The Frankenstein Chronicles

Having watched the first episode last night, i am very impressed.

The show centres on John Marlott, who after an unsuccessful opium case, finds a dead girls body on the shore of the marshes. However this was not just one dead girl, but parts of many! So what ensues after is inspector john Marlott being put on the case to find the culprit.

Set in a bleak and dark London, the setting looks fantastic and eerie. The story seems clever, weaving the traditional Frankenstein story with real life London, nothing looks like it will be too far fetched at the moment, but has the capabilities of being so?

The acting is superb. Albeit the first episode it a little slow, Sean Bean carries it along by us the viewer being invested in his character with a troubled past. Bean has always had a uncanny knack of making the viewer transfixed on him, excellent screen presence. The supporting cast are also notably excellent too, with Richie Campbell as Nightingale (his partner) and Robbie Gee as Billy Oates also captivating.

The first episode finishes leaving the viewer intrigued, not waiting for episode two to see which direction the show will take, the tradition Frankenstein story with bolts in his neck? Or a more contemporary mad scientist detective case? Or maybe a mixture of both?

We will have to wait and see, but i will certainly keep watching.

First of all, people need to stop saying this is an interpretation of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. It is anything but that. This story takes place about 10 years after that novel was published, which was my first clue that this was going to be something completely different. As a nice early surprise, the novel itself does exists in this tale, which adds further realism to the whole affair. What this tale is though, is two things. First, it's a superb detective mystery. Secondly, it is well-executed, well built-up, gut wrenching horror.

The premise is undeniably very dark, and ingrained in the times, but there are underlying themes that are quite relevant to the world of today--it is a mirror for certain scientific dilemmas of 2015. The protagonist (played by Sean Bean) is a good man but a tortured soul, with high potential for being of unreliable perspective (his character might be experiencing dementia). So that alone will keep you guessing. If you start watching it, watch it to the end. You will see that it is anything but an interpretation of the novel, Frankenstein.

The Frankenstein Chronicles is a very dark interpretation of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly.

Indeed, this work is far more bleak than the original book. Its mired in the misery, inequality and depravity of 19th century London. The focus in this case is not adults but missing children, making this already disturbing tale that much more troubling.

Sean Bean hands in an excellent performance as the lead detective who knows the case he has been tasked with solving, is not, in fact, the case he is really investigating. There's a dark underbelly to this stories dark underbelly.

This is a masterful work, but I would say its not for everyone. I personally found its heavy, sombre and at times downright depressing tones, a little too much to handle. No doubt its true to the awfulness of the times but that's in some ways little consolation. That said, if you are prepared to accept the dark tones of this series I have little doubt it represents an impressive watch. Eight out of ten from me.

I'd heard nothing about this show going in. I'm kind of surprised no word of mouth reached me before discovering it... seeing as how it hits so many beats that share my interests. History and mysticism and conspiracy and film noir... and Frankenstein! I was impressed when William Blake showed up in the series and even moreso when Mary Shelley herself makes an appearance. Her infamous book being a possible impetus behind the crimes the protagonist detective is tasked with investigating. The show is gritty and gruesome and complex in the motivations of its various political factions vying for power. Add to that that the protagonist is not entirely reliable because of disease and medication and the show becomes a quite a heady mix at times. The bad guys range from street scum on up to, maybe, members of Parliament... and no one is safe.

Great stuff, I hope there is more to come.

With the recent glut of Superhero TV series hitting our screens I found this show to be welcome relief. Sean bean as lead manages to play the inspector with the air of someone who just isn't quite right, with flashbacks to his troubled past becoming more frequent it helps to build on his mental breakdown.

I have found the story at times needing a little more "Umph", yes the characters are being fleshed out and the mystery appears to deepen with each step the inspector takes to catch his "Monster", but at the same time do we really need to spend so much time in the inspectors rooms, what do they add to the story?

The overall gloom of the setting does lend weight to the story, the divide between rich and poor, privilege and servitude is very apparent, with the inspector squarely in the middle of these differing worlds.