The Frankenstein Chronicles starring Sean Bean Ep 1.04 "The Fortune Of War" Wed on ITV Encore!

Halfway through the series & I'm LOVING it!! Events are progressing but it seems slow because of the deliciously intense detail that Sean knows how to play OH so well.
At this point we've already seen John Marlott's demons, how he ties into the Frankenstein story that Mary Shelley wrote, and how it is connecting to the mystery that Marlott is investigating, along with the legal wrangling of pending vote on The Anatomy Act.


Gah, I don't want to say any more to avoid spoiling! When it comes time to write episode reviews for the American & European broadcasts (and hopefully wider UK access) I'm going to be quite garrulous!! :-)

Yet another reminder the 6-part series has also been acquired by France's Canal Plus network and by US entity A&E Network. Those premiere dates are yet to be announced, please keep an eye on our Facebook page for the latest news! https://www.facebook.com/nedstarkatrueking

VIDEO preview for episode 1.04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltE3ZMPnnEE

The following info is from ITV's Press Centre:
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep4week49/frankenstein-chronicles

Episode 4: The Fortune Of War

Marlott takes a terrified Pritty on their assignation to meet the men who kill for money – they find themselves in the tunnels under Smithfield market, which run from the Fortune of War pub to St Bart’s Hospital.

Flora has returned to Marlott’s lodgings, but now she is back Marlott intends to use her as bait for the murderous gang, much against Nightingale’s wishes.

Series overview

“An evil that almost defies reason”

Incorporating elements from the investigative and horror genres with an extraordinary hero at its centre, Inspector John Marlott, played by multi-awarding winning leading actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Accused), is taken on a terrifying journey in pursuit of a chilling and diabolical foe.
Cast joining Sean Bean includes Anna Maxwell Martin (The Bletchley Circle), Charlie Creed-Miles (Ripper Street), Ed Stoppard (Cilla), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci’s Demons), Hugh O’Conor (Chocolat), Joe Tucker (Bronson), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones), Lalor Roddy (Hunger), Patrick Fitzsymons (Game of Thrones) and Richie Campbell (Waterloo Road). Robbie Gee (Snatch), Ryan Sampson (Plebs), Samuel West (Mr Selfridge), Shaun Mason (Cilla), Steve Wilson (Game of Thrones), Steven Berkoff (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Stuart Graham (The Fall), Tom Ward (Silent Witness) and Vanessa Kirby (About Time) will also star.

Set in Georgian London in 1827, The Frankenstein Chronicles has been created by Emmy nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook, Torte Bluma – both as director) and writer Barry Langford (Torte Bluma).

Closing in on the culprit(s), very eager to see the next episode!
Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)

LEGENDS Episode 203 "The Legend of Curtis Ballard" Summary & Brief Review

Official synopsis: It's a race against time as Martin searches for Kate in Paris. He's convinced the peaceful protest she's attending may turn violent at the hands of her friend Ifti, a boy with radical beliefs. In 2001 Prague, Dmitry discovers that the key to getting close to Doku Zakayev (Visar Vishka) may not be his brother Tamir (Nikola Djuricko), but instead Doku's wife, Ilyana. In 1991 Lithuania, a younger Ballard is involved in an incident that will affect the rest of his life.
http://www.tntdrama.com/shows/legends/season-2/episode-3/the-legend-of-curtis-ballard.html

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Because of the unplanned delay of this episode due to the nature of its content in relation to the real tragedy of terrorist attacks in Paris, it's been 2 weeks since episode 2, so let's recap what is happening with Martin in the present time. He has discovered he had a relationship with a young woman, Kate Crawford, that began years ago when Martin, an MI6 agent posing as Russian mobster Dmitry Petrovich, was in pursuit of a war criminal general, believed to have ties to Chechen gangster Doku Zakayev. Martin had decided to befriend Kate's mother Ilyana in order to get inside Doku's organisation. After getting nowhere with Ilyana in the present, he connected with Kate, and in the process, found her mixed up with young Muslim students planning to do violence at a peaceful protest in Paris. Martin feared she could get hurt so he asked his former partner Tony Rice for help getting into France. However, Tony's MI6 & CIA contacts aren't happy about that, especially when the tip he gave them about a terrorist didn't pan out.

