#jo and friedrich

[joandfriedrich]

Jo: Would you still love me if I was a worm?

Friedrich: Of course I would! And if you were a worm, then I'd be a worm too. We would live in the dirt and make flowers grow and get worm married and have worm kids.

------

Laurie: Amy, would you still love me if I was a worm?

Amy: Theodore, what the hell are you talking about?

[rmblythe7]

Ok guys, how do we feel about Ben Barnes as Friedrich Bhaer?

There are no wrong answers here. I’m genuinely curious.

[littlewomenpodcast]

If There Is A Library It Might Be Love

I wrote a new Jo and Fritz fan fic. This one was very much inspired by the library scene in Beauty and the Beast. Enjoy <3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63621949

[remadorasupremacy]

remadora is 4 in 1:

Romeo and Juliet

Beauty and the Beast

Rapunzel and Eugene

Jo March and Friedrich Bhaer

Remadora vibes?

Of course!

[filmgifs]

And who made you high priest of what's good and what's bad? LITTLE WOMEN (2019) dir. Greta Gerwig

[didanagy]

LITTLE WOMEN (1994)

dir. gillian armstrong

[joandfriedrich]

Jo, about Friedrich: He’s just so attractive… Amy: Really? The professor? Jo: Really?? Laurie??? Amy: …Touché.

[thestarlight3]

Winona Ryder as Jo March & Gabriel Byrne as Friedrich Bhaer

Little Women (1994) Dir: Gillian Armstrong

[joandfriedrich]

I think technically the first time I knew of Little Women was the 1933 film, and I didn't have a clue as to what the ending was, nor the shipping war that was to be had. To me, it just seemed so natural that Jo fell for Friedrich and Laurie for Amy, and when I got older and heard how people wanted Jo and Laurie to be together, I was a little disguested.

I saw myself as Jo, and Laurie reminded me so much of my own brother, and the idea of them being married felt incestuous that I could never get behind it. Then when I finally got an unabridged version, my feelings on Jo and Laurie only got stronger, because I saw how much the films really downplayed Laurie's terrible behavior towards Jo, as well as the development of Jo and Friedrich.

Jo and Laurie was never a blimp of a thought in my mind, because it was so clear to me that Jo and Friedrich belonged together, and the sentiment has only grown as I have gotten older.

I thought I'd ask about this because now and then, I see people write about the "universal experience" of shipping Jo with Laurie and being shocked and heartbroken when she rejects his proposal. Yet that wasn't my experience with the book at all.

Of course, I already knew the ending before I read the book, so maybe that made all the difference; or maybe it's because I first read the book as an adult, not a teenager, so Laurie was never a "literary crush" for me and I could see his immaturity.

What were other people's experiences?

@littlewomenpodcast, @thatscarletflycatcher, @fandomsarefamily1966, @joandfriedrich

[stealingpotatoes]

commission for @toooldforthisbutstill!

(commissions are open!)

[didanagy]

LITTLE WOMEN (1994)

dir. gillian armstrong

[hockey-and-timbits]

I could never love anyone as I love my sisters.

—Jo March, Little Women (Gillian Armstrong, 1994)

[joandfriedrich]

Oh boy, here we go again. Let me repeat this loud an clear: THIS. DIDN'T. HAPPEN. IN. THE. BOOK!

Friedrich did give Jo the works of Shakespeare, advising her to use this as inspiration for deeper characterization, and despite what adaptations will make you believe, Jo didn't show him her writings from the Daily Volcano, as she was ashamed of her sensational writings. And the writings she did show him did not have the killings and amoral themes that her sensational writings did, and he thought those were good, just needed a bit of help. He never was rude to her about, she never acted indigent that he didn't like it. She accepted criticism, and he truly did help her towards being a better writer and she was grateful for it.

