It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…One hundred and eighty-seven years after Charles Dickens‘ seminal wartime novel made that opening phrase one of the most famous in literary history,A Tale of Two Citiesis getting a new screen treatment at MGM+.
Premiering September 6, the series of the same name is a faithful and visually stunning adaptation of the London- and Paris- set classic. Like the novel, the show finds its heroine, Lucie (portrayed in the series by Mirren Mack), torn between two loves: a brilliant but brash and booze-soaked barister named Sydney Carton (Kit Harington) and a French artistocrat named Charles Darnay (François Civil) who finds himself in legal jeopardy more than once thanks to his contemptible family history.
Since the story has been around for the better part of two centuries, one hardly needs a spoiler warning, but in the off chance that you, dear reader, have not yet familiarized yourself with the English class staple, consider this a stopping point in this story.
Marcell Piti / MGM+ / BBC
For everyone else who knows its conclusion, it’s no secret that A Tale of Two Cities has a gutting final stretch, and the adaptation does nothing to lessen that emotional impact. Here, too, the closing lines of the story are just as memorable and devastating as the oft-quoted opener, and when they do land in this rendition, it’s a true wallop.
TV Insider caught up with series stars Mirren Mack and Kit Harington to dissect some of the finer points of adapting A Tale of Two Cities, including how the actress portraying Lucie really felt about her ultimate decision between her two potential suitors.
Check out the video interview above to find out her answer, along with other behind-the-scenes details about the making ofA Tale of Two Cities.
A Tale of Two Cities, Series Premiere, September 6, MGM+