Damnation (TV series)
A preacher and a Pinkerton detective are estranged brothers in Depression-era America.
Damnation is an American period drama television series co-produced by Universal Cable Productions and Netflix. It aired on USA Network in the United States and was streamed by Netflix internationally. The series premiered on November 7, 2017, and was cancelled after one season.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Period drama
- Creator
- Tony Tost
- Composer
- Adam Taylor
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 10
- Executive producers
- Tony Tost
- Guymon Casady
- Daniel Rappaport
- James Mangold
- David Mackenzie
- Gillian Berrie
- Adam Kane
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Set in 1931 during the Great Depression, the series follows Seth Davenport, a man with a violent past who poses as a preacher to rally townsfolk against greedy industrialists and corrupt bankers. He is opposed by Creeley Turner, an ex-con and Pinkerton detective brought in to stop the strike. Unbeknownst to others, Seth and Creeley are estranged brothers.
Background
The story is based on the Farmers' Holiday Association farm strike in early 1930s Iowa, particularly events in Plymouth County and its seat Le Mars beginning in May 1932. The coal miners' strike in Kentucky known as the Harlan County War also informs the plot, with historical figures Sheriff J. H. Blair and Florence Reece appearing; Reece's song "Which Side Are You On?" is performed in the second episode. The Pinkerton Detective Agency and the William J. Burns International Detective Agency, both real strikebreaking agencies, are featured. The Black Legion vigilante group is based on the 1930s paramilitary organization of the same name that targeted labor organizers and minorities.
Cast
Killian Scott plays Seth Davenport, an enigmatic preacher behind the strikes. Logan Marshall-Green portrays Creeley Turner, Seth's older brother and a Pinkerton detective. Sarah Jones is Amelia Davenport, Seth's politically radical wife who writes sermons under the alias Dr. Samuel T. Hopkins. Chasten Harmon plays Bessie Louvin, an African American prostitute hired as Creeley's secretary. Melinda Page Hamilton plays Connie Nunn, a murderous agent of the William J. Burns International Detective Agency. Joe Adler is D. L. Sullivan, a reporter sympathetic to the labor crusade. Paul Rae plays Melvin Stubbs, a food distributor and Black Legion grandmaster. Phillipa Domville is Martha Riley, widow of the strike's late leader. David Haysom plays Deputy Sheriff Raymond Berryman. Dan Donohue is Calvin Rumple, a corrupt banker. Tom Butler plays Burt Babbage, the newspaper editor. Juan Javier Cardenas is Lew Nez, a childhood friend wanted for bank robbery. Arnold Pinnock plays Victor, an African American dairy farmer and WWI veteran. Teach Grant is Preston Riley. Gabriel Mann plays Martin Eggers Hyde, a fixer for the Duvall family. Zach McGowan is Tennyson Duvall, an art-loving heir. Timothy V. Murphy plays Gram Turner, Seth and Creeley's cruel father. Bradley Stryker is Tanner Phillips, a Black Legion leader. Rohan Mead plays Sam Riley Jr.
Reception
Reviews were positive to mixed. Alan Sepinwall noted the show's complex female characters. Emily St. James praised the researched setting and point of view, though found the series slow-moving. Alexis Gunderson compared Damnation favorably to Netflix's Godless for interrogating capitalism and racism. Mark Dawidziak wrote it felt like a collaboration between John Steinbeck and Dashiell Hammett with thematic relevance to 2017. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 64% approval rating from critics (average 6.36/10 based on 25 reviews) and a 91% user rating (average 4.5/5 based on 272 reviews), with the consensus stating the show's complex character-driven mystery is intriguing but occasionally feels like homework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Damnation (TV series)?
Damnation was created by Tony Tost.
When did Damnation (TV series) end?
Damnation last aired on 18 January 2018.
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