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thisbluespirit) wrote2010-02-25 02:32 pm
thisbluespirit) wrote2010-02-25 02:32 pm
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Fake TV Show Meme: Cloak & Dagger (Premise and Main Cast)
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persiflage_1 gave me this prompt: Regency-era Spooks - so a spy show, but set in the Regency era.
The cast list is hopelessly huge and unrealistic (although then again, if you look at something like Little Dorrit, maybe not?) but I'm not sure what else I could do. I've now corrected things, given people back their titles, put all the main characters first (but the basic premise does remain the same!). I tried wherever possible for people in appropriate period dress already, but sometimes it's not the right period, and leads to some unimaginative casting (but you try casting something with this many characters!).
***
Cloak And Dagger
The Show
2x series of 13 1 hr episodes. (2010-2011)
1 1 hr 30 mins Christmas special. (2012)
Billed as ‘Spooks for the 19th Century’, Cloak and Dagger was a daring and expensive gamble on the part of the BBC to breathe new life into their trademark period dramas that paid off. It boasted a strong cast with a string of high-profile guest stars. Reviews were enthusiastic and the first season was nominated for several BAFTAs. Tackling the subject of Napoleonic spies with wit, style, danger, scandal, gossip and duels, critics referred to it as a return to the golden age of period drama.
A Foreign Office diplomat returns to England to find the there’s a scandal over high-level leaks in the department, with messages being passed over the channel via a fashionable émigré dressmaker – but his superiors want the high society source. To solve the problem, he enlists the help of the young bride he barely knows. It turns out to be only the first of a series of problems they tackle together, growing ever nearer to the sinister mastermind behind the French agents – and becoming adept at averting scandal of all kinds.
The show followed the events of 1811-1815 culminating in a two-part finale centring around the events of Waterloo, the intervening episodes taking in various royal scandal, political intrigue, over-zealous radical reformers, military secrets, the Congress of Vienna, and all in pursuit of the shadowy master-spy whose identity is unknown up the final episodes.
The complications provided by the supporting characters, and the continual conflict between patriotism, privacy and personal honour also provided dramatic tension. For the millions of watchers, the essential question (throughout the first series at least) was not who was the traitor, but when would Rothley and his wife finally realise that their marriage was more than a mere convenience?
It was too mainstream to attract the devoted fans of the small, genre or cult shows, but it was a popular destination for writers of crossover fan-fic, especially given the high number of scene-stealing guest performers as historical figures (notably Anthony Head’s recurring role as the Prince Regent). The makers were adamant that the show had run its course, although it did return two years after with a Christmas special set in 1820 and centring around the Princess Caroline affair and the Regent’s eventual coronation as George IV, where John and Katherine’s talents are in demand once more. (For those pining for their fix of Austen-era drama, the show inspired the Beeb to dramatise two Heyer novels, The Talisman Ring and The Reluctant Widow.)
***
The Rothley Household
John Rothley (Richard Armitage)
Returning to England from America, John Rothley finds himself immediately involved in an attempt to stop high-level leaks from the Foreign Office. The affair seems to centre around an émigré modiste who is currently all the rage in London. To find out more about who might possibly be her clients, Rothley enlists the help of his young wife, Katherine who is still a virtual stranger to him. As he comes to rely on her talents increasingly in various affairs, it’s not entirely reassuring for him to realise that his discreet, impeccable bride is also a flawless actress…
Lady Katherine Rothley (née Longville) (Kate) (Gemma Arterton)
Daughter of George Longville, Earl of Haverley, it suited Katherine to accept Rothley’s offer – she had no desire to become her father’s encumbrance or her mother’s help and, as an intelligent, lively young lady she could see the advantage in becoming the wife of a diplomat. She is determined to become the ideal political hostess. Becoming involved in the hunt for a spy was unexpected, but she finds she secretly revels in the challenge. What she fails to see is that Rothley (contrary to her mother’s unfortunate advice on how to conduct oneself in a marriage of convenience) might be more interested in the real Kate, than the too-perfect façade.
Lady Sophia Longville (Sophy) (Felicity Jones)
Kate’s youngest sister is currently making her delayed come-out under her sister’s aegis. She is devoted to Kate and eager to make a good impression, but she is still the careless, scapegrace of the family. Her efforts to help, her unlikely admirers, and her inexperience often cause more trouble than anything, but she always means well. She is rather more ready for adventure than anyone else would like.
