Turn: Washington's Spies
| Turn: Washington's Spies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Based on |
Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose |
| Developed by | Craig Silverstein |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "Hush" performed by Joy Williams, Matt Berninger, and Charlie Peacock |
| Composer(s) |
Marco Beltrami Brandon Roberts |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 40 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
Larry Rapaport Mitchell Amstrad LaToya Morgan Alexander Rose |
| Production location(s) | Richmond, Virginia, Williamsburg, Virginia, Yorktown, Virginia, Petersburg, Virginia |
| Cinematography |
Lol Crawley ("Pilot") Marvin V. Rush Scott Peck |
| Editor(s) |
Andrew Seklir Harry B. Miller III David Lebowitz Ian E. Silverstein |
| Running time |
41–47 minutes 54 minutes ("Washington's Spies") 64 minutes ("Pilot") |
| Production company(s) |
AMC Studios Sesfonstein Productions Josephson Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | AMC |
| Original release | April 6, 2014 – August 12, 2017 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Turn: Washington's Spies (formerly known as Turn and stylized as TURN: Washington's Spies and TURИ: Washington's Spies) is an American period drama television series based on Alexander Rose's book Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring (2007),[3] a history of the Culper Ring.[4] The series originally aired on the AMC network for four seasons, from April 6, 2014, to August 12, 2017.[5]
Plot
The story covers events from 1776 to 1781 and features a farmer from Setauket, New York and his childhood friends. They form an unlikely group of spies called the Culper Ring which eventually helps to turn the tide during the American Revolutionary War.[3] The series begins in October 1776, shortly after British victories recapture Long Island, Staten Island, and New York City for the Crown and leave General George Washington's army in dire straits. The first episode opens with the following introductory text:
Autumn 1776. Insurgents have declared war against the Crown. Following a successful naval landing, His Majesty's Army has forced Washington's rebels into the wilderness. New York City serves as military base of operations for the British. The Loyalists of nearby Long Island keep vigilant watch out for sympathizers and spies.
Cast
Main cast
- Jamie Bell as Abraham Woodhull
- Seth Numrich as Major Benjamin Tallmadge
- Daniel Henshall as Lieutenant Caleb Brewster
- Heather Lind as Anna Strong
- Meegan Warner as Mary Woodhull
- Burn Gorman as Major Edmund Hewlett
- Samuel Roukin as Lieutenant-Colonel John Graves Simcoe
- Kevin R. McNally as Judge Richard Woodhull
- Angus Macfadyen as Major Robert Rogers (seasons 1–3; special appearance 4)
- JJ Feild as Major John André (seasons 1–3)
- Ksenia Solo as Peggy Shippen (seasons 2–4)[1]
- Ian Kahn as General George Washington (recurring season 1, main seasons 2–4)[6]
- Owain Yeoman as General Benedict Arnold (seasons 2–4)[1]
- Nick Westrate as Robert Townsend (recurring season 2, main seasons 3–4)[1]
Recurring cast
- Idara Victor as Abigail
- Darren Alford as Cicero
- Andrew McKeough as John Carter
- Robert Beitzel as Selah Strong (seasons 1, 4)
- Jonny Coyne as Colonel Jonathan Cooke (seasons 1, 3–4)
- Brian T. Finney as General Charles Lee (seasons 1–2)
- David Furr as Walter Havens (seasons 1, 4)
- Michael Gaston as General Charles Scott (season 1)
- Amy Gumenick as Philomena Cheer (season 1, season 3–4)
- Mark Halpern as Lt. Appleton (seasons 1, 4)
- Jamie Harris as John Robeson (seasons 1–3)
- Aldis Hodge as Jordan/Akinbode (seasons 1–2, 4)
- Thomas Keegan as Ensign Baker (season 1)
- Alex Miller as Colonel Joseph Reed (seasons 1–2)
- Taylor Roberts as Rachel Clark (seasons 1–2)
- Stephen Root as Nathaniel Sackett (seasons 1–2)
- John Billingsley as Samuel Townsend (seasons 2–3)
- Ralph Brown as Henry Clinton (seasons 2-4)
- Stuart Greer as Officer Yates (season 2)
- Josh Price as Freddy Morgan (seasons 2–4)
- Brian Wiles as Marquis de Lafayette (seasons 2–4)
- Lilli Birdsell as Martha Washington (seasons 3–4)
- John Carroll Lynch as James Rivington (seasons 3–4)
- Sean Haggerty as Alexander Hamilton (seasons 3–4)
- Edward Akrout as Amos Parker (season 4)
- Kelly AuCoin as Hercules Mulligan (season 4)
- Chris Webster as John Champe (season 4)
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 10 | April 6, 2014 | June 8, 2014 | ||
| 2 | 10 | April 13, 2015 | June 8, 2015 | ||
| 3 | 10 | April 25, 2016 | June 27, 2016 | ||
| 4 | 10 | June 17, 2017 | August 12, 2017 | ||
Production
Turn: Washington's Spies was renewed for a second 10-episode season on June 23, 2014,[7] which premiered on April 13, 2015,[8] and for a third 10-episode season on July 15, 2015, which premiered on April 25, 2016.[9][10] On July 26, 2016, Turn: Washington's Spies was renewed for a fourth and final 10-episode season, which had a two-hour premiere on June 17, 2017.[11][12]
Reception
Season 1
The first season of Turn: Washington's Spies received mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes rated the season 52%, based on 33 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's consensus reads, "Turn's uneven treatment of the American Revolution is more frustrating than exciting and memorable."[13] On Metacritic, the first season scored 61 out of 100, based on reviews from 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[14]
Season 2
The second season received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 80%, based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10.[15] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 68 out of 100, based on reviews from 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]
Historical Accuracy
The series deviated from history in several instances.[17]
- Abraham Woodhull was unmarried and childless during the period in which he was a spy. He did not marry Mary Smith until 1781 and did not have a son named Thomas.
