Gunpowder

London, 1605. Robert Catesby, a 33-year old Warwickshire gentleman, devises a plot to blow up Parliament and kill the King.

Gunpowder (2017) is a British miniseries created by Ronan Bennett and Daniel West for BBC One. Set in 1605 London, the three-episode period drama follows Warwickshire gentleman Robert Catesby (Kit Harington), who devises a plot to blow up Parliament and kill King James I. Kit Harington anchors the story as a man driven by religious grievance, while Mark Gatiss plays the shrewd Sir Robert Cecil, whose agents close in on the conspirators. Edward Holcroft as Thomas Wintour and Tom Cullen as Guy Fawkes carry the plot's inner circle, and Peter Mullan plays the Jesuit Father Henry Garnet. The engine of the series is secrecy: the plotters must keep their scheme hidden while the state hunts for signs of it, and each episode tightens the net around them. Its atmosphere is tense, dark and oppressive, shaped by Catholic persecution and the grim textures of early modern England. Fans of Wolf Hall and The Tudors will find resonance in its court intrigue, religious conflict and historical stakes. Viewers who want a compact, serious British historical drama will find it gripping from start to finish.

Viewers broadly find the series a dark, meticulously detailed dramatisation of the 1605 plot, with its atmosphere of Catholic persecution and terror widely admired, though its audience reception is mixed.

• Wolf Hallperiod political thriller, conspiracy and state power, tense historical drama
• The Tudorsreligious persecution and plot-driven historical conflict, period drama
• Gunpowder Plotserialized political conspiracy with historical grounding, tense miniseries

Created by

Ronan Bennett, Daniel West

Release Date

2017-10-21

Episode runtime

59 min

Rating

6.5 / 10 (224)

What is Gunpowder about?

In 1605 London, a Warwickshire gentleman and his band of Catholic conspirators plot to blow up Parliament and kill the King.

What is Gunpowder like to watch?

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

Is Gunpowder violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Gunpowder as moderate.

What did critics think of Gunpowder?

Viewers broadly find the series a dark, meticulously detailed dramatisation of the 1605 plot, with its atmosphere of Catholic persecution and terror widely admired, though its audience reception is mixed.

Which shows are like Gunpowder?

Shows with a similar feel include Wolf Hall, The Tudors, and Gunpowder Plot.

How long is Gunpowder?

Gunpowder: 1 season, 3 episodes.

Is Gunpowder still running?

No, Gunpowder has ended.

Where can I watch Gunpowder?

In United States, Gunpowder streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.