History Series / NorthAndSouthUS

* ButNotTooBlack: Madeline Fabray. If we're being honest, Swazye looks blacker.
** Justified, since she had to be able to pass for a 100% white person ''and'' she's merely an octoroon--[[TruthInTelevision which sadly was way more than too much for the society of the time]].

** HandicappedBadass: Orry, post-amputation.

* GreatEscape

* HellishHorse: Bent's prized steed, '''Satan'''.
** A CallBack later occurs when he tells Ashton,

* HistoricalFiction

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Kid]]: In the final phase of his revenge plot, [[spoiler: Bent kidnaps Charles Main's son to raise as his own]].

* WarForFunAndProfit: Bent is plotting an elaborate takeover of North America by smuggling weapons to the south. Meanwhile, he'll turn around and spend the proceeds on contraband for an even bigger profit. He's a little optimistic about his "imperial" ambitions, but Jefferson Davis indeed confirms that those guns could have turned the tide of the war.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Most notably, Creator/JonathanFrakes went on to have a long and fruitful career as an actor and director; ''North and South'' also resulted in he and co-star Creator/GenieFrancis hooking up; the two eventually married in 1988 and have remained married for 30 years as of this writing.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: UpToEleven with Bent, who in the book is described as obese and just plain disgusting. Justified, since in the adaptation he's merged with Lamar Powell, Ashton's handsome lover.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Fairly standard for the genre.

** BadassBeard / BadassMustache: George Hazard grows a (really fake-looking) mustache over the course of the story. He gains the beard after enlisting in the Union Army.
** BadassFamily: The boys of the Main clan.

* NotSoDifferent:

* EvenEvilHasStandards: In Book III, Ashton may be willing to [[spoiler:try to drive her brother and Madeline into destitution and retake Mont Royal through blackmail and bad business deals]] as part of her renewed revenge plot with Bent, but [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes she is horrified]] when Bent [[spoiler:deviates from the plan and kills Orry]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: In Book III, Ashton may be willing to [[spoiler:try to trick her brother and Madeline out of his possessions]] as part of her renewed revenge plot with Bent, but [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes she is horrified]] when Bent [[spoiler:deviates from the plan and kills Orry]].

The three series combined clocked in at [[TheEpic 1212 minutes]]. In addition to being a [[StarMakingRole breakout role]] for Swayze, a number of then-unknown actors (Creator/ForestWhitaker and Creator/JonathanFrakes, to name two) also saw their careers get a boost.

The books were adapted into a TV MiniSeries starring Creator/PatrickSwayze and Creator/JamesRead. The series aired on Creator/{{ABC}} between 1985-94, clocking in at [[TheEpic 1212 minutes]]. In addition to being a [[StarMakingRole breakout role]] for Swayze, a number of then-unknown actors (Creator/ForestWhitaker and Creator/JonathanFrakes, to name two) also saw their careers get a boost.

** Brett is pretty bad however, her hairspray and gel caked hair and bright pink lipstick frequently make her appear like "Antebellum Barbie", like at Ashton's wedding.

* InTheBlood: Justin and Forbes Lamotte.