Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (virtual) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas. This month, we’re covering North and South: a killer period drama that will air on GBX 44 in May (and is currently available to stream on Brit Box).
When last we left our protagonist, she was getting into an alleyway altercation with a certain grumpy mill owner, and we were all pretending we weren’t super here for it. This week kicks off with Thorny and his mom surveying the situation at the mill. Workers slacking off get reprimanded, but even Thorny’s Mom isn’t a complete stickler when it comes to sick kids, allowing the kiddo in question to keep her job if she can get one of her siblings to the mill to take her place for the day. Being provisionally helpful? In this economy? We love to see it, and so does Thorny, who’s not afraid to trust his mom’s business instincts.
He’s a lot less interested in trusting his fellow mill owners’ instincts, and TBH I get why. They’re jerking around a workforce that’s already one Norma Rae moment away from a strike, and he’s not into it! Fortunately for those of us who are invested in Thorny and Mags getting along, she overhears this convo whilst visiting Thorny’s Mom to ask for her doctor’s info.
Thorny’s Mom: Just saying, it’s weird that you didn’t just put this on your Facebook or send a servant or whatever, especially since we all know you hate my family. Anyway, you’ve been here for a while, I’m surprised you haven’t needed the doctor’s name before now?
Mags: First of all, I don’t need a doctor! And I came here myself to keep this on the DL because my dad worries, and my mom is… not handling the move well. Seemed prudent to have the doctor’s info in case she needs it.
Thorny’s Mom: We don’t often have people deal with mental health issues up here...
Me: Uh. Except your husband? From last week?
Thorny’s Mom: ...but I’m sure the doctor will help if he can.
Mags: Well thanks for your weird attitude as always. Sorry to bother you.
Thorny’s Mom: You didn’t bother me, but even you know the workers are organizing, right?
Mags: Oh yeah, but do you really think there will be a strike?
Thorny’s Mom: Uh… yes. Here’s the thing: they’re going to say they want higher wages, but some people just can’t handle other folks’ success. And we can’t do anything about THAT.
Is she talking about Mags? The other mill owners? Bates’ Earthy Granddad? I don’t know, but I do know I find Thorny’s Mom pretty interesting even if I don’t always agree with her. Errand completed, Mags heads outside and runs into some mill workers she’s apparently befriended in the time between the episodes, and gently investigates this strike business. Her friends tell her that they like working here, but they’re still certainly not living in luxury. Before they can get into their thoughts on the incipient strike, a dark shadow looms over the conversation. No, it’s not the English weather, it’s Thorny!
Mags: Oh, hi buddy! I was just getting info on the local doctor from your mom.
Thorny, way more invested than one might expect: OMG ARE YOU SICK?
Mags: Uh, no, just being prepared. Anyway, I’m just trying to stay up on the town gossip since your mom’s always accusing me of being out of the loop.
Thorny: So you’re hanging out with my employees? They’ve been getting asked a lot of questions from various workers' groups lately, they’re probably used to telling people about the working conditions.
Mags: So you mind?
Thorny: Not at all; I’m up front about how I pay my workers, I’ve got nothing to hide.
Mags: And you don’t care how they spend their money?
Thorny: Why would I? I just care that the mill runs smoothly; if I don’t pay attention to that everyone’s out of a job.
Mags: And you don’t think you have a moral duty to keep your employees in line?
Thorny: Uh, no? I’m not their dad? As long as they don’t disrupt my business they can do whatever they want. We like independence up here you know. Sorry to disappoint you, I know you were hoping I’d be more of an overbearing daddy type. But I’m not gonna fake it, even for you. Anyway, I’ve just realized my mom is watching us have this convo, so I better jet. Toodles!
Toodles indeed, Thorny. Toodles indeed. Afterwards, Mags heads over to visit New Friend and unpack this whole thing.
Mags: And the whole time, Thorny’s Mom was just watching us from on high like some kind of creepy corvid in a poem! As IF I’d ever be interested in her son like that!
