I must say I actually don't know much about this, but the search of the audience for escapism in period dramas seems like a possible answer to your question. At the same time, North and South was the first of Gaskell's adaptations and perhaps the audience and critics needed some warming up before welcoming her work into their TVs and lives. Perhaps.
In any case, I agree N&S deserved more recognition. Excellent adaptation and cast, a score to die for, wonderful photography and a serious period reconstruction. The production was really fantastic. But then again, I'm also biased ;)
I don't have the time right now to go through the entire article you linked up, but does it say anything about the 1975 version of N&S?
You also have to take into account that the BBC itself had low exceptions of it and didn't publicize it enough which is one reason why it did not get many nominations
I'm inclined to agree that for some reason, North & South was like the red-headed stepchild of period dramas for the BBC that year. With other adaptations, both before and since, the tie-in novels have been plentiful in the bookshops. For N&S, it was well into January/February 2005 before they were seen; in fact, even the regular Penguin edition was hard to find until late in December 2004 and I know this because I was looking for them! Even online, they weren't readily available
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Was the Article by Americans? I ask because N&S was only ever shown on BBC America over here. W&D and both Cranfords got more exposure on PBS.
My other theory is that they are measuring success by number of awards (BAFTA) and maybe the critical response.
I'll just quote from Wikipedia here:
As the BBC had low expectations for the series, it was not well publicised and went almost unnoticed by critics. Audiences, however, were more receptive; hours after the first episode aired in November 2004, the message board of the programme’s website crashed because of the number of visitors the site was receiving, forcing host bbc.co.uk to shut it down.[7] This sudden interest on the serial was attributed to Richard Armitage, a relatively unknown actor, whose portrayal of the emotionally restrained John Thornton drew parallels with Colin Firth's portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy on the BBC's 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice, and the reception he later received.[8][9] Armitage himself claims that the series was a success because of the "
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In any case, I agree N&S deserved more recognition. Excellent adaptation and cast, a score to die for, wonderful photography and a serious period reconstruction. The production was really fantastic. But then again, I'm also biased ;)
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You also have to take into account that the BBC itself had low exceptions of it and didn't publicize it enough which is one reason why it did not get many nominations
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I think it's simply because North & South lacked publicity. I only found out about it because I bought some BBC miniseries boxsets!
North and south may show social hardships, but at the core there's stil very much a love story.
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My other theory is that they are measuring success by number of awards (BAFTA) and maybe the critical response.
I'll just quote from Wikipedia here:
As the BBC had low expectations for the series, it was not well publicised and went almost unnoticed by critics. Audiences, however, were more receptive; hours after the first episode aired in November 2004, the message board of the programme’s website crashed because of the number of visitors the site was receiving, forcing host bbc.co.uk to shut it down.[7] This sudden interest on the serial was attributed to Richard Armitage, a relatively unknown actor, whose portrayal of the emotionally restrained John Thornton drew parallels with Colin Firth's portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy on the BBC's 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice, and the reception he later received.[8][9] Armitage himself claims that the series was a success because of the " ( ... )
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