Network: BBC America
Episodes: 23 (hour)
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: August 19, 2012 — September 22, 2013
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Tom Weston-Jones, Kyle Schmid, Ato Essandoh, Tessa Thompson, Kevin Ryan, Tanya Fischer, Dylan Taylor, Ron White, David Keeley, Franka Potente, Anastasia Griffith, and Kiara Glasco.
TV show description:
This crime drama TV series is set in 1864 in New York City and is filled with intrigue, corruption, mystery and murder.
Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones) is an Irish-American former boxer who became a police detective. He returns from the Civil War to find that his wife is missing and his daughter is dead. Corcoran struggles to walk a straight line in New York City’s notoriously crooked Five Points neighborhood. Desperate to learn the truth about what happened to his family, he dedicates himself to seeking justice for the powerless and overlooked. He also finds himself thrust into the contrasting worlds of elegant and corrupt Fifth Avenue, and the emerging African-American community in Northern Manhattan.
Corcoran shares a secret from the battlefield with Robert Morehouse and Doctor Matthew Freeman that inextricably links their lives together. As he did in the Union Army, Corcoran proves intelligent, valiant and tenacious — stopping at nothing to bring those responsible to justice.
A handsome bon vivant and part of the Manhattan aristocracy, Robert Morehouse (Kyle Schmid) and Corcoran were mustered out of the 71st Regiment together. Though raised in a life of privilege, Morehouse was changed by the war and now sees the lower class as his equals — much to his father’s dismay. Spending more time drinking and cavorting with prostitutes than making a name for himself in the business world, Morehouse consistently falls short of his dad’s expectations.
An African-American physician, Doctor Matthew Freeman (Ato Essandoh) was Morehouse’s valet during the Civil War. When called upon, Freeman now assists Corcoran in murder investigations though receives no credit for his contribution. Freeman practices modern scientific methods of deduction, but precinct superiors believe this to be Corcoran’s work and he doesn’t tell them otherwise.
Freeman is devoted to his wife Sara (Tessa Thompson) whose two brothers were lynched during the Draft Riots. She’s left emotionally scarred, refuses to leave her house, and convinces her husband to leave Five Points in hopes of finding security in the African-American community of Carmansville in Northern Manhattan.
Detective Francis Maguire (Kevin Ryan) is Corcoran’s closest friend and his partner in the Sixth Precinct. Maguire assists Corcoran in his search for his missing wife, as well as in navigating the underground criminal world of Five Points. Though he cares deeply for those closest to him, Maguire possesses a quick temper and occasionally loses control. Enamored with Molly Stuart (Tanya Fischer), Maguire harbors a desire to settle down and marry the ambitious courtesan.
Flirtatious and beautiful, Molly works at at Eva’s Paradise and entertains several gentlemen from both Uptown and Five Points. Her big heart and free-spirited nature can embroil her in others’ affairs and, despite her taboo career choice, Molly possesses a deep sense of right and wrong.
Detective Andrew O’Brien (Dylan Taylor) is a colleague and companion to Corcoran and Maguire. Often teased about his acquiescence to his overbearing wife, he is fiercely loyal to his family and friends.
Captain of the Sixth Precinct, Ciaran Joseph Sullivan (Ron White) is more concerned about his reputation in the public eye than seeking justice for victims. Sullivan questions how the kingpins of New York society will be affected by the results of the tenacious Corcoran’s investigations.
Sergeant Padraic Byrnes (David Keeley) is a corrupt cop within the ranks of the Sixth Precinct and takes delight in thwarting Corcoran. He plays both sides of the law by manipulating Captain Sullivan as well as victims and criminals.
With a saloon and brothel located in the center of Five Points, Eva Heissen (Franka Potente), the Madame of Eva’s Paradise, is a shrewd businesswoman. A long list of patrons — including many coppers from the Sixth Precinct — help Eva maintain control over her employees with stern precision. Despite her tough-as-nails exterior, she shows her gentler side when she is with Corcoran — who finds comfort in Eva’s arms while his heart yearns for his missing wife.
