Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell 

In an alternate history, during the time of real life Napoleonic Wars, two men of destiny, the gifted recluse Mr. Norrell and daring spellcasting novice Jonathan Strange, use magic to help England.

Stars:

Bertie Carvel, Eddie Marsan, Marc Warren

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Bertie Carvel	...	Jonathan Strange 7 episodes, 2015
Eddie Marsan	...	Mr Norrell 7 episodes, 2015
Marc Warren	...	The Gentleman 7 episodes, 2015
Charlotte Riley	...	Arabella 7 episodes, 2015
Alice Englert	...	Lady Pole 7 episodes, 2015
Samuel West	...	Sir Walter Pole 7 episodes, 2015
Enzo Cilenti	...	Childermass 7 episodes, 2015
Paul Kaye	...	Vinculus 7 episodes, 2015
Edward Hogg	...	Segundus 7 episodes, 2015
Ariyon Bakare	...	Stephen Black 7 episodes, 2015
Vincent Franklin	...	Drawlight 7 episodes, 2015
John Heffernan	...	Lascelles 7 episodes, 2015
Brian Pettifer	...	Honeyfoot 7 episodes, 2015
Richard Durden	...	Lord Liverpool 6 episodes, 2015
Robbie O'Neill	...	Lucas 6 episodes, 2015
Freddie Hogan	...	Davey 6 episodes, 2015
William Chubb	...	Mr Bickerton 4 episodes, 2015
Ronan Vibert	...	Lord Wellington 4 episodes, 2015
Steve Jackson	...	Jeremy Johns 4 episodes, 2015
Claudia Jessie	...	Mary 4 episodes, 2015
Patricia Winker	...	Lost Hope Dancer / ... 4 episodes, 2015
Jamie Parker	...	Grant 3 episodes, 2015
John Phythian	...	Mr Gatcombe 3 episodes, 2015
Clive Mantle	...	Dr Greysteel 2 episodes, 2015
John Sessions	...	John Murray 2 episodes, 2015
Lucinda Dryzek	...	Flora Greysteel 2 episodes, 2015
Robert Hands	...	Henry 2 episodes, 2015
Martyn Ellis	...	Foxcastle 2 episodes, 2015
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Mrs Wintertowne 2 episodes, 2015
Mark Edel-Hunt	...	De Lancey 2 episodes, 2015
Neil Edmond	...	Shackleton 2 episodes, 2015
Rebecca Saire	...	Mrs Bullworth / ... 2 episodes, 2015
Jason Deline	...	Ned 2 episodes, 2015
Daniel Fearn	...	Carter 2 episodes, 2015
Katy Maw	...	Lady at Party / ... 2 episodes, 2015
Christine Dalby	...	Landlady 2 episodes, 2015
Annie Lovett	...	Landlady's Daughter 2 episodes, 2015
Glen Mortimer	...	Beadle 2 episodes, 2015

Storyline

In an alternate history, during the time of real life Napoleonic Wars, two men of destiny, the gifted recluse Mr. Norrell and daring spellcasting novice Jonathan Strange, use magic to help England.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | tv mini series | male protagonist | asexual interest | chaste character | 

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Genres:

Fantasy | History | Sci-Fi | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Filming Locations:

York Minster, York, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cuba Pictures, Feel Films, BBC America

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (7 parts)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was nominated for four BAFTA awards and recognised by the British Film Institute as one of the top ten most important television programmes of 2015

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Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #20.110 (2015)

User Reviews

Spectacular book, good television

The book won the Hugo and was nominated for the Nebula, which is why I decided to read it. It is an awesome if extremely challenging read. It took me several passes before I was able to get into the meandering story and actually finish it. But, hey, it took the author a decade to write! Who am I to complain? One of the reasons the book is so challenging, if not off-putting, is its style. It is written in the venerable style of the great 19th century British authors, so if you hated reading Jane Austin in high school, you probably won't like this book, and you may not like the show.

For many reasons, I didn't expect the television show to be an easy, far less effortless, thing to watch. And it isn't. I can't quite imagine what it would be like to come into it without the benefit of having read the book. But I'm sure many have. Like the book, I think you need to be in a certain "suspend disbelief and be patient" mindset.

On the other hand, in the last decade since it was published, we've all gotten use to alternative histories, haven't we, with "Merlin" and "Atlantis" and "Dracula" -- the list goes on and on. The Brits do these exceedingly well. From that early and rather silly "Robin Hood" up to the present with "The Musketeers" (the latter sharing an actor with this show) these series are nothing but improving. The genre is getting perfected. We've grown accustomed to the idea of alternative histories.

And a retelling of the Napoleonic wars is basically what the story is about. It is an alternative history about a time that (to be honest) I'm not very interested in. But I am interested in fiction about magic -- from Butcher's Dresden books to the Neal Stephenson mystical masterpieces, and so this is right up my alley. I like the show, having watched the first two episodes. It is gearing up to do what the books do so brilliantly -- which is allow you to get lost in this strange universe where nothing is as you expect it or remember it, and where these two very odd (and very different) men partake in a very strange dance.

I'm impressed, actually, that someone even tried to put the book to film. One might wonder if a story about friendship and insanity would translate well, but with the wonderful actors and the fantastic writing, I am looking forward to see how this all shakes out. The story, if it follows the book, will just keep getting weirder and weirder.