ITV's "Jekyll and Hyde" is a hero whose split personality causes him to vacillate as to whether he will side with the evil supernatural creatures prowling London in the 1930s, or the police authorities out to defeat them.
Stuff.co.nz describes how series producer Charlie Higson re-imagined the famous character written by Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Jekyll (Tom Bateman) is a British nobleman born and raised in colonial Ceylon. Summoned back home to receive his inheritance, he finds that he also is the heir to his grandfather's bi-polar disorder, temperamental outbursts, and ability to occasionally transform into a werewolf. Robert eventually lets loose, too, and the only thing that can keep his Hyde under control is a mysterious healing plant given him by his Ceylonese friends.
Hyde is not the only 'monster' at loose in London, though. Stuff.co.nz mentions the appearance of mutants, demons, and other things that go bump in the night. These creatures are tryng to seduce Hyde to join the dark side, while the secret service (Richard E. Grant) is appealing to Jekyll's conscience to use his powers to fight for the Empire.
Pop Matters cautions that the show might devolve into a 'monster of the week' type, although it commends it from staying true to its gothic roots.
According to OneMK, Robert's conflicted nature has not yet been resolved as season 1 nears its end. He is frantically in search of his brother Ravi who has been infected by an evil creature. London police are also looking for Ravi, but they are not hesitant to use lethal force to stop him. This is the kind of dilemma that just might force Robert to make that ultimate, irrevocable decision on whose side he will join.
"Jekyll and Hyde" airs on ITV every Sunday from 7 to 8 PM.
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