Patrick Melrose (miniseries) explained

Genre:Drama
Director:Edward Berger
Composer:Hauschka
Num Series:1
Num Episodes:5
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Producer:Stephen Smallwood
Editor:Tim Murrell
Cinematography:James Friend

Patrick Melrose is a drama television miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role. The show is based on a series of semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn.[1]

Premise

Over five decades from the 1960s to the early 2000s, wealthy Englishman Patrick Melrose attempts to overcome his addictions and demons rooted in abuse by his cruel father and negligent mother.

Cast

Production

It was announced in February 2017 that Benedict Cumberbatch would star in and produce a television adaptation of Edward St Aubyn’s Patrick Melrose book series, that would air on Showtime in the United States and Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom. David Nicholls wrote the five episodes of the series, with Edward Berger directing.[3] In July, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hugo Weaving joined as Patrick’s mother and father, and Anna Madeley was cast as Patrick’s wife.[4] Allison Williams and Blythe Danner joined in August 2017, with filming begun by October in Glasgow.[5] [6] [7]

Release

The first trailer debuted in April 2018, and the series premiered on May 12 on Showtime.[8] [9] The series consecutively streamed new episodes on CraveTV in Canada.[10] It was shown on Sky Atlantic in the UK, and Sky Vision handled international sales of the series.[11]

Reception

Critical response

The series currently has a 90% 'Certified Fresh' score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 69 critic reviews with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Patrick Melrose is a scathing indictment of British high society's inherited dysfunction, cruelty, and the wealth that enables them. The Crown this ain't."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 80/100 based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[13] In 2019, the series was ranked 51st on The Guardian newspaper's list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.[14]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
British Screenwriters' AwardsBest British TV Drama WritingDavid Nicholls[15]
British Society of CinematographersBest Cinematography in a Television DramaJames Friend [16]
Operators Award – Television DramaDaniel Bishop[17]
International Online Cinema AwardsBest Actor in a Limited Series or TV MovieBenedict Cumberbatch
National Film and Television AwardsBest Actor
Online Film & Television Association AwardsBest Limited Series[18]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited SeriesBenedict Cumberbatch
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited SeriesJennifer Jason Leigh
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Limited Series
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Limited Series
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Limited SeriesRachael Horovitz, Michael Jackson,
Adam Ackland, Benedict Cumberbatch,
Helen Flint, and Stephen Smallwood		[19]
[20]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or MovieBenedict Cumberbatch
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic SpecialEdward Berger
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic SpecialDavid Nicholls
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieNina Gold and Martin Ware
Television Critics Association AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials[21]
World Soundtrack AwardsTelevision Composer of the YearHauschka[22]
American Society of Cinematographers AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Motion Picture,
Miniseries, or Pilot Made for Television		James Friend [23]
Artios AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Casting – Limited SeriesNina Gold[24]
British Academy Television AwardsBest Mini-SeriesMichael Jackson, Rachael Horovitz,
Edward Berger, and David Nicholls		[25]
Best Leading ActorBenedict Cumberbatch
British Academy Television Craft AwardsBest Writer – FictionDavid Nicholls[26]
Best Original MusicHauschka
Best Production DesignTom Burton
Photography & Lighting – FictionJames Friend
Broadcast AwardsBest Drama Series or Serial[27]
Broadcasting Press Guild AwardsBest Single Drama[28]
[29]
Best ActorBenedict Cumberbatch
Best WriterDavid Nicholls
Best of Multichannel
CamerimageFirst Look AwardJames Friend
Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for TelevisionBenedict Cumberbatch[30]
Golden Reel AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Sound Editing –
Sound Effects and Foley for Episodic Long Form Broadcast Media		Tony Gibson, Glen Gathard, Lewis Todd,
Lilly Blazewicz, Peter Burgis, Zoe Freed, and
Jason Swanscott 		[31]
Music + Sound AwardsBest Sound Design – Television ProgrammeTony Gibson, Filipa Príncipe, Claire Ellis,
Lewis Todd, Louisa Kearns, Stephen Smallwood,
Nigel Squibbs, Jason Swanscott, Zoe Freed, and
Peter Burgis		[32]
Royal Television Society AwardsBest Writer – DramaDavid Nicholls[33]
Royal Television Society Craft & Design AwardsBest Sound – DramaNigel Squibbs, John Mooney, Filipa Principe, and
Tony Gibson		[34]
Satellite AwardsBest Miniseries & Limited Series[35]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for TelevisionBenedict Cumberbatch
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture
Made for Television		Hugo Weaving
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture
Made for Television		Jennifer Jason Leigh
USC Scripter AwardsTelevisionDavid Nicholls;
Based on the series of novels by Edward St Aubyn		[36]
IMAGO International AwardsBest Cinematography in TV DramaJames Friend [37]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/04/how-benedict-cumberbatch-became-patrick-melrose How Benedict Cumberbatch became Patrick Melrose, by Henry Alford, Vanity Fair, April 3, 2018
  2. Web site: Boy talent-spotted in school play - and now he's playing Benedict Cumberbatch's son on TV. Oxford Mail. 31 May 2018 . en. 2020-01-12.
  3. News: Otterson . Joe . Benedict Cumberbatch Set to Star in Showtime Limited Series 'Melrose' . 2019-10-13 . The Wrap . 2017-02-28.
  4. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jennifer-jason-leigh-hugo-weaving-board-showtime-miniseries-melrose-1019630 Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving Board Showtime Miniseries 'Patrick Melrose'
  5. https://deadline.com/2017/08/patrick-melrose-allison-williams-guest-star-showtime-limited-series-1202140271/ ‘Patrick Melrose’: Allison Williams To Guest Star In Showtime Limited Series
  6. Web site: Tony Winner Blythe Danner Joins Cast of Showtime Limited Series Patrick Melrose . Broadway World . Wisdom Digital Media . 2019-10-13.
  7. Web site: Bone . Christian . Benedict Cumberbatch Rocks An Eyepatch For Patrick Melrose TV Series . We Got This Covered . 31 October 2017 . 2019-10-13.
  8. https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/patrick-melrose-trailer-benedict-cumberbatch-showtime-1201949761/ ‘Patrick Melrose’ Trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch Loses His Mind in Brilliant New Look at Showtime Series
  9. https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/benedict-cumberbatch-patrick-melrose-showtime-premiere-date-1202728326/ Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Patrick Melrose’ Sets Showtime Premiere Date
  10. http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/showtime-teases-new-limited-series-patrick-melrose/ SHOWTIME® Teases New Limited Series PATRICK MELROSE