Kiss me like that, Lucas North
Lucas North / John Bateman (Richard Armitage) kisses Maya Lahan (Laila Rouass) after she agrees to start a life with him in Spooks 9.4. Source: Richard Armitage Net
Just love Armitage’s emotionality here. Lucas / John is finally getting — he thinks — the thing he’s been starving for all those years. The mixture of gratitude and surrender is so unbelievably moving, as if he’ll grin and cry at the same time.
I want one.
Lucas North is so beautiful! ♥ Yes, I am really that shallow.
Yeah, me too….
Me three.
The hands and fingers have a role all their own in RA love scenes. (a cello andante playing to a crecendo? Help me out on the music terms, please).
The yearning of the closed eyes.
For me it’s the hands. He sure does hold his women like he means it.
Oh yes those hands are so eloquent; and as Fitzg says the ways his eyes close with the intensity of his feelings.
oohh CP, yes, I love the way you phrased that…just great!
Well put.
This scene is so very moving. Whatever John Bateman is supposed to have done I just keep thinking of all those years as Lucas All that work he’s done for his country, his suffering in prison.
However the law would regard the situation in my mind he’s redeemed himself.
If there’s karma to pay back then surely all he went through in prison and the resulting nightmares and emotional/mental problems
do that.
He feels remorse for what he did and has spent years saving far more lives than he took; as well as averting terrible crimes against humanity.
This is how Mr A gets me so emotionally involved in these characters. I tend to think more with my heart than with my head.
So when anything appeals to my heart I’m a goner.
He shows how they feel so vividly that you empathise with them.
Even with the worst behaved of his characters he get you connecting with them.
You see the human being and his emotions not what he’s done.
Amen, AJ. He connects so beautifully with the thoughts and emotions of his characters and reflects their inward struggles, fears, and dreams that we feel as if we “know” these individuals, as if they are flesh and blood. He makes us care, even about the “baddies.”
I was noticing in screencaps from “Strike Back” when he is hugging the girl playing his daughter after his return home, I totally believed this was John Porter overwhelmed with joy and relief at having his little girl in his arms agin. And there were those magnificent hands again–ever so expressive.
And yes, bccmee, Lucas is beautiful. Sometimes I am pretty shallow, too. Those I’m Too Sexy vids of mine . . . *giggle*
Love that picture. Looking at it, I can feel his stubble on my cheek, his breath on my neck, his hands drawing me in, the warmth of his body. Yes, Mr. A is a fantastic actor because it feels like he is not acting. He is being. And he does it so well, the viewer is ‘being’ right along with him. Probably why we don’t get tired of watching his work over and over and over again.
@calexora. My dear, you have managed to put into words just what this picture is saying, and you are SO right. It never feels like he is acting – he IS that person at the time with all the accompanying emotions and we are right there. Blissful!!
Servetus…if you find one…can you see if he has a brother or cousin or friend like him you can send my way…sighing & dreaming
*thinking a comment on YT about cloning him might not be such a bad idea*
OML *grin*
RA does emotional moments beautifully. Words are almost superfluous.
@bccmee @Angieklong, Embrace the shallowness. I did.
Oh, Lucas those nasty writers did you so so so wrong. In any event, I’d take you and your multiple-personality side kick John. And, I would NOT do you wrong, but in the right way. * wink * * wink *
@rob,
Now that’s an offer our lovely spy should definitely take you up on!! *grin* Man needs some good and tender loving and appreciation.
@judiang,
Oh, I have fully embraced it. Witness my “Peacock” video on YT. *cough*
@amandajane, saving more lives than he took. YES, madame! Living more lives than he took…
servetus, a truly beautiful pic of Lucas as we knew him.
Damn! When is someone going to really use this guy in a fine film? What a waste in something like this. Sorry. Had to get that off my chest.
I know what you mean, Frenz. I see so many lesser actors out there on the big screen–lesser in every respect IMHO–and think he deserves to have a part that really showcases his amazing versatility and talent. Not that we won’t see that in TH–but it’s an ensemble piece. I guess I want to see him as THE star.
Preach it, Angie. I can barely wait for the day when we get to see him as the star of a feature film.
That day IS coming. No doubt about it!
After gazing at this picture for a while and reading all the wonderful comments, can I just say this. Oh PLEASE, all TPTB, take pity on all of us but certainly on such oldies as me. I want to still be around to go to see him as THE star as Angie called him. Yes, I know, he will always be a star in our minds regardless, but I have actually watched so-called BIG actors in movies who don’t begin to have the talents, versatility, or to be frank, the looks that he has and that I know for a fact he would have been so much better in the part.
