Category: Review

The Rook Review

8/1/2019

Blurb

When a woman wakes up surrounded by dead bodies with her memory erased, she must uncover her mysterious past to learn the truth.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how a premise should be. Short, intriguing and just enough information to pique your interest.

Now, here's the blurb from the book:

Myfanwy Thomas awakens in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, she must trust the instructions left by her former in order to survive. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization, and this person wants her dead.

Battling to save herself, Myfanwy will encounter a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and terrifyingly vast conspiracy.

Suspenseful and hilarious, THE ROOK is an outrageously imaginative thriller for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime.

Welcome to The Checquy. Won't you come in.

Here's my low-down:

Myfanwy (as in Mif-anny, rhymes with Tiffany) wakes up with amnesia in the middle of the Millennium Bridge in London during a rainstorm with 6 dead bodies surrounding her. What's the first thing you would do in this situation?

Myfanwy finds a note to herself and does what her previous self says to do─run.

The STARZ original follows the book by Daniel O'Malley but the TV show has gone a tad more serious route than the books. Daniel O'Malley's cheekyness is a little lost in translation.

I know a lot of big wigs have poo-poo'd this series (like Rotten Tomatoes) saying the dour tone and convoluted machinations overshadow its intriguing premise. But I do wonder if Stephanie Meyers (yeah, that Stephanie Meyers of Twilight) directing (or apparently being involved and then tapping out as the filming began) has anything to do with it.

Maybe they just have it in their heads that it's going to be bad. Maybe they were expecting it to be just like the Daniel O'Malley's book. Maybe they wanted purple slime. Whose to say.

What I do know is that when you go in with expectations it has a larger than a mountain potential to ruin the experience.

Main Characters

Awaken the Power Within

Protagonist

Myfanwy Thomas

Myfanwy (Mi-fan-ee) is an important member of Britain's last truly secret service, the Checquy.

In the first episode, she wakes at the base of the Millennium Bridge, surrounded by dead bodies and has a void in her memory.

The first season answers the questions swirling around her past, her mysterious power, and the events leading up to the night her memory was erased.

As a recovering OCD sufferer, I identify with Myfanwy (rhymes with Tiffany) and her "other" self's neurotic personality. As she enters the fray, I admire her tenacious resolve for finding answers.

Suspects and Allies

Linda Farrier

Myfanwy's mentor and ally (or is she?).

As the head of the Checquy, designated "King", Farrier must defend her tenuous hold on the agency's secrecy and many secrets of her own.

Farrier is a no-nonsense leader that seems to genuinely care for Myfanwy. I like her─but I don't trust her. Her true motivations are yet to be revealed. But I will watch this series and figure them out!

Though she's a strong leader, I fear she may not know what all is going on in her department. She has yet to show any type of special powers, but they may just be too subtle to notice.

Conrad Grantchester

Suave and charismatic "Queen" within the Checquy. Deputy to Farrier, he challenges her role as King ans he unravels the mystery surrounding Myfanwy Thomas.

Within the first episode you understand that Conrad will use his powers to get what he wants. Yet, through his moral corruption, he too seems to genuinely care for Myfanwy. He even went out of his way to threaten people on her behalf─without telling the "King" and without letting Myfanwy know either.

Right away I started thinking of theories as to why he would nearly kill a person with his special talent to prevent Myfanwy from being harmed.

Monica Reed

Monica is from the U.S. Bureau of Variant Affairs (the American agency that mirrors the Checquy). Upon hearing the mysterious incident at Millennium Bridge, she arrives in London to investigate the death of one of the victims which is also her former lover.

Monica is treated as an outcast in the U.K. Bureau and probably not because she came in search of her lover on her own personal time. These two power houses seem to play their cards close to the chest.

One thing seems clear to me by the end of episode 2─people want those with a certain talent that Myfanwy have and are selling these people as slaves on the black market.

Alex, Teddy, Eliza, and Robert Gestalt

Gestalt is the "hive mind"─four siblings sharing one consciousness. Thus why I've grouped them as one below.

Alex and Teddy (identical twins), Eliza and Robert appear to be individuals, each with distinctive manners and tastes in dress but this distinction is a facade to enhance their value as agents. They are, in fact, one person, silently sharing every thought.

Their oneness is fascinating and creepy and the actors play it so well! I look forward to their interactions especially with Myfanwy. *SPOILER ALERT* Talk about a moresome!

My Review

The premise is intriquing and the mystery is there to be unfolded TO you. I realize it's hard to put the inner editor away, but if you can, you will have an enjoyable time.

While I can't help but try to figure out what's going on, the events of Myfawny's "past life" comes creeping back while she tries to put things in place and find simple questions like─who's trying to kill her, much less, why?

This is the type of story I love to noodle on. Unraveling the mystery is fun from the couch.

I found the show keeping my interest to where I'll follow this season till it's end because STARZ has "promised" we get to find out.

From here I go into spoilers.

I spoke about Conrad and his protection of Myfawny. His actions seem more protective while Farrier seems like she's an ally, she may have ulterior motives for her Rook. Conrad doesn't tell Farrier about a certain encounter which makes me wonder if he's going to make a power play for the King seat. Monica seems very invested in the death of her former lover and seems to be sticking around for revenge. But everyone keeps a cool head.

Except for Teddy Gestalt. Teddy is getting angry over the fact that Myfawny is not broken hearted and fighting for him─them─to further their relationship. Plus Myfawny is acting weird. Of course she is─she's no longer who she used to be. She's forgotten all the experiences that made her. In my mind the Gestalt's appear to be different emotions of the same person.

Update

8/28/2019

Season 1 has concluded and the very last episode wraps everything up and comes full circle to the Millenium Bridge. However, the pace that was set during the rest of the season makes the ending feel a little abrupt.

We're left with more questions for Season 2─which is great! I want another season─but the "finality" of the season's end felt rushed. It makes sense and yet I have a niggling of dissatisfaction.

I'll ponder and think upon what it is about the ending that has me feeling this way, and if I reach a conclusion, I'll post an update! Or if you agree and have "put your finger on it", tell me in the comments! I'd appreciate someone to noodle about it.