New Friend: LOL don’t pretend you’ve never thought about it. Though I guess we’d have to do a makeover montage if you wanted to take a serious run at him.
Mags: Wow, rude, this dress is only a year old!
New Friend: Yeah, but every girl in town is into him, it’s like Gaston’s weird fan club in Beauty and the Beast.
Mags: Well they can have him. And let me just say, if I ever had a kid, I sure as hell wouldn’t smother the life out of him like Thorny’s Mom does!
New Friend: Well I’ll never have kids, so at least I don’t have to worry about THAT.
Mags: Is it really that bad?
New Friend: Mags. Pal. You must be new to our genre. It’s definitely that bad: my lungs are permanently damaged by the wool fibers. But at least I won’t get old and ugly so that’s something!
Mags, ignoring the gallows humor: Did this happen at Thorny’s mill?
New Friend: No, it must have happened when I was a kid — we didn’t know how dangerous the conditions were, and all us kids had to work. Anyway, as soon as dad found out I was sick he got me the job at Thorny’s place.
Mags: Real daddy’s girl, huh?
New Friend: Oh yeah, we’re thick as thieves, it’s that opposite gender parent thing. So maybe we should be nicer to ol’ Battleaxe Thornton — maybe your mom would be just as gnarly if you had a brother.
Mags: Nope, she wouldn’t, and I know for sure because I have a secret brother we never talk about!
Now before we can unpack THAT, I have to give it up for my pal New Friend, who is hilarious, and whose epithet for Thorny’s Mom will hereafter be used as her official recap name. Anyway, back to the family drama! Here’s the deal: Mags’ beloved brother Fred went off to sea to make his fortune, but was under the command of a dastardly captain who abused his employees. It got so bad that Fred and some of his pals abandoned the captain at sea, which for those of you keeping score at home is definitely technically a mutiny. For this, Fred was branded a traitor, and had to escape to Spain, never to return lest he be condemned to death. Having an aggressive moral compass and refusing to back down about it? Sounds like it runs in the family! Speaking of family traits, Chez Thorn, Ol’ Battleaxe Thornton is in a whispered conversation with her son regarding their upcoming dinner party. They can’t easily afford it, but since they’ve already sent invites, it’s happening, and they’re gonna make it nice, dammit!
Ol’ Battleaxe: And you’re gonna want to invite the Country Squad, I assume?
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: Well obviously they’ll attend…
Thorny: They’re not sharks like the rest of us, Sis.
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: You really think they’re any different from our normal friends?
Ol’ Battleaxe: Well, Country Dad is a worthy fellow. No killer instincts though. But the mom is kind of a loser, and the girl thinks too much of herself.
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: And she can’t even play the piano!
Thorny: Stop being mean to her!
Ol’ Battleaxe: Well it’s true, she literally told us she can’t play piano. And if you’d just chill out we might have a chance to like her.
Thorny: I wish you would.
Ol’ Battleaxe: Ugh, why, are you into her? Because she’d never want you, you know that right?
Thorny: Oh, totally, she’s been very clear on that fact. So let’s all assume I don’t like her —
Me:
Thorny: — and just do me a favor and be nice, because I’m super tight with her dad!
Wannabe Caroline Bingley:
And also, if you want us to believe you aren’t into her, maybe talk about something else.
Thorny: Like what? Like a STRIKE?
Wannabe Caroline Bingley might get her wish, because across town, the union meeting is getting decidedly spicy. One of the mills has confirmed that there won’t be a raise, and it’s pretty clear that the others will follow suit. The plan: strike starts 10 minutes before the end of the day on Friday. Even if one of the mills does offer a raise, everyone is to walk out: no exceptions. There are some excited murmerings regarding the opportunity to absolutely wail on scabs, but Bates’ Earthy Granddad shuts that down: the owners will expect them to behave badly, and they aren’t going to stoop to that level.
