The Rook (miniseries)

The Rook is an American television series, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Daniel O'Malley, and originally adapted by Stephenie Meyer. It was ordered direct-to-series at Starz in July 2017.[1] Meyer left the series due to creative differences as the first and second episodes were being filmed.[2] It premiered on June 30, 2019 in the United States on Starz[3] and on July 1, 2019 in the United Kingdom on the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel.[4] On March 4, 2020, Starz confirmed that they had decided not to continue it beyond the original eight episode miniseries.[5]

The Rook
GenreDrama
Based onThe Rook
by Daniel O'Malley
Written by
  • Sam Holcroft
  • Al Muriel
Directed byKari Skogland
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Kari Skogland
  • Karyn Usher
  • Lisa Zwerling
  • Meghan Hibbett
  • Stephen Garrett
  • Stephenie Meyer
Producers
  • Sam Holcroft
  • Al Muriel
Production locationLondon
Production companies
Release
Original networkStarz
Original releaseJune 30 (2019-06-30) –
August 18, 2019 (2019-08-18)

Premise

Myfanwy Thomas finds herself at Millennium Bridge in London surrounded by dead bodies with no memory of how she came to be there. She soon discovers that she is an agent with supernatural abilities in a British secret service called the Checquy.

Cast

Main
  • Emma Greenwell as Myfanwy Thomas, a Rook in the inner court of the Checquy
  • Joely Richardson as Linda Farrier, the King in the Checquy
  • Jon Fletcher as Teddy and Alex Gestalt, two of the four bodies sharing one mind, the Rook Gestalt
  • Ronan Raftery as Robert Gestalt, a third body of the Rook Gestalt
  • Catherine Steadman as Eliza Gestalt, a fourth body of the Rook Gestalt
  • Adrian Lester as Conrad Grantchester, the Queen in the Checquy
  • Olivia Munn as Monica Reed, an agent from the American BVA, a Checquy sister agency

Recurring
  • Ruth Madeley as Ingrid Woodhouse, a Pawn in the Checquy
  • Shelley Conn as Danielle Wulff, a Chevalier in the Checquy, their PR expert
  • Gina McKee as Jennifer Birch, senior UK Government Minister responsible for the Checquy
  • Barry Atsma as Peter Van Syoc
  • Luke Roberts as Marcus Kevler
  • Michael McElhatton as Lorik, a senior representative of the Lugate
  • Aidan O'Callaghan as Apex Analyst
  • Tamsin Topolski as Bronwyn, Myfanwy's sister
  • James D'Arcy as Andrew Bristol, a former therapist for the Checquy
  • Michael Karim as Nazim, an EVA with the ability to erase people's memory

Episodes
No.TitleDirected by [6]Written by [6]Original air date [7]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Chapter 1"Kari SkoglandAl Blyth & Sam HolcroftJune 30, 2019 (2019-06-30)0.307[8]
After waking up surrounded by dead bodies and no memory, Myfanwy Thomas is thrown into the world of the Checquy, a paranormal secret service where she's a high-level operative known as a "Rook" and finds that no one can be trusted.
2"Chapter 2"Kari SkoglandAl Blyth & Sam HolcroftJuly 7, 2019 (2019-07-07)0.288[9]
While Myfanwy revisits the crime scene in search of her past, Monica discovers a dark truth about one of the victims. One of Myfanwy's dead attackers disappears from the morgue.
3"Chapter 3"China Moo-YoungFrancesca GardinerJuly 14, 2019 (2019-07-14)0.228[10]
Myfanwy discovers a disturbing clue to her past. Farrier searches for a scapegoat for the bankside murders. Monica goes undercover to attend an EVA auction.
4"Chapter 4"Sunu GoneraAl Blyth & Sam HolcroftJuly 21, 2019 (2019-07-21)0.220[11]
Myfanwy uncovers a twisted relationship with her psychiatrist. Monica searches London with Gestalt for a missing EVA who escaped. Farrier makes a connection with a mysterious prisoner.
5"Chapter 5"China Moo-YoungAl Blyth & Sam HolcroftJuly 28, 2019 (2019-07-28)0.216[12]
Myfanwy and Monica work to extricate a young EVA, whild Gestalt's suspicions of Myfanwy lead to a confrontation.
6"Chapter 6"Sunu GoneraFrancesca GardinerAugust 4, 2019 (2019-08-04)0.157[13]
Myfanwy returns to her childhood home. Farrier faces consequences at the Checquy. Monica copes with the discovery that she was betrayed by Marcus.
7"Prologue"Rebecca JohnsonAl Blyth & Sam HolcroftAugust 11, 2019 (2019-08-11)0.190[14]
After a terrifying prophency, Myfanwy's desperation leads her to place her trust in a powerful enemy.
8"Chapter 8"China Moo-YoungKaryn Usher & Lisa ZwerlingAugust 18, 2019 (2019-08-18)0.192[15]
Myfanwy and Farrier quickly discover how dangerous life is outside of the Checquy, while Grantchester runs out of options. Myfanwy chooses between her freedom and Farrier's life.

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series received an approval of 44%, and a 5.83/10 average rating from 16 reviews. The critics' consensus states, "Though it teases some appealingly pulpy puzzle pieces, The Rook's dour tone and convoluted machinations overshadow its intriguing premise."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 62 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]

Production

Somerset House features as "Apex House", the Checquy headquarters overlooking the River Thames.[18] The Port of Dover was used in the series when production filmed inside Cruise Terminal Two, outside quayside and along Cruise Terminal.[19]

References
  1. Clarke, Stewart (July 28, 2017). "Starz Orders Drama 'The Rook' From Stephenie Meyer and Lionsgate". Variety. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (June 1, 2018). "'The Rook': Lisa Zwerling & Karyn Usher Join As Showrunners, EP Stephenie Meyer Exits Starz Spy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  3. Petski, Denise (May 8, 2019). "'The Rook' Gets Season 1 Premiere Date On Starz". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  4. "First look at The Rook". Virgin TV Edit. May 20, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  5. Roots, Kimberly (March 4, 2020). "The Rook Cancelled at Starz". TVLine. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  6. "The Rook – Crew". Starz. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  7. "The Rook – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  8. Metcalf, Mitch (July 2, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.30.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  9. Metcalf, Mitch (July 10, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.7.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  10. Metcalf, Mitch (July 16, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.14.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  11. Metcalf, Mitch (July 23, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.21.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  12. Metcalf, Mitch (July 30, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.28.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  13. Metcalf, Mitch (August 6, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.4.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  14. Metcalf, Mitch (August 13, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.11.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  15. Metcalf, Mitch (August 20, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.18.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  16. "The Rook: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  17. "The Rook: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  18. Sarner, Lauren (June 27, 2019). "'The Rook' star Emma Greenwell had amnesia just like her character". New York Post.
  19. Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office The Rook article".
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