[spoilers] Harry and Ruth

[JHyde]

Look, I totally agree. This is my favourite thread to hang out! Well, this and Sir Harry Pearce.....

I would like to hear people's thoughts about why we all get so invested with these guys. Is it that they're such great actors? Characters that have developed beautifully over time? There have been other couples on this show, so why Harry and Ruth? Why do so many of us nominate these guys as one of our favourite couples on film and TV? It's not as though we've seen anything graphic - quite the opposite. Is that part of the appeal?

[almh]

I think it's because they've developed over time, aren't stupid characters (like people thought Ben was - why I keep picking on him today I don't know,) are interesting to listen to (Harry because he gets all the cool lines and Ruth because she actually knows what's going on - as they said in the audio commentary, if they listened to Ruth then they'd be able to solve the episode in 15 minutes,) are superbly acted... and also because I'm a hopeless romantic and I just think that they fit together beautifully I think it's the culmination of things.

As for why Harry and Ruth? Well, I like Ruth. And I like Harry. Good enough reason? lol. I think it was that their relationship seems so natural, it's been building up for series. And their relationship is the only "quaint" and, in my mind, truly romantic relationship. The others never really had that romantic relationship, it all just went from I like you to sex.

[JHyde]

The thing is that I like them both so much individually, but they're very different in many ways. There is this very real gentleness and understanding that exists between the two of them. They bring out the best in each other, and protect each other from doing their worst. Maybe Harry forcing Ruth to take the lead for a bit will bring her out of her shell outside the conference room, which is really one of the things that causes her the most trouble. And as we've already seen this season, Ruth brings Harry back from the brink.

That last point may well explain why the women love them so much. The idea that Harry can reel himself in for her.

[Silktie]

Gee, this is a hard one to answer, as it is such a personal thing why one likes certain characters more than others. For me it flows from the fact that I find Harry and Ruth the most interesting characters on the show, as well as the characters I can relate to and admire the most. The second very important issue for me is that the relationship was allowed to grow very organically. I think this comes from the fact that the actors brought it into their performances because they felt that connection when reading the scripts, even when the writers were denying there was any romantic intentions on their part.

And of course, the beautiful, and above all, subtle performances from the actors sold me as well. It is such an understated romance, unlike for instance Ros and Adam which were all hard angles and fire and brimstone. Harry and Ruth just feels more real to me because it is so understated.

[JHyde]

Nicely put, Silktie. You said it better than me, about them individually being so great, so interesting. It's really not surprising we'd want to see them together. I know the couples I admire the most are those who are great people on their own, and then when they're together there's this new, equally exciting dynamic, and that's definitely how I feel about these guys.

I'm curious to know when those rumours about Harry and Ruth surfaced. I truly didn't see any possible connection until 3.9 with the pacing conversation, and Ruth being genuinely crestfallen at the prospect of Harry leaving. (And that was when I went looking for it.) Then again upon Danny's death (where I did start to notice it), and bits and pieces throughout 4.1/2. It didn't really kick in again until 4.9. Does anyone remember when people started to talk about it?

[Silktie]

I suspect the actors themselves might have started the rumours, on the season 2 DVD extras PF talks about how he and NW immediately thought there was a spark between the characters, but that the writers denied it. But they decided to play it anyway in a very subtle manner.

[JHyde]

Yeah that when I first saw it too. But that was done during what, the end of season 3? That means they must have started mucking around with that basically during 3.9 and 10. Maybe it was sparked off with that lie Ruth tells when Harry's in hospital and they thought it was funny. Alrick Riley is such a great director when it comes to picking up actors' chemistry and their automatic responses to lines, and he did 3.9 and 10, as well as 8.1 and 2 - crucial plots for these two. So I suspect that may have been part of creating the story.

However it came about, I'm very glad it did!

[almh]

Same!!! lol.

It mentions in in series 2 extras? Will have to listen to that this afternoon.

[Silktie]

So when did I personally notice a spark? Well, their first meeting to be honest. When Ruth says "Bugger the Home Office" Harry gets this little smile on his face, and replies "Hmm, if only..." And gives Ruth this look. I think he realised then that there was something different and appealing about her.
Another telling development for me is in 2.10 when Harry chooses to confide in Ruth about his concerns over Tom, and she immediately agrees to stand by him.
The first overt spark however, remains my favourite scene between them. It is the last scene in 3.9, when Harry tells her he didn't get the DG job, and she says she's glad. That whole scene, they're almost having eye sex the whole time. Ruth keeps looking at Harry even when Danny is talking, and Harry keeps looking at Ruth as he's replying to Danny. And to top it all off, that wonderful laugh of Harry's as he calls Ruth back when she's leaving, and she says she's not listening. Wonderful stuff.

[almh]

I think Harry always knew that Ruth was different, ever since he met her.

3.9 definitely had a spark! Poor Danny, he must have been soo confused by the entire situation.