TV-MA | 8 episodes | Historical Drama | 2024
Benjamin Franklin was arguably America’s greatest diplomat, despite suffering from a nasty case of gout during his posting in France. Congress desperately needed him to secure French economic and military support for America’s revolution against the British.
Fortunately, he had one considerable advantage. He was Benjamin Franklin, one of the most celebrated men in the Western world, thanks to his groundbreaking study of electricity. The Founding Father’s eventful diplomatic tenure is chronicled in Apple TV+’s eight-episode dramatic series, “Franklin,” adapted from Stacy Schiff’s nonfiction book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America.”
Sensation and Intrigue
The new American minister (we would now call him the ambassador) immediately causes a sensation in French society, but the French court does its best to ignore him. Having recently lost an expensive war with England, King Louis XVI (Tom Pezier) wants to maintain French neutrality. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Charles Gravier, the Comte de Vergennes (Thibault de Montalembert) sees America as a potential opportunity to embarrass the British and regain a foothold in the “New World.” Franklin just needs a few battlefield victories to help convince Vergennes.
Regardless, many at court quickly rally to the American cause, especially Temple Franklin’s new friend, the Marquis de Lafayette (Théodore Pellerin). Against his better judgment, Franklin writes the marquis a letter of reference to Gen. George Washington (unseen during “Franklin,” but his influence is certainly reflected). That becomes a rather sore point with Vergennes, but reports of Lafayette’s heroism at Brandywine become useful PR grist for Franklin’s propaganda pamphlets.
Strong Finish
The early episodes are frustratingly slow-going, but “Franklin” builds towards a strong finish. Since Tim Van Patten helmed the entire series, he gets a fair share of the credit and the blame. The courtly intrigue and espionage are all quite fascinating. Yet, Franklin’s complicated relationship with Adams (the future president) is probably the high point of the series.
Frankly, it is almost shocking how much Mr. Douglas resembles the wrinkled and gouty Ben Franklin. More importantly, he also perfectly channel’s Franklin’s sense of humor and joie de vivre. It is easy to understand from his performance how the jolly old fellow enchanted French society, especially the sharp-tongued Madame Helvétius, whom Ms. Balibar embodies with diva-like panache.
However, Mr. Marsan is a scene-stealer, who humanizes the initially prickly Adams, in surprising and satisfying ways. Series writers Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder clearly favor him over the other Founding Father supporting player, Ed Stoppard’s John Jay, who is largely presented as a cold, stern caricature.
In contrast, Mr. Mays’s performance as Dr. Bancroft is quite memorable, because it is far more sad than sinister. Wentworth is the arch-villain of the series, but Mr. Hughes lacks the necessarily presence or gravity to generate much ominous tension. Without question, the way Mr. de Montalembert portrays the Comte de Vergennes with such elegant cynicism and a martini-dry wit, makes him a much more effective foil to Franklin.
“Franklin” dramatically illustrates the precariousness of the American position when the Founding Father arrived in France and how shrewdly Franklin built the French alliance. There is still a lot of distracting filler, much of which focuses on Temple. Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Korder also mistakenly reflect some modern prejudices when French skeptics heckle Franklin (the future President of the Philadelphia Abolition Society) over slavery. The truth is, at that time, most American colonists considered slavery an evil imposed on them by the British, so the scorn of anti-slavery Frenchmen would have been largely directed at England instead.
The execution is inconsistent, but the series still has its moments. Somewhat recommended for history buffs, viewers will appreciate how Mr. Douglas, Mr. Marsan, Mr. Mays, and Mr. de Montalembert bring to life their respective historical figures in “Franklin.”
