It's hard not to become immersed in this world of humans and fantasy creatures living side by side in a huge and simmering Victorian-era city. Whereas once all existed peaceably side by side, by the time the story opens conflict has created a very different scenario for all its denizens. Now the faeries, pucks, centaurs, and so on are considered outsiders - and are ghettoized in one unsavory section of the city and used as servants to the Anglo classes. Repression, discrimination and bigotry run rampant; it's hard to miss the political message here, which is ongoing throughout the series.
Against this background are set both a murder mystery and several love stories. Orlando Bloom as a police detective and Cara Delivingne as a faerie do decent acting jobs, but Mr. Bloom seems miscast - this is a part that cries for Cillian Murphy, who has the slightly fey quality this role calls for. The real "couples" chemistry is in fine form with David Gayasi as a puck who somehow struck it rich and Tamzin Merchant, as his counterpart, a wealthy and spoiled young woman whose doll-like face hides a canny mind and a rebellious streak that draws her to the gentlemanly but socially ostracized puck.
All the intertwining stories play out against a dimly lit, rainy environment that suggests both dreariness and fear. The world-building that the production team has built is incredible from the sets to the costumes to the award-worthy make-up. This is a truly dark fantasy that's worth watching. I can't wait for the summer of 2020 for the next season.
Review of Carnival Row
