“I’m not going anywhere.”
John Porter (Richard Armitage) reassures Katie Dartmouth (Orla Brady) during their captivity in Strike Back 1.2. Source: Richard Armitage Net
Me + Richard Armitage
a frequently irreverent and occasionally cerebral feuilleton of richard armitage studies
Charities Richard Armitage has supported [click this photo]
Click on the image to see a list of charities Richard Armitage has supported, with links!
Fan Sites
- C19
- Русскоязычный Cайт Pичардa Армитиджa
- Fellowship of the Beard
- Foro Richard Armitage [Spanish]
- IHEARTARMITAGE
- RAfanvids
- Richard Armitage at Reddit
- Richard Armitage Board (für deutsche Fans)
- Richard Armitage Brasil
- Richard Armitage Central
- Richard Armitage Confessions
- Richard Armitage Discussion Board [Chinese]
- Richard Armitage Fanfiction Archiv
- Richard Armitage Feed at Youtube
- RichardArmitageNet.com
- RichardArmitageOnline
- The Armitage Army
- The Richard Armitage Daily
Me + Richard Armitage 
Yet this sentiment has such bittersweet meanings outside of Strike Back. Sometimes one wishes to be free, getting out of Dodge. “Capitivity” is the word, indeed.
LikeLike
Therein lies a great part of the attraction of John Porter. How many men do you meet like that? I’m not talking about being SAS but just being a stand up guy. The Mencken quote comes to mind.
Glad you’re not going anywhere. 🙂
LikeLike
John Porter is a man you’d like to have in your corner. Hooray for JP!
Also glad you are not going anywhere. 😀
LikeLike
What a poignantly beautiful moment and how touchingly tender he is with Katie. Can’t you almost picture yourself in such an embrace? Just knowing during tough or even scary moments that someone has your back, sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically is of overwhelming comfort. When at a Retreat recently, I noticed on one wall inside the building in which we met for meals and Sessions, a large and very beautiful hand-carved plaque with the words of Psalm 139:9.10, written, I believe, in German. In “King James” English those two verses certainly convey that feeling for me.
LikeLike
That’s a beautifully touching scene; and they perform it so well. There’s such closeness and intimacy between them.
Who wouldn’t want a man like this to comfort them in a frightening situation ?
LikeLike
And tenderness! Awwwwww…
We’ll have a “Strike Back” fest this Saturday. Emailed all my friends around and reminded neighbors alike. I was at a friend’s party two weeks ago (with belly dancing ladies) and here I was telling friends both sexes about Strike Back………..!
LikeLike
Tedgirl,
That sounds like a blast! Enjoy the Porter goodness.
LikeLike
RA has infinite capacity to portray tenderness and empathy. Portray is a superficial word in the circumstances; he draws the audience to feel the same emotion. It is so poignant in the scenes with Katie (rather eclipsing, thankfully, scenes with Danni, to understate it); scenes with Margaret, one in particular with Marian, with Elizabeta. Not just with women, either; the mine scene with Gerry in SB. The striking feature is the ability to avoid the maudlin.
LikeLike
Awww!!! I love this scene. Cant wait to see it in my TV. Thank You :*
LikeLike
There’s such an amazing contrast between his powerful arms and shoulders and his chiselled features (and what he is able to express with them) and long, slender fingers. He is the embodiment of what women wish for in a man – strength and tenderness.
LikeLike
Exactly, Nietzsche! How can we not react to a scene like this?
Toughness and resolve coupled with tenderness and understanding.
Richard’s physicality–that contrast between the brawniness of the shoulders and arms, his strong aquiline nose and chiseled jaw, and those long, lush, pretty lashes and delicately-shaped mouth, elegant hands worthy of a great artist or musician–are mirrored by what he shows us of Porter’s character.
Here is a strong, steely, tough soldier who is nonetheless capable of gentleness and kindness. A killing machine with a heart and soul.
LikeLike
This is what made John Porter so much more than just another macho action man. It is not that this is sexy although JP looks hot. There is just such honesty in the way he phrases his words. Just a general obsevation here RA can so much with the pauses in his lines. It would have been easy for them to sound trite as though he has said them to a thousand other people which doubtless he had. Added to the tenderness of his touch and sincerity in his expression. Those expressive facial muscles working to the full here.
It was this scene that inspired me to write A jp story
LikeLike
I agree! I’ll miss JP if we don’t get to see anymore of him
LikeLike
Well, at least we know we will get some more Porter in SB2, but how much is up for grabs.
LikeLike
Richard Armitage and Orla Brady were wonderful together in Stike Back. I hope they will work together again.
LikeLike
I love this scene. I know as a stong emancipated woman, I am not supposed to like it, but I can’t help myself. You just have those days where you’d love a JP to swoop and give you a little reassurance that everything will be ok.
LikeLike
As a “second wave” feminist, I’m right with you, Rob!
Happy International Womens’ Day, all.
LikeLike
I’m with you both there, ladies. Instead of “Calgon, take me away” it’s “JP, tell me it’s going to be OK!!”
I think in another actor’s hands, the scene might have come across as condescending or patronizing. But I felt that John respected Katie and also fully understood her need to be held and consoled. I imagined he could see his own daughter in such a predicament and hope that someone would try to comfort and soothe her in the same manner.
That’s also why I decided to give John younger sisters in Truce. He seemed like he would have been a great big brother to have.
LikeLike
Ang…there’s a poem in that first line somewhere???!!!
