Jekyll and Hyde

Jekyll and Hyde is a Devilishly stylish, polished 30's horror drama that hits all the right buttons.

From the storyline to the narrative, special effects, sets and acting Jekyll and Hyde is a real winner. In spite of the fact this series is loosely based on well trodden ground, it still manages to be highly imaginative and original. It takes core elements from the original tale, written by Robert Louis Stevenson and then, in a fusion like blend, adds in intriguing extra's.

For starters there's the very heady 1930's British flavour of the whole series, which recaptures the latter days of the British empire. The whole series is 30's "chick" with a capital "C". Stylish cars, sets and people sit alongside the more worker day aspects of life and times, of the period.

Adding to the mix, are Gothic elements and monsters, reminiscent of any early 20th century horror flick. Not to mention proper "British" secret organizations, both good and bad. Groups that tap into the mystical world these monstrous creatures inhabit. A world that sits just beneath the thin skin of normalcy, most people call reality.

The acting in Jekyll and Hyde is of a high standard and the cast are well chosen. The narrative is intelligent, for the most part, only occasionally overplaying the 30's "thing". The story in spite of its layers of complexity, holds together well too. Its a credit to the writers, director and producers, that they manage to create such a cohesive tale, with so many creative concepts in play.

I love this series, its a remarkably refreshing take on a classic tale. Nine out of ten from me.

Typical, just get into a show and its cancelled, didn't think I would like it and hey ho there you go I did. So now I'm getting a tad scared to start watching stuff in case they pull the plug on it, they did it with Atlantis, The Dresden Files a personal favorite of mine, and a few others. Unfortunately we seem to be inundated with same old reality TV junk that seems to go on for ever that never gets canned or the soaps, can't get rid of them. But something with a wee bit more bite so to speak and its gone, all well on to the next one, see how long that lasts. Just waiting for folks to get fed up with Agent Carter and Marvels Agents of Shield if that goes I wont be a happy bunny at all.

There are a lot of good and decent shows out there and there fine but no where near as fascinating to me as Jekyll and Hyde. The un-natural way the characters act and move is so unsubtle and melodramatic. It's over the top and every one will let there emotions be known. Jekyll isn't very good at hiding or suppressing Hyde and everybody notices. The thing about Hyde's character that confused me is why this Indian raised man comes over to Britain and is basically British after that. A few references are maid but still. Lily is the oddest. She just wanders around for a few episodes smiling no matter strange, distressing or traumatic things get. Over all it is a (probably unintentionally) captivating show and because of that it's the only thing I still watch live on television.

This is another version of the popular R.L Stevenson classic. It is one of these now popular Victorian Gothic genre but set in the 20th century. I particularly love period series because it takes you down history lane. The London fogs, its cobbled streets, top hats and great coats, the beautiful women...

So far the story is fascinating and some modern twists have been added including a secret agency. The actors/actresses are still unknown, very eye-catching so far with room for more development. I do not get why people complained of the violence. Mr. Hyde was violent, everyone who has read the book knows that. I urge the writers to ignore critics and focus on its fans. There is a lot of potential here. Keep on being creative, stick to the general theme of the book but don't be afraid to go outside the box. I love it and can't wait for the rest to come out.

I must admit I wasn't too sure of this when it started. For a start, the original novel by Robert Louis Stevenson was, like Frankenstein, meant as a moral tale that explored humanity's darker side and the lust for God-like power. But against misgivings, I've started to really enjoy it. That's all this is meant to be, a spooky, atmospheric romp, a touch of Hammer Horror, London Ghost walks and steam punk - great stuff for a Sunday night, though I'm not sure why its on so early, this is really 9pm fare in my estimation. Love the Harbingers though. Some very strange reviews on here - if you don't like it, why watch it and get yourself in a twist about it? It's well-written (far less self-indulgent than Dr Who)and beautifully produced, hats off to them. I certainly hope we can get another series out of it, I'll miss my spooky Sunday nights without it if it's discontinued.