UK TV: Jekyll

[wideawakewesley]

I don't know how many of you stay up to date with UK drama, but the BBC is currently showing a new mini-series based loosely on the story of Jekyll & Hyde, but set in modern day. Having watched the first episode, I think this will appeal to a lot of TRS fans.

More info can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/jekyll/

Definitely worth a download.

Wes

[kahunablair]

I've heard some good buzz on this show. I'll be checking it out.

[ramshaw]

I really really dug the first 30 mins or so but

****SPOILERS****

I thought that the idea of him looking exactly like the original Dr Jekyll was seriously dumb. Hopefully they can make this a bit less hocus pocusy in later episodes.

****END****

James Nesbitt was awesome as he always is, the lass from Eastenders her name evades me right now was ok I thought as his assistanct. The private detectives and the American dude were awful though I though especially the American guy he was SO campy. Sorry I don't know any of their names. But thats my thoughts despite the few problems I had I'll keep watching! :)

Whats other people thinking?

[wideawakewesley]

The lass from Eastenders is Michelle Ryan, who stars as The Bionic Woman in the upcoming series.

As for everything else, there were some dodgy American accents, but other than that I loved everything about the first episode. I especially loved when Mr. Hyde toyed with the two teenagers, fantastic stuff!

Wes

[ramshaw]

Yeh it was good and like I say I'll definately watch next week.

[wideawakewesley]

James Nesbitt, who plays the dual role of the seemingly normal Dr. Tom Jackman and his vicious alter ego in the BBC America series Jekyll, told SCI FI Wire that his transformation into Hyde was inspired by series creator Steven Moffat's subtle, modern take on the classic story.

"One of his takes on it was that this modern Hyde was seductive and cool and, dare I say, sexy, which is why they had to do a bit of a difference," he said in an interview at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 13. "The changes are subtle because, I think, we wanted people—not only characters, but our audience—to go, 'What is the change there? What's different? What is it?'"

The series is a contemporary story based loosely on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Nesbitt plays both the mild-mannered Jackman and his cunning alter ego, whom he comes to call Hyde. Nesbitt wore a different wig for each character and donned black contact lenses and prosthetic appliances on his nose and chin when playing Hyde. Other than that, the differences between the characters came in his performance.

"You have to do very small things to make often quite a big difference," Nesbitt said. "If Jackman's mood was about depression and pain and loss, I think naturally your physicality will reflect that. Whereas Hyde was just this nascent, newborn animal: He doesn't give a damn about anything. So you actually were more erect, as I say. ... In a way, it was a better approach than having you go behind the sofa and come up with kind of a hair arm. It was much more to do with ... projection. Things like a slight angling of the chin, and there was a bit of work on the nose."

Nesbitt said that he doesn't necessarily see Hyde as a monster, as he's been depicted in other versions of the story. "It was about tapping into childhood, in a sense: that thing we all have as children, that ability and that desire and that natural instinct to sort of show off," he said. "We lose that. And it was a question of tapping back into that. And then, that was great. It was exhilarating and fun and, by far, the easier of the characters, ultimately."

Nesbitt added that he was somewhat reluctant to leave the character behind him when shooting was finished. "The depressing thing is not only to hand in the wigs at the end of the day, it was handing in your nose and chin," he said. Jekyll premieres on BBC America on Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

There ya go folks, it's coming to America very soon!

[MaxTheSilent]

James Nesbitt was Oscar-worthy in BLOODY SUNDAY. I can't believe he never got nominated.

A phenomenal performance in an extraordinary movie.

[masherscf]

I hate to get jumped all over for saying something odd.

However, I can't escape the idea that both the TV series "Jekyll" and indeed Stevenson's original story are built upon a false premise. That is, that a person's moral center or ability to tell good from evil is based on the intellectual side and the animal instict is more prone to evil. I think humans are more complex.

Anyhow, it's a good yarn nevertheless.

[halden]

Jekyll is fantastic!

My only qualm was Benjamin.

[ramshaw]

Jekyll is fantastic!

My only qualm was Benjamin.

I agree wholeheartedly. What were peoples thoughts on episode 4? Loved the bit where he more or less feasted on the teenager douchebag. Couldn't pay full attention while watching however was at work :p.

[masherscf]

I agree wholeheartedly. What were peoples thoughts on episode 4? Loved the bit where he more or less feasted on the teenager douchebag. Couldn't pay full attention while watching however was at work :p.

Benjamin? You mean the annoying American guy?

[ramshaw]

Benjamin? You mean the annoying American guy?

Precisely. Glad hes dead now but what an awesome way to go :p

[wideawakewesley]

Shhhhh, there are non-UK residents reading.

[masherscf]

Shhhhh, there are non-UK residents reading.

I don't live in the UK and I've watched. It's not likely that Jekyll will be sent over in a conventional fashion. They're just not enough episodes. The Mini-series is out of favor right now. A typical series in the US will have seasons of at least 20 episodes. Syndication deals usually require 100 episodes or more. Lately a few channels like Sci-fi have been breaking these guildines for a few shows American Pay-TV is always an option. Perhaps it will appear on showtime, HBO or even PBS as a mini-series. There's always BBCA...which I don't get...dammit. Pity...

[wideawakewesley]

Yeah it's been confirmed on BBCA

[mynameiscal]

Is it just me that finds it deeply disturbing? I see Hyde as Jekyll's id, completely cut off from the ego or super ego, and just showing what would happen if we acted on all of our urges..

Brilliant, but disturbing. I hope the TRS guys are keeping up with it, it'd be good to have a UK show that's talked about!

[halden]

I too watched Ep 4 at work. Excellent stuff.

BTW I am not in the UK and I can keep up thanks to the internets

[ramshaw]

Is it just me that finds it deeply disturbing? I see Hyde as Jekyll's id, completely cut off from the ego or super ego, and just showing what would happen if we acted on all of our urges..

Brilliant, but disturbing. I hope the TRS guys are keeping up with it, it'd be good to have a UK show that's talked about!

Hopefully it will be mentioned on the show properly with everyone up to date within the next few episodes since there hasn't been TV segment in a while.