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Jul. 30th, 2019 09:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Okay, Andrew Davies is adapting my favorite of the Jane Austen novels into a television series -- it's her unfinished one, and I read the version that was finished by another lady. So he most likely won't do the same plot and do his own take. But, I think I loved it best because the writer was far better at pacing than Austen. Austen tended to get wrapped up in sentimental sub-tangents. Also, he's apparently keeping the same characters who were introduced in the unfinished version.
Sandition - Austen's last novel completed by Another Lady. I read it when I was about fifteen years of age, and it was a book I re-read, and re-read. It and "Pride and Prejudice". Also read Emma and Persuasion. I could not get through Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, or Sense and Sensibility. While I did like the film version of Sense and Sensibility, I couldn't get through either Mansfield Park or Northanger Abbey, found both the adaptations and books to be...eh, a bit too gothically morose for my taste, also Abbey is more parody (a parody of a gothic romance) than satire.
Sandition was breezy and I adored Sydney Parker and Charlotte Heyward. It was sort of subversive, in that it did things in contrast to Austen's trope.
Anyhow, guess what? Andrew Davies who did the Colin Firth version of Pride & Prejudice is doing a television adaptation of Sandition. I do not remember the book well enough to get upset with his take on it. Although I can state with some certainty that it never went to the West Indies, had zip to do with slavery, and there were no POC in it. It's Austen, Austen was all about the white British class system. I don't think she was aware of much outside of that.
Davies version is going to the West Indies...so he's definitely during a far more diverse take on it. Which should be fascinating. As long as Sydney Parker isn't changed and remains the hero, and Charlotte remains outspoken and strong, I'll be okay with it.
Really looking forward to this.
Sandition Trailer.
2.Interesting... How King Got Outed as Richard Bachman.
I don't know if you know this story? But way back in the 1980s, Stephen King felt he wanted to write more than one book a year. And debuted books under an alias. The books were similar to Stephen King books, but not that similar, and for a bit flew under the radar via the Alias Richard Bachman. They included Running Man (which was adapted into one of the best Arnold Swaznegger movies (the other one is Terminator).Running Man is about a game show where prisoners can earn their freedom or die trying. Hunger Games borrows heavily from the premise.
Well the story goes that a book store clerk, upon reading Thinner, the latest Bachman in 1985, figured out it was King. And did a copyright search. The book was too similar to King's other novels. It's an interesting story, because JK Rowling tried to do it too -- and was quickly outed. The truth of the matter is -- our writing style is our style -- it's hard to disguise it completely, particularly if you are a popular and prolific writer.
Anyhow the link is to an article that goes in depth on the matter.
Here's a snippet:
When Stephen Brown obtained an advance copy at Olsson’s, he had an innate belief he was reading a King novel. To confirm his suspicions, he visited the Library of Congress to examine the copyrights for each Bachman title. All but one were registered to Kirby McCauley, King’s agent. The remaining title, Rage, was registered to King himself. It was the smoking gun.
Brown wrote McCauley with the evidence and requested his advice on what to do with the information he had gathered. He didn’t plan on “outing” King, but, by this time, the King-as-Bachman theory had been gathering steam, with both King and NAL getting more inquiries from journalists. That’s when King decided to phone Brown directly and offer him an exclusive interview revealing himself as Bachman.
3. Joss Whedon's new HBO Series "THE NEVERS" has gotten 12 new cast members
They've cast the female lead from Poldark (Delmenza), Ben Chaplin, Olivia Williams, Denis O'hare, and various other top names for this series. And there's more to come.
And Variety provides a bit more details...
Whedon serves as writer, director, executive producer, and showrunner on “The Nevers.” Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie will write and executive produce, with Bernie Caulfield also executive producing.
Joss Whedon’s new HBO series has found its principal cast members.
Whedon’s series “The Nevers” has cast Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Ann Skelly, Ben Chaplin, Pip Torrens, Zackary Momoh, Amy Manson, Nick Frost, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Denis O’Hare. They join previously announced cast member Laura Donnelly, who will star as Amalia True.
“The Nevers,” which was ordered straight-to-series last July, is described as an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.
