Entertainment
‘The Wheel of Time’ Meets ‘Sherlock’ in Prime Video’s 2-Part Fantasy Series
Fantasy has thrived on TV for years, with beloved series like Game of Thrones and His Dark Materials becoming major successes. As every streamer tries to cash in on this success, some have taken more chances than others. While the genre covers a lot of ground, no show is quite like the 2019 series Carnival Row, which combines the greater magical conflict of The Wheel of Time with Sherlock‘s murder-mystery structure.
The Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne-led dark fantasy series ran for two seasons before its cancellation. Yet, despite its big names and compelling story, the series remains an underrated gem, full of fantasy creatures, crime drama, and surprise twists. With a dark mystery and an intricate world, Carnival Row is an exciting and quick binge-watch for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre.
What Is ‘Carnival Row’ About?
Carnival Row introduces a steampunk fantasy world that is grim despite the prevalence of mythical beings like pixies and fauns. Following a devastating war, the fae homeland has been destroyed, forcing them to move to the human city known as the Burgue, which allows refugees but offers them little respect. The fae live on Carnival Row, and the rest of the city’s population ignores or despises them. The story primarily follows Rycroft “Philo” Philostrate (Bloom), the sole inspector willing to investigate crimes committed against the city’s fae. When a string of unnatural murders breaks out, targeting humans and fae alike, Philo is the only one equipped with all the information to solve it. His investigation grows more complicated when his old flame, the faerie Vignette Stonemoss (Delevingne), moves to the city and falls in with a rebel group that puts her in direct opposition to the law Philo enforces.
Beyond the dangerous streets of Carnival Row, the elite of the Burgue have their own storylines. A rich faun, Agreus (David Gyasi), moves into a mansion but receives little acceptance. His neighbors, Ezra (Andrew Gower) and Imogen Spurnrose (Tamzin Merchant), quickly judge him, allowing the series to explore prejudice even more deeply. Meanwhile, political rivalries in the city grow as the parliament argues over rights that should be afforded to fae refugees. When Chancellor Breakspear (Jared Harris) discovers that his son, Jonah (Arty Froushan), has been abducted by his political opponents, the city’s tension reaches a breaking point.
‘Carnival Row’ Is an Underrated Fantasy Series
Carnival Row uses its many plotlines to create an expansive world, much like The Wheel of Time. But instead of exploring different cultures and ancient secrets across multiple continents, it focuses on a single city from every angle, from the slums the fae are forced to live in to the mansions of the rich and influential. The audience experiences the Burgue through Johan Breakspear’s privilege, Philo searching the criminal underworld for answers, and the perspective of characters like Tourmaline (Karla Crome), who works in a brothel on Carnival Row. Despite the presence of mythical creatures, the series is surprisingly grounded, addressing real-world issues like immigration, prejudice, and political corruption.
Unfortunately, Carnival Row‘s production faced COVID delays, and the series wrapped up earlier than initially planned, making it yet another fantasy series that ended too soon. Though it did receive an ending, which is more than many shows earn, the series’ world could have continued to grow over additional seasons. While the story gets dark at times, Carnival Row is a unique addition to the fantasy genre that deserves more attention than it receives.
- Release Date
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2019 – 2022
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Travis Beacham
- Directors
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Travis Beacham
- Writers
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Travis Beacham
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