I’ve missed you so, Richard Armitage

CarlyQ said it and it’s true — I’ve missed you so much. Strange thing to say when you’re so often in my thoughts, when I write something at least tangentially related to you so many times a week. But I have.

When I became a fan, you’d just finished Robin Hood and Spooks 8. The next two pieces I saw you in were Strike Back and Spooks 9. Yes, there were voice projects in between, but for such a physical actor as you, voice can never be enough to convey your skills.

Then you disappeared into the wilds of New Zealand. And when you emerged the next roles I saw you in: a comic-book villain, a dwarf. Don’t get me wrong: I love Thorin Oakenshield; he’s currently the role you’ve played that occupies the most of my thoughts. But that was followed by Gary, the tornado survivor, a man with more capacity to hang on in a strong wind than communicate easily with the people around him.

A huge reprieve: John Proctor. For the months where all the talk was of Hannibal, I had Proctor on almost constant repeat. Even so: An archetype. Larger than life.

And then 2015: nothing. A serial killer. A show I haven’t yet been able to bring myself to rewatch. 2016: a fairy-tale king.

A girl can’t live forever on pictures. Although you do take a fantastic picture.

And last night I watched the first two episodes of Berlin Station twice, and I fell in love with Daniel Miller and you all over again.

Now I realize: because Daniel Miller felt like someone was coming home. It felt like you’d been away forever. The human you. The everyman. The character experiencing something like normal emotions. The character without prosthetics or colossal painted-on tattoos or superhuman capacities.

The actor who wasn’t relying on weirdness (no matter how tastefully done: Butoh!) or playing front of a green screen and waiting for the scene to be CGI’d in behind him.

It felt like you were missing.

The actor. Working for yourself. Since you’re acting in German now: Ohne Schnick-Schnack. Schnörkellos. Schlicht.

I’ve missed you so.

You.

Welcome back.

~ by Servetus on September 9, 2016.