But to respond to your “Kiss me like that, Lucas North” post here Servetus, I love the way he kisses and always find it a incredibly moving experience when I watch him. How in the world does he manage to pull you in and make you feel you are the one with him? As has been said already he doesn’t have to say a word. All the emotion is there in the facial expressions, the body language, the meltingly beautiful eyes and those oh so sensitive hands of him. Can I add, without I hope sounding even more shallow, that I often wonder if any of the actresses on the receiving end of one of those ever gets “turned on” in spite of having lots of people and cameras around, or are they so good that they can stay focused and “just pretend”? They are human after all!
The only actor whose kisses you can watch endlessly and never tire. They’re just as beautiful after the thousandth viewing as the first. More details to sudy and enjoy! Getting lost in the moment as though you’re the one being kissed (yes, please!).
That is why I’m actually more interested in what may come after The Hobbit than in The Hobbit itself. I so hope that one director or the other recognizes his talent and that he chooses wisely and not only money.
I’m waiting for that film to come along!
Mmmm, CP, I approve that comment.
I find myself agreeing with almost everything that has been said here. I get frustrated when I read people think he is wooden. I scratch my head and think WHAT! With the kisses it is how he use his hands, gently cupping or holding the women’s head or face so gently. Also before he closes eyes he is looking at the woman he is kising as if nothing else in the world is more important than them in that moment. I love as well how his eyelashes lie against his cheek.
The only kiss I have not liked is the one in the hospital corridor and that was because it was tachhy and course and not remotely believable.
That IS the scene in the hospital corridor! I think no-one has ever analysed and appreciated it for what it is because it was so silly in context and everyone wondered what that was about! He had many great moments in series 9 and I think it is very sad that he acted his socks of but all that got stuck was that the script was unbelievable. I wish he would get something were the script works in his favour and allows him to weave his magic instead of spoiling it for a big part of the audience.
That’s what continues to make me angry. I still can’t bring myself to rewatch Spooks 9. Although I think Richard did an amazing job handling essentially two roles, the whole implausibility of the scenario, some of the dialogue, Laila Rouass’s lethargic performance, the complete tossing aside of Lucas’s established backstory–just bothers me still. Like N, I think to myself, what a waste of a great talent. At some point I am going to study the S9 screencaps for future vid projects–at least I don’t have to listen to the dialogue. *sigh* I feel I am missing out on evaluating some great acting moments because I can’t move past the overall dislike of the series. Damn you, Kudos!
I was tempted to watch 9.1 again, as I enjoyed the scenes on the ship, but then I couldn’t. It’s shame becuase he never was so beautiful as here (with the exception of SB, of course).
There is a way around this Angie – Compartmentalizing. Just pretend that there were two shows altogether. Mr. A played Lucas North in Spooks S7 & S8. He then got a different acting job to play a Mr. John Bateman in another show – called MI-5 S.9 that has some minor similarities (including some of the same actors) with Spooks. In that show, he had to play an evil man who has tried to redeem himself but loses himself in the process.
I’ve decided that S9 acting is too worthwhile to pass up but I’ll go crazy if I compare it or try to understand it in the context of S.7-8. So, I’ve played that trick on myself and it worked. I was able to watch it again and enjoy all the gorgeousness of Mr. A, the torturedness of this new character John Bateman and the suspense. Oh, and I just don’t pay attention to Layla because she drives me a bit nuts (I just look at Mr. A when she’s on screen with him, and who wouldn’t? It’s hard to pry our eyes off of him).
Hope it works for you.
@calexora: This is a great strategy. I find series 9 Lucas achingly gorgeous, but the Bateman character seemed to get in the way of my perception of who Lucas was. This way of dealing with the problem allows one to fully appreciate Lucas and Richard’s acting as John Bateman. No problem looking past Maya to Lucas as I tend to concentrate on Richard’s characters whenever they’re on the screen anyway!
I think it’s a good strategy, Calexora aand MillyMe, but I suspect it’s the writer (fiction AND non-fiction) in me who is particularly bothered by all this and that is a little harder to compartmentalize, I guess.
Give me time.
No worries. But remember, this awaits for you…. (not sure if I’m allowed to hyperlink or embed the photo, so I refer you to RichardArmitageNet, screencap gallery, Spooks, S9, episode 4, 4-012….) And let the drooling begin!!!!
Well as this is just asingle screen cap I stand corrected. Of course RA can kiss as this cap shows. I just think that the whole scene in the corridor is cringe worthy. Two thirty plus characters in a hosiptal corridor behaving like hormonally charged teanagers. It was just awful. I work in a hospital and people do not play tonsil tennis in the corridors especially consultants or senior doctors. It was badly written like some bad soap opera
Khandy,
I didn’t say anything earlier because I feel like maybe I complain too much about S9 anyway and people are sick of hearing it, but I have to agree that whole scene just didn’t ring true, and I am not a nurse like you.