Episode 3 opens with Martin & Tony successfully getting into France and are on the way to Paris when they are intercepted by French police. They ditch one car for another, do some fancy driving and avoid capture. But then Tony decides to split up, let Martin get to Paris alone while Tony draws attention.

In Paris, Martin quickly finds the address he found in Ifti's apartment and tells Ifti's parents that he is her stepfather and that Ifti plans some kind of violence, to call police. Ifti's father goes with Martin to the square where the protest is taking place, but they are too late. Just as Martin reaches Kate, Ifti opens fire on the crowd, people are hit, and he is killed by return fire from police. Kate is wounded and Martin hastens to get her away from the terrible scene before the police can act.

Other flashbacks depict how "Dmitry" and his MI6 handler Graves made more surveillance plans and how Dmitry acted to befriend Ilyana and her little girl Katya, who is present day Kate.

The remainder of this episode focused on the origins of titular Curtis Ballard, the FBI agent that chased Dmitry and is now chasing Martin. Curtis was shown as a teen employed in Lithuania as a Mormon missionary, and not too happy about it. One rebellious act after another led to a tragedy: his friend was killed in a dispute over paying whores. It was that act that decided Curtis on a path to law enforcement & the FBI, He wanted to make a difference now, in this life.

The depiction of shooting violence on a peaceful crowd was very graphic, and I fully understand why TNT chose to delay the broadcast of this episode. My deepest condolences to terrorist victims' families.
But I also think it's important for people to see how such violence can happen, why one must be vigilant of surroundings. I continue to enjoy Sean's depth of character with Dmitry and Martin, and now I see why sticking with just 2 legends in Series 2 was a good idea. I've seen some dissatisfaction with the rapid jumping of timelines, but I've been able to track all the people and Martin's just fine so far. For example, Gabi's current husband was her superior in the past, and is also in with Doku's mob.

#DONTKILLSEANBEAN off of TV!!
Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)

The Frankenstein Chronicles starring Sean Bean Ep 1.03 "All The Lost Children" Wed. on ITV Encore!

I've seen 2 episodes & I'm hooked! Just dying to talk about it, but I'll still refrain until larger TV markets see it, to generate wider interest when the time comes to post. I just want you to know that your wait will be worth it! Because of the deeply personal themes, I think this might be one of Sean Bean's finest performances yet.

Another reminder the 6-part series has also been acquired for broadcast by France's Canal Plus network and by US entity A&E Network. Those premiere dates are yet to be announced, please keep an eye on our Facebook page for the latest news!
https://www.facebook.com/nedstarkatrueking


VIDEO preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S8ZeskOzWoU



The following info is from ITV's Press Centre:
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep3week48/frankenstein-chronicles

Episode 3: All The Lost Children

Having escaped the clutches of Billy Oates, Flora throws herself on Marlott’s mercy.  Believing her to be a key witness to Alice’s disappearance, he brings her to his lodgings for safety.

As the investigation continues, Marlott travels to Kentish Town to interrogate Mary Shelley. The connection between her monster and the child corpse cannot be a mere coincidence…

Series overview

“An evil that almost defies reason”

Incorporating elements from the investigative and horror genres with an extraordinary hero at its centre, Inspector John Marlott, played by multi-awarding winning leading actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Accused), is taken on a terrifying journey in pursuit of a chilling and diabolical foe.
Cast joining Sean Bean includes Anna Maxwell Martin (The Bletchley Circle), Charlie Creed-Miles (Ripper Street), Ed Stoppard (Cilla), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci’s Demons), Hugh O’Conor (Chocolat), Joe Tucker (Bronson), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones), Lalor Roddy (Hunger), Patrick Fitzsymons (Game of Thrones) and Richie Campbell (Waterloo Road). Robbie Gee (Snatch), Ryan Sampson (Plebs), Samuel West (Mr Selfridge), Shaun Mason (Cilla), Steve Wilson (Game of Thrones), Steven Berkoff (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Stuart Graham (The Fall), Tom Ward (Silent Witness) and Vanessa Kirby (About Time) will also star.

Set in Georgian London in 1827, The Frankenstein Chronicles has been created by Emmy nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook, Torte Bluma – both as director) and writer Barry Langford (Torte Bluma).

