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Turn: Washington's Spies

{{short description|American historical drama TV series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Turn TV series logo.jpg

| caption =

| genre = Historical drama

| based_on = {{based on|Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring|Alexander Rose}}

| developer = Craig Silverstein

| starring = {{Plainlist|

  • Jamie Bell
  • Seth Numrich
  • Daniel Henshall
  • Heather Lind
  • Meegan Warner
  • Burn Gorman
  • Samuel Roukin
  • Kevin R. McNally
  • Angus Macfadyen
  • JJ Feild
  • Ksenia Solo
  • Ian Kahn{{cite web|title=AMC Revolutionary War Drama 'Turn: Washington's Spies' Begins Production on Season Two in Colonial Williamsburg|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/10/01/amc-revolutionary-war-drama-turn-washingtons-spies-begins-production-on-season-two-in-colonial-williamsburg/309565/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002160848/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/10/01/amc-revolutionary-war-drama-turn-washingtons-spies-begins-production-on-season-two-in-colonial-williamsburg/309565/|archive-date=October 2, 2014|website=TV by the Numbers|access-date=November 27, 2014}}
  • Owain Yeoman{{cite web|title=Turn: Washington's Spies|url=http://www.amctv.com/shows/turn/cast|website=AMC|access-date=March 22, 2015|archive-date=May 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507052540/http://www.amctv.com/shows/turn/cast|url-status=live}}
  • Nick Westrate

}}

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme = "Hush" performed by Joy Williams, Matt Berninger, and Charlie Peacock

| endtheme =

| composer = Marco Beltrami
Brandon Roberts

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 4

| num_episodes = 40

| list_episodes = List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| producer = Larry Rapaport
Mitchell Amstrad
LaToya Morgan
Alexander Rose

| location = Richmond, Virginia, Williamsburg, Virginia, Yorktown, Virginia, Petersburg, Virginia

| cinematography = Lol Crawley ("Pilot")
Marvin V. Rush
Scott Peck

| editor = Andrew Seklir
Harry B. Miller III
David Lebowitz
Ian E. Silverstein

| camera =

| runtime = 41–47 minutes
54 minutes ("Washington's Spies")
64 minutes ("Pilot")

| company = AMC Studios
Sesfonstein Productions
Josephson Entertainment

| network = AMC

| first_aired = {{Start date|2014|4|6}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2017|8|12}}

| related =

| alt = The new title for the series, which shows the words "TURN: Washington's Spies" (with a backwards "n") in black text on a white background.

}}

Turn: Washington's Spies (originally titled Turn and stylized as TURИ: Washington's Spies) is an American period drama television series based on Alexander Rose's book Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring (2007),{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=TCA: AMC Picks Up 'Halt & Catch Fire' & 'Turn' To Series|url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/tca-amc-picks-up-halt-catch-fire-turn-to-series-550123/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 26, 2014|access-date=August 7, 2013|archive-date=June 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624120414/http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/tca-amc-picks-up-halt-catch-fire-turn-to-series/|url-status=live}} a history of the Culper Ring. The series originally aired on the AMC network for four seasons, from April 6, 2014, to August 12, 2017.{{cite web|last=Bibel|first=Sara|title=AMC Announces Premiere Dates for Final Season of 'Mad Men', 'Better Call Saul', 'Turn' & More|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/11/amc-announces-premiere-dates-for-final-season-of-mad-men-better-call-saul-turn-more/228552/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111191309/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/11/amc-announces-premiere-dates-for-final-season-of-mad-men-better-call-saul-turn-more/228552/|archive-date=January 11, 2014|website=TV by the Numbers|date=January 11, 2014|access-date=January 11, 2014}}

Plot

The story covers events from 1776 to 1781 and features a farmer from Setauket, New York, and his childhood friends. They form an unlikely group of spies called the Culper Ring, which eventually helps to turn the tide during the American Revolutionary War. The series begins in October 1776, shortly after British victories, recapturing of Long Island and the Port of New York for the Crown, leaving General George Washington's army in dire straits. The first episode opens with the following introductory text:

Autumn 1776. Insurgents have declared war against the Crown. Following a successful naval landing, His Majesty's Army has forced Washington's rebels into the wilderness. New York City serves as military base of operations for the British. The Loyalists of nearby Long Island keep vigilant watch out for sympathizers and spies.

