It was eleven years ago this month that I stumbled upon the BBC’s North & South. And yes, I count it as a life event. And I know I’m not alone. Who else remembers the very first time the saw the four hour mini-series? And how many of you could not stop thinking of it for days or months?
I had so many questions in the days that followed! My mind kept wandering to certain scenes and the characters’ actions. And there was no one to talk to about it!
Who could forget this heartbreaking scene out of their heads? Not me!
Fortunately, I found a fan webpage that directed me to a North and South discussion forum — C19 Proboards. My sanity was saved! Here were many others who had also fallen under the spell of Richard Armitage’s portrayal of John Thornton. C19 was a place for endless discussion of all things North and South — including a serious discussion of Victorian male undergarments with a naughty-sounding thread title: Mr. Thornton’s Underwear.
Here are some of the other topics I remember from long ago that yielded some lively discussion:
Is John Thornton the perfect man?
The kiss
The impact of the dinner party
Daniela’s performance as Margaret
Confessions of N&S addicts
Does the book enhance the film, or detract?
Can Mr. Thornton dance?
What would JT have said next? (during the proposal)
Mr. Hale related class question
Whose side are you on (after the proposal scene)?
Alas, it’s been 16 years since North and South first aired, and the C19 forum has been there for hundreds of gobsmacked viewers who wanted (needed?) to talk about the story, its characters, and Richard Armitage. And on November 2nd, C19 Proboards will close its online doors and become an inactive, read-only site. Members of the forum will be able to access all the old content, but no new discussions will ensue.
It’s the end of an era, and I will sorely miss having C19 to turn to for any active chatting. It was a wonderful place to meet like-minded friends and I’ll always treasure the time I spent there. I learned so much from all the members’ extensive knowledge.
And, of course, I owe it to C19 for introducing me to the wonderful world of fan fiction! When I devoured the North and South fan fiction on C19 in those early days, I had no idea I would add my own stories to the board. I cherish the encouragement I received there as a new writer.
But most of all, I cherish the friendships developed there. Especially those that continue to this day.
May the love of all things North and South continue to flourish and create new friendships!