Why you should be watching BBC's 'Jekyll'

Jewhouse Fri, Jan 11, 2008 at 02:02 AM EST

On the Michelle Ryan note, Sophia Myles is another UK actress who delivers a performance in an American series that is noticeably worse than in the British series. But both of these are examples of shows with incredibly poor writing, from which few actors can escape (Moonlight and Bionic Woman).

Dan bradley Tue, Jan 8, 2008 at 07:23 AM EST

I saw a trailer for it on the Hot Fuzz DVD, thought it was a ovie and downloaded it... bu i got the 6th episode.. i ruined the ending for myself, but im still DLing the other 5. the one i saw was great!

lilly Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 11:40 PM EST

Well i watched the 1st one of the series got sukked in and now have watched all the episodes in the last 5-6 hrs LOL its was fabulous!!! Coming From Texas U.S.A Great watch for anyone interested!! :o)

Daniel Wed, Oct 10, 2007 at 04:41 AM EST

Y'know, the problem with actually living in Britain is that you need to swim through so much more doss before you get good UK series - actual series with plots and stuff, not reality TV. And as good as Jekyll looked, if the BBC had put a fifth of their marketing muscle for the aforementioned Heroes behind it, I may have actually known about it.

CentreChick Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 11:28 PM EST

I put this on the must list while it was airing on BBC America. It's awesome. Also, check out Steven Moffat's Coupling. Absolutely hilarious.

My love hate relationship with BBC America was in the love stages while this was airing.

Raven_Moon Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 04:49 PM EST

That was fantastic! If only I had BBC America.

PB Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 03:06 PM EST

I loved "Jekyll" when it aired over the summer on BBCAmerica (one of the BEST reasons to get extended cable or satellite!). I wasn't that impressed with Michelle Ryan but James Nesbitt ... WOW! He's amazing. I also liked the detective character. She was wonderful. Best ending of a season I've ever seen ... made me jump!

BobMac Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 03:00 PM EST

I watched the series a few months ago and was quite intrigued by the show. The acting, writing, and Ms. Ryan are great reasons to watch.

monica Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 01:39 PM EST

i'm totally in. and she is a way better actress in this than she is in bionic woman. my favorite part is that they communicate with each other and have mutual agreements. that's an interesting version of jekyll and hyde that i've never seen before.

Baco Noir Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 01:24 PM EST

Up here in Canada we get the finale of season one tonight. I too was completely hooked by ep. 1 because of James Nesbit. Normally, a 'nice father figure or politician', his first full conversion into Hyde was terrifying. You know watching him that this is somebody who will. not. stop. ever. Basically, you encounter someone like him, you're dead. Rest was not quite as good, but wow, the first was brilliant.

Bryan Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 12:40 PM EST

How can Michelle Ryan be so good in Jeckell and so howlingly bad in Bionic Woman. I guess she is having trouble with the accent.

Cam Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 12:09 PM EST

Oh, and the title character - can't remember the actor's name, but he may be the best thing I've ever seen on TV. I can actually believe that other characters in the show see him as a completely different person. Took me a while to realize it was the same guy - he's that good.

Cam Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 12:06 PM EST

I have to add on with the BBC America & Steven Moffat love. First saw "Jekyll" when they had a marathon of the first 3 episodes on and I had a lazy Saturday going. I couldn't stop watching after thinking I'd be flipping the channel after 10 minutes. Absolutely brilliant! And Moffat - amazing writer. Loved "Coupling" (couldn't even watch the American version...bleh) and the "Doctor Who" Blink episode was so good that even my wife watched it. Unbelievable! She was scared of statues for a week or two after that. My wife's a bit odd.

Miri Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 11:49 AM EST

I worship at the altar of Steven Moffat. "Blink" was one of the best episodes of TV (not just Doctor Who) I've ever seen, Jekyll is fun, and worth checking out!

BBCAmerica is currently my favorite channel. I actually really like the shortened seasons of Brit TV. It makes for tighter stories & higher quality shows, with more attention paid to each episode. There's rarely a "filler" episode like we have on American TV.