Breakdowns for the characters are below:
-Williams will play Lavinia Bidlow, a wealthy spinster and champion of the “Touched.” Lavinia funds the Orphanage (where Amalia and many of the Touched live) through her vast family fortune. She is stern and old-fashioned, but as strong-willed and clever as anyone she confronts.
And here's Io9's take:
The last we heard about “Joss Whedon’s HBO show about Victorian ladies with superpowers,” also known as The Nevers, was a few months back, when Outlander’s Laura Donnelly snagged the lead. Until today, that is, with this robust list of character descriptions and the actors who’ve been cast.
Whedon is executive producer, showrunner, writer, and director on The Nevers with Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie writing-producing alongside him. Buckle up, because this cast is a lot of names, with a lot of fantastical abilities, motivations, and even some plot hints mixed up in there. So reports Entertainment Weekly:
Laura Donnelly (Outlander) as Amalia True (previously announced) – The most reckless, impulsive, emotionally damaged hero of her time. A menace to stuffy Victorian society, she would die for the cause and kill for a drink.
Olivia Williams (Dollhouse) as Lavinia Bidlow – A wealthy spinster and champion of the “Touched,” Lavinia funds the Orphanage (where Amalia and many of the Touched live) through her vast family fortune. She is stern and old-fashioned, but as strong-willed and clever as anyone she confronts.
James Norton (Grantchester) as Hugo Swann – A pansexual posh boy whose charm has about five years left on its lease. He runs a secret club and a side trade in blackmail. He’s devoted to fulfilling everyone’s worst impression of him — and fascinated by the Touched.
Tom Riley (Da Vinci’s Demons) as Augustus “Augie” Bidlow – A sweet, disarming nerd and Lavinia’s younger brother. A keen ornithologist, Augie is happy to let his older sister take the reins of the family fortune. He finds the Touched unnerving, but is drawn to them by his increasing infatuation with Miss Adair, and by the schemes of his nefarious best friend, Hugo.
Ann Skelly (Little Women) as Penance Adair – Amalia’s dearest friend, and one of the first women to join her cause. A devout — yet heretically progressive — Irish girl, Penance has genius for invention. She is delighted by her power, and her default is love and acceptance. But she’s firm in her moral sense, and will be guided by what’s right over what’s expedient every time.
Ben Chaplin (Snowden) as Detective Frank Mundi – Big, gruff, and deeply moral, Detective Mundi trusts no one, least of all himself: his reputation for sudden violence (and excessive drink) is not unwarranted. Frank finds himself caught between the powerful, who ignore the laws of the land, and newly empowered, who ignore the laws of physics.
Pip Torrens (The Crown) as Lord Massen – Staunch, unflappable and merciless in his defense of the British Empire, this former General, now Peer, may be the only man who sees clearly what havoc these few strange people can wreak upon the established order. Which he will protect, one way or another.
Zackary Momoh (Seven Seconds) as Doctor Horatio Cousens – One of the few successful West Indian physicians in London. Married with a young son, Horatio’s fortunes took a dark turn when he met Amalia and discovered his own ability. Now he works with her, and with the Beggar King, those who don’t care who is or isn’t “different.”
Amy Manson (Being Human) as Maladie – Committed by her husband (and genuinely unstable), she’s been warped by a power she can’t understand, and tortured by doctors intent on finding its source. She now lives underground, runs a gang and is on an infamous murder spree. She affects a theatrical parody of a bedlam waif, but mad as she is, she’s a woman with a purpose.
Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) as Declan Orrun, aka The Beggar King – Charismatic and brutal, Declan runs — or has a piece of – most of the low-level criminal activity in the city. He’s perfectly happy to help Amalia and her cause — and equally happy to sell them out. He backs winners, and the Touched are long odds.
Rochelle Neil (Episodes) as Annie Carbey, aka Bonfire – Annie is a career criminal who landed the ability to control fire and is happy to hire it out. Came up rough, stayed that way, but she’s neither impulsive nor cruel — just looking out for herself. No matter who she works with or for, Annie trusts only Annie, and the fire.
Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) as Mary Brighton – Gentle but surprisingly resilient, Mary pursued her dream of singing on stage. A disappointing career and a broken engagement haven’t diminished her spirit. She’s going to be great. She’s going to be very surprised how.
Denis O’Hare (Big Little Lies) as Dr. Edmund Hague – A gifted American surgeon, he uses his skills in the coldest, most brutal way possible. But it’s all in the name of progress!
It looks like a decent mix of familiar faces (Olivia Williams, Tom Riley, Nick Frost, Denis O’Hare) and newcomers—and plenty of intrigue to back up Whedon’s statement, made last summer when The Nevers was first announced, that the show is “maybe the most ambitious narrative I’ve created.”
It’ll be interesting to see how The Nevers compares to Amazon’s upcoming Carnival Row, which also has a mysterious, magical Victorian setting (and will be hitting screens first, with a premiere date of August 30). So far there’s no word on when The Nevers will hit HBO.
And Deadline states that Whedon will be directing as well as show-running.
Co-written by Whedon and Buffy alums Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie and directed by Whedon, The Nevers is an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.
Whedon, while a deeply controversial writer and director with a messy personal life (hey he lives in Hollywood -- they all have messy personal lives), has always been interesting -- with quirky and quippy sense of humor. And the cast is equally interesting. So we shall see...
4. Apparently the UK is suffering from the same insanity on the political front that the US is...actually, I've decided the UK is in an out and out competition with the US to see who can outdo the other on worse leadership decisions and worse government -- who can be the craziest, most insane, and political satirical reality show on the planet. Every time I think the US has nosed ahead, the UK comes back with something far worse.
For a bit, the US was ahead with the Doofus, but then the UK in its ultimate wisdom chose to elect its very own Doofus. Now the rest of world can't quite decide who is worse the Brits or the Americans. And who is most likely to destroy the world economy and our climate? Granted the Austrians, Swedes, French, North Koreans, Russia, and Turkey are all racing to catch up. I mean why should just the Brits and the Americans get all the bad press? There should be enough to go around.
It would be amusing if it weren't real. I mean if I were watching this as a fictional satire on Netflix, I'd be laughing my head off. But frak, we're living it. The only people who seem to be happy about it are the crazy buggers who caused it. Ugga Bugga. And you wonder why I prefer to post about non-news related items? Or avoid the national and now apparently the world news altogether. It's enough to make one wish that we could all just snap our fingers and make them (as in the Doofus and the Doofettes...go bye bye. But alas, it is not to be.)
This is about...DJT's British doppleganger..aka Boris Johnson - Britain's new Prime Minister and the British answer to Trump.
Honestly? Brits? If you wanted Trump that badly, we were more than willing to send you ours. There was no need for you to find your own. We were even willing to pay you for it. You went through all that trouble for nothing. But hey, if BJ doesn't work out? We'll still send you DJT free of charge.
[Note the only way I can deal with the political news and situation, is to make fun of it and snark at it. My sense of humor is rather dry.]
So on the entertainment front -- lots of cool stuff. On the real world national news front...ugh. I want to pull up the covers and not get out of bed until someone tells me that it is over. Unfortunately I have to work...and I can't do that. So I just ignore it or snark at it instead and pray for the best...and that it is temporary and will be over soon.
Sandition - Austen's last novel completed by Another Lady. I read it when I was about fifteen years of age, and it was a book I re-read, and re-read. It and "Pride and Prejudice". Also read Emma and Persuasion. I could not get through Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, or Sense and Sensibility. While I did like the film version of Sense and Sensibility, I couldn't get through either Mansfield Park or Northanger Abbey, found both the adaptations and books to be...eh, a bit too gothically morose for my taste, also Abbey is more parody (a parody of a gothic romance) than satire.
Sandition was breezy and I adored Sydney Parker and Charlotte Heyward. It was sort of subversive, in that it did things in contrast to Austen's trope.
Anyhow, guess what? Andrew Davies who did the Colin Firth version of Pride & Prejudice is doing a television adaptation of Sandition. I do not remember the book well enough to get upset with his take on it. Although I can state with some certainty that it never went to the West Indies, had zip to do with slavery, and there were no POC in it. It's Austen, Austen was all about the white British class system. I don't think she was aware of much outside of that.
