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While based upon the book very loosely in some areas, it evokes the period very well. I was enthralled by the settings for the show. The series was filmed in Virginia at Yorktown, Richmond, Petersburg, Tuckahoe, the campus of William & Mary, and Shirley, Berkeley, Westover, and Scotchtown plantations. Which gave it a really authentic feel in my opinion. I love a show which portrays an era so richly.
Costuming was excellent, military equipment looked very accurate (though I didn't delve too deeply into that aspect, which is odd for me and demonstrates just how immersed I was in this series).
Yes, liberties are taken with the historical record which I find frustrating as an amateur historian, but which didn't detract from the overall look and feel of the show. I loved the guys who played George Washington and John André, the former had a sort of intense gravitas which I had always assumed George Washington had. The latter made the person of Major John André come to life for me. I have written of Major André before in these spaces.
There were a couple of times they went pure Hollywood in the series (I won't mention those spots, if you watch, you'll see) but overall, very entertaining and very satisfying. The good guys and the bad guys are not always clear cut. There are characters you will learn to despise and those you will learn to love.
It's not all secret codes and skulking about counting cannons either, there are love interests and there are also some very intense scenes of combat. Grisly in spots, damned realistic for the most part.
Forty episodes over four seasons, but if you have even the slightest interest in the American Revolution, this is for you. It isn't as brainy or ethereal as the HBO series John Adams but neither is it as ridiculous as the Sons of Liberty miniseries which I attempted to watch but couldn't. It was unwatchable.
Turn, however, is very watchable. As the credits rolled on the last episode of the last season, I felt a sense of loss that it was over. But hey, I can watch it all again. And will.
Brilliant television isn't dead. AMC did well with this one.
Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty good.
DeleteI love some of the great cinematic depictions of history, like Midway and Pearl Harbor!
ReplyDeleteI sure wish they'd redo Battle of the Bulge, but Band of Brothers did cover it pretty well.
DeleteCouldn’t agree more! We watched it as broadcast week by week. I can remember being glad to see that the DVR remembered, whereas I had forgotten.
ReplyDeleteTime marches on, but my hard drive doesn’t. Working the work on the iPad, hoping to find all the places I have stuff backed up.
Fuzz, of Davesdailies.
Ouch, good luck with that. My wife's iPad hates me, and the feeling is mutual.
DeleteBut, but Apple products are soooooo good, right? Yeah, no.
DeleteExpensive yes, better? I suppose it's a "pick your poison" scenario. At one time, using a superior chipset, they were quite good (OS-wise), though they were not better enough to justify buying their crap. (Not to mention the absolute dearth of software compared to the IBM PC.) I have heard of Mac types converting to (shudder) MS Windows based machines. Why? I've heard that a lack of OS backwards compatibility has left some perfectly fine Macs sucking wind, onboard OS not supported anymore, can't use newer OS. Hhmm.
DeleteHow did I manage to miss that show? Hmmm. will attempt to find and watch. After all, it's OAFS approved!
ReplyDeleteThere is some startling good tv on tv these days. One of the Beans family favorites is "SEAL Team" starring the guy from "Bones." The action and equipment look good and proper, and the storyline is excellent. Plus, well, I like the main actor. The rest of the cast is outstanding, too. Surprisingly good for a mainstream tv show (CBS.) I guess it also counts as a 'costume drama' as shows like "Turn" used to be called, back in the day.
And it's good to have "Last Man Standing" back on. Though somehow FOX will manage to screw it up. Somehow.
I have wanted to watch SEAL Team as I too like the main actor (David Boreanaz). But commercial TV and I got a divorce some time back and I don't want to get back together again. Someday it will show up on some streaming service somewhere. I hope.
DeleteTurn, all four seasons, is on Netflix. I recommend it.
Don't do Netflix, especially since they've gone all support socialist thingy.
DeleteI have cable with a DVR. Fast forward past commercials. I never watch anything 'live.'
Well there is that, but I don't care about their political bent, as long as they provide stuff I want to watch at a reasonable price.
DeleteAnd if they're really socialists, they'll eventually kill the business themselves. It's what they do, run things into the ground.
Seal Team is really good. I recommend you find it. I bet it's on CBS All Access, but you gotta pay. I was joking about the historical accuracy of those two movies I mentioned by the way. That was supposed to get a bigger laugh. ;)
DeleteWell, stuff went boom, there were ships and airplanes, so I was entertained. The history? Yeah, I hear ya Tuna.
DeleteNow do the year of 1066, with authentic armor and stuff. Do 'flashbacks' to show the important points from previous years that made up all the back-history of the political and familial wrangling following the death of Edward the Confessor. Show ends with the crowning of William in London.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see that. A critical turning point in time. So unknown, but so much tossed in all at once. So many surprises, like how William most likely would have lost if he had sailed when he wanted, not when he did (wanted to sail before Harald of Norway, storms kept him until after Harald sailed, thus Harold Godwinson had to defend against Harald first, giving William the time to get settled...)
Or do one on the real reasons and actions behind the First Crusade. Not many people know the truths, on either side (Hint: muslim terrorism is nothing new...)
Other than that, maybe a nice costume drama dealing with the first real campaign of the US Navy (the Barbary Pirates.) I want to see Stephen Decatur be remembered for the badass that he was. Hmmm. Will have to check out Badass for an entry on him.
I propose that if any Chanter ever wins big in the lottery, we immediately form a film company and do all three. All critical points in history, those are superb ideas.
DeleteOoh! We have Netflix.
ReplyDelete...and history is entertainment.
DeleteCool!
DeleteYes, yes it is!
DeleteWhen my wife is away, which she has been for work these past few months, the tv stays off. I'd rather read than watch the box. Perhaps, later in the year when she may be home for more that a day and a half, I will suggest watching that show.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
Paul L. Quandt
Reading a book is NEVER a bad idea.
DeleteUnless it's too dark...
Even in our small town we have modern conveniences such as electricity.
DeletePLQ
Hahaha!
DeleteGlad to hear it is on Netflix. I had been interested but came to it too late to go back to the start without buying it. I agree about "Sons of Liberty" comparing it to catfish "merde" would be giving it an upgrade. Why invent crap when the history is such a good and tellable story?
ReplyDeleteRoger that.
Delete(Ut's nice having a whole series to binge upon. I get too impatient to watch in "real time.")
AW:
ReplyDeleteYou might check yesterday's post to read my comments in reply to your comments.
Paul
Oh, I'm sure he will. Beans doesn't miss much.
DeleteMan, you expect me to push the little back button? Yesterday is soooo in the past.
DeleteThe past?
DeleteOh yeah, history. You don't like history?
;)
Over at Borepatch's place, more history---
Deletehttps://borepatch.blogspot.com/2018/10/they-will-not-grow-old.html
Saw that, wondering if we'll get to see it.
Delete