Keeps getting better, can't wait to see the next episode!
Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)

The Frankenstein Chronicles starring Sean Bean Ep 1.02 "Seeing Things," Wednesday on ITV Encore!

I saw this with my subscription & loved it! But I've thought about it & I think I'll wait until the wider official broadcast in Europe & the US to write formal blog post reviews. Hopefully it will get wider UK release too!

There's a ton to talk about, including some surprising Marlott character facts that link to another Sean role. I still plan on posting weekly previews from ITV.

And a reminder the 6-part series has also been acquired for broadcast by France's Canal Plus network and by US entity A&E Network. Those premiere dates are yet to be announced, please keep an eye on our Facebook page for the latest news!
https://www.facebook.com/nedstarkatrueking/



The following info is from ITV's Press Centre: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep2week47/frankenstein-chronicles

Episode 2:  Seeing Things

Marlott (Sean Bean) visits the house of artist and printmaker William Blake (Steven Berkoff) who is on his deathbed, but he receives Marlott as a prophet of things to come.

Marlott confers with Nightingale (Richie Campbell) who has been keeping watch on a public house, The Fortune of War, which is situated opposite St Barts hospital in Smithfield.  This is where the body snatchers gather, along with their “goods” which they sell at the hospital.  Marlott identifies one body snatcher, Pritty (Charlie Creed-Miles), as potentially helpful, and he and Nightingale set up a cunning ‘sting’ which brings him into their service. Pritty is most indignant; body snatching is not illegal.  He considers himself to be a businessman and hotly denies anything to do with the sutured child – though he does know of a gang who might not shrink at darker acts.  Marlott charges him to arrange a meeting with them.

Series overview

“An evil that almost defies reason”

Incorporating elements from the investigative and horror genres with an extraordinary hero at its centre, Inspector John Marlott, played by multi-awarding winning leading actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Accused), is taken on a terrifying journey in pursuit of a chilling and diabolical foe.

Cast joining Sean Bean includes Anna Maxwell Martin (The Bletchley Circle), Charlie Creed-Miles (Ripper Street), Ed Stoppard (Cilla), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci’s Demons), Hugh O’Conor (Chocolat), Joe Tucker (Bronson), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones), Lalor Roddy (Hunger), Patrick Fitzsymons (Game of Thrones) and Richie Campbell (Waterloo Road). Robbie Gee (Snatch), Ryan Sampson (Plebs), Samuel West (Mr Selfridge), Shaun Mason (Cilla), Steve Wilson (Game of Thrones), Steven Berkoff (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Stuart Graham (The Fall), Tom Ward (Silent Witness) and Vanessa Kirby (About Time) will also star.

Set in Georgian London in 1827, The Frankenstein Chronicles has been created by Emmy nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook, Torte Bluma – both as director) and writer Barry Langford (Torte Bluma).

Can't wait to see this next episode!

Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)

LEGENDS Episode 202 "The Legend of Kate Crawford" Summary & Brief Review

Official synopsis: In present day London, Martin is finally able to make contact with Ilyana Crawford (Klara Issova), a woman who may be linked to his past. Unable to get answers from her, he turns to her teenage daughter, Kate (Aisling Franciosi), who is in search of her own identity. In 2001 Prague, Dmitry is on a mission to locate a wanted war criminal believed to be connected to the Chechen gangsters. But Dmitry's handler is concerned that his infiltration techniques may be crossing the line.
http://www.tntdrama.com/shows/legends/season-2/episode-2/the-legend-of-kate-crawford.html

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

In the present time, Martin got away from the police and was finally able to confront Ilyana Crawford, the woman who recognised him as Dmitry at the Russian market and is the mother of Kate, the young woman whom Martin thinks he remembers being with when she was a little girl. But Ilyana was frightened, told him to leave & never come back.

Distressed, Martin tells Tony that he's going to have to make contact with Kate, to try and get some more answers. Tony isn't so sure that's a good idea, but Martin goes ahead & does it. They speak, Kate eventually tells Martin that she loved Dmitry when he was with her as a little girl, and hugs him.

