• Latest
  • Trending
“TURN: Washington’s Spies” brings American Revolution to Life

“TURN: Washington’s Spies” brings American Revolution to Life

January 4, 2017
Australia signs massive sub deal with French firm

Australia signs massive sub deal with French firm

February 12, 2019
Outrage in France over swastika graffiti as anti-Semitic acts surge by 74 percent

Outrage in France over swastika graffiti as anti-Semitic acts surge by 74 percent

February 12, 2019
France agrees ‘strategic’ pact with Qatar

France agrees ‘strategic’ pact with Qatar

February 12, 2019
Health chiefs raise alarm over measles outbreak at French Alps ski resort

Health chiefs raise alarm over measles outbreak at French Alps ski resort

February 12, 2019
Facebook group targeting female journalists rattles French media

Facebook group targeting female journalists rattles French media

February 12, 2019
England 44-8 France: Six Nations player ratings from Twickenham

England 44-8 France: Six Nations player ratings from Twickenham

February 12, 2019
Michelle Obama makes surprise Grammy Awards appearance

Michelle Obama makes surprise Grammy Awards appearance

February 12, 2019
Ismaël Emelien, Macron’s ’closest’ advisor, announces resignation

Ismaël Emelien, Macron’s ’closest’ advisor, announces resignation

February 12, 2019
France fuels worst spat with Italy since the war with fresh ‘leprosy’ comparison

France fuels worst spat with Italy since the war with fresh ‘leprosy’ comparison

February 10, 2019
NGOs Miscellaneous Defense, An India Goverment Story

NGOs Miscellaneous Defense, An India Goverment Story

February 10, 2019
Renault lawyers air ‘serious concerns’ about Nissan methods

Renault lawyers air ‘serious concerns’ about Nissan methods

February 10, 2019
France cannot roar away from their blocks, warns England’s Billy Vunipola

France cannot roar away from their blocks, warns England’s Billy Vunipola

February 10, 2019
Saturday, February 16, 2019
  • World
    • Africa
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Central Asia
    • China
    • Europe
      • France News
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russia
    • Southeast Asia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Freedom
    • American Patriots
      • Founding Fathers
      • Heroines of the Revolution
    • Brigade 2506
    • Free Speech
    • French Resistance
    • Generation Identitaire
    • Heroes
      • Charles Martel
      • William Wallace
    • Heroic Ladies
    • WWII
  • Religion
  • Women & Children
  • Terrorism
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Education
    • Films & TV
    • Food & Drink
    • History
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Racism
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Tourism
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Free Market
    • Industry
  • Politics
    • National Security
    • Law
  • World
    • Africa
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Central Asia
    • China
    • Europe
      • France News
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russia
    • Southeast Asia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Freedom
    • American Patriots
      • Founding Fathers
      • Heroines of the Revolution
    • Brigade 2506
    • Free Speech
    • French Resistance
    • Generation Identitaire
    • Heroes
      • Charles Martel
      • William Wallace
    • Heroic Ladies
    • WWII
  • Religion
  • Women & Children
  • Terrorism
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Education
    • Films & TV
    • Food & Drink
    • History
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Racism
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Tourism
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Free Market
    • Industry
  • Politics
    • National Security
    • Law
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

“TURN: Washington’s Spies” brings American Revolution to Life

January 4, 2017
in American Patriots, Featured, Films & TV, Founding Fathers, Free Speech, Freedom, Heroines of the Revolution, History, United States
0
Home Freedom American Patriots
Post Views: 576

 

TV SERIES REVIEW

Quick—name a spy.

James Bond, right? Yeah, everybody knows good ol’ double-oh-seven. The gadgets, the tuxes, the Walther PPK, the Aston Martins, the vodka martinis. Oh yes, we know quite a bit about him. Which, come to think about it, suggests maybe Bond wasn’t so good at his gig.

