Posted on 05/14/2015 2:12:05 PM PDT by Kaslin
As a huge television buff, I'm uniquely qualified to render this opinion: "Turn" is the best show currently playing on any network.
It's the story of young father caught up in the American Revolution, who, trying to keep his head down and nose clean, ultimately decides to become a spy for the Continental Army. Based upon a book I'd neither read nor even heard of, Alexander Rose’s "Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring,” it adroitly weaves in the exploits of Abraham Woodhull with the better-known stories and events of the war.
I was first drawn to it due its star, Jamie Bell. I absolutely loved "Billy Elliott," which was his first big role, and had seen him in a few things subsequent to that. He's fantastic.
Secondly, "Better Call Saul" had ended and they'd played enough promos for "Turn" that I thought I'd give it a go.
I find the Revolutionary War period to be the most interesting in our nation's history and, given my passion for freedom and liberty, strongly identify with the fundamental motivation for the rebellion: leave us alone, George, you tyrannical overbearing fundamental rights-stealing despot.
Every day I find myself thinking similar thoughts about our current government, so there's that, too.
As a television show, it totally works. There's sufficient character development, action, and conflict to hold fast the attention of the most stringent of critics. Being a period piece, it's certainly limited as to dialogue and such, and although that may not be everyone's cup of tea, it doesn't seem forced or fake. Right from the start I had to remind myself: of course everyone has a British accent, at that point they WERE British.
One of the things I find most fascinating is the conflicts between the characters about their allegiance to the crown. For some reason, I'd not given that aspect much consideration. The narrative about how families were torn apart during the Civil War, with brother fighting brother or some such thing, seems to be a much larger part of that period's general historiography. One of the most significant conflicts in the show is how the main character, in siding with the Continentals, is violently rebelling against his father's wishes and counsel.
The most meaningful and emotionally moving theme in the show, however, is the ever-constant reiteration of the fundamental motivation for the revolutionary struggle itself: freedom and self-determination. Rarely a scene passes without some reference, direct or oblique, about the essential nature of liberty and its contribution to life and the pursuit of happiness.
Part of the poignancy of that message is how the results of that hard-fought freedom are being treated today. Individual liberty and responsibility are given token acknowledgement in 2015's America, but most of those statements ring hollow. We are not a free people, at least in the sense that the writers of the Declaration of Independence or Constitution envisioned.
Relative to the massive overreach our current state and federal governments make every minute of the day, the concerns of the original colonists seem almost trite. Yet thousands gave their lives and thousands more risked them to throw off those collars.
The Boston Tea Party was organized due to a cronyistic relationship between the East India Company and the British government. Wanting to have influence over the massive and distant bureaucracy that imposed itself upon the citizens was the fundamental concern that yielded the rallying cry, "no taxation without representation."
If that which Americans in 1776 called "abuses and usurpations" were the totality of the governmental command and control we were subject to today, our liberties and freedoms would be manifestly greatly than they are. As a result, in watching Abe Woodhull scheme and strategize in "Turn" to push back against his oppressors and contribute to their utter defeat, I can't help but think that we need a man like that here and now in America.
Go watch the show, in the midst of its second season on AMC, as soon as you can.
My 13 year old son enjoys the show too. It’s very well done and seems to be a fairly accurate history lesson. It’s a good way to see the conflict and sacrifices of everyone.
We caught up with the last season on Netflix. I can’t believe we didn’t watch it then. We are caught up and watching the new episodes. Look forward to each one. I just wish they’d cut down on the bedroom scenes. It’s a little much. Other than that, it’s excellent!
The simple fact is that history portrayed by Hollywood in the 50s and 60s was probably far less accurate than what we see with shows like “Turn”.
They want a modern version of John Wayne to play Abe Woodhull when the fact is that Woodhull and most of those doing the fighting were in their teens and 20s. The Marquis de Lafayette was only 18years old when he arrived and had never seen combat, yet Within months, Washington made him a major general because he proved his ability to command.
“You have bled with Wallace, now bleed with me!”
Yes! Thanks for the good reminder.
Good points.
I see TURN as very well done and the performances are very good.
How they treat the hanging of John Andre will be very telling. I have the feeling it will be accurate. He was an honorable and well liked man and his hanging saddened both sides. But it had to be done.
The members of the court-martial that condemned Andre to death actually cried when they hanged him.
History is just so much more interesting now that its easier to research with records, documents, and letters being available online.
“Popular” history is a mess because its full of idealized accounts.
Right on.
Yes, there is too much Revisionist History out there. It’s refreshing to see a program like TURN.
I think blacks are also treated realistically in TURN.
I quit watching because the program is achingly slow to the point of being boring.
True. The accounts are touching. They were honorable people.
BS. I’m a George fan.
One of my ‘must watch’ shows.
Another excellent series is Wolf Hall.
The first season just ended.....
But no doubt there will be reruns....
I’ve seen plenty of movies and series on Henry VIII, but this one tops them all!!...Brilliant
On the other hand, we know how Major Andre goes down. I remember being in St. Paul’s in London and seeing a memorial plaque to him.
What does that have to do with constantly showing sex-sex-sex on public TV? What does it even really have to do with the story? And why desensitize people (especially children who run into it) to something so important as creating children by titillating them with voyeuristic displays?
As for the non-sequitur regarding my views, do you really think people screwed around nearly as much as post-BC? It was a real risk. I think people held to sexual morals better just because it was more practical.
So don’t watch and then come to threads to complain about something you don’t see.
Go fix a wagon wheel or something gramps.
I hadn’t heard of Wolf Hall. I probably don’t have the channel that airs it. Thanks for mentioning it though. I’ll do a search and see if I simply missed it.
Another “don’t complain” post. As someone wrote today, “it’s a discussion forum”. The comment was made it doesn’t show PC homo stuff. I made the comment it’s still indecent. So what? I can put my opinions on if I wish; doesn’t have to be all gushing love.
I’m a woman, I’d think you’d know by now.
It did drag a little.
Also, we know the Revolution through paintings mostly so it's hard for shows about the Revolution to have the same visual impact as shows about, say, the Civil War or the World Wars. It's not really that powerful an experience visually.
No, Congress made him a Maj Gen soon after he arrived. Washington had nothing to do with that.
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