being organized in the hopes of forcing the mill owners to pay higher wages. Many have ill-described lingering illnesses, chronic conditions that are simply accepted as a fact of life because there's no choice for any of them but to work in the cotton mills that are slowly destroying their lungs.

Much of Milton is desperate and destitute, and this is a show that's much more honest about that fact than, say, Poldark is, where even the grubbiest miners are all still remarkably clean. (The sequence in which John decides to bring in Irish strike-breakers, whose lives are even more pitiable than the Milton workers is shockingly honest about how awful the whole situation is for everyone involved. And that's before Margaret gets hit in the face with a rock at a protest.) To put it bluntly: Austen, this is not.

John Thornton, for his part, may be presented as a "good boss," but he's still a boss and hardly without flaws. The product of a difficult youth and a life spent trying to support his widowed mother and unmarried sister, he is a constant and aggressive striver. He chooses to hire strike-breakers rather than simply pay his workers a higher wage, deliberately taking advantage of the plight of desperate people in the name of his own profits. But despite his aggressively capitalistic tendencies, he's still a decent man who generally means well and displays a willingness to learn that is all too uncommon for men in his position. (Though he is much slower to come to any sort of understanding about poverty and class strife than Margaret is.)

But, like Margaret, he must also overcome his own prejudices and preconceived notions in order to be with her, and their love story is guaranteed to appeal to anyone who ever enjoyed Lizzie Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy's barbed flirtations. It's a perfectly executed example of the snarky, enemies-to-lovers relationship that is my personal Kryptonite but also manages to show us two people whose selves are genuinely enriched by knowing the other.

The John and Margaret who ultimately get together at the end of the series are not the same people (or the same couple) they would have been if she had accepted his original proposal back in the series' second episode. Both have grown, and come back to one another as a pair who are stronger together than they would have been apart. There seems little doubt that both their lives will be different because they have learned from one another, and that the way they do business in the future will likely be much changed as well.

Because North and South essentially ends after the couple's single, magical kiss (and I mean, as such things go it's really good), we don't get the chance to see how the profound changes they've both undergone impact their day-to-day lives. (Mostly I'm bitter we don't get to see John's mother's reaction when he brings Margaret back home!) But I think, if nothing else, this series has shown us that not only is change possible, but the act of loving another person is an essential part of our evolution into our best selves. And that part of that love ends up inevitably spilling out to touch the lives of those around us.

So maybe I don't need to see how John renovated his factory to improve conditions there or treated his workers more equitably or let Margaret help beyond simply becoming an investor in the business to know that it probably happened anyway. (That doesn't stop me from wishing I could have though!) Because part of what makes North and South so special isn't just that it's easy to imagine Margaret and John getting married and living happily ever after together. It's that their story will continue beyond themselves, that their love will not just make their lives better - both as individuals and as a pair - but the lives of those around them as well. Love, in this sense, isn't so much an ending, but a beginning, the start of something that's bigger than two people and will touch far more lives in the end. Or, as someone famous once wrote - what love can do, that dares love attempt.