Davies version is going to the West Indies...so he's definitely during a far more diverse take on it. Which should be fascinating. As long as Sydney Parker isn't changed and remains the hero, and Charlotte remains outspoken and strong, I'll be okay with it.
Really looking forward to this.
Sandition Trailer.
2.Interesting... How King Got Outed as Richard Bachman.
I don't know if you know this story? But way back in the 1980s, Stephen King felt he wanted to write more than one book a year. And debuted books under an alias. The books were similar to Stephen King books, but not that similar, and for a bit flew under the radar via the Alias Richard Bachman. They included Running Man (which was adapted into one of the best Arnold Swaznegger movies (the other one is Terminator).Running Man is about a game show where prisoners can earn their freedom or die trying. Hunger Games borrows heavily from the premise.
Well the story goes that a book store clerk, upon reading Thinner, the latest Bachman in 1985, figured out it was King. And did a copyright search. The book was too similar to King's other novels. It's an interesting story, because JK Rowling tried to do it too -- and was quickly outed. The truth of the matter is -- our writing style is our style -- it's hard to disguise it completely, particularly if you are a popular and prolific writer.
Anyhow the link is to an article that goes in depth on the matter.
Here's a snippet:
When Stephen Brown obtained an advance copy at Olsson’s, he had an innate belief he was reading a King novel. To confirm his suspicions, he visited the Library of Congress to examine the copyrights for each Bachman title. All but one were registered to Kirby McCauley, King’s agent. The remaining title, Rage, was registered to King himself. It was the smoking gun.
Brown wrote McCauley with the evidence and requested his advice on what to do with the information he had gathered. He didn’t plan on “outing” King, but, by this time, the King-as-Bachman theory had been gathering steam, with both King and NAL getting more inquiries from journalists. That’s when King decided to phone Brown directly and offer him an exclusive interview revealing himself as Bachman.
3. Joss Whedon's new HBO Series "THE NEVERS" has gotten 12 new cast members
They've cast the female lead from Poldark (Delmenza), Ben Chaplin, Olivia Williams, Denis O'hare, and various other top names for this series. And there's more to come.
And Variety provides a bit more details...
Whedon serves as writer, director, executive producer, and showrunner on “The Nevers.” Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie will write and executive produce, with Bernie Caulfield also executive producing.
Joss Whedon’s new HBO series has found its principal cast members.
Whedon’s series “The Nevers” has cast Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Ann Skelly, Ben Chaplin, Pip Torrens, Zackary Momoh, Amy Manson, Nick Frost, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Denis O’Hare. They join previously announced cast member Laura Donnelly, who will star as Amalia True.
“The Nevers,” which was ordered straight-to-series last July, is described as an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.
Breakdowns for the characters are below:
-Williams will play Lavinia Bidlow, a wealthy spinster and champion of the “Touched.” Lavinia funds the Orphanage (where Amalia and many of the Touched live) through her vast family fortune. She is stern and old-fashioned, but as strong-willed and clever as anyone she confronts.
And here's Io9's take:
The last we heard about “Joss Whedon’s HBO show about Victorian ladies with superpowers,” also known as The Nevers, was a few months back, when Outlander’s Laura Donnelly snagged the lead. Until today, that is, with this robust list of character descriptions and the actors who’ve been cast.
Whedon is executive producer, showrunner, writer, and director on The Nevers with Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie writing-producing alongside him. Buckle up, because this cast is a lot of names, with a lot of fantastical abilities, motivations, and even some plot hints mixed up in there. So reports Entertainment Weekly:
Laura Donnelly (Outlander) as Amalia True (previously announced) – The most reckless, impulsive, emotionally damaged hero of her time. A menace to stuffy Victorian society, she would die for the cause and kill for a drink.
Olivia Williams (Dollhouse) as Lavinia Bidlow – A wealthy spinster and champion of the “Touched,” Lavinia funds the Orphanage (where Amalia and many of the Touched live) through her vast family fortune. She is stern and old-fashioned, but as strong-willed and clever as anyone she confronts.