Cast

=Main cast=

=Recurring cast=

  • Idara Victor as Abigail, code named Agent 355{{cite web |last1=Deerwester |first1=Jayme |title='Turn: Washington's Spies' finale: What became of all the characters? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/08/13/turn-washingtons-spies-finale-what-became-all-characters/561942001/ |website=USA Today |date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813213543/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/08/13/turn-washingtons-spies-finale-what-became-all-characters/561942001/ |url-status=live }}
  • Darren Alford as Cicero
  • Andrew McKeough as John Carter
  • Talmadge Ragan as Woman in Crowd
  • Robert Beitzel as Selah B. Strong (seasons 1, 4)
  • Jonny Coyne as Colonel Jonathan Cooke (seasons 1, 3–4)
  • Brian T. Finney as General Charles Lee (seasons 1–2)
  • David Furr as Walter Havens (seasons 1, 4)
  • Michael Gaston as General Charles Scott (season 1)
  • Amy Gumenick as Philomena Cheer (season 1, season 3–4)
  • Jamie Harris as John Robeson (seasons 1–3)
  • Aldis Hodge as Jordan/Akinbode (seasons 1–2, 4)
  • Thomas Keegan as Ensign Baker (season 1)
  • Alex Miller as Colonel Joseph Reed (seasons 1–2)
  • Taylor Roberts as Rachel Clark (seasons 1–2)
  • Stephen Root as Nathaniel Sackett (seasons 1–2)
  • Gentry White as William Lee (seasons 2–3)
  • John Billingsley as Samuel Townsend (seasons 2–3)
  • Ralph Brown as General Henry Clinton (seasons 2–4)
  • Stuart Greer as Officer Yates (season 2)
  • Josh Price as Freddy Morgan (seasons 2–4)
  • Brian Wiles as Marquis de Lafayette (seasons 2–4)
  • Lilli Birdsell as Martha Washington (seasons 3–4)
  • John Carroll Lynch as James Rivington (seasons 3–4)
  • Sean Haggerty as Colonel Alexander Hamilton (seasons 3–4)
  • Adam J. Harrington as Lieutenant Gamble (seasons 2–3)
  • Edward Akrout as Amos Parker (season 4)
  • Kelly AuCoin as Hercules Mulligan (season 4)
  • Chris Webster as John Champe (season 4)
  • Dylan Saunders as Joseph Sturridge (season 4)
  • Mark Halpern as Lieutenant Appleton (seasons 1, 4)
  • Laura Meakin as Hesther Carney (season 4)
  • Ashley Smith as Lieutenant/Captain Wakefield (Seasons 1-4)

Episodes

{{main|List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes}}

{{:List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes}}

Production

Turn: Washington's Spies was renewed for a second 10-episode season on June 23, 2014,{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amc-renews-turn-a-second-714093|title=AMC Renews 'Turn' for a Second Season|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014|archive-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202357/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amc-renews-turn-a-second-714093|url-status=live}} which premiered on April 13, 2015,{{Cite news|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/amc-expanding-monday-push-sets-season-2-of-turn-for-night-1201439935/|title=AMC Expanding Monday Push, Sets Season 2 of 'Turn' For Night|last=Kissell|first=Rick|date=February 23, 2015|access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815002410/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/amc-expanding-monday-push-sets-season-2-of-turn-for-night-1201439935/|url-status=live}} and for a third 10-episode season on July 15, 2015, which premiered on April 25, 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/turn-renewed-by-amc-808928|title=AMC Renews 'Turn' for Third Season|work=Hollywood Reporter|last=Stanhope|first=Kate|date=July 15, 2015|access-date=July 15, 2015|archive-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202440/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/turn-renewed-by-amc-808928|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2016/01/first-look-at-turn-washingtons-spies-season-3-premiering-april-25-at-109c|title=First-Look Photo and Premiere Date Released for TURN: Washington's Spies Season 3|website=AMC|date=January 8, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019175333/http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2016/01/first-look-at-turn-washingtons-spies-season-3-premiering-april-25-at-109c|url-status=live}} On July 26, 2016, Turn: Washington's Spies was renewed for a fourth and final 10-episode season, which had a two-hour premiere on June 17, 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2016/07/turn-washingtons-spies-renewed-for-season-4|title=TURN: Washington's Spies Renewed for Season 4|website=AMC|date=July 26, 2016|access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330160131/https://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2016/07/turn-washingtons-spies-renewed-for-season-4|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2017/04/turn-washingtons-spies-returns-to-finish-the-fight-in-its-final-season-on-saturday-|title=TURN: Washington's Spies Returns to "Finish the Fight" in Its Final Season on Saturday, June 17|website=AMC|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017}}