- Anna Strong was 10 years older than Abraham Woodhull. There is no evidence to suggest that they had anything other than a professional relationship.
- The character of Edmund Hewlett is fictitious. The commander of the garrison at Sektauket was Richard Hewlett, though he did not succeed John Andre as spymaster. Richard was married with 11 children, and there is also no evidence of an affair with Anna Strong.
- Richard Woodhull was not killed in a skirmish.
- Robert Rogers was involved in discovering Nathan Hale, but he did not engage Benjamin Tallmadge in a battle.
- Abraham Woodhall did not join the regiment of loyalist American volunteers, founded by Benedict Arnold
Awards and nominations
The first season of TURN: Washington's Spies was awarded the 2014 Media & Entertainment Award by the Daughters of the American Revolution.[18]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Episode(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | |||||
| Nominated | |||||
| Nominated | |||||
| Nominated | |||||
| Nominated | |||||
| Nominated |
Home media
The first season of TURN: Washington's Spies was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 17, 2015;[19] it became available on Netflix on March 25, 2015. The second season was released on DVD on March 22, 2016[20] and became available on Netflix on April 11, 2016. The third season was released on DVD on November 8, 2016.[21] and became available on Netflix on June 4, 2017. The fourth season became available on Netflix on December 1, 2017.
Comics
On March 26, 2014, AMC released the digital comic TURN: Origins, illustrated by award-winning comics artist Steve Ellis, that portrays childhood and adulthood events from the lives of several of the series' main characters, including Abraham Woodhull, Benjamin Tallmadge, Anna Strong, and Caleb Brewster.[22][23]
On April 10 and April 15, 2015, AMC released the first and second chapters, respectively, of a second digital comic, TURN: Rivals, that portrays the past rivalry of George Washington and Robert Rogers.[24][25]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Turn: Washington's Spies". AMC. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ↑ "AMC Revolutionary War Drama 'Turn: Washington's Spies' Begins Production on Season Two in Colonial Williamsburg". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (July 26, 2014). "TCA: AMC Picks Up 'Halt & Catch Fire' & 'Turn' To Series". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ↑ Dayton, Lee (March 26, 2014). "TURN: Origins Comic Now Online". AMC. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (January 11, 2014). "AMC Announces Premiere Dates for Final Season of 'Mad Men', 'Better Call Saul', 'Turn' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ↑ "AMC Revolutionary War Drama 'Turn: Washington's Spies' Begins Production on Season Two in Colonial Williamsburg - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com". TVbytheNumbers.
- ↑ O'Connell, Michael (June 23, 2014). "AMC Renews 'Turn' for a Second Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ↑ Kissell, Rick (February 23, 2015). "AMC Expanding Monday Push, Sets Season 2 of 'Turn' For Night". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ↑ Stanhope, Kate (July 15, 2015). "AMC Renews 'Turn' for Third Season". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
- ↑ AMC (January 8, 2016). "First-Look Photo and Premiere Date Released for TURN: Washington's Spies Season 3". AMC. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ↑ AMC (July 26, 2016). "TURN: Washington's Spies Renewed for Season 4". AMC. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- ↑ AMC (April 25, 2017). "TURN: Washington's Spies Returns to "Finish the Fight" in Its Final Season on Saturday, June 17". AMC. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ↑ "Turn: Season 1 (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Turn: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Turn: Season 2 (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Turn: Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ↑ "TURN in Real Life: Abraham Woodhull, Setauket, and the Real Culper Spy Ring". War History Online. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ↑ "TURN 2014 DAR Media & Entertainment Award Ceremony". AMC. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Turn: Washington's Spies - The Complete First Season Blu-ray". January 14, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- ↑ "TURN: Washington's Spies DVD Release Date". DVDs Release Dates. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
- ↑ "Turn: Washington's Spies: The Complete Third Season DVD". September 11, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ↑ Lee, Dayton (March 26, 2014). "TURN: Origins Comic Now Online". AMC-TV.
- ↑ Steve Ellis (illustrator) (March 26, 2014). TURN: Origins.
- ↑ Bell, Shavonne (April 10, 2015). "10 Ways to Get Ready for the TURN: Washington's Spies Season 2 Premiere". AMC-TV. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ Neuman, Clayton (Producer) & Morgan, LaToya (Writer) & Hunt, Chris (Colors & Pencils & Ink) & Colden, Kevin (Inks & Letters) & Plummer, Shay (Colors) & Lindemann, Karl (Development) (April 10, 2015). Rivals (Online comic book ed.). Retrieved April 13, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Comics series:
- Steve Ellis (illustrator) (March 26, 2014). TURN: Origins.
- Neuman, Clayton (Producer) & Morgan, LaToya (Writer) & Hunt, Chris (Colors & Pencils & Ink) & Colden, Kevin (Inks & Letters) & Plummer, Shay (Colors) & Lindemann, Karl (Development) (April 2015). TURN: Rivals (Online comic book ed.). Retrieved April 13, 2015.
- Turn: Washington's Spies on IMDb
- Turn: Washington's Spies at TV Guide