James Norton (Grantchester) as Hugo Swann – A pansexual posh boy whose charm has about five years left on its lease. He runs a secret club and a side trade in blackmail. He’s devoted to fulfilling everyone’s worst impression of him — and fascinated by the Touched.
Tom Riley (Da Vinci’s Demons) as Augustus “Augie” Bidlow – A sweet, disarming nerd and Lavinia’s younger brother. A keen ornithologist, Augie is happy to let his older sister take the reins of the family fortune. He finds the Touched unnerving, but is drawn to them by his increasing infatuation with Miss Adair, and by the schemes of his nefarious best friend, Hugo.
Ann Skelly (Little Women) as Penance Adair – Amalia’s dearest friend, and one of the first women to join her cause. A devout — yet heretically progressive — Irish girl, Penance has genius for invention. She is delighted by her power, and her default is love and acceptance. But she’s firm in her moral sense, and will be guided by what’s right over what’s expedient every time.
Ben Chaplin (Snowden) as Detective Frank Mundi – Big, gruff, and deeply moral, Detective Mundi trusts no one, least of all himself: his reputation for sudden violence (and excessive drink) is not unwarranted. Frank finds himself caught between the powerful, who ignore the laws of the land, and newly empowered, who ignore the laws of physics.
Pip Torrens (The Crown) as Lord Massen – Staunch, unflappable and merciless in his defense of the British Empire, this former General, now Peer, may be the only man who sees clearly what havoc these few strange people can wreak upon the established order. Which he will protect, one way or another.
Zackary Momoh (Seven Seconds) as Doctor Horatio Cousens – One of the few successful West Indian physicians in London. Married with a young son, Horatio’s fortunes took a dark turn when he met Amalia and discovered his own ability. Now he works with her, and with the Beggar King, those who don’t care who is or isn’t “different.”
Amy Manson (Being Human) as Maladie – Committed by her husband (and genuinely unstable), she’s been warped by a power she can’t understand, and tortured by doctors intent on finding its source. She now lives underground, runs a gang and is on an infamous murder spree. She affects a theatrical parody of a bedlam waif, but mad as she is, she’s a woman with a purpose.
Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) as Declan Orrun, aka The Beggar King – Charismatic and brutal, Declan runs — or has a piece of – most of the low-level criminal activity in the city. He’s perfectly happy to help Amalia and her cause — and equally happy to sell them out. He backs winners, and the Touched are long odds.
Rochelle Neil (Episodes) as Annie Carbey, aka Bonfire – Annie is a career criminal who landed the ability to control fire and is happy to hire it out. Came up rough, stayed that way, but she’s neither impulsive nor cruel — just looking out for herself. No matter who she works with or for, Annie trusts only Annie, and the fire.
Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) as Mary Brighton – Gentle but surprisingly resilient, Mary pursued her dream of singing on stage. A disappointing career and a broken engagement haven’t diminished her spirit. She’s going to be great. She’s going to be very surprised how.
Denis O’Hare (Big Little Lies) as Dr. Edmund Hague – A gifted American surgeon, he uses his skills in the coldest, most brutal way possible. But it’s all in the name of progress!
It looks like a decent mix of familiar faces (Olivia Williams, Tom Riley, Nick Frost, Denis O’Hare) and newcomers—and plenty of intrigue to back up Whedon’s statement, made last summer when The Nevers was first announced, that the show is “maybe the most ambitious narrative I’ve created.”
It’ll be interesting to see how The Nevers compares to Amazon’s upcoming Carnival Row, which also has a mysterious, magical Victorian setting (and will be hitting screens first, with a premiere date of August 30). So far there’s no word on when The Nevers will hit HBO.
And Deadline states that Whedon will be directing as well as show-running.
Co-written by Whedon and Buffy alums Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie and directed by Whedon, The Nevers is an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.
Whedon, while a deeply controversial writer and director with a messy personal life (hey he lives in Hollywood -- they all have messy personal lives), has always been interesting -- with quirky and quippy sense of humor. And the cast is equally interesting. So we shall see...