Reception

= Critical response =

{{Television critical response

| link1 = List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes#Season 1 (2014)

| rotten_tomatoes1 = 54% (39 reviews)

| metacritic1 = 62 (35 reviews)

| link2 = List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes#Season 2 (2015)

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 90% (10 reviews)

| metacritic2 = 68 (4 reviews)

| link3 = List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes#Season 3 (2016)

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 100% (5 reviews)

| link4 = List of Turn: Washington's Spies episodes#Season 4 (2017)

| rotten_tomatoes4 = 80% (5 reviews)

}}

The first season of Turn: Washington's Spies received mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes rated the season 54%, based on 39 reviews, with an average rating of 6.30/10. The site's consensus reads, "Turn{{'}}s uneven treatment of the American Revolution is more frustrating than exciting and memorable."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/turn/s01/|title=Turn: Season 1 (2014)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123130552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/turn/s01|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, the first season scored 62 out of 100, based on reviews from 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/turn |title=Turn: Season 1 |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416031329/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/turn |url-status=live }}

The second season received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 90%, based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.40/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "The revolution gains steam in an improved second season that delivers on the series' promise of espionage thrills along with an expanded historical grandeur."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/turn/s02/ |title=Turn: Season 2 (2015)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 19, 2021}} On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on reviews from 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/turn/season-2 |title=Turn: Season 2 |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 19, 2021}}

On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season has a rating of 100%, based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 8.00/10{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/turn/s03 |title=Turn: Season 3 (2016)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 19, 2021}} and the fourth season has a rating of 80% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7.60/10.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/turn/s04|title=Turn: Season 4 (2017)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728213533/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/turn/s04|url-status=live}}

=Awards and nominations=

{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}

{{more citations needed section|date=June 2017}}

The first season of TURN: Washington's Spies was awarded the 2014 Media & Entertainment Award by the Daughters of the American Revolution.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.amctv.com/turn/photo-galleries/turn-dar-media-entertainment-award-ceremony/ |title=TURN 2014 DAR Media & Entertainment Award Ceremony |website=AMC |access-date=August 1, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221524/http://blogs.amctv.com/turn/photo-galleries/turn-dar-media-entertainment-award-ceremony/ |url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:0.3%;" | Year

! scope="col" style="width:15%;"| Award

! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Category

! scope="col" style="width:22%;"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col" style="width:22%;"| Episode(s)

! scope="col" style="width:7%;"| Result

2014

|Media & Entertainment Award

| —

| —

| —

|{{won}}

2015

|Location Managers Guild Awards

|Outstanding Locations in Period Television

|Tom Trigo and Becky Beckstoffer

| —

|{{nom}}

rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 2016

|Golden Reel Award

|Best Sound Editing - Short Form Sound Effects and Foley in Television

|George Haddad, Chad J. Hughes, Angelo Palazzo, Darrin Mann, Gregg Baxter, Catherine Harper and Matthew Thomas Hall

|"Gunpowder, Treason and Plot"

|{{nom}}

NAACP Image Award

|Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series

|LaToya Morgan

|"False Flag"

|{{nom}}

SXSW Film Festival

|Excellence in Title Design

|Michael Riley, Bob Swensen, Aaron Bjork and Eddie Moreno

| —

|{{nom}}

2017

|NAACP Image Award

|Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series

|LaToya Morgan

|"Benediction"