Bates’ Earthy Granddad: The only enemy of the strike is ourselves: we need to keep our sh*t together and manage this thing properly. Solidarity is the only way we can succeed. Get it?
The rest of the workers:
It’s on. And the Thorn family knows it. Their problem is that the American factories have flooded the market with cheaper product, which you may recall is only possible because American factories were using a product harvested by enslaved Black people, so Thorny won’t be able to compete if he raises wages as the workers demand, and the factory is still in debt.
Thorny: Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.
Ol’ Battleaxe: Screw ‘em. Just bring in Irish workers and show everyone who’s boss.
Thorny: Well that’s what I’ll have to do if this strike goes on long enough, but it’ll be expensive and cause problems. Regardless, we won’t be giving up.
Later, Mags’ attempts to find some suitable outfits for the Thorn Party are interrupted by the arrival of a strange man in the family sitting room. He’s one of her dad’s old friends, and apparently he has zero boundaries.
Mags: Oh, wow, nice to see you again!
Uncle Creepy: The pleasure is all mine — you grew up hot!
Country Dad: Oh, what a fun joke! Please stop, though, my kid won’t get your sense of humor.
Uncle Creepy: Right, a joke! Obviously no offense intended.
Mags, playing it cool: Sure, of course. Thanks for visiting.
Uncle Creepy: Delighted to be here! With all the talk about strikes I figured I might need to protect some investments in the mills.
Mags: But there might not be a strike at all?
Country Dad: I mean, I’ve been hanging out with the workers, and I have to say, they make some good points. They had a pay cut five years ago, and haven’t yet gotten the wages back despite the rising cost of living. Then again, my friend Thorny is a good dude and he explains the other side so well...
Mags, snide: Yeah, I bet Thorny explains it great.
Country Dad: Kind of weird that they’re still hosting this fancy dinner.
Uncle Creepy, noticing Mags’ hatred of the Family Thorn and exploiting it: Yeah they do that every year like clockwork — Ol’ Battleaxe would never back down, even if it was the right thing to do.
Mags: Yeah, I bet!
Country Dad: LOL, that’s my kid, weirdly hates Ol’ Battleaxe. Probably because she’s pals with all the workers and stuff!
Uncle Creepy, creepily: Amazing.
Also amazing? Getting to watch all the machines winding down as the workers, united, walk out of the mills on Friday. The camera weirdly lingers on the guy who got his ass kicked by Thorny last episode (the very same one who initially opposed the strike) but, for now, he follows the crowd. I wonder if he’ll make trouble later??
Well, it appears that Thorny’s hope that the strike would end quickly was an absurd pipe dream. Mags sends a letter to her cousin Edith with the scoop: the whole town is quiet, and has been for weeks. With no income for anyone, everyone is suffering, and some are starting to starve. Bates’ Earthy Granddad tries to help out, but resolve is crumbling. Mags feels wretched about it, because of course they still have a relatively comfortable life. She’s also starting to ask questions about what’ll happen if the owners literally can’t afford a wage increase, which Bates’ Earthy Granddad absolutely hates.
Mags: I’m sure I’m missing something.
Bates’ Earthy Granddad:
Mags: Yeah, sure. But I do know that Thorny seems to be different from the rest of the guys. At the very least, he’s cuter.
New Friend, through a cough:
Bates’ Earthy Granddad: Yeah he’s different because he’s super intense, but at least he’s worth arguing with. Anyway, sorry I got mad, I’m gonna go have a beer.
New Friend: Ugh, I hope this all works out — not everyone is as disciplined as my dad.
Later, Mags and the rest of the Country Squad arrive at Chez Thorn for the party of the year. Ol’ Battleaxe tries to spin the strike as a positive (it’s nice and quiet for the party, at least), Wannabe Caroline Bingley pretends to care that Country Mom is home sick, Mags pretends she isn’t openly ogling Thorny, and Uncle Creepy, unfortunately, continues to exist.