But what about Abraham Woodhull? Robert Townsend? Samuel Culper? Were they among the spies you named? If you answered yes, congratulations. Because you’re either an American history major, or you’ve seen AMC’s TURN: Washington’s Spies.

HALT! WHO GOES THERE?

Abraham and Robert are, as you might’ve gathered from the show’s title, spies. Their job? Funneling British secrets to none other than Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War. They sometimes go by the aliases “Samuel Culper Sr.” and “Samuel Culper Jr.” They’re a part of the Culper Ring, a group of dedicated patriots, devious scoundrels and some folks who were a bit of both whose shadowy exploits helped pave the way for Washington’s eventual victory over the British.

Some familiar historical figures (George Washington makes frequent appearances, as does the still-in-good-graces Benedict Arnold) turn up on TURN. But for the most part, the plots and counterplots of this well-regarded AMC show feel as labyrinthine and obscure as the historical espionage that inspired them.

WHAT WOULD WASHINGTON THINK?

TURN may take some dramatic liberties with the historical material it’s based upon. But for the most past, it feelsauthentic. This is no CW historical romance like Reign or, worse yet, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Robert Townsend’s spiritual values—he’s a pacifistic Quaker—are treated with respect, for example.

But despite taking place in a more religious, more genteel time, TURN unpacks thematic elements that would never pass muster at an 18th-century dinner conversation. Many characters, both highborn and low, have out-of-wedlock sexual trysts, and some have longstanding extramarital affairs. When we don’t glimpse these racy interludes, we hear about them. In fact, key plot points sometimes hinge on such couplings. Likewise, the language used here would shock good General Washington. (In 1775, the real Washington issued an order to his new army, which forbade “profane cursing, swearing and drunkeness [sic].”)

And let’s not forget that there’s a war on. People are shot, stabbed and axed, leaving behind barrels of blood. Indeed, some characters positively revel in shedding it.

TURN isn’t the most salacious or violent drama on cable. It’s not even the most problematic spy show airing at the moment. (That would be The Americans.) Still, despite a couple of centuries’ separation from our own era, it depicts a world where James Bond—and all of his worldly habits—would feel right at home.

By: Paul Asay, May 2016, Plugged In, http://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/turn-washingtons-spies/
Tags: American RevolutionBenjamin TallmadgeCulper RingEspionageFreedomGeorge Washington
ShareTweetShare
Next Post
The Declaration of Independence: A History

The Declaration of Independence: A History

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

nine − five =

Translate

Popular Post

Two Suspected Jihadists Extradited to France
Featured

Two Suspected Jihadists Extradited to France

November 4, 2017
2

  Two suspected jihadists were extradited to France on Friday, where they were suspected of being involved in plots to...

Read more
French Property Scheme ‘a Slow-Burning Catastrophe’

French Property Scheme ‘a Slow-Burning Catastrophe’

September 27, 2017
Netflix adds 5 mn subscribers, doubles profit

Netflix adds 5 mn subscribers, doubles profit

November 2, 2017
The Global NGO Campaign Shift

The Global NGO Campaign Shift

August 18, 2013
Australia signs massive sub deal with French firm

Australia signs massive sub deal with French firm

February 12, 2019
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

Laresistance.news is part of La Resistance News LLC, which delivers daily news around the globe.

© 2011. Laresistance.news

No Result
View All Result
  • World
    • Africa
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Central Asia
    • China
    • Europe
      • France News
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russia
    • Southeast Asia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Freedom
    • American Patriots
      • Founding Fathers
      • Heroines of the Revolution
    • Brigade 2506
    • Free Speech
    • French Resistance
    • Generation Identitaire
    • Heroes
      • Charles Martel
      • William Wallace
    • Heroic Ladies
    • WWII
  • Religion
  • Women & Children
  • Terrorism
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Education
    • Films & TV
    • Food & Drink
    • History
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Racism
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Tourism
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Free Market
    • Industry
  • Politics
    • National Security
    • Law

© 2011. Laresistance.news