They spoke and understood each other like adults, and that was what helped to make their relationships work so well, they respected each other. Anyone who says otherwise needs to pick up the book and stop with this anti-Friedrich nonsense.

friedrich was so funny when he gifted jo shakepeare’s folios and then turned around to say he doesn’t like her stories for having too much killing and salaciousness

[joandfriedrich]

Ranking Portrayals of Jo x Friedrich from Worst to Best

History- They are one of the best examples of friends to lovers I have seen; starting off as strangers who grow closer due to close compacity, being nerds over their love of books, philosophy, and family. While he fell first, he was incredibly respectful of her space and choices, only acting when he felt there was a chance. Jo, while oblivious at first, started to realize how strong her feelings are, then it verges into two idiots in love, where they are afraid to admit to the other that they love them, until Jo breaks down when she realizes she could lose Friedrich. Then comes one of the greatest declarations of love ever, ending with him lamenting he doesn’t have anything to offer but his full heart and empty hands, and she grabs them to declare “not empty now.” How can anyone not love them is beyond me. The core of their relationship is based on respect and understanding, he the calm to her chaotic, the introvert and the extrovert. As much as they appear to be opposites, they are also so closely in sync with one another that it’s no wonder they are meant to be. What makes this couple even better is knowing that Jo and Friedrich are the expy of Alcott and her love for Henry David Thoreau, of whom she was unable to be with as he died. This is a couple I will defend to my dying day, and I am sure even beyond.

2019- Are you surprised by this point, presuming you read my two other posts, that this would be at the bottom? This one broke me in terms of the portrayal, because it was the most frustrating of any couple that was shown here. It started off fine, we could see Friedrich having heart eyes for Jo, while she is oblivious, which is on par with her, and then we see them dancing and his giving her Shakespeare to help her writing. This was good, true to text. What killed it was the scene where Jo asks Friedrich to read her writings, and she throws a temper tantrum that could rival a kindergartener. For the first time, I had actually said to myself, what does Friedrich see in her, dude you could do better! And that is sad for a couple that I have loved since I was 12. The other thing was that see didn’t even seem interested in him at any point, maybe in the beginning, but other than that, I did not see any kind of connection that would warrant her sisters to push her into chasing after him. And I hate the “choose your own ending” style, because that is not what happened in the book, and ruins a beautiful relationship that was built on friendship and respect, something Jo needed at that point. It had a chance for so much potential, but much like everything else with this film, it failed so hard.

1970- This was one of the few good points of the 70 version, as it is very close to the book, and also the actors did a very good job of showing friends to lovers’ relationship. I like that the first time they met, she mistakes him for a servant, and rather than refuse to help her, he gladly takes her suitcases. The way he remembers who each of her family members are when they talk about her letter is very sweet, and much like the book, Jo has been helping Friedrich with mending his socks and his offering to teach her German as repayment. We see them playfully teasing each other, showing the ease they have, and they discuss the issue of the Volcano writings with maturity and not shouting at each other like other versions make them. Their reunion in Concord is what makes it, when he meets Laurie, he is clearly willing to step aside but is happy to find he is married and Jo is free, and Jo is all heart eyes and defends Friedrich to everyone who say that he is too old and funny, and points out all the great points about him. The added scene of him trying to propose but being stopped by Mr. March is nice, because you can see that Jo was disappointed that it didn’t happen. I am not entirely in love with their love declaration, as it feels unlike them, with Friedrich telling her what is expected of a German wife, which is never said in the book. Overall, it’s fine, but not great.

2017- This one has so many moments from the book that is not included in others, like Jo first seeing Friedrich helping a child carry a heavy bucket of coal, the pair going to a symposium to discuss philosophy, and their lessons in German (which was nicely played out with him reading German and she translated it out loud in English for the kids). I wish there was more scenes with them, because I think that Maya Hawke and Mark Stanley really got the look and behaviors down pact for their characters, but I do love that you can see the growing friendship of the pair, how he gives her violets before she leaves (in Victorian times, it represented faithfulness), how when she comes back and Laurie confesses his love and tries to bash Friedrich, she defends him vehemently, and the glimpse of him collecting her stories from magazines after she had left. I was disappointed in the lack of the Under the Umbrella scene, because I am sure they would have nailed it, though you could argue that their reunion was that, and I did love that Amy was first to say that she and the rest of the family loves him and pretty much can’t wait for him to join the family. Probably the most book faithful version, but I wish it had more, which sadly, knocked down a peg.