Uncle Creepy: Oh hey, Thornster! I invited myself, hope that’s ok.
Thorny: Sure is, but I hope you’re not here because you’re worried about your money?
Uncle Creepy, lying: No, I totally trust you! Anyway, meet this young lady who isn’t Mags so I can snarfle her up for myself!
Good try, but it’s a swing and a miss, because Thorny has finally noticed Mags, and she’s, for once, on party behavior. She says hello, and shakes his hand, explaining that she finally learned the northern customs. Sure, that’s great and all, but folks, I’m here to tell you that this handshake is so much more than a nicety. Every so often, a drama packs a simple handclasp with enough sexual tension to level a city block, and this, dear reader, is one of those times. You guys know what I’m talking about.
Anyway, before they can escalate this nonsense even further (probably for the best, because poor Wannabe Caroline Bingley is standing RIGHT THERE and no sibling, no matter how horrible, should be subjected to this level of incendiary eye contact, even incidentally) Thorny gets pulled away to talk about mill owner stuff. Specifically, the intel that Thorny is bringing in a whole bunch of scabs, and has thus alerted the local militia so they’re prepared for the inevitable reaction from our union friends. In his absence, Uncle Creepy sidles over to try his hand at hitting on Mags again.
At dinner, the conversation quickly gets a bit heated. Several of the owners complain that they’d like to move operations to America where they could make money (again, remember that this would be possible because of SLAVERY). They have no sympathy for their workers, which of course doesn’t sit well with Country Dad (former clergyman AND a friend to all) or Mags (the exact intended audience of the film Newsies).
Wannabe Caroline Bingley, looking for trouble and if she cannot find it she will make it: What do YOU think, Mags? Surely you can’t support the strike?
Mags: Well, I think one should always try to see both sides of a problem.
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: Yeah but you’re FRIENDS with the workers — we saw you bringing a basket to their neighborhood.
Mags: I have a friend there, I was visiting her. She’s totally normal, but her dad is a bit intense.
Random Factory Owner: A bit intense?? He’s one of the strike leaders!
Mags: Well yeah, but surely you can understand that he’s reacting to the situation.
Random Factory Owner: If he’s so invested in the strike I’m surprised he accepted your charity.
Mags: It wasn’t for him, it was for a neighbor with six starving children.
Random Factory Owner, missing the point: Whatever; if that guy has starving kids he can come back to work.
Uncle Creepy, also here to cause trouble: I think this guy works for Thorny, isn’t that right?
Thorny: Ok, well I guess I have to weigh in here. Mags, you’re not helping this guy by giving him food. If you support the strikers, the strike will go on longer, and they’ll only suffer more.
Mags: Yeah, or you could think about it like this: feeding a dying baby isn’t a question of logic. It’s common decency.
Country Dad, trying to smooth things over: You know, I have to say, this is a great party. Really nice… table settings.
Thorny, getting the last word: Uncle Creepy, you should know — not all owners are the same. We’re not all up to underhanded schemes.
Squabble squabbled, the party continues, and soon it’s time to go home, where Mags notices a strange man leaving the house as they arrive. After some prodding, Dixon tells her that it was the doctor, who’s been coming over somewhat regularly to check on Country Mom. It turns out that Country Mom is very sick, and has been keeping it hidden from her husband and daughter. She’s a mess — she misses their old home, and she misses her son, and now she’s sure she won’t see either of them again. Dixon, who clearly loves Country Mom, is also a mess. It’s enough that Mags apologizes to Dixon for being such a brat and then sends a letter off to her brother. On this jaunt to the post office, Mags finds the streets eerily and ominously deserted. When she stops by at the Thorn house, one of Thorny’s guys tells her to get inside quickly and bar the door, which turns out to be a good idea, even though she’s now essentially sheltering in place with Wannabe Caroline Bingley.
Mags: Did I see faces in the factory windows?
