Fans of period dramas are flocking to BBC iPlayer to stream North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell's 1855 novel adapted by the BBC. The series has earned widespread praise for its performances, political storylines, and irresistible romance.
Story and Setting
Set against the backdrop of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the drama follows Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe), who is forced to move from southern England to the industrial North after her father's death. She struggles to adapt to her new surroundings and clashes with the Thornton family, cotton mill owners wary of her southern ways. Over time, her sympathy for them grows, along with her affection for John Thornton (Richard Armitage).
Viewer and Critical Acclaim
One fan on IMDb wrote: "I'm a history teacher, so I'm very critical of adaptations... This is a superb rendering of the spirit of the industrial age and the many facets of class struggle within it. It's also a richly romantic love story. The acting by all the cast is uniformly excellent, but Richard Armitage as Thornton is a standout."
Another viewer commented: "North and South took me completely by surprise... This is social commentary and a love story, the struggle of workers and masters/managers, as well as the misunderstanding of the intellectuals that forms a triangle that is still alive today."
Fans have praised the performances as "superb," noting that lead characters John and Hannah Thornton, Margaret Hale, and union man Nicholas Higgins feel so natural that viewers become "simply enthralled."
Unexpected Success
On its original airing, the BBC had low expectations and minimal marketing for the show, but it quickly gained momentum. Many credit this to Richard Armitage's performance, which drew comparisons to Colin Firth's portrayal in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
North and South is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
