Carnival Row (2019)

Carnival Row (2019) is a captivating fantasy television series that brings together elements of steampunk, political intrigue, and dark romance, all set in a richly imagined world of mythical creatures and human society. Created by René Echevarria and Travis Beacham, and based on Beacham’s unproduced script A Killing on Carnival Row, the show masterfully blends fantastical elements with real-world social issues, creating a visually stunning and thought-provoking narrative. With a strong cast led by Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, Carnival Row offers a unique take on class, power, and prejudice, all within the confines of a fantastical, yet disturbingly familiar, world.

Set in a city known as The Burg, Carnival Row tells the story of a world where humans live alongside a variety of mythological creatures—such as fairies, centaurs, and werewolves—who have been displaced from their homelands by war and strife. These creatures, known as “Fae,” are marginalized, oppressed, and treated as second-class citizens. The series centers around the lives of these beings, particularly focusing on the forbidden romance between a human detective, Rycroft Philostrate (Orlando Bloom), and a Fae named Vignette Stonemoss (Cara Delevingne). Their love story unfolds against the backdrop of a city riddled with corruption, social unrest, and a growing tension between the privileged humans and the disenfranchised Fae.