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: Yeah dude, those are the replacement workers we brought in, but they’re too terrified to work because they think the strikers are going to attack them. We’ve had to bar them inside, and my mom and brother are trying to keep them calm. It’s… not working.
Just in time for THAT Ol’ Battleaxe enters, and Mags explains the actual reason for her visit — she’s hoping to borrow a contraption that Wannabe Caroline Bingley mentioned at the party for Country Mom. But before Ol’ Battleaxe can reply either way, there’s an almighty crash outside: the strikers have reached the factory gates.
Wannabe Caroline Bingley, predictably, loses her sh*t, convinced the workers are about to kill her. Given that she’s completely freaking out, Thorny sends her and Ol’ Battleaxe to the back of the house in hopes that they’ll be safer AND quieter, and then apologizes to Mags for visiting at literally the worst possible moment.
Mags: Well this is… not good!
Thorny: Don’t be scared.
Mags: I’m not scared, but surely we can talk them down or something?
Thorny: Talk them down? Are you seeing what I’m seeing? That’s an angry mob, friendo. Anyway, the militia is coming soon.
Mags: Thorny, I’m gonna need you to grow up, fortify yourself, and go down there and talk to them like the human beings they are. They’re angry because they are literally starving, and if you don’t do something, they’ll hurt the innocent people inside the factory.
Well, he tries, but Thorny isn’t nearly as persuasive of a speaker as our guy Bates’ Earthy Granddad. Worried and frustrated, Mags takes matters into her own hands. She does a pretty good job calming people down, at first, but when the workers ask Thorny to send the scabs home, instead of deescalating, he does this:
To his credit, he immediately realizes that he screwed up, and tries to get Mags inside, but she fights back: surely the mob won’t attack a woman! Well, she’s not wrong, but she vastly overestimates the mob’s aim. In a surprise to no one, Mr. "I'm on the fence about the strike and like to smoke in flammable rooms" chucks a rock at Thorny, but he misses and cracks Mags right on the head. She goes down. The fight goes out of the mob quickly after that, but it doesn’t matter, because the militia has arrived, and as militias are wont to do, they start indiscriminately clubbing the strikers as they try to flee.
Inside, Wannabe Caroline Bingley and a servant worry about a very passed out Mags while simultaneously gossiping about how much incidental touching went down between Mags and Thorny when he tried to push her into the house.
Maid: Oh, dude, she grabbed onto him! We all saw.
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: I KNEW she was into my brother!
Mags: First of all, I’m not dead, I can hear you. Second of all, I’m probably fine, and I better go home before my mom worries.
The doctor arrives, and begrudgingly agrees that Mags is ok to travel home. Everyone’s a bit worried about this plan, including Ol’ Battleaxe, and reader, I don’t think my eyes deceive me when I detect a soupçon of begrudging respect in Thorny’s mom’s gimlet-eyed gaze.
Everything in Milton is in turmoil. Strikers run through the streets, hiding from the militia. The owners are convinced the strike has been broken. And Thorny and Mags both take a good hard look at the sudden influx of warm, fuzzy, soft focus flashbacks they're experiencing starring each other.
Chez Thorn, things get a little heated when Thorny comes home to find that Mags already left.
Thorny: Ma, she got hit in the head with a huge rock! You let her leave?
Ol’ Battleaxe: I had no choice, she insisted, and the doctor signed off on it. After I had to run through the mob to go fetch him, btw, so you’re welcome. Anyway, as if I could control someone like that, she’s wild.
Wannabe Caroline Bingley: I’m here too, and I was very scared earlier, thanks for asking.
Ol’ Battleaxe: Don’t be silly, you were perfectly safe. And just where do you think you’re going, Thorny?
Thorny: Out to check on our wounded house guest! Duh!
Ol’ Battleaxe: I told you, I did everything that was polite to do! She’s fine, just stay here!
