Network: WGN America
Episodes: 23 (hour)
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: July 27, 2014 — December 15, 2015
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: John Benjamin Hickey, Olivia Williams, Alexia Fast, Ashley Zukerman, Rachel Brosnahan, Daniel Stern, Katja Herbers, Christopher Denham, Harry Lloyd, Michael Chernus, Eddie Shin, Daniel London, and Mark Moses.
TV show description:
A period drama, this show is set in 1943 in the secret town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Hidden away by the federal government, scientists live there with their families while they work to build the world’s first atomic bomb.
Frank Winter (John Benjamin Hickey) is the lead scientist on the Manhattan Project and is brilliant, kinetic, and self-destructive. He’s a man who believes that scientific work is what matters most.
If it weren’t for his wife, botanist Liza Winter (Olivia Williams), he would have become a recluse years ago. Now that military secrecy has severed the lifeline of communication with Liza, Frank is a man who is very much alone.
Cut off from her husband, Liza is snubbed by the housewives (who think of her as a scientist) and shunned by the scientists (who think of her as a wife). Callie (Alexia Fast) is their rebellious teenage daughter who’s become frustrated with small town life.
The newest member of the team is Charlie Isaacs (Ashley Zukerman), a young man who’s know for both his love of numbers and his conscience. He distinguished himself as one of the rarest talents that the physics department at Harvard had ever seen. While in college, he also fell in love and married a Jewish girl named Abby (Rachel Brosnahan). She’s now a housewife and the pair share few interests other than their young son and Abby finds it difficult to fit in with her new community.
Frank Winter’s former mentor is Glen Babbit (Daniel Stern) and it seems like he’s always helped keep Frank out of trouble. It was Babbit who asked Frank to join a secret military project in the New Mexico desert.
Other scientists include Helen Prins (Katja Herbers), Jim Meeks (Christopher Denham), Paul Crosley (Harry Lloyd), Louis “Fritz” Fedowitz (Michael Chernus), and Sid Liao (Eddie Shin).
Episode #23 — Jupiter
A new era is ushered in with the first test of an atomic weapon.
First aired: December 15, 2015
What do you think? Do you like the Manhattan TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a third season?
Alas, those of us more discriminating in our taste for quality television have always been hostage to the masses and the type of programming that generates advertising revenue; I am grateful for all of the fine television programming we have seen coming down the pike, knowing that these series are too often short lived. It has always been this way and will continue to be so. As for Manhattan, I believe that we are ahead of the game with two seasons and a somewhat satisfying ending. It was, after-all, a drama about the Manhattan Project and the development of a… Read more »
Should have been renewed ……. WGN Blew it!!!
Please renew!!!! One of the best, intelligent, entertaining shows on!
Sorry, but the producers were on tv some months ago and made it very final that the audience just keep getting smaller and smaller and they had no choice but to cancel the show. I thought it was one of the best shows on tv.
I will miss this show, as it has been one of my favorites. I think a third season could have been possible
There was plenty of historical drama to serve up good material for a season 3 and even 4: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the Japanese surrender, the hydrogen (fusion bomb), the beginning of the cold war and Oppenheimer’s fall from grace all could have served for great material for this series. It is sad that they stopped.
I was patiently waiting for more shows and now I find out it’s cancelled – why on Earth? I thought it was great!
With all due respect to all who would love to somehow see this series continue, including myself, I think that by virtue of its title, it has played out its narrative, which was about the development of the atomic bomb during WW2, why and how that was done. That was a fascinating story even if so much of it was done with artistic license. Everything about the show was masterful, and I think so many of us would just like to see the continuation of such beautiful craft. However, it would be difficult to continue this story line and still… Read more »
Every freakin’ time I commit to a series that has great writing, acting, directing some guy in a suit cancels it. I mean every single time we get something interesting and intelligent to watch some TV exec grabs the ball and goes home maybe Manhattan can make the leap to Amazon or Netflix where more intelligent executive minds reside
A shame it appears to be cancelled. I was really enjoying the drama set around one of our nation’s greatest (and most secret ) projects. I hope some minds are changed for it to continue.
Absolutely love this show. Just found out it has been cancelled…whaaaaat? I was so looking forward to the next season. So very disappointed that this terrific show is no more.
Want more, love this show…so many other crappy shows keep going. Please get Netflix or someone to continue this series.
So very sad to lose this great show.
I’m completely hooked, Renew!!!
Must be renewed! Even though we know what happened historically, I am on the edge of my seat for every episode. Great character development, great actors!
Renew! Even though we know what happens historically, the characters make it so relevant today.
Gotta be renewed