In the bustling fantasy terrain of television, it is easy to overlook the lesser-known gems that stand out from the crowd. One such series is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, a British miniseries from 2015 that showcases a distinctive approach to magic and a charming narrative. Based on the novel of the same name by Susanna Clarke, the show is set in the Regency era, where magic is treated as a serious field of study, exploring themes of friendship, love, ambition, and the boundaries of human knowledge.
The story begins with a prophecy written in the book of the Raven King, which foretells the arrival of two magicians in England to restore magic to its rightful place. The show delves into the world of magic, where two men, Mr. Norrell, a reclusive scholar who prefers the company of his books, and Jonathan Strange, a daring novice spellcaster, use magic to aid England during the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
Clarke’s worldbuilding is masterfully adapted for television by Peter Harness and Toby Haynes, presenting a unique take on magic that is not confined to a parallel universe or a completely different world. Instead, it recreates the history that we know so well but with a twist that alters everything. The show’s world is one where magic coexists with our own world, but also imagines other worlds that intersect with our own, where magic forms the core of their existence.
The main antagonist of the show, The Gentleman, a cunning fae, finds his way into our world when Mr. Norrell summons him to help bring Lady Emma Pole, the untimely deceased young wife of a nobleman, back to life. However, what The Gentleman truly does is imprison Emma in her sleep in a never-ending ball in the fae world, forcing her to dance non-stop.
A Still From Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Photo: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell)
Throughout the series, the show does not shy away from exploring classic fantasy themes, such as the intersection between our world and this other world, presented in a frequently understated manner. The special effects of scenes such as the summoning of the sand horses to protect the English coast from the Spanish Armada are still breathtaking, leaving the viewer in awe at what can only be described as a very specific sort of magic achieved through computer-generated imagery.
However, it is not through its special effects or its approach to magic that Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell wins over the viewer. The show is also a very human drama about broken friendships, love, ambition, greed, and other human experiences. It is about Strange trying to rescue Arabella from a dire fate, about Arabella, Emma, and Stephen banding together to make their lives less terrifying, about Mr. Norrell’s fear that someone will take away the only thing that ever made him special.
Most importantly, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is about how we, as humans, perceive knowledge. The show’s titular characters each represent an approach to knowledge that can be magical, scientific, or anything else. Jonathan believes it should be widely available and used for the greater good, while Mr. Norrell wants to keep it locked behind closed doors. Ultimately, both of these men fail in their mission because they simply cannot accept that there is a limit to what they can do with their knowledge: Mr. Norrell unleashes an ancient evil upon the world, while Jonathan is driven mad by trying to fight forces beyond his control.