Well, she’s not fine, but not because of the head wound. Country Mom seems to have declined even more since we last saw her, Country Dad completely missed the memo re: everything that’s been going down for the last 15 minutes, and one of the workers is at the door asking for Mags’ help, because New Friend has taken a very serious turn. Not missing a beat, Mags runs out to sit with her friend.
Across town, Thorny finally returns home after a long walk. No, he didn’t go visit Mags, but Ol’ Battleaxe gets that he’ll have to go the next day, and already thinks she knows what he’ll say.
Ol’ Battleaxe: I mean, at this point it's a matter of honor… you’ll have to.
Thorny:
Ol’ Battleaxe: She might as well have tattooed “I’m in love with Thorny” on her forehead!
Thorny: Huh?
Ol’ Battleaxe: She ran out and stood between you and an angry mob and saved you from danger. And everyone saw; the workers, the servants, everyone.
Thorny: I mean she did save me, but I don’t think she could possibly love me.
Ol’ Battleaxe: Good gravy, what more proof do you need, dude? Of course she could, and she does, and you’re gonna marry her and leave me all alone. That’s why I made you go tomorrow — I wanted one last night being your number 1!
Thorny, showing a shocking amount of self-awareness for a male lead in a period drama: I’m sure she doesn’t feel the same way, but I know what my feelings are, and I have to ask. I’m scared she’s gonna turn me down though.
Ol’ Battleaxe: Don’t be ridiculous. She’s basically admitted how she feels about you through her actions! And you know that took a lot on her part, because that is one stubborn broad; it even made me start to like her. You got this!
The mill owners were right: the strike is broken. Now the only question is: is Thorny about to get his heart broken? Time to find out.
Thorny: I’m so sorry, I was very ungrateful yesterday.
Mags: Don’t apologize, you have nothing to be grateful for! I put you in danger, and I had to help after that. I would have done the same for anyone else.
Thorny: Anyone? So you approve of that mob?
Mags: I mean, not the violence, but the message? Yeah.
Thorny: Ugh, I forgot you think they’re your friends.
Mags: They are my friends. And I know if you were reasonable with them…
Thorny: So you think I’m unreasonable?
Mags: You should just talk with them, and not call in the soldiers, and it would go way better.
Thorny, @ Thorny:
Thorny, to Mags: Look, I didn’t just come here to thank you. I’m here because. Uh. I’ve never done this before… but um. I have very strong feelings for you, and…
Mags: Woah, slow your roll, stop talking.
Thorny: What? Why??
Mags: Because you’re not being a gentleman.
Thorny: WHAT? I know you don’t like me, but what the hell?
Mags: You’re acting like you’re doing this out of duty, or to save my reputation.
Thorny: This isn’t Bridgerton, I told you because I love you! I wasn’t thinking about your reputation at all!
Mags: That’s worse! You think that because you’re rich you can own me or something?
Thorny: I don’t want to possess you, I want to marry you! Because I love you!
Mags, lying through her teeth: Well you shouldn’t, because I don’t even like you!
Thorny: Well. This is awkward.
Mags: My friend is dying.
Thorny: And I’m sure that’s somehow my fault too.
Mags: No, I’m sorry —
Thorny: Why, because you hate my feelings? Or because you think because I’m not landed gentry I can’t possibly think of life in any other way than buying or selling? Or you assume I like it that my employees die young?
Mags: No, absolutely not! I’m sorry to be so blunt, I don’t know how to turn down proposals like this!
Thorny: Oh, of course. You get proposed to all the time. Just turning down men left and right. GREAT. Well now that that’s settled, I’m off to have an epic sulk in private!
Well. That didn’t go great! Does Mags really not like Thorny, or is she just too caught up in the cause and all the personal tragedy she’s dealing with to realize her feelings? Will conditions improve for the workers even though the strike has been broken? Have we seen the last of Uncle Creepy? Will Ol’ Battleaxe ever forgive Mags for the horrible crime of not loving her son? Only one way to find out, and that’s by watching episode 3!
