Dark Angel

The story of Victorian serial killer Mary Ann Cotton, a poisoner whose methods leave no visible scars, allowing her tally of victims to mount, unsuspected by a Victorian society unable to conceive of a woman capable of such terrible crimes. Traveling around the North East, she insinuates herself into unsuspecting families, marrying and creating new families of her own - before killing them, taking their money and moving on.

Dark Angel (2016) is a British-American period true crime miniseries broadcast on ITV1 and presented as a two-episode limited series. Joanne Froggatt stars as Mary Ann Cotton, a real Victorian poisoner who travels through the North East of England, insinuating herself into unsuspecting families by marrying into them, then killing her new relatives, taking their money and moving on. Her husband Fred Cotton (Mark Underwood) and a cluster of other men orbit her schemes, while the investigative pressure builds around her quietly undetected crimes. The engine of the story is the gap between what the community sees and what is happening inside its homes: a respectable widow whose methods leave no visible scars, in a society that cannot imagine a woman capable of such cruelty. Set in nineteenth-century England, the drama is grounded and claustrophobic, with domestic interiors, muddy northern streets and a steady dread that grows with each new marriage. The tone is bleak, quiet and unsettling, a sober dramatization of real crimes rather than a flashy thriller. Fans of Ripper Street and The Frankenstein Chronicles will find resonance in its period atmosphere and grim true crime focus.

• The Frankenstein Chroniclesshared period drama tones and true crime based on real serial killer
• Ripper Streetshared true crime subject and dark Victorian-era crime setting
• The Borgiasshared focus on a female poisoner and historical crime biography

Release Date

2016-10-31

Episode runtime

62 min

Rating

6.8 / 10 (40)

What is Dark Angel about?

A two-part dramatization of Victorian serial poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, who marries into families and kills them for their money while society refuses to suspect her.

What is Dark Angel like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dark Angel as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Dark Angel violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Dark Angel as moderate.

Which shows are like Dark Angel?

Shows with a similar feel include The Frankenstein Chronicles, Ripper Street, and The Borgias.

How long is Dark Angel?

Dark Angel: 1 season, 2 episodes.

Is Dark Angel still running?

No, Dark Angel has ended.

Where can I watch Dark Angel?

In United States, Dark Angel streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.