REVIEW: Carnival Row Takes Fans on a Carnival Ride

Political mayhem, star-crossed lovers and a steampunk setting can’t save Amazon’s new series, Carnival Row. The first fantasy series by the streaming service, the show follows Inspector Rycroft Philostrate (Orlando Bloom) as he investigates Jack the Ripper like murders taking place in The Burgue. The Burgue is a city of humans and mythical creatures. The mythical creatures have fled their homes due to war and are seeking refuge in the Burgue. There they have been stripped of their rights and are met with disdain by many of the humans.

Vignette (Cara Delevingne), a strong-willed faerie trying to save her people from the war. She arrives in the Burgue and becomes a servant to the Spurnrose siblings, Ezra (Andrew Gower) and Imogen (Tazmin Merchant). During her first moments as a servant she heads to the town’s questionable district, Carnival Row to find her old friends who also escaped the homeland.

Delevingne and Bloom take the lead as star-crossed lovers, who after seven years reunite in the Burgue. The former couple faces massive issues upon seeing one another again. Delevingne and Bloom do well as their characters but with so many other stories going on their relationship is pushed to the side.

The costumes are beautiful and the setting is intriguing yet the premiere is a bit weak. The stories have potential and hopefully become more fleshed out as the season progresses. The show has already been renewed for a second season, this gives the creative team an opportunity to really delve into which storylines they choose to pursue.

Carnival Row may not have fans glued to their TVs over Labor Day weekend, but it is a good show to have on if you are just hanging around. If you do have plans for the holiday weekend, wait until you have a free weekend and check it out.

Grade: C