June 30 (2019-06-30) – August 18, 2019 (2019-08-18)
The Rook is an American television series, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Daniel O'Malley, and originally adapted by Stephenie Meyer. It was ordered direct-to-series at Starz in July 2017.[1] Meyer left the series due to creative differences as the first and second episodes were being filmed.[2] It premiered on June 30, 2019, in the United States on Starz[3] and on July 1, 2019, in the United Kingdom on the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel.[4] On March 4, 2020, Starz confirmed that they had decided not to continue it beyond the original eight episode miniseries.[5]
Premise
Myfanwy Thomas finds herself at Millennium Bridge in London surrounded by dead bodies with no memory of how she came to be there. She soon discovers that she is an agent with supernatural abilities in a British secret service called the Checquy.
Cast
Main
Emma Greenwell as Myfanwy Thomas, a Rook in the inner court of the Checquy
After waking up surrounded by dead bodies and no memory, Myfanwy Thomas is thrown into the world of the Checquy, a paranormal secret service where she's a high-level operative known as a "Rook" and finds that no one can be trusted.
While Myfanwy revisits the crime scene in search of her past, Monica discovers a dark truth about one of the victims. One of Myfanwy's dead attackers disappears from the morgue.
Myfanwy discovers a disturbing clue to her past. Farrier searches for a scapegoat for the bankside murders. Monica goes undercover to attend an EVA auction.
Myfanwy uncovers a twisted relationship with her psychiatrist. Monica searches London with Gestalt for a missing EVA who escaped. Farrier makes a connection with a mysterious prisoner.
Myfanwy and Farrier quickly discover how dangerous life is outside of the Checquy, while Grantchester runs out of options. Myfanwy chooses between her freedom and Farrier's life.
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series received an approval of 44%, and a 5.83/10 average rating from 16 reviews. The critics' consensus states, "Though it teases some appealingly pulpy puzzle pieces, The Rook's dour tone and convoluted machinations overshadow its intriguing premise."[16]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 62 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]
Production
Somerset House features as "Apex House", the Checquy headquarters overlooking the River Thames.[18] The Port of Dover was used in the series when production filmed inside Cruise Terminal Two, outside quayside and along Cruise Terminal.[19]