Friday, September 4, 2009

Move over Mr. Darcy!

On the suggestion of one of our readers, I decided to watch North & South, a BBC mini-series. (Thanks Liberty!) Thanks to Netflix and instant download I was able to watch it over a period of days during my son's nap-times. It didn't take me long to fall in love with Mr. Thornton.

Yes, that's right, my new fictional crush is Mr. Thornton. Sorry, Mr. Darcy. You were amazing, complex, noble, and somewhat broody, but Mr. Thornton puts you to shame. He's not prideful, he's passionate, which in his case is both a virtue and a vice. He is, in my humble opinion, hands down a more complex character than Mr. Darcy. And you've gotta love Richard Armitage, the actor who plays Mr. Thornton. *Warning: After the pictures is a spoiler.*



Isn't he just HOT?

And here he is as the broody Mr. Thornton...


I don't know if it's just my pregnancy hormones raging, or if Richard Armitage is just that good of an actor, but the closing sequence of the story was one of the most romantic scenes every portrayed. The smile, the kiss, the emotion so plainly written on both Mr. Thornton and Miss Hale's faces was just incredible.

And so I put my very high recommendation in with Liberty's to watch North & South, and I ask, who are your fictional crushes?

Oh - and yes dearest husband, you are still the hottest guy I know both in reality and fiction. :)

14 comments:

  1. It was actually my auntie who was in love first and shared with me. Oooh, I just love him. I can't wait to read the book (my library doesn't own it).

    Hmmm...who else do I love? I love Gilbert out of Anne of Green Gables series, but he is one of my childhood crushes. Of course Mr. Darcy (I'm in love with his character, so in any of the Pride and Prejudice movies and the book), yummy, but you're right-Mr. Thornton is MUCH yummier. In the Outlander series, I adore Jamie Fraser. William Wallace from Braveheart (the book) I love his ideals and how strong he was. I'll have to post again if I can think of a new one.

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  2. If you liked the mini series then you should read the book. It was a good book. I love all BBC leading men, they always pick such hot guys!

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  3. mmmmmm

    Now I definitely have to watch the mini-series and read the book! Darn it, I just canceled our Netflix subscription :P

    As for my favorite leading men...like Lib said, Mr. Darcy is yummy in any version of Pride and Prejudice I've seen. I really like Ryan Gosling and Noah in The Notebook (does that count?).

    Oooo, I remember one of my favs...(sorry, I was drawing a blank for a bit) I love Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility, then again, I'm a known Hugh Grant junky. If I can think of any others, I'll come back to this.

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  4. What a fun post! I'll totally have to watch it...Phillip will just love it (sarcasm ;). Hmmm, maybe I'll fit it in while Ella's napping. Great idea.
    Hmmmm, crushes... I can't think of any right off the bat...I'll have to come back...
    But, if I had to name one, it would be the passion that Noah has in The Notebook. *sigh* Sooo romantic...

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  5. I have to agree with Edward Ferrars (especially portrayed by Hugh Grant). I also love Colonel Brandon both in the book and as portrayed by Alan Rickman.

    One of my favorites is Little John from Robin McKinley's "Outlaws of Sherwood" - she gives him so much more character than any other telling I've read/seen. Really, all of Robin McKinley's male characters are amazing. Oh - and I can't forget the Beast in "Beauty".

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  6. I just stumbled across your site and have to agree. Just saw North and South...took until August 2010 for me to discover it. Wow! Richard Armitage's portrayal of John Thorton on a scale of 1-10 is a 15! After seeing the whole movie, I repeated the ending on Netflix 4 times because it was so brilliantly done. Definitely the most romantic film I can remember. He should be first choice of producers and directors for any other film of this nature.....sigh!

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  7. This is hands down my favourite costume drama, ever. Richard Armitage is just amazing as the complex Mr. Thornton. I watch it over and over and I dont think I will ever tire of it. Fantastic adaptation!

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  9. I totally agree with you!! When I first came across the mini series, I couldn't even wait and watched the 4 episods back to back. I might be a little too emotional when it comes to romantic and drama shows, but I was in tears any time I saw Thornton look at Margaret or talked to her.
    He is my fictional crush because he is rough in the outside, but inside he is so sensible and passionate. What I love the most about him, is that he is man of few words. He doesn't even need to explain his deeds, but whatever he does is right. I admire him so much because he has so much respect for women. I love they way he treats his mother!
    It killed me when he watched Margaret leave and said come back to me :( And when he told his mother he loves her even more after she rejected him!
    He is totally my fictional crush too. And it is funny how you say he overshadows Mr. Darcy because I thought of the same thing when I finished the watching the show.
    I'm gonna stop now because I could go on and on talking about Thornton... :) Yet, I have to say one last thing about Richard Armitage...he did such amazing job...just watch the last scene! The way he is looking at Margaret!!
    Thanks for this piece you did on Mr. Thorton

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  10. Just discovered North & South! Totally in love with Richard Armitage ... Mr. Thornton took over the piece of my heart that belonged for years to Mr. Darcy. Found myself looking for anything and everything Richard Armitage is doing and has done. Check him out in The Vicar of Dibley. He proved he could be funny as well. Love him, love him, love him! I can't count the number of times I've watched him in action. The end of North and South was the best romantic ending ever (and I've seen lots of them!). Richard Armitage is absolutely too dreamy for words...

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  13. This is my first attempt to capture the aristocratic face of Richard Armitage. I dont sketch but had to after seeing North and South :)

    Please feel free to give suggestions and advices.

    http://kshipta.blogspot.com/2011/02/richard-armitage.html

    Thanks.

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  14. Meu sonho é conhecer Richard Armitage, o vi pela primeira vez em um vídeo no youtube, desde então, apaixonei-me pela pessoa do Richard, acho que o seu olhar fala muito, e creio que ele deve ser uma pessoa muito meiga. Creio que um dia realizarei esse sonho.

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