|{{nom}}

Home media

The first season of TURN: Washington's Spies was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 17, 2015 by Starz Entertainment;{{Cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=15852|website=Blu-Ray.com|title=Turn: Washington's Spies - The Complete First Season Blu-ray|date=January 14, 2015|access-date=January 15, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203018/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=15852|url-status=live}} it became available on Netflix on March 25, 2015. The second season was released on DVD on March 22, 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7375/turn-washingtons-spies|title=TURN: Washington's Spies DVD Release Date|website=DVDs Release Dates|language=en-US|access-date=March 16, 2016|archive-date=March 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314083803/http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7375/turn-washingtons-spies|url-status=live}} and became available on Netflix on April 11, 2016. The third season was released on DVD on November 8, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Turn-Washingtons-Spies-The-Complete-Third-Season-DVD/127553//|title=Turn: Washington's Spies: The Complete Third Season DVD|website=Blu-ray.com|date=September 11, 2016|access-date=September 11, 2016}} and became available on Netflix on June 4, 2017. The fourth season became available on Netflix on December 1, 2017. The series departed Netflix after four years in December 2021.{{cite web|title='Turn: Washington's Spies' Leaving Netflix in December 2021|url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/leaving-soon/turn-washingtons-spies-leaving-netflix-in-december-2021/|website=What's on Netflix|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=October 24, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024002414/https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/leaving-soon/turn-washingtons-spies-leaving-netflix-in-december-2021/|url-status=live}} The fourth season still has not been released on DVD and Blu-ray. A Complete Series (Season 1-4) boxset has yet to be released in the US.

Comics

On March 26, 2014, AMC released the digital comic TURN: Origins, illustrated by Steve Ellis, that portrays childhood and adulthood events from the lives of several of the series' main characters, including Abraham Woodhull, Benjamin Tallmadge, Anna Strong, and Caleb Brewster.{{cite web|title=TURN: Origins Comic Now Online|website=AMC-TV|date=March 26, 2014|author=Lee, Dayton|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2014/03/turn-origins-comic-now-online|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-date=December 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230154701/https://www.amc.com/shows/turn/talk/2014/03/turn-origins-comic-now-online}}{{cite book|title=TURN: Origins|date=March 26, 2014|author=Ellis, Steve (illustrator)|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/exclusives/origins-comic-book}}

On April 10 and April 15, 2015, AMC released the first and second chapters, respectively, of a second digital comic, TURN: Rivals, that portrays the past rivalry of George Washington and Robert Rogers.{{cite web|last=Bell|first=Shavonne|title=10 Ways to Get Ready for the TURN: Washington's Spies Season 2 Premiere|url=http://blogs.amctv.com/turn/2015/04/10-ways-to-get-ready-for-the-turn-washingtons-spies-season-2-premiere/|website=AMC-TV|date=April 10, 2015|access-date=April 10, 2015|archive-date=April 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414014940/http://blogs.amctv.com/turn/2015/04/10-ways-to-get-ready-for-the-turn-washingtons-spies-season-2-premiere|url-status=dead}}{{cite book |title=Rivals |author=Neuman, Clayton |author2=Morgan, LaToya |author3=Hunt, Chris |author4=Colden, Kevin |author5=Plummer, Shay |author6=Lindemann, Karl |url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/exclusives/rivals-comic-book |date=April 10, 2015 |edition=Online comic book |access-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511000840/http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/exclusives/rivals-comic-book |url-status=live }}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.amc.com/shows/turn-2--122}}
  • Comics series:
  • {{cite book|title=TURN: Origins|date=March 26, 2014|author=Steve Ellis (illustrator)|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/turn/exclusives/origins-comic-book}}
  • {{IMDb title|2543328}}
  • {{TV Guide|634433}}

{{AMC Shows}}

{{George Washington}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:TURN: Washington's Spies}}

Category:2010s American drama television series

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Category:American biographical series

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Category:Cultural depictions of George Washington

Category:Cultural depictions of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

Category:Cultural depictions of Benedict Arnold

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