Patrick Swayze Miniseries Fans Call 'Unabashed Guilty Pleasure' is Now on Prime
Patrick Swayze looks more charming than ever in his Southerner costume.
Summary
- In 1985, ABC aired a remarkable historical series starring Patrick Swayze.
- The Civil War- themed show immediately became one of the most popular on television.
- It's worth watching today, especially with the addition of Prime.
Whether in books or movies, historical settings are always thrilling and usually leave us longing to immerse ourselves in the period in question, dressed to the nines in historical garb. And, of course, one of the best media to effectively convey this or that narrative is television, which has been embracing the historical genre for almost as many decades as the major motion pictures. Well, we enjoy watching and revisiting such series, relishing the historical context and the drama that unfolds within it, as well as the excellent costume designs.
Anyway, as we all await the release of the highly anticipated third season of Bridgerton on Netflix, why not turn to other historical dramas? Sure, many of our readers who are avid fans of such films and shows have already completed plenty of mainstream historical shows. But how about bringing back from the brink of undeserved oblivion a fascinating historical miniseries about the American Civil War that premiered nearly 40 years ago?
If that still doesn't sound appealing, maybe these two things will: it's a show starring Patrick Swayze, and it's available on Prime.
What Is the Patrick Swayze Show About?
The show in question is North and South, which began as a 6-episode miniseries on ABC in 1985, based on the historical novel of the same name by American author John Jakes. Another 6 episodes were released later in 1986, adapting the second novel in the series, Love and War, and in 1994 the series returned with a final three episodes, concluding the story as described in the novel Heaven and Hell.
North and South follows the friendship of two men before, during, and immediately after the Civil War. One, Orry Main (Patrick Swayze), comes from a rural South Carolina plantation family. The other, George Hazard (James Read), is a Pennsylvania Yankee. They meet while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and immediately become best friends, but apparently the economic and political situation in the country on the brink of full-scale war has divided the friends into two opposing camps.
One of the Highest-Rated Miniseries in Television History
Well, statistics are hard to come by, but in the 90's and 00's many media outlets noted that the first season of North and South, released in 1985, was considered the seventh highest-rated miniseries in television history. And this is quite possible, as the show was a real guilty pleasure, with critics complaining about every episode and viewers enjoying the all-star cast and the frenetic dynamics of the main characters.
It's especially important to note that in addition to Swayze and Read, the show also starred Lesley-Anne Down, Wendy Kilbourne, Kirstie Alley, Jean Simmons, Mitchell Ryan, David Carradine, and others. And even now, when new reviews of the show come out, many note how much they loved Lincoln played by Hal Holbrook, abolitionist John Brown played by none other than Johnny Cash, Lloyd Bridges as Jefferson Davis, and Robert Guillaume as Frederick Douglass.
Where and How to Watch the Show, Including Prime
If, like the author of this article, you don't have an extra dusty DVD copy of North and South that you've watched to death, then we strongly recommend that you turn to Prime Video!
Unfortunately, the show is not available for streaming, only for purchase. It's also important to note that all 15 episodes released between 1985 and 1994 (and divided into three 'Books') are available exactly as one full season, so don't let that confuse you. Buying a single episode in HD quality will cost you $2.99, and the entire season will cost $39.99.