If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for another OTP to obsess over, and you’re always looking for OTP recommendations. Everyone has a trope they love and cannot get enough of when it comes to ships, and we at Fangirlish are no exception. Whether it’s “enemies to lovers” or “star-crossed lovers” or “bad boy/girl meets bad girl/boy” or even “bad boy/girl meets bad girl/boy,” there are some ship tropes that just capture our imaginations and steal our hearts.
So if there’s a type of OTP story you love and you’re looking for recommendations, let the writers and editors of Fangirlish offer you some of our favorites with this next entry into our OTP Series: ships that are two of a kind!
If you love…
Who They Are:
Elizabeth Bennett is the second daughter of the Bennett family. Her father is a country gentleman, so while they not poor, strictly speaking, the Bennetts are not rich, with five daughters (all but two of whom are incredibly silly) and an entailed house that will go to a cousin after Mr. Bennett’s death. Intelligent, witty, and sensible, Elizabeth takes an immediate dislike to Darcy upon their first meeting – for admittedly good reason. Eventually, she sees him in a better light and recognizes the warm heart beneath the standoffish exterior.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a rich, aristocratic landowner. Although he appears rude and arrogant upon first meeting Elizabeth, beneath that facade is a strong code of honor and genuine affection for those closest to him. Intelligent and forthright, his haughty demeanor initially blinds him to his own arrogance and pride. However, when humbled by Elizabeth’s rejection, he must embark on a little self-discovery and set aside his pride and the prejudices he holds against her (ridiculous) family to become worthy of the woman he loves.
Why You’ll Love Them:
This ship has it all. Enemies to friends to lovers. Angst. Misunderstandings. One of the best (and yet simultaneously worst) love confessions in literary and cinematic history. It is one of the most enduring and beloved love stories of all time, with protagonists that set the mold for endless couples to follow, and for good cause.
And talk about the unresolved sexual tension! It should come as no surprise that Firth and Ehle dated while filming this miniseries, because their chemistry is electric.
Moment That Will Make You Swoon:
Moment That Will Break Your Heart:
“I shall never see him again.” – Elizabeth Bennett
Then you’ll love…
Who They Are:
John Thornton is the Master of Marlborough Mills, a rugged, self-made manufacturer in the industrial town of Milton. He’s rougher around the edges than Darcy, but he does adhere to a strict code of honor and cares more for the people under his care than some (including Margaret, at first) might expect. Brooding, arrogant, secretly vulnerable, and just a touch dangerous, he’s Darcy if Darcy had grown up on the other side of the tracks.
Margaret Hale is the sheltered daughter of a former clergyman. Opinionated, compassionate, headstrong, and proud, she struggles to accept the ways of the more rugged Northerners when her father quits his job and moves the family to the industrial town of Milton. Facing poverty, loss, and love, she overcomes her initial prejudice against Thornton and finds her place in the world.
Why You’ll Love Them:
Whatever it is that you love about Lizzy and Darcy, you’re probably going to find it in this OTP. First meeting beset by misunderstandings that lead to intense dislike on one side while the other side falls hopelessly in love? It has that. Unfortunately timed – and poorly received – marriage proposal? It has that too. More misunderstandings leading to the fear that love was requited too late? Yup.
The only thing this ship is really lacking is an iconic lake scene, but it makes up for this deficiency with intense smoldering looks and enough unresolved sexual tension to set fire to the television. Seriously, strap yourself in, because I guarantee you are Not. Prepared. The series is about 233 minutes long, and I swear Armitage smolders through a solid 230 minutes of it. And nobody smolders quite like John Thornton. Don’t believe me?
I rest my case.
Moment That Will Make You Swoon:
There are so many, where to even begin?
Moment That Will Break Your Heart:
“By the way, I was right, Mother. Miss Hale will not have me. No one loves me – no one cares for me but you … I knew I was not good enough for her. Yet I think I love her more than ever.” – John Thornton
Honestly, if you love Pride and Prejudice, or if you love OTPS comprised of equally strong characters who are subject to unfortunate misunderstandings, or if you love romantic heroes who are Soft for Just One Woman, or even if you’re just a fan of OTPs with sizzling chemistry, Margaret Hale and John Thornton in North and South are the couple for you.
The series is an instant classic, having been originally released on the BBC with low expectations and little promotion, only to capture so many viewers’ hearts within hours that they flooded to the official message boards in such numbers that they crashed the site, forcing the site’s host to shut the message boards down. And nothing says “Top-Tier OTP” like “its shippers actually broke the Internet!”
Definitely check them out. You’ll thank me later.