Stef Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 11:45 AM EST

I had this on my Netflix a while ago and now I have to wait on other people? Why couldn't this be kept a secret just a little bit longer?

The "Blink" episode of Dr. Who scared the begeebus out of me! Dr. Who is Brilliant!

Torchwood is also amazing!

I've got a theory that because there are fewer TV channels in Britain that only the best shows actually get put on the air. With my 200-300 channels at home there is quite a lot of filler material.

Perhaps reducing the number of channels in America would result in better programing, and fewer episodes of "According to Jim".

debsagrrl Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 11:29 AM EST

I am Canadian and couldn't agree more with your review of Jekyll.

UK television is tops in my book.

SImon Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 11:24 AM EST

Thought the name sounded familiar. Coupling is one of my favourite shows ever! For any Canadians out there, Jekyll is on Showcase, Wednesday night at 10pm.

Hi Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 11:01 AM EST

That looks great! I netflixed it immediately.

Joe C Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 10:50 AM EST

I couldn't agree with you more, Marc. So many shows on BBC AMerica are light years ahaead of what we get on American televison, such as MI5, Murphy's Law, Hex, and now Jekyll. High quality stuff. My only complaint is that the 'season' on British television is much shorter than ours; Jekyll premiered in July and finished in September, for example. But it's all very good. And the Graham Norton show is funnier than any talk show we have here. Long live BBC America!

Red Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 10:37 AM EST

I love British TV...maybe we should have the people sponsor TV here, too...at least we'd have fewer commercials...

Kate Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 10:21 AM EST

I have to add my praise for "Jekyll" as well. I watched the first season on BBC America and wasn't sure at the beginning of the first episode. I quickly became an addict and can only wish for more episodes. I'm torn between wanting "Bionic Woman" to succeed and wanting it to fail so she can concentrate on a hoped for second season!

Lene Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 09:56 AM EST

I'd leave a long comment, detailing my reaction to the clip, but I have to go get it - I was completely hooked after the first 2 minutes, a rabid fan by the time the clip ended. Why isn't there TV like this in North America?

meg Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 09:23 AM EST

We just watched the first season of Jekyll thanks to my mother in law and I really hope they continue with a second. Absolutely brilliant!! The Blink episode from Dr. Who scared the bejesus out of me! Season 3 on DVD in early November, definitely worth checking out!! And the man who plays Jekyll is dead sexy, so that's a plus.

EGT Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 08:23 AM EST

Don't just take my word for it! Listen to Scott as well!

EGT Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 08:22 AM EST

Steven Moffat is also notable for turning in four of the best episodes of another great British show lightyears ahead of anything of its kind being shown on American TV: "Doctor Who." Even if you've never seen an episode of this show, wait patiently for Season 3 to come out on DVD in America and watch "Blink." No one writes plot *and* witty banter with quite the aplomb of Moffat.

Scott Bandla Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 08:20 AM EST

Moffat (note the spelling, please, Mr. Bernardin...) is one of the best TV writers working today, not just in Britain, but anywhere.

Not only is "Jekyll" incredibly clever and scary in the gothic sense, but it has such an overall authenticity that when the titular weirdness unfolds, it's all the more jarring, because the world in which it's occurring is so genuinely portrayed.

Moffat is also the creator/writer of the original Brit "Coupling," which is a better version of "Friends" than "Friends" is, and he has written four of the best episodes of the relaunched "Doctor Who" series: "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" from series one, "The Girl in the Fireplace" (featuring "Tristan & Isolde" and "Moonlight" star Sophia Myles) from series two, and most recently, one of the best hours of TV I've ever seen, "Blink" from series three.

If you're not familiar with Moffat's body of work, or if "Jekyll" is the only taste you've had, get your hands on as much of it as you can.

Andrew Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 08:15 AM EST

Okay, that's pretty friggin' awesome.

Jakeem Wed, Oct 3, 2007 at 07:20 AM EST

Not to mention one of the best surprise endings ever...