Re: Know exactly what you're saying..
OMG, North and South.
I borrowed Books I and II from the library, on tape, and sat and watched it with my mom and sister some months ago after randomly catching a few episodes on TV.
It is SO EPICLY AWESOME. I cannot imagine what it must have generated among people watching it when it first showed. What we today call squee? Love for all the pretty actors and costumes and settings?
And seriously, who doesn't love Orry? :P
But I agree with you - sometimes beautiful friendship is just that, whomever it might be between. George and Orry, Charlie and Billy (whose friendship I just love), and to return to the comics verse (and the first example that comes to my mind), Dick and various people he's often 'paired' with (Roy, Wally, even Tim).