Sophisticated, spirited and intoxicatingly beautiful, Elizabeth Haverford (Anastasia Griffith) is more than a mindless debutante. Far more business-savvy and politically astute than the other society ladies of Fifth Avenue, Elizabeth seeks to use her wealth and influence to improve the lives of others -– despite how it’s perceived by the rest of New York’s upper class. Though she meets Corcoran under horrific circumstances, Elizabeth enjoys his companionship and protection.
A young runaway who is growing up quickly, Annie Reilly (Kiara Glasco) is forced into prostitution to survive. After a memorable encounter with Corcoran, she becomes deeply attached as he endeavors to protect her from danger. Whip-smart with a predilection for mischief, Annie reminds Corcoran of his own daughter, and he goes out of his way to try to introduce her to a better life.
Episode #23 — “The Place I Called My Home”
In the wake of the President’s death, Detective Kevin Corcoran reels like the rest of the country. As Corcoran mourns with Robert Morehouse and Doctor Matthew Freeman, the three men decide to join a national effort once more. For the three friends, the mission elicits memories from the battlefield, resurfaces faces from the past, and creates opportunity for Five Points chaos to continue unabated.
First aired: September 22, 2013
What do you think? Do you like the Copper TV series? Are you sorry that there won’t be a third season?
DO NOT CANCEL THE BEST SHOW ON TV!
Please bring it back. There r very few really good interesting shows on tv. Now one of the best is not renewed. WHY!!!!
OMG really I was wondering where it went to!!!! This is one of my favorite shows. The acting is the best I have seen in a long time. I am with Ginny and other PLEASE bring it back. How can you stop a show that has a lot of good talent and a lot more story line to go!?! I think you are making a HUGE mistake!
There is a petition to help bring back the show on change.org. I don’t know if it will work but it doesn’t hurt to try. They need 743 signers still.
I was devastated when this show was cancelled. They had an amazing cast, the show was full of great plots and twists. BBC AMERICA YOU MUST BRING THIS BACK!!
HANDS DOWN Copper is one treasure of a TV series with profound depth of stellar acting, and writing that is rarely seen except on Downton Abbey, not to mention the sets, the authentic history, all told in one captivating episode after another. I could almost smell the streets. It was so realistic. I loved the costumes and manor of speech, so elegant, so full of witty intelligent thought provoking conversations that I could hardly wait for Sunday night to roll around to see what happened next at 10pm. I started to get excited 2 days before the next show aired.… Read more »
Alice….Splendidy put….We are all keeping out fingers crossed that someone will see our plea’s for the return of Copper….BBCA will give no explanation for the cancellation…Regardless, someone should pick up this splendid series….
My husband and I both really enjoyed the show and were looking forward to the next season. Way can’t the networks get their acts together and keep the good shows and drop the insipid reality shows.
This is one of the best shows on BBC, Please bring it back. It gives a glimpse into the underbelly of Society that is rarely seen.
I was surprised and upset that “Copper” was cancelled. It is so different than most shows on TV. I hope the powers that be will reconsider their decision or that some other network will pick it up. Why do all the good shows get cancelled and the stinkers are renewed season after season?
Bring back Copper for the 2014 season!
Loved the show!
Loved the show…. Great Plot …. historically interesting. Great cast. The show was captivating very sorry it wont be back.
I refuse to give up hope…It is hard to believe that some network, cable or other venue will let this slip by….That is just wrong :-/
I’m extremely saddened that this show has been canceled if was fresh and inventive . Why do all the great shows get canceled BBC America made a mistake!
I so enjoyed Copper…a rare gem in television programming. The stories, the cast, the sets, everything about the series……TRULY OUTSTANDING ! I am very disappointed that it will not be returning. I suppose that it would be wishful thinking to hope that it may return somewhere….sometime soon.
I like the show. I cant believe its cancelled!!!!!
Maybe we could petition Netflix to pick up Season 3 of Copper. I previously read that it was already written. Netflix just picked up another show that I watched and it was cancelled – The Killing from AMC. I’m not sure how to get something started with Netflix?