Diary of an RA Fan — Part 4 Hide in Plain Sight

See Diary Part 3 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a few years ago minus a few weeks:

I cannot stop watching North and South. Thank God I’ve got my own copy now. It’s becoming part of my daily routine. Learning to pace myself and not watch it all in one sitting anymore. If I watch one episode a day and some days more than one, I can easily get in two full viewings a week. I’ve been trying this out, and so far it works great. Usually do it really early in the morning or very late at night on my computer.

The family thinks I’m writing or doing some paperwork. I would die of mortification if they knew I was continually rewatching the same movie. If they ever figure out what I’m doing, knowing them, it will become a huge joke where I would probably be compared to someone like Jack Nicholson in “The Shining.” So for now I’m keeping it under wraps. Don’t want the distraction that would come with outing myself. But I’m really bugged by having to keep this on the QT. Oh, I did say something about what a great mini-series it is, but so far no one took that bait. Dang! It would be so great to watch it with the family. Then I wouldn’t feel like an idiot sneaking around.

John_Thornton_Master_TDHCMO

John_Thornton_Overbearing_Master_North_South

One thing I know is that this movie has such a calming effect on me, and I get to squee at the ending. Squee! I have a love/hate relationship with that word. The first time I read it I thought of a bodily function. But it’s such a great word to describe my reaction at the ending. Squeee! I love writing it and would love to say it sometime. That’ll never happen.

Screencaps courtesy of TheArmitageArmy.co.uk

See Diary Part 5 here.

April 14, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 5 Comments

RAddicts-R-Us

So I’ve been sharing these diary entries in an attempt to show how someone descends into this madness, and I’m only just beginning. I have never spent as much time on something frivolous as I have this fangirling (is that a word?) over Richard Armitage. But of course I’m doing this as a public service, so that the rest of you don’t feel like such nuts. ;-)

I promise to throw in more media even if it’s something you’ve seen a thousand times. Can we look at these pictures enough?

I said I love his jawline, and this is where it started, and if you don’t know which picture is under the link, then you’re not really a fan of RA. LOL!

A few more for your pleasure:

Guy_Gisborne_wooing_Marian

Yes, I flipped that one.

Harry_Kennedy_wooing_Geraldine

John_Standring_Carol

Lucas_North_Suit

John_Porter_beret

Screencaps courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.ComCom, RobinHood2006.com and my own stash.

April 12, 2010
Categories: North and South, Robin Hood, Sparkhouse, Strike Back, Vicar of Dibley . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 3 Glorious Summer!

See Diary Part 2 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a few years ago minus several more days:

Watching the first episode of North and South. The musical score is great. Must get the cd. The guy with the pointy ears shows up quite a few scenes into it, and this is not going to be staid stuff like other period dramas I’ve seen where the characters barely move even their faces unless it’s to overact. This has some knuckles. Yea! But what a contrived scene to create angst between him and his so obvious love interest, Miss Hale. And Miss Hale, I don’t know if I can ever like her. Pretty haughty and stiff. Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. So I still don’t get the fascination with this show. I”ll have to finish at least this episode to have some understanding.

Several minutes later:

Wow

About four hours later:

What just happened? I hate period dramas. Don’t I? I can’t believe it; I love another one. I’m shaking my head because now I adore the fan videos. It’s scary how much I adore them. How old am I? Never mind. Have to watch North and South again to make I sure I didn’t dream some of it. But one thing I’m sure of is I’m so sorry I thought Richard Armitage (yep, that’s his name) had pointy ears and a weird head. I love his ears and his head and his nose and especially his jawline and probably pretty much everything else of him I saw.

But it’s the voice. I was taken with it from the moment he said, “I believe your daughter and I have already met.” It makes me catch my breath it’s so beautiful. It’s like a perfect piece of music. Must put North and South on my iPod, and if I could figure out how to get some of those fan videos on my iPod, I’d be set.

