Will

Network: TNT.
Episodes: 10 (hour).
Seasons: One.

TV show dates: July 10, 2017 — September 4, 2017.
Series status: Cancelled.

Performers include: Laurie Davidson, Olivia DeJonge, Jamie Campbell Bower, Mattias Inwood, Ewen Bremner, Colm Meaney, William Houston, Lukas Rolfe, Max Bennett, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.

TV show description:
A 16th century period drama, featuring a modern soundtrack, the Will TV show chronicles the life of young William Shakespeare (Davidson). The series opens as the Bard of Avon arrives on the London theater scene.

At just 24 years of age, with no social or political advantages, Shakespeare is willing to risk everything in pursuit of his dreams. He dives headlong into the fast and treacherous world of Elizabethan theater, trying to make it as a writer.

Will soon falls for Alice (DeJonge), the beautiful and brilliant — if recalcitrant — daughter of James Burbage (Meaney). An actor, producer, and carpenter, James built the first theater in London, since the days of Roman rule.

Although her father is an impresario, Alice is unable to pursue a dramatic career, because of the mores of the times. Still, she is drawn to Will and his ingenuity, but the stars never seem to align for these young lovers.

Alice’s talented brother Richard Burbage (Inwood) is quite impressed with himself, and tends to overact. However, when he joins forces with Will, they form a world famous actor-writer partnership.

Despite, or perhaps because of his brilliance, Christopher Marlowe (Bower) is cocky and prone to provoke people. A luminary of the theater scene, this young playwright loves to live life on the edge. Although Will is is drawn to him, Marlowe is not known for his loyalty.

As Queen Elizabeth’s persecutor of Catholics, Richard Topcliffe (Bremner) is a formidable man. He cloaks his penchant for sadism with piety, and is in hot pursuit of Father Robert Southwell (Bennett) — a Roman Catholic rebel, who is also Will’s cousin.

A acclaimed comedian, Kemp (Houston) is often temperamental and seldom sober. He and Will have a difficult professional relationship, in part, because Kemp finds scripts irritating.

The alluring Emilia Bassano (Brown) is the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets and will go on to become the first female professional English poet. This talented musician and writer is the mistress of Lord Hunsdon (Michael Elwyn) and has the city at her feet.

It is in this enticing yet brutal world of brawling audiences, religious oppression, and rowdy sideshows that Shakespeare hones his incredible, enduring talent.

Series Finale:
Episode #10 — “Once, Bright Angel”
Will (Laurie Davidson) and the company are shocked by a terrible discovery; they must risk everything in a life and death struggle for survival. (Courtesy of TNT)
First aired: September 4, 2017

What do you think? Do you like the Will TV series? Should TNT have cancelled or renewed for a second season?