Martin wants to meet her again to look at photos, try to jog his memory, but then he finds out she's in with some young radical Muslim people, who apparently plan to do violence at a peaceful protest in Paris. His attempt to stop her failed. Martin is desperate to reach her before she gets there, asks for Tony's help once again.

In the 2001 scenes, Dmitry is shown as a successful businessman but the FBI & Czech Police are still investigating him after finding the body of his "associate." It's revealed that "Dmitry" is indeed a legend, and his MI6 bureau contact (the old man Graves whom Martin visited in the present) is concerned that he is pushing things too far outside the law for their investigation into a Chechen general wanted as a war criminal. Doku Zakayev is their link & Dmitry acts to protect his contact, Doku's brother, to get trust & further access into their mobster organisation.

In both the present & 2001, FBI agent Curtis Ballard pursues leads on "Dmitry." In the present he tells his former Czech Police contact Gabi that he thinks Martin is their missing link, and what crime he did when in America. She thinks Curtis should leave things alone, since the case was no longer official, but because of his own issues, he can't do that. But there is trouble waiting for him also.
In the 1975 scenes with "young Odum," he is again shown at The Sedley School, being taught another harsh lesson in life by the headmaster who favours him because he believes "Martin" has what it takes to be loyal to an institution rather than friends.

The episode ends in the present with Tony telling Martin he made a deal for him with MI6, to protect him from the FBI. But Martin doesn't want to hear it. He feels he needs to help Kate, has a responsibility to protect his "children."
"If I can't be there for Aiden, I'm sure I'm gunna show up for this girl!" Martin declares.
Then Tony helps by hiding him in the car boot to smuggle him into France.

Dmitry is another one of Sean's best characters yet! Love that Sean got major input into how the personality was developed & that in his own way, Dmitry is a good man. I have always liked Tony Rice, I really like Kate, too, and I'm finding empathy with Ballard, that he was put in such a bad position by his department. Not sure yet what to make of the "young Odum" scenes but it is plausible.
#DONTKILLSEANBEAN off of TV!!

Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)

LEGENDS Episode 201 "The Legend of Dmitry Petrovich" Summary & Brief Review

Official synopsis: As the new season of this totally re-imagined show opens, Martin Odum (Sean Bean) is a fugitive, hiding out in present day London and wanted by the FBI for a crime he did not commit. He can't remember his life prior to an injury he suffered in the Iraq War, so he's searching for clues about his true identity with the help of CIA agent Nina Brenner (Kelly Overton). Meanwhile, in 2001, FBI agent Curtis Ballard (Steve Kazee) and his Czech Police partner, Gabi Miskova (Winter Ave Zoli), launch an investigation into a Russian gangster named Dmitry.
http://www.tntdrama.com/shows/legends/season-2/episode-1/the-legend-of-dmitry-petrovich.html

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

First off, I totally disagree that Series 2 is a reboot or re-imagination. It is a direct continuation of the story started in Series 1, except instead of being completely in the present day, it showcases 3 different time-frames: present day, 2001, and 1975.

These recaps will focus mainly on Sean Bean's legends & his interactions with other characters.

"Lies and bullshit. That's what my whole life's become. Maybe that's all it ever was." - Martin Odum

Basically, the story picks up where we left off, with Martin, who is blamed for the murder of the US FBI Director and is on the run in Europe, picking up what work he can. He is still puzzling the bits about him being the legend John Cameron, the Iraq war veteran duped & framed by Verax Corporation, who orchestrated the murder for which Martin is blamed.

Now in London, Martin still doesn't know who he really is, but at least he knows who his friends are, which includes a brief intimate liaison with the friendly cafe server and one lone FBI agent, his former partner Tony Rice (Morris Chestnut). Tony also believes Martin was framed when he was John Cameron (reported deceased), and that they need to follow that clue. Martin also asks about his family (wife Sonya & son Aiden from S1); Tony tells Martin that they were safe.

What this episode begins to dovetail in Series 2 and connect back to Martin in Series 1 is his time before Cameron's 2004 tour in Iraq, specifically 2001 when his legend in Europe was a Russian gangster named Dmitry Petrovich and he was being investigated by both the FBI- in particular, Agent Curtis Ballard- and the Czech National Police. In the present time, Ballard recognises John Cameron as Petrovich, and decides to take matters into his own hands, goes to Prague.