4. Apparently the UK is suffering from the same insanity on the political front that the US is...actually, I've decided the UK is in an out and out competition with the US to see who can outdo the other on worse leadership decisions and worse government -- who can be the craziest, most insane, and political satirical reality show on the planet. Every time I think the US has nosed ahead, the UK comes back with something far worse.
For a bit, the US was ahead with the Doofus, but then the UK in its ultimate wisdom chose to elect its very own Doofus. Now the rest of world can't quite decide who is worse the Brits or the Americans. And who is most likely to destroy the world economy and our climate? Granted the Austrians, Swedes, French, North Koreans, Russia, and Turkey are all racing to catch up. I mean why should just the Brits and the Americans get all the bad press? There should be enough to go around.
It would be amusing if it weren't real. I mean if I were watching this as a fictional satire on Netflix, I'd be laughing my head off. But frak, we're living it. The only people who seem to be happy about it are the crazy buggers who caused it. Ugga Bugga. And you wonder why I prefer to post about non-news related items? Or avoid the national and now apparently the world news altogether. It's enough to make one wish that we could all just snap our fingers and make them (as in the Doofus and the Doofettes...go bye bye. But alas, it is not to be.)
This is about...DJT's British doppleganger..aka Boris Johnson - Britain's new Prime Minister and the British answer to Trump.
Honestly? Brits? If you wanted Trump that badly, we were more than willing to send you ours. There was no need for you to find your own. We were even willing to pay you for it. You went through all that trouble for nothing. But hey, if BJ doesn't work out? We'll still send you DJT free of charge.
[Note the only way I can deal with the political news and situation, is to make fun of it and snark at it. My sense of humor is rather dry.]
So on the entertainment front -- lots of cool stuff. On the real world national news front...ugh. I want to pull up the covers and not get out of bed until someone tells me that it is over. Unfortunately I have to work...and I can't do that. So I just ignore it or snark at it instead and pray for the best...and that it is temporary and will be over soon.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 06:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 12:15 pm (UTC)Oh, I'd forgotten that -- it's been so long since I read it. (1982 and then again in 1990).
South Riding never made it over here...guessing not very good? I tried to watch Davies version of Les Mis, and gave up.
though I agree Austen would never have taken the action to the West Indies herself - she advised her niece, who was writing a novel, not to take her characters to Ireland as she hadn't been there herself, so I'd imagine the West Indies would be even more so. And also, I don't think she'd have wanted to remind her sister of where her sister's fiance died.
Then definitely not. She stuck very close to home and what she new. Austen was a somewhat precise and descriptive writer. You can sort of get away with taking characters to places you aren't terribly familiar with -- but only if you aren't that descriptive. (I've read a lot of novels in which they've done that with NYC. The number of writers that write about London and New York that have no clue what it is like -- is astonishing. Of course, only readers who've lived in either place would notice. )
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 12:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 12:25 pm (UTC)I haven't seen War & Peace, but that sounds about right. All writers seem to have their limitations, and well...favorite story kinks or tropes and self-indulgent tendencies. Also if they get too popular, they tend towards sermonizing. I keep getting Davies confused with Julian Fellows (Downton Abbey) for some absurd reason.
Pride and Prejudice was more focused. I'm hoping he keeps Sandition focused -- the story really should just be comedy of manners.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 12:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 11:44 am (UTC)Yep, here we go again.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 12:20 pm (UTC)He does have his repetitive tropes...or beloved story kinks, doesn't he? LOL!
Honestly, every writer seems to. You read enough of one or see enough of their series and you pick up on it. Oh well, I've seen far worse -- Ron Moore (rape trope) comes to mind.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 05:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 05:39 pm (UTC)I'm of a wait and see attitude. There's no air date yet. But it looks interesting -- sort of a Steampunk Fantasy Series. And it has top-tier casting. The writing? Eh. The best ones were Goddard, Fury, DeKnight, Englund, Espenson, and Minear. But Minear is over with Ryan Murphy. And Goodard is doing very well elsewhere. As is Noxon.
It could fall flat in development. 90% of television series that make it to pilot and slightly past, are never seen. There was a Neil Gaiman series slated for HBO a while back that fell through. And a series that James Marsters was in that also fell through (good thing too, since it was insanely graphic and had questionable content.).