1933- This was one of, if not the first, film adaptation that I had ever seen, and I had always remembered the love story between Jo and Friedrich. I was enchanted by their first meeting, as he was seen as a kind man to children and the maid, and clearly Jo was impressed too. The actors truly captured the essence of Jo and Friedrich, her passionate nature and his grounded nature, and you see why they are drawn to each other, they balance each other out. I love the way they reunite at the end of the film, neither caring if they get wet, and the way Katharine Hepburn welcomes him into the house with so much love and happiness that you can’t help but to feel the love. This version is a watered-down version of the novel, but it’s well acted, and Katharine Hepburn and Paul Lukas started the Jo x Friedrich ball rolling very well.

1949- While this one is heavily lifted from the 33’ film, there is something different between the two actors, and a few script changes. In many ways, this one is closest in terms of vibes to the novel. Jo meets Friedrich on the stairs with kids, loses a button, and when they get to talk again, they discuss music, writing, and you can see the beginnings of something sweet between them. Unlike the 33 film, Friedrich’s love confession is interrupted by one of the kids, and their next scene is when he talks to her about her writing, and this one really is the closest to the book, where he kindly explains how she could be a great writer, and she graciously accepts the criticism before sadly saying she has to go home. What elevated this one over the 33 film was the extra moment that appears here, in which Friedrich delivers her book, which is dedicated to the recently passed Beth. It’s such a heartwarming moment and shows not only how much he loved her writing, but had a hand in its publication, showing the extreme faith he had in her book. The chemistry between June Allison and Rossano Brazzi is effortless and lovely, it makes it easy for you to root for them with the little time you have with them.

1978- I am a little surprised at myself for how high I ranked this one, but after re-watching it, there was so much in this that I really loved. Their first meeting shows him playing with his nephews, a trait Jo always loved about him was how good he was to kids, his willingness to help her carry her stuff to her room, and -this was very swoon worthy to me- when she offered her hand to shake, he took it to kiss it. I also adore the moment when Friedrich finds Jo reading his Shakespeare, the look he gives her, almost as if he realized in that moment he was in love. While this version loses a point for them arguing about her writing, it gains so much in their other interactions, like their German lessons, his chasing after her carriage to give her a book with his inscription of encouragement, their letters back and forth, and his collecting her writings from the magazines. Their love confession is sweet too, when he tells her that he will take a wife, only if she’ll have him, and tenderly says, “Jo, my little love, will you have me?” Shatner may not be everyone’s favorite actor, but he did rather well in this version, and his delivery of the iconic “nothing to offer but a full heart and empty hands” was so lovely. Susan Dey gives just as good when she takes his hands and sweetly proclaim that they are no longer empty, they hold her hands now. Underrated, and rightly deserves to be as high on this on my list.

1994- This was the portrayal that many a young girl of my generation made them fall for Jo x Friedrich, and it’s no wonder. Winona Ryder and Gabriel Byrne had a wonderful chemistry that you just feel coming through the screen. Their meeting and getting to know each other shows exactly why they fall for each other, talking about books and philosophy, and while they do have an argument, it never gets as bad as the 78 version, and you can tell it’s more of Jo being upset at herself than Friedrich. Plus, who could ever forget the utterly beautiful and romantic the opera scene is, if that didn’t win you over, then you just have no heart, I guess. The under the umbrella scene is just as beautiful, again, shows how Friedrich really was ready to sacrifice his own happiness for Jo, if it meant she loved someone else, and the incredibly enthusiastic and tender exchange the empty hands dialogue, that I can’t imagine the film to end in any other way.

2018- For my fellow Jo x Friedrich shippers, this is the film for you. Since this version follows Jo during her time in New York, we get plenty of Jo and Freddy interactions here that made me so happy and giddy. They met at college where he offers to be her editor, which is very true to the book, and you can see just why they fell for each other. They share a common interest in theatre and books, talk about life, and you can really tell that Freddy loves Jo for who she is, despite her unusual ways. You can tell that even though they had argued, there is still so much respect and love there, and that it hurts them to have left things the way they were. While we do not get the under the umbrella scene, we do get an incredible attic scene where he sees the source of her muse, the source of her, and you can see him falling in love with her all over again. And I love seeing them getting married at the end, shows the growth that Jo makes through this story, how she realizes that change can be good, and that a good man like Freddy made her see that.

[soft-likethesunset]

my favourite snippets from the little women 2019 script, a collection