Another timeline in this episode is 1975 and begins by showing a lad at exclusive prep The Sedley School, in a situation where he is defying the schoolmaster and punished for it. It is suggested that this is young "Martin Odum" but his real name is not (yet) revealed.

In the present, Martin traces the Cameron lead to an old man who was being visited by a woman who had collected Cameron's benefits. But when he follows her to a Russian shop, she recognises him as Dmitry!
--------------------------------
#DONTKILLSEANBEAN still going strong!! Pretty exciting & intense start. I like all the new characters so far, they are interesting. Where is this all going now, with Martin's connection to the woman? Will Tony be able to help him?

TNT has a Brand New LEGENDS S2 survey! If you saw this episode & liked it, please let them know what you thought in Survey #1:  https://www.tvinnercircle.com/S.aspx?s=642&r=aC3RH64uu0qm9wa7O4XR3O&so=true&a=1281&fromdetect=1

Wasn't it really great to see Sean's producer credit? It was long overdue!

Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)

The Frankenstein Chronicles starring Sean Bean Premieres 11th November on ITV Encore!

Sean Bean UK fans, you're up first to experience the horror & the puzzle that is THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES! The 6-part series has also been acquired for broadcast by France's Canal Plus network and by US entity A&E Network. Those premiere dates are yet to be announced, please keep an eye on our Facebook page for the latest news! https://www.facebook.com/nedstarkatrueking/

The following info is from ITV's Press Centre: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week46/frankenstein-chronicles

Episode 1 - World without God

 

London 1827: River Thames at night - a smuggling operation is underway – suddenly, a river police launch is bearing down on the smugglers and a fight breaks out, followed by a furious chase to the shore.

 

John Marlott (Sean Bean), a senior river police officer and veteran of the Battle of Waterloo, paces the shoreline of the Thames reviewing the aftermath.  A sharp police whistle draws his attention towards a small shape lying at the waters edge.  As he approaches he sees it is the body of a child, a young girl around 10 years of age.  Her body is covered in crude sutures, and is a horrifying sight.  He reaches down to touch the dead hand – but in a moment of terror, the hand grabs him back!

 

The dreadful corpse is brought to the urgent attention of the Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel (Tom Ward), who summons Marlott, and tells him that he wants him to undertake a private investigation. The leading surgeon at St Bart’s hospital in Smithfield, Sir William Chester (Samuel West), tells Marlott that the corpse was made up of seven or eight bodies stitched together.  

 

Marlott is put to work within the offices of the Bow Street Runners, and recruits an optimistic young runner, Nightingale (Richie Campbell), to assist him. Marlott’s attention is then drawn towards a slum dwelling where criminal Billy Oates (Robbie Gee) masterminds his gang of child criminals.  There he discovers a young girl Flora (Eloise Smyth).  He also finds a painting on the wall. It is “Little Girl Lost” by the artist William Blake (Steven Berkoff) – Marlott resolves to investigate further.

Series overview

 

“An evil that almost defies reason”

 

Incorporating elements from the investigative and horror genres with an extraordinary hero at its centre, Inspector John Marlott, played by multi-awarding winning leading actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Accused), is taken on a terrifying journey in pursuit of a chilling and diabolical foe.

 

Cast joining Sean Bean includes Anna Maxwell Martin (The Bletchley Circle), Charlie Creed-Miles (Ripper Street), Ed Stoppard (Cilla), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci’s Demons), Hugh O’Conor (Chocolat), Joe Tucker (Bronson), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones), Lalor Roddy (Hunger), Patrick Fitzsymons (Game of Thrones) and Richie Campbell (Waterloo Road). Robbie Gee (Snatch), Ryan Sampson (Plebs), Samuel West (Mr Selfridge), Shaun Mason (Cilla), Steve Wilson (Game of Thrones), Steven Berkoff (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Stuart Graham (The Fall), Tom Ward (Silent Witness) and Vanessa Kirby (About Time) will also star.

 

Set in Georgian London in 1827, The Frankenstein Chronicles has been created by Emmy nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook, Torte Bluma – both as director) and writer Barry Langford (Torte Bluma).

 

Can't wait to see THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES!!

Written by Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer on Twitter)