Talk:The Frankenstein Chronicles

Gothic

This series most definitely fits into the 'gothic' genre category. Not only does it tell a story that adapts ideas from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (one of the most well known gothic novels), it also meets several of the criteria for gothic fiction, for example:

• Mystery and suspense - It's a crime drama where the hero is investigating a bizarre murder
• Gloomy atmosphere - The series depicts a gloomy and dingy London of 1827 (A time when the gothic genre is still in full swing)
• The supernatural - Corpses are reanimated
• Medieval architecture and ruins - The main antagonist's headquarters include a medieval monastery and ruins.
• Omens, dreams and visions - The main character is haunted by visions
• The virginal maiden - The love interest, Lady Hervey
• Bandits/ruffians - Pritty, Billy Oates, the Bishops

Moreover, these reviews/articles all refer to the series as being a 'gothic crime drama', or they make mention of gothic elements: Den of Geek, Metro, AV Club, Wyza, PopMatters and Stack.49.188.11.201 (talk) 02:39, 16 March 2018 (UTC)

Thanks for contributing. Its really important to remember that, in Wikipedia, the opinions or personal deductions of the editor carries no weight. At all. All that matters int he article is the presence of sources. Your assertion of the series being gothic was primarily driven by your pointing out aspects of its gothic-ness, which are well thought out...and completely immaterial. It would be like me pointing out that Marlott's visions are likely based entirely upon his secondary-stage syphilis as well as the mercury poisoning/treatment. As I am not citable, it isn't usable in the article. However, a source noting that (like here) would allow it to be noted in the article.

Now, your sources - that's another thing altogether. Of these, most of them name the series as gothic (except for AV club which notes that the series is drawn from Shelley's gothic novel). I'd point out that not only is this genre not discussed within the entire body of the article (and should, since the Lede is just an overview of the article), but other sources call it something else:

• "It’s a fantasy piece, but footed in the real world.” - Benjamin Ross (creator)¹
• "this Frankenstein re-imagined period crime drama"²
• "a solid, strong-boned detective story."³
• "period mystery crime drama"..."fantasy interwoven with history"⁴
• "the gothic horror and Nordic Noir influences"5

The list goes on, but I am hoping you get the point. While some call it gothic many, many others call it something else, ranging from fantasy, horror and period crime drama - with the latter being most prevalaent.

Thoughts? - Jack Sebastian (talk) 05:35, 16 March 2018 (UTC)

I'm happy for the lede to say "British television gothic period crime drama series", but that seems a little bit ungainly. And I feel like the 'periodness' of the show is already implicit in the 'gothic' label. 49.188.11.201 (talk) 07:05, 16 March 2018 (UTC)

You're right; all of that is ungainly. I decided to take a look at how some Featured Articles had constructed their Ledes; they are the supposed exemplars of our articles, after all. The show, Carnivàle is also a period piece that has a lot of genre types floating around in it, and seems a good template upon which to build one here.

How about:

"The Frankenstein Chronicles is a British crime drama serial first broadcast on ITV Encore on 11 November 2015. Set in London during the early 1800's the program ontaining elements of fantasy and gothic horror and was designed as a re-imagining of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. The serial follows the investigation by Inspector John Marlott (portrayed by Sean Bean), who investigates the discovery of a corpse made up of body parts from eight missing children and how his investigation eventually encompasses himself, as he learns who is responsible. The series stars Sean Bean (who also serves as associate producer) and co-stars Tom Ward as Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel and Anna Maxwell Martin as author Mary Shelley. The first series consists of six episodes which opened to critical acclaim[2] and drew an average 250,000 viewers per episode."

- Jack Sebastian (talk) 17:17, 17 March 2018 (UTC)

Anachronisms

Boz, the pen-name of Charles Dickens, was born in 1812 and would have been fifteen in 1827, the year the real Dickens went to work as junior clerk in the office of Ellis and Blackmore, where he, incidentally, learnt shorthand. I find no evidence of the Anatomy Act being passed by the Lower House in 1827, although a select committee was established to look into the question in 1828. The act was passed in 1832. Robert Peel resigned as Home Secretary in 1827, but returned to office in 1828. It was in this second term as Home Secretary that he established the Metropolitan Police. The visionary poet, William Blake, did indeed die in 1827, but whether Mary Shelley frequented his circle is a matter of conjecture. Mary Shelley was indeed courted by a Thomas Hogg and they coauthored a book. The real Hogg though lived to be seventy, dying in 1862. The other Hogg who comes to mind is James Hogg, who continues to be remembered for his The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. He too was in contact with London literary circles, although not necessarily with Blake or Shelley. He lived until 1835. Everybody got to be somewhere! (talk) 17:40, 23 November 2018 (UTC)

Little easter egg

In the first episode, one of the characters Mr Pritty is whilst collecting a freshly arrived body whistling the theme tune from Sean Bean's previous period drama: Sharpe in a more allegro than the song in Sharpe is performed... thought that would interest the Sharpe fans.

92.20.123.203 (talk) 22:00, 8 August 2021 (UTC)