Having a mom, nurse and niece who were/are nurses, however, and having spent so much time in hospitals with my parents and in-laws, I just couldn’t imagine tonsil hockey taking place in public like that with any sort of physician worth her salt. As you said, a really bad soap opera. Which is what the entire season pretty much became for me . . .
His kisses are the best. Better than those in “Casablnca” or “The Quiet Man”.
What a waste of his talent Spooks 9 was.
I agree with these comments ladies. No doubt, only RA is also able to truly express love. Watching almost feel his touch. Just as she said MillyMe, “only actor whose kisses you can watch endlessly and never tire”
I wonder if male just as we are perceive (feel) the scene in which RA kisses
@Nietzshe, Casablanca! Beautiful film. Great acting! But would we want to have been kissed by Humphrey? I mean, is there a choice with RA as the other contestant? Gosh, let me think about that…:D No choice. No contest.
Wayne and The Quiet Man? We-ell…um…still no contest!
No contest, either from the Great Sir Sean. (The Great I AM?) Closer, but just practising…
Indeed, and I am puzzled why that is so. Maybe the reason is that Richard has it all – talent, charisma, the finely honed craft that is his acting, the attention to the smallest detail of a performance *and* that breathtaking beauty.
I think the fact he IS the complete package, Nietzsche, is what sweeps me off my feet. Laugh if you will, but I think it would be rather an honor and a privilege to be kissed (onscreen or off) by Richard Armitage. I don’t just find him immensely attractive and sexy; I respect, admire and like him. I think of him as an excellent role model in so many ways. The distinctive beauty and charm are just the lagniappe–the delightful little bonus.
I wwould never laugh at you, Angie!
I FULLY agree with everything you’ve said Angie!!!!
I certainly would never laugh either, Angie as I am so much in agreement!!! I only wish I were 30 or maybe even 40 years younger but a girl can still dream, can’t she??
Casablanca is one of the all-time favorite films for me and Benny. I love Humphrey in this, well, I love him in general; but, no, I have to say he doesn’t move me to wish to be kissed like Mr. A does.
That’s a good one, but my favorite Bogie is Captain Queeg in ‘The Caine Mutiny.’ He should have gotten an award for that one! But I guess Brando beating him out is some compensation.
Oh, yes–he was great in that. Loved him in the African Queen and in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre . . . one of my favorite actors, period.
I have been reading this post and all the comments this morning and had to think about it all day. How true everything said here is.
I didn’t like the scene in the hospital either for reasomns mentioned above but in those screen caps we do see his talent and beautiful hands. I remember when I watched the train sceene in N&S over and over that I was struck by his hands and how he used them. I remember thinking how expressive and beautiful they are and that I would love to be held by them (and I am very happily married)!
Servetus, a time given between jobs can be a blessing. Have you thought about time in Israel? work in a kibbutz (unless you must be Sabra to get work there). eat the local food, drink the local wines, sleep with the local men (preferable working class guys for a “bit of the rough”). stay in a youth hostel. dodge the arab rockets. my best times have been spent between jobs. and my best to you, dear Servetus. soon (30 years) you will be my age and will need color to look back on. I can’t imagine just doing one thing all your life.
And there you were Servetus, thinking that you were limited to only a certain number of options!!! This WOULD be a lot of “color” to look back on for sure!!
absolutely, teuchter, especially the men. what would my dreaming be like without the remembrance of men past… kenny, ronny, dirk (especially dirk), pete, jimmy, sam, etc. the boys from Yale, the MG’s they drove, the boys from accross the tracks, the chicken farmer, the sailors. oh my goodness yes the men.
i remember standing at the bar at the Raffles in Saigon and all the serious (an not so serious) young men to sleep with who would soon be dead in Johnson’s War.
I now look back and can remember their smells, their smiles, their young bodies (and mine), the noises, the rain, the strange beds, the passion.
Servetus, think outside the academic box. All I remember of the academic scene is the tedious faculty soirees with the nasty, bearded, birkenstocked, ponytailed, smug, “sort-of sort-of girly men” who wanted to tell me all about themselves. ugh
and then I think of the rivers, and the fogs, and the young man from appalachia who went down into the coal mines and who wanted to talk about how lovely I looked, I remember his ………….. well, you don’t get to know what I remember about Kenny. If I had him here with me I would not be writing on Servetus’ blog. nosiree.
Servetus, you are so young. help youself to life.
@marylou: This poetic description of the passion of one’s youth reads like Jack Kerouac. Have you considered writing?
Agree with MillyMe. You write wonderfully marylou – you’d make anyone want to live a little more (or wish they already had).
Well, “back in my day” of hitch-hiking from Calais to Dubrovnik, I met many young people of myriad countries and ethnicities, just back from Isreali kibbutzes. T’wasn’t required to be sabra or Jewish. Perahps that’s changed.