RichardArmitage_ John_ Thornton_North_South

Oh, and Margaret totally redeemed herself. I love how she saved Mr. Thornton! And yes, he saved her too. So much to think about! But he needed someone to really believe in him besides momma. It’s all good now, and I really did feel for Margaret when her parents died but not enough to like her if she rejected Mr. Thornton. Thankfully, she wasn’t that stupid.

I need to slap myself and put this DVD away, so I can get something done. But then I have to give it back to Mimi! I don’t suppose I could find it on the discount table at WalMart. They usually have lots of obscure stuff with bad looking covers. No, they never have anything that’s worth a flip. Good thing I’ve kept up my Amazon Prime Membership. I can have this baby here overnight for hardly anything. Amazon will freak; this is the first video/DVD I’ve ever ordered from them.

See Diary Part 4 here.

April 11, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 9 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan – Part 2 I Am Determined to Prove a Villain

See Diary Part 1 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a few years ago minus a couple of days:

I’ve really been enjoying the P&P videos on YouTube, and I hate to admit I like the P&P 2005 videos better than the ones of 1995. I DID NOT like the 2005 version of the movie. Oh, it had beautiful cinematography and music, and I thought Mr. Darcy was divine (love him as Tom in Spooks), but the script sucks. Sucks a big one. How can anyone really tell what the story is about?! Then there’s Kiera Knightley whose Lizzie IS NOT Lizzie. This movie is just a bunch of beautiful images strung together to some good music — an extended fan video? Well, that’s the format that suits it best, and I really love the fan videos, but the movie does suck. I guess I’ve become a purist about my one period drama. Who woulda thunk.

Oh, and I saw some fan video recommendations for that mini-series Mimi loaned me. Haven’t watched any of them ’cause it just looks dumb, and the guy’s ears are pointy and his head is kind of weird. My shallowness is reaching new levels of meanness, but hey, this isn’t for broadcast, so what does it matter.

I am curious though why there are SO MANY videos of this show and especially the “station scene.” Maybe I’ll break down and watch a little bit to see what all the fuss is about. Probably going to be disappointed like I usually am. I really need to do something with that DVD and get it back to Mimi. She keeps asking for it, so I need to do something!

Diary Part 3 here.

April 10, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 1 Winter of My Discontent

Entry — a few years ago:

Man, Mimi keeps bugging me about that blasted mini-series.  And it’s a period drama. No thanks.  I’m doing good to like Pride and Prejudice.  My attention span can’t handle a period drama.  I have to follow the language so closely; it’s just too much work, and the people are stilted.  But I have to admit sometimes I feel smarter just pretending to watch.

What can equal P&P?!  Shock of shocks, I adore it and Colin Firth and the proposal scene and the lake scene and of course Lizzie and her father and her silly mother and even Mr. Collins.  I love them all!   About the only thing I don’t like is the ending, but it’s not horrible.  It’s just, well, it doesn’t quite satisfy.  I guess that’s period drama — all that restrained passion that just, well, stays restrained. It doesn’t really matter.  If P&P had a more satisfying ending, it would be an 11.  Thank you, Mimi for turning me onto Colin Firth.

“North and South” just sounds lame, and the only thing worse than period drama is Civil War period drama. Blech. But  Mimi keeps telling me, “It’s English not American! You’re gonna love it!”  Thank God it has nothing to do with that schlock Patrick Swayze was in.  I’d put a bullet in my head before enduring something that awful again, and yeah, I can be a sucker for an English accent.  But then there’s the bland DVD cover.  I hate to be shallow, but the “stars” of this piece look like the same yawners as in all the other period dramas except for P&P.

Phew. Sometime this week I have to break down and watch so Mimi will quit bugging me. I love Mimi but I need to figure out how to watch maybe only an hour so I can say I started but something came up. Oh, I just need to confess I don’t do period drama even if it does make me sound less intelligent.

Diary Part 2 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

edit: to be clear, I love many of the books which are used to make period dramas. I’m just not always crazy about their translation to the screen.

April 5, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

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