I still say those scenes with Katie were the best of the series. I just keep watching it over and over.
Not being a “helpless woman” is something I take pride in, however…hubs loves it when I do need a little backup! Nothing wrong with letting your man take care of you every once in a while! And of course, all of that macho woman stuff would go whizzing right out the door at the mere sight of JP! Oh yeah! One huge puddle in a New York minute. 🙂
LikeLike
In celebration of Interntational Women’s Day with Annie Lenox and Aretha Franklin “The Sistas Are Doin’ It for Themselves”
LikeLike
I love that song!! Thanks, @rob.
LikeLike
I’ll try to work up a little JP poem for you, NB, if this darned cluster headache abates a bit. We’ve got more bad weather moving in (y’all get snow, we get rain) and it plays havoc with me. Thank goodness all my writing for Camellia Mag is done. Phew! (of course, we’ll do it all again in less than three months, and there’s Best Kept Secret of the South . . . always something!)
Even strong, self-reliant people need some TLC now and again. And who better to give it than JP!
LikeLike
I should not read these posts, (until the next Monday 😉 ) because they are for me like a spoiler, but it is not feasible, because I can’t get away from them, since all the girls here write so beautifully about John Porter
LikeLike
Ania, I guess you can see a lot of us have developed quite a crush on Sgt. Porter. I think some viewers failed to fully grasp how much he brought to this character–JP in his hands is so much more than just the macho soldier with guns-ablazing, although he does that very convincingly when need be. He’s a family man dealing with broken relationships, a concerned brother in arms, a former soldier who never gave up on hoping to right a wrong and clear his name, a hero . . . I hope you will truly enjoy the series.
LikeLike
I really can not wait
LikeLike
Ladies, you know I love The Armitage, and I have loved him faithfuly for years, but this guy in that Jane Eyre movie…is H-O-T! Get me my smelling salts! He has the voice, the pentrating stare and a cravat! I think I am just a sucker for a man with side burns and a cravat. I can’t wait to go see that movie. Here is the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8J6Cjn06kA.
Am I going to get kicked out of Armitage University? 🙂
LikeLike
@Rob,
You already know I find Mr. Fassbender quite fanciable, having taken note of his smouldering good looks and alluring voice a while back. He can also act, which is a nice bonus! Having watched more period stuff over the weekend, I am thinking I am rather a softie for those sideburns and hairstyles, frock coats and cravats, too. 😉 They seem to improve the looks of the average fellow, and the above-average looker? Gawh-ghus.
LikeLike
Ladies!! Ladies!! You are scaring me!!! Am I detecting just the slightest hint of a changing of allegiance here??? Say it isn’t so!! Mr. F may be considered a good actor and good looking but surely there is no comparison between him and our cravat-wearing JT!!!
I’m JK!! I’m sure I will be wanting to see it when it comes out. Looks like a great movie though if the trailer is any indication!
LikeLike
Teuchter,
I think the problem is @Rob and I may be shameless flirts at heart. 😉
I think we shall need to see the movie so we can properly study Mr. F and his performance as the brooding, enigmatic Rochester to compare it with the brooding, overbearing master Thornton. A sort of –Cravat-Off?!
😀
LikeLike
I’ve watched the trailer now and from a first viewing I think MF makes a compelling Rochester and the film looks great. Judi Dench and a host of other top-notch actors will guarantee a lovely version of Jane Eyre. But fellow posters, I’m in no danger from MF. My heart remains true and steadfast! Bring on Thorin! 🙂
LikeLike
Right there with you MillyMe! It is going to be a LONG wait so I hope they throw us a few tidbits to help us survive! I have never yearned for a “Dwarf” before – have you? Guess there is a first time for everything!!
LikeLike
Thorin, the Bearded Beauty, will be a worthy contender for the most memorable Tolkien character, methinks! And we have the singing to look forward to, too. But, yes, it’s a long wait *sigh*!
LikeLike
Difficult, isn’t it? I don’t want to ignore other actors and performances, that would be silly; but obsession is well, obsession…
Jane Eyre will be a lovely way to pass the time before the future becomes the present.
Thanks to Rob for Aretha and Annie of the “second wave”. The Third Wave is creating their own path.
LikeLike
Yes, @angie I am a terrible flirt! I bet I could take a lesson or two from you, Miz Southern Belle! 🙂 I do have a fascination with Jane Eyre. I always have. You have to check out the teaser that reads…”I owe you a debt” Here is the link:
http://www.focusfeatures.com/jane_eyre/videos/
Then let’s chat!
To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t have the time or energy to take on another fan gurl crush, but I am really looking forward to seeing this movie. At this point in my life, going to the grocery store san kids feels like a vacation! So sad, but true.
Here’s a fun trivia fact…Gaskell wrote the first bio about Charlotte Bronte.
LikeLike
That was the first Bronte bio I read, and the first Gaskell! It was excellent.
Re-watching the Iraq ep of SB last evening, I was struck by how very good Orla Brady was. I recall Mr. A making a comment about her portrayal of a foreign correspondent. In those scenes, she is so reminiscent of Christiane Amanpour and Lise Doucette, and the other ladies in the war zones. She caught that image of calm and dispassion and objectivity. Just the facts, Ma’am.
LikeLike
[…] repetition doesn’t bore everyone, but I left my picture selection, which is very similar to Servetus’ recent post, to make a point. I hope none of you get disheartened by these situations, because frankly, they […]
LikeLike