Jane Clark (Jenny) (Claire Foy)
Kate’s new maid. She becomes her mistress’s closest ally in any number of investigations, even on one occasion entering the employ of a suspect. She also seems to have a surprising network of contacts of her own…
Charles Maynard (Dan Stevens)
John’s secretary. He would ideally like to be secretary to a government minister and finds the lively Longvilles something of a trial, having a preference for quiet and order that is not likely to be gratified while he remains part of this household.
Other Regulars:
The Hon. Hugh Longville (Lee Williams)
With an allowance left to him by his wealthy godmother, Hugh has no need to follow a career and can afford to be a man about town, enjoying fashionable pursuits with his cronies. Naturally, this annoys his elder brother intensely. And while he’s reluctant to join the army, the truth is, he’s reckless in pursuit of adventure to liven his days and is often in need of Kate’s ingenuity to extract him from his latest predicament. He’d like nothing better than to help hunt down a spy, but Rothley can’t think of anything worse…
Tobias Bartram (Philip Glenister)
I had a picture of Philip Glenister in period dress, so- A wealthy merchant, engaged in export, he provides links to the City and trade, although he is reluctant to get involved with any havey-cavey matters best left to those whose business it is, when he should be minding his own affairs.
Captain Andrew Darton / Viscount Hanley (Jonny Lee Miller)
John’s friend, who has returned on the death of his father to sort out the tangled family affairs. His heart is out in the Peninsula with his ex-regiment, but putting a stop to one of Napoleon’s agents would give him great satisfaction in the meantime – and a change from tearing his hair out over his late parent’s mismanagement of the family estate.
Smith (Burn Gorman)
A shadowy figure who recurs throughout their investigations, but who he is and which side he’s in is a mystery, although John is certain he’s not to be trusted. Events prove that he is potentially dangerous whatever else he may be.
Major James Longville, Viscount Cottingham (James D’Arcy)
Kate’s elder brother and his father’s heir, currently serving in Spain. He is both resourceful and reliable, and at times a useful ally for John, especially since he regards being in England while there is a war on as a waste of his time and is grateful for any practical action. He despises his younger brother Hugh for being frivolous ( but despite being the steadiest of the Longvilles, his fascination with an unhappily married young lady might ruin them all…
Lady Cecilia Percival (née Longville) (Cecy) (Emma Pierson)
The middle sister of the Longville family, Cecy may not be as clever as Kate or as unaffected as Sophy, but she is entertaining and loyal, and has lately made a splendid match with the Marquis of Browham, Henry Percival. It doesn’t take her long to find that her marriage was a mistake she has very little chance of escaping from and she is hiding the truth from her family, but it becomes increasingly likely that the unreliable Marquis might have more to do with the circle of spies, her loyalties are torn.
Sir William Rothley (Liam Cunningham)
John’s elder half-brother, a wealthy baronet in the north. They don’t have much to do with each other since he recommended John for appointment to the Foreign Office, (and particularly since he inherited his maternal uncle's estate on the Kent/Sussex border), but he was the one who originally proposed the alliance with the Longville family, through a connection of his wife’s. Marrying Kate is probably the only thing his brother has ever done that he approved of.
William Foster (Ben Daniels)
Bow Street Runner (S2 only). Engaged by Bartram in the hunt for Smith, he is dedicated to his work, but growing disillusioned by the lack of support given to the Runners to tackle some crimes, especially anything involving the gentry.
John White (Brendan Coyle)
Because apparently there’s a law in UK TV that says if you have a salt-of-the-earth type in a historical drama, he has to be played by Brendan Coyle. An innkeeper at the Three Crowns, near to Rothley’s holdings, he maintains he has no knowledge of the smugglers (whose cross-channel activities provide a vital link in the chain of French intelligence), but his cellar’s full of smuggled brandy. He’ll never betray his fellows, but he might just know something about the network of spies, and while he’ll turn a blind eye to the traders, he’s no traitor…
Thomas Hurley (Guy Henry)
An Excise Officer and contact of Bartram’s. He knows the trading situation by the river and Customs House and is an experienced and valuable ally – when he’s sober.
Richard Wellesley (Greg Wise)
(S1) Marquess Wellesley and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when John Rothley returns. He’s the one who alerts John to the danger of the spy ring. However, he later resigns over issues of the Peninsular War and is replaced by:
Lord Castlereagh (Hugh Bonneville)
Succeeds Richard Wellesley at the Foreign Office and is heavily involved in the peace process at the Congress of Vienna. He values John’s talents and approves of Kate. Castlereagh is an astute politician, but not above scandal himself, having fought Wellesley’s predecessor George Canning in a duel during his previous period in Cabinet.
Harry Longville (Hugh O'Conor)
Youngest of the Longvilles, in S1 up at Oxford, but eternally in danger of being sent down; in S2 he has joned a cavalry regiment, thanks to John.
***
Recurring characters, guest stars and episode guide to follow.
persiflage_1 gave me this prompt: Regency-era Spooks - so a spy show, but set in the Regency era.The cast list is hopelessly huge and unrealistic (although then again, if you look at something like Little Dorrit, maybe not?) but I'm not sure what else I could do. I've now corrected things, given people back their titles, put all the main characters first (but the basic premise does remain the same!). I tried wherever possible for people in appropriate period dress already, but sometimes it's not the right period, and leads to some unimaginative casting (but you try casting something with this many characters!).
***
Cloak And Dagger
The Show
2x series of 13 1 hr episodes. (2010-2011)
1 1 hr 30 mins Christmas special. (2012)
Billed as ‘Spooks for the 19th Century’, Cloak and Dagger was a daring and expensive gamble on the part of the BBC to breathe new life into their trademark period dramas that paid off. It boasted a strong cast with a string of high-profile guest stars. Reviews were enthusiastic and the first season was nominated for several BAFTAs. Tackling the subject of Napoleonic spies with wit, style, danger, scandal, gossip and duels, critics referred to it as a return to the golden age of period drama.
A Foreign Office diplomat returns to England to find the there’s a scandal over high-level leaks in the department, with messages being passed over the channel via a fashionable émigré dressmaker – but his superiors want the high society source. To solve the problem, he enlists the help of the young bride he barely knows. It turns out to be only the first of a series of problems they tackle together, growing ever nearer to the sinister mastermind behind the French agents – and becoming adept at averting scandal of all kinds.
The show followed the events of 1811-1815 culminating in a two-part finale centring around the events of Waterloo, the intervening episodes taking in various royal scandal, political intrigue, over-zealous radical reformers, military secrets, the Congress of Vienna, and all in pursuit of the shadowy master-spy whose identity is unknown up the final episodes.
The complications provided by the supporting characters, and the continual conflict between patriotism, privacy and personal honour also provided dramatic tension. For the millions of watchers, the essential question (throughout the first series at least) was not who was the traitor, but when would Rothley and his wife finally realise that their marriage was more than a mere convenience?
It was too mainstream to attract the devoted fans of the small, genre or cult shows, but it was a popular destination for writers of crossover fan-fic, especially given the high number of scene-stealing guest performers as historical figures (notably Anthony Head’s recurring role as the Prince Regent). The makers were adamant that the show had run its course, although it did return two years after with a Christmas special set in 1820 and centring around the Princess Caroline affair and the Regent’s eventual coronation as George IV, where John and Katherine’s talents are in demand once more. (For those pining for their fix of Austen-era drama, the show inspired the Beeb to dramatise two Heyer novels, The Talisman Ring and The Reluctant Widow.)
***
The Rothley Household
John Rothley (Richard Armitage)
Returning to England from America, John Rothley finds himself immediately involved in an attempt to stop high-level leaks from the Foreign Office. The affair seems to centre around an émigré modiste who is currently all the rage in London. To find out more about who might possibly be her clients, Rothley enlists the help of his young wife, Katherine who is still a virtual stranger to him. As he comes to rely on her talents increasingly in various affairs, it’s not entirely reassuring for him to realise that his discreet, impeccable bride is also a flawless actress…
Lady Katherine Rothley (née Longville) (Kate) (Gemma Arterton)
Daughter of George Longville, Earl of Haverley, it suited Katherine to accept Rothley’s offer – she had no desire to become her father’s encumbrance or her mother’s help and, as an intelligent, lively young lady she could see the advantage in becoming the wife of a diplomat. She is determined to become the ideal political hostess. Becoming involved in the hunt for a spy was unexpected, but she finds she secretly revels in the challenge. What she fails to see is that Rothley (contrary to her mother’s unfortunate advice on how to conduct oneself in a marriage of convenience) might be more interested in the real Kate, than the too-perfect façade.
Lady Sophia Longville (Sophy) (Felicity Jones)
Kate’s youngest sister is currently making her delayed come-out under her sister’s aegis. She is devoted to Kate and eager to make a good impression, but she is still the careless, scapegrace of the family. Her efforts to help, her unlikely admirers, and her inexperience often cause more trouble than anything, but she always means well. She is rather more ready for adventure than anyone else would like.
Jane Clark (Jenny) (Claire Foy)
Kate’s new maid. She becomes her mistress’s closest ally in any number of investigations, even on one occasion entering the employ of a suspect. She also seems to have a surprising network of contacts of her own…
Charles Maynard (Dan Stevens)
John’s secretary. He would ideally like to be secretary to a government minister and finds the lively Longvilles something of a trial, having a preference for quiet and order that is not likely to be gratified while he remains part of this household.
Other Regulars:
The Hon. Hugh Longville (Lee Williams)
With an allowance left to him by his wealthy godmother, Hugh has no need to follow a career and can afford to be a man about town, enjoying fashionable pursuits with his cronies. Naturally, this annoys his elder brother intensely. And while he’s reluctant to join the army, the truth is, he’s reckless in pursuit of adventure to liven his days and is often in need of Kate’s ingenuity to extract him from his latest predicament. He’d like nothing better than to help hunt down a spy, but Rothley can’t think of anything worse…
Tobias Bartram (Philip Glenister)
Captain Andrew Darton / Viscount Hanley (Jonny Lee Miller)
John’s friend, who has returned on the death of his father to sort out the tangled family affairs. His heart is out in the Peninsula with his ex-regiment, but putting a stop to one of Napoleon’s agents would give him great satisfaction in the meantime – and a change from tearing his hair out over his late parent’s mismanagement of the family estate.
Smith (Burn Gorman)
A shadowy figure who recurs throughout their investigations, but who he is and which side he’s in is a mystery, although John is certain he’s not to be trusted. Events prove that he is potentially dangerous whatever else he may be.
Major James Longville, Viscount Cottingham (James D’Arcy)
Kate’s elder brother and his father’s heir, currently serving in Spain. He is both resourceful and reliable, and at times a useful ally for John, especially since he regards being in England while there is a war on as a waste of his time and is grateful for any practical action. He despises his younger brother Hugh for being frivolous ( but despite being the steadiest of the Longvilles, his fascination with an unhappily married young lady might ruin them all…
Lady Cecilia Percival (née Longville) (Cecy) (Emma Pierson)
The middle sister of the Longville family, Cecy may not be as clever as Kate or as unaffected as Sophy, but she is entertaining and loyal, and has lately made a splendid match with the Marquis of Browham, Henry Percival. It doesn’t take her long to find that her marriage was a mistake she has very little chance of escaping from and she is hiding the truth from her family, but it becomes increasingly likely that the unreliable Marquis might have more to do with the circle of spies, her loyalties are torn.
Sir William Rothley (Liam Cunningham)
John’s elder half-brother, a wealthy baronet in the north. They don’t have much to do with each other since he recommended John for appointment to the Foreign Office, (and particularly since he inherited his maternal uncle's estate on the Kent/Sussex border), but he was the one who originally proposed the alliance with the Longville family, through a connection of his wife’s. Marrying Kate is probably the only thing his brother has ever done that he approved of.
William Foster (Ben Daniels)
Bow Street Runner (S2 only). Engaged by Bartram in the hunt for Smith, he is dedicated to his work, but growing disillusioned by the lack of support given to the Runners to tackle some crimes, especially anything involving the gentry.
John White (Brendan Coyle)
Thomas Hurley (Guy Henry)
An Excise Officer and contact of Bartram’s. He knows the trading situation by the river and Customs House and is an experienced and valuable ally – when he’s sober.
Richard Wellesley (Greg Wise)
(S1) Marquess Wellesley and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when John Rothley returns. He’s the one who alerts John to the danger of the spy ring. However, he later resigns over issues of the Peninsular War and is replaced by:
Lord Castlereagh (Hugh Bonneville)
Succeeds Richard Wellesley at the Foreign Office and is heavily involved in the peace process at the Congress of Vienna. He values John’s talents and approves of Kate. Castlereagh is an astute politician, but not above scandal himself, having fought Wellesley’s predecessor George Canning in a duel during his previous period in Cabinet.
Harry Longville (Hugh O'Conor)
Youngest of the Longvilles, in S1 up at Oxford, but eternally in danger of being sent down; in S2 he has joned a cavalry regiment, thanks to John.
***
Recurring characters, guest stars and episode guide to follow.
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And see the other comments? Everyone agrees you're a genius! :lol:
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And see the other comments? Everyone agrees you're a genius! :lol:
*blushes*
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(also: eee Claire Foy! Loved her as Amy Dorrit.)
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Claire Foy was great as Amy. This show is full of complete typecasting, because I wanted people I could find pictures of in vaguely period dress already!!
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I think you're right about the expense and risk--but it doesn't stop me from wanting them to do it anyway. :)
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Oh, me, too. As soon as Pers gave me the prompt, I wanted it to be real.
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I too wish there was more original historical drama on TV, but as you say, with the expense involved, concentrating on adaptations of already well-loved novels is by far the safer option.
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Thank you.