The BEST episodes of North & South

Every episode of North & South ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of North & South!

When her father moves his family to an industrial mill town, the parson's daughter, Margaret Hale, struggles to adapt to her harsh new surroundings. As the daughter of a middle-class parson, Margaret Hale has enjoyed a privileged upbringing in rural southern England. When her father uproots the family to take work in the northern mill town of Milton, Margaret is shocked by the dirt, the noise and the gruffness of the people, but she reserves her highest contempt for the charismatic mill-owner John Thornton.

Last Updated: 12/28/2023Network: BBCStatus: Ended
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Episode 4
star
8.64
181 votes

#1 - Episode 4

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/5/2004

Frederick safely reaches Spain. After her father's death, Margaret leaves Milton to live with her aunt in London. Thornton learns that Frederick is Margaret's brother. With the money that she inherited from Mr. Bell, her godfather, she decides to help Mr. Thornton's mill from closing.

Directors: Brian Percival
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 3
star
8.47
174 votes

#2 - Episode 3

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/28/2004

Deeply hurt at the refusal of his marriage proposal, Thornton and Margaret's relationship becomes more tense and difficult. Just in time, Frederick comes home to visit his dying mother. Thornton mistakes him for Margaret's lover. As Margaret realizes that she might have been mistaken in her harsh and hasty criticism of Thornton, she has to sadly observe his opinion of her altering. Shortly after the death of her mother, Margaret's friend Bessy also dies.

Directors: Brian Percival
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 2
star
8.44
185 votes

#3 - Episode 2

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/21/2004

Maria Hale's health ceases and her daughter Margaret decides to contact her brother Frederick - who had to leave England years earlier due to a wrongful court decision. The mill workers in Milton go on strike. In order to get his orders done in time, Thornton hires Irish workers. The angry strikers hear of this and in an attempt to threaten Thornton they hurt Margaret. Overwhelmed at her willing help to save Thornton from the strikers, he decides to propose to Margaret.

Directors: Brian Percival
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 1
star
8.09
206 votes

#4 - Episode 1

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/14/2004

Margaret Hale, a 19-year-old lively young girl, and her parents leave the south, when her father Richard resigns as the clergy in Helstone on a matter of conscience. The family moves to Milton in the north of England where Mr. Hale starts working as a private tutor. Margaret and her mother find it difficult to adapt to the north. While Margaret tries to deal with her new home and thereby befriends Bessy Higgins and her father Nicholas, poor local mill workers, she becomes aware of the social inequalities. On seeing John Thornton, a cotton-mill owner, badly treating one of his workers, Margaret's prejudices are reinforced. Thornton, on the other hand, forms a more positive opinion of Margaret.

Directors: Brian Percival
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV