Ragdoll (TV series)

Last updated

Ragdoll
Ragdoll (TV series) Title Card.png
Genre
Created byFreddy Syborn
Based onRagdoll
by Daniel Cole
Written byFreddy Syborn
Starring
Music by Moses Boyd
Country of origin
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Sally Woodward Gentle
  • Lee Morris
  • Freddy Syborn
ProducerLizzie Rusbridger
Cinematography
  • Dave Pimm
  • Phil Wood
Editors
  • Dan Crinnion
  • Paul Dingwall
  • Galina Chakarova
Running time44–46 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseNovember 11 (2021-11-11) –
December 16, 2021 (2021-12-16)

Ragdoll is an internationally co-produced thriller television series based upon the novel of the same name by Daniel Cole. In the United States, it premiered on AMC+ on November 11, 2021, and in the United Kingdom, it premiered on Alibi on December 6, 2021.

Contents

Premise

The series follows the murder of six people who have been dismembered and sewn into the shape of a grotesque body, "The Ragdoll". As detectives begin to investigate, the killer begins to taunt them.

Cast and characters

Episodes

No.Title  [1] Directed byWritten byU.S. release date  [1]
1"Episode 1"Toby MacDonaldFreddy SybornNovember 11, 2021 (2021-11-11)
Two years ago, DS Nathan Rose is attending a trial after having been accused of illegally obtaining evidence against serial killer Mark Hooper. With the evidence illegitimate, Hooper is cleared of all murder charges. Rose attacks and beats him. In the present, he, DI Emily Baxter, and former LAPD cop-turned-DC Lake Edmunds investigate the gruesome discovery of a sewn together body, which includes Hooper's head. The body’s fingers point towards Rose’s apartment. Baxter and Edmunds visit Hooper’s prison, where they learn that he was poisoned. Rose receives a mysterious envelope, which contains a list of six people, supposedly the killer’s targets. It includes himself and Mayor of London Ray Turnbull. Extensive security is put around the mayor and is brought to the station. As Turnbull takes a cigarette, the air ignites and sets him ablaze right in front of Rose. Suffering from PTSD, he attends therapy sessions and opens up about his stay at the psychiatric ward, where he met Joel Shepton. Shepton offered him the phone number of someone dubbed Faust, who kills on demand, but it will include oneself. Initially hesitant, Rose asks for Faust’s number. Despite telling his therapist that Faust does not exist, flashbacks reveals that he called him and ordered Hooper to be killed.
2"Episode 2"Toby MacDonaldFreddy SybornNovember 18, 2021 (2021-11-18)
The focus of the investigation turns to the Witness Protection Unit, while DI Baxter discovers body cam footage that proves that one of its officers, Copley, changed the mayor’s inhaler. He is arrested, but indirectly denies responsibility and stabs himself with a pen. Baxter confesses to Rose that she had written Chambers’[ who? ] letter, not him,[ who? ] and that she had betrayed Rose’s trust, but he forgives her. Rose visits his former psychiatric ward and finds Shepton’s book, and later deciphers his code. He calls Faust again and berates him for killing innocent people and taunts him to kill him. Chambers and Mark Hooper’s probation officer are identified as two of the victims’ body parts. Rose goes to the roof of the police station, walks to the edge of the building, phones Faust and tells him that he would kill himself before Faust gets the chance. Faust threatens to kill Baxter, should Rose kill himself. The kill list is leaked to the media Hooper’s brother Nick evades the police, but later turns himself in after claiming to have seen the killer. Baxter discovers Nick’s body after his lawyer’s departure. Rose deduces that the lawyer killed him and runs after her and tries to talk her down, but she steps in front of a moving garbage truck and is killed.
3"Episode 3"Toby MacDonaldFreddy SybornNovember 25, 2021 (2021-11-25)
Baxter learns that Nick Hooper’s lawyer’s son was kidnapped and that she was blackmailed into killing Nick. On their way to find her son, she and Rose stumble across a fanatic woman who delivers him a copy of the kill list, while Baxter discovers the lawyer’s son in her car. The son is reluctant to speak about his experiences at first, until Rose tells him a story about his mother. Edmunds shares her concerns about Rose with Baxter, who tries to speak to him, but he is vague in his responses. More victims’ body parts are identified on the sewn body, while Baxter orders her team to secure the next victim, Eric Turner, who was the guard who tackled Rose at Mark Hooper's trial. Turner doesn't cooperate with Baxter and decides to continue with his job to deliver high risk prisoners. Baxter and Edmunds escort him, and under a bridge, the van swerves and stops after a bomb detonates. A prisoner, Keith Rackman, who Rose spoke to for his own investigation, attempts to escape, but is knocked out. Turner opens a bag containing a venomous snake, which ends up killing him. Following an accident at a civil war reenactment, a mysterious man is seen taking a severed hand to study for himself.
4"Episode 4" Niall MacCormick Story by : Freddy Syborn and Florence Keith-RoachDecember 2, 2021 (2021-12-02)
Edmunds recovers in hospital after receiving a neck injury. Her ex-girlfriend Hannah shows up because she’s still listed as her emergency contact in the hospital information. Baxter is furious with her for not looking after Turner but does not blame her for his death. Baxter and Rose hatch out a plan to save the killer’s next victim, judge Matthew Wingate. The investigation also determines that the killer utilized deepfake voices over the phone. Rose and Baxter plan to stage Wingate's death for the media to see and trick the killer into believing that he's being moved to a safe house. However, the killer is a step ahead of them, having mounted a small camera on Wingate’s dog to survey his house. The day of the event, the killer replaces the fake blood with acid and kills a guarding police officer in the process, having also lured Baxter and Rose away from the house with deepfake voices on their respective phones. Wingate dies from the acid, and Baxter takes the fall despite Rose being willing to do it. The killer later calls him, and Rose notes information from a train station PA and recites his description as learned from a friend of Adam Malik, Teresa Shepton's boyfriend.
5"Episode 5"Niall MacCormickFreddy Syborn and Kara SmithDecember 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)
Rose rushes to the station where the killer supposedly recently was, only to find it empty and unaware that Edmunds is tracking him. However, he discovers her tracker later on and decides to use her letter form Hannah as leverage. Baxter focuses the investigation on the next victim, Andrew Daly, who the police find hard to identify among a pool of many people sharing the same name. She and Finlay chase a lead to Markfield prison, where a break in occurred just prior to Joel Shepton’s death. They learn Shepton's connection to Rose and his subsequent investigation into Theresa Shepton's death, also including Keith Rackman. Edmunds deduces that “Andrew Daly” is in fact an anagram of Andrea Wyld, a journalist who Rose had a relationship with. The police storm her residence, only to find her dead with a scold’s bridle over her head and a bloodied Rose beside her. Rose comes clean to Baxter about what he has been doing, including his attempted suicide and investigation into Theresa Shepton's death. Baxter decides to arrest him, but he manages to escape with a reluctant Edmund's help. The blood on Wingate's dog's collar identifies the killer as Thomas Massey. Edmunds decides to go and question his wife, who was Wyld's makeup artist, but Thomas subdues her.
6"Episode 6"Niall MacCormickFreddy SybornDecember 16, 2021 (2021-12-16)
Massey ties Edmunds up in a makeshift sex dungeon. Baxter dispatches nearby officers to investigate the Massey address, but they find no sign of Edmunds. Baxter and Finlay investigate for themselves and encounter Massey and who stabs Finlay before escaping and Edmunds is rescued by Baxter, The police take Joy in for questioning, and the vice commissioner expresses her will to sacrifice Rose in order to get Massey. Baxter goes on live television and urges people to contact the police if they spot Rose. Shortly after, she is subdued by Massey. Rose arrives and Baxter asks him to handcuff himself to the railing if he loves her, which Rose does, not realising that she's under Massey's control at that point. Massey orders her to inhale a vapour, which is identified as a powerful weedkiller. Rose attempts to kill himself by bashing his head, in order to prevent Massey from killing Baxter. Rose and Baxter manage to stop Massey, but he escapes again. Massey attempts to escape the country, but Joy pushes him from an airport gallery after saying that she was disappointed in him. Three months later, Edmunds' former boss contacts her about Naomi Green's[ who? ][ clarification needed ] case, hinting that Rose gave him her letter. Meanwhile, Rose is still a wanted man, now seeking refuge in Hamburg, Germany.

Production

Development

In February 2021, it was announced AMC and Alibi would co-produce a thriller series based upon the novel Ragdoll by Daniel Cole. Freddy Syborn would adapt the series and serve as an executive producer. Production companies involved with the series include Sid Gentle Films and AMC Studios, with BBC Studios distributing worldwide. [2] The series premiered on November 11, 2021, on AMC+ in the United States. [3]

Casting

In March 2021, Lucy Hale joined the cast of the series in a starring role. [4] In April 2021, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Thalissa Teixeira joined the cast of the series in starring roles. [5]

Filming

Principal photography began in London in May 2021. [6]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 90% approval rating with an average rating of 7.9/10, based on 10 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Ragdoll avoids feeling like yet another serial killer caper sewn together from better thrillers, thanks in part to its dry humor and killer cast chemistry." [7] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 65 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [8]

Daniel Fienberg, of The Hollywood Reporter , called the series a "metaphor" rather than a TV show, saying that "[it] has enough unnerving moments to satisfy impressionable devotees of the genre." [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alibi (TV channel)</span> Digital television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom

Alibi is a British pay television channel that was launched on 1 November 1997 as UK Arena. It was renamed UK Drama in 2000, and then UKTV Drama in 2004, and assumed its current name on 7 October 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor</span> American actress (born 1969)

Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor is an American actress. Known for her work in several film and television productions, she has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abigail Spencer</span> American actress

Abigail Leigh Spencer is an American actress. She began her career playing Rebecca Tyree on the ABC daytime television soap opera All My Children (1999–2001) before going on to star in the Lifetime crime drama series, Angela's Eyes (2006). From 2013 to 2016, Spencer starred as Amantha Holden in the SundanceTV drama series Rectify, for which she received a nomination for a Critics' Choice Television Award; she then starred as history professor Lucy Preston in the NBC science-fiction series Timeless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Plemons</span> American actor (born 1988)

Jesse Plemons is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor and achieved a breakthrough with his role as Landry Clarke in the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights (2006–2011). He subsequently portrayed Todd Alquist in season 5 of the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2012–2013) and its sequel film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019). For his role as Ed Blumquist in season 2 of the FX anthology series Fargo (2015), he received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination and won a Critics' Choice Television Award. He received a second Emmy nomination for his performance in "USS Callister", an episode of the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Hale</span> American actress and singer (born 1989)

Karen Lucille Hale is an American actress and singer. She has received various accolades, including seven Teen Choice Awards, a Gracie Award, a People's Choice Award and two Young Hollywood Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zahn McClarnon</span> American actor

Zahn Tokiya-ku McClarnon is an American actor known for his performances in the Western crime drama series Longmire, the second season of Fargo, and the second season of Westworld. In 2022, he plays the lead role in the AMC series Dark Winds. He features in the FX on Hulu series Reservation Dogs, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Hawkeye (2021) and Echo (2024).

Acorn TV is a British-American subscription video streaming service offering television programming from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, other Commonwealth countries, and Spain. In other countries, it is available on a variety of devices including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and Roku.

<i>Killing Eve</i> British spy thriller television series (2018–2022)

Killing Eve is a British spy thriller television series, produced in the United Kingdom by Sid Gentle Films for BBC America and BBC Three. The series follows Eve Polastri, a British intelligence investigator tasked with capturing psychopathic assassin Villanelle. As the chase progresses, the two develop a mutual obsession. Based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings, each of the show's series is led by a different female head writer. The first series had Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the head writer, the second series Emerald Fennell, the third series Suzanne Heathcote, and the fourth series Laura Neal.

<i>Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television</i> Television series

Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television is an action comedy series created by Rawson Marshall Thurber and starring Ryan Hansen that premiered on October 25, 2017, on YouTube Red. In July 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season which premiered on January 30, 2019.

<i>When They See Us</i> 2019 crime drama television miniseries

When They See Us is a 2019 American crime drama television miniseries created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay for Netflix, that premiered in four parts on May 31, 2019. It is based on events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case and explores the lives and families of the five Black and Latino male suspects who were falsely accused then prosecuted on charges related to the rape and assault of a white woman in Central Park, New York City. The series features an ensemble cast, including Jharrel Jerome, Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Jovan Adepo, Michael K. Williams, Logan Marshall-Green, Joshua Jackson, Blair Underwood, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Kylie Bunbury.

<i>The Terminal List</i> American action thriller television series

The Terminal List is an American action thriller television series created by David DiGilio, based on Jack Carr's 2018 novel of the same name. The series tells the story of a Navy SEAL who seeks to avenge the murder of his family. It stars Chris Pratt, Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch, Riley Keough, Arlo Mertz, and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

<i>Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story</i> 2022 American television series

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is the first season of the American true crime television anthology series, Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix, which was released on September 21, 2022. Murphy also serves as showrunner and is an executive producer along with Brennan. Dahmer is about the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Other main characters include Dahmer's father Lionel, his stepmother Shari, suspicious neighbor Glenda, and grandmother Catherine.

<i>Black Bird</i> (miniseries) American television series

Black Bird is an American true crime drama miniseries developed by Dennis Lehane, based on the 2010 autobiographical novel In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene with Hillel Levin. The six-episode miniseries premiered on July 8, 2022, on Apple TV+. The series received critical acclaim with particular praise toward Jimmy Keene's original story and its cast.

<i>Anne Boleyn</i> (TV series) British thriller miniseries (2021)

Anne Boleyn is a British three-part psychological thriller television miniseries developed for Channel 5 starring Jodie Turner-Smith in the title role. It was written by Eve Hedderwick Turner and directed by Lynsey Miller with historian Dan Jones as executive producer.

<i>The Devils Hour</i> British thriller television series

The Devil's Hour is a British drama thriller television series created by Tom Moran, and executive produced by Steven Moffat through his production company Hartswood Films. The series consists of six episodes, and premiered on 28 October 2022 on Amazon Prime Video. In November 2022, the series was renewed for a second and third season.

Thalissa Teixeira is a British-Brazilian actress and filmmaker. She began her career in theatre, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination, before breaking out in the miniseries Trigonometry. She was named a 2021 Screen International Star of Tomorrow.

Moonhaven is a dystopian science fiction television series produced by AMC+ that premiered on July 7, 2022. The series depicts a quasi-utopian community set on a part of the Moon, intended to develop the technical and cultural means to save a ravaged Earth. The first episode begins with a murder, and the first season develops around a pivotal event for this project on the Moon, called the Bridge, when the first generations of Mooners, as the people from this community are called, will go back to Earth to teach the Earthers a way to overcome their ecological and economic crisis.

<i>Parish</i> (TV series) Upcoming television series

Parish is an American crime drama television series based on the BBC One series The Driver. It premiered on AMC on March 31, 2024.

<i>Lucky Hank</i> American television series

Lucky Hank is an American black comedy-drama television series developed by Paul Lieberstein and Aaron Zelman based on the 1997 novel Straight Man by Richard Russo. Starring Bob Odenkirk, the series premiered on March 19, 2023, on AMC. In December 2023, the series was canceled after one season.

References

  1. 1 2 "Shows A-Z – Ragdoll on AMC+". The Futon Critic . Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  2. ↑ White, Peter (February 18, 2021). "AMC & UKTV's Alibi Order Crime Drama 'Ragdoll' From 'Killing Eve' Producer Sid Gentle Films & Freddy Syborn". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (August 17, 2021). "AMC Networks Sets Fall Premiere Dates For 'Doctor Who', 'Ragdoll', 'Ultra City Smiths' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  4. ↑ Petski, Denise (March 12, 2021). "'Lucy Hale To Star In AMC Crime Drama Series 'Ragdoll'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  5. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 19, 2021). "'Ragdoll': Henry Lloyd-Hughes & Thalissa Teixeira Join Lucy Hale In AMC Crime Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ Yossman, K.J. (May 28, 2021). "Lucy Hale's 'Ragdoll' Series For AMC, Alibi Starts Production in U.K. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Ragdoll: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Ragdoll: Season 1". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  9. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (November 10, 2021). "AMC+'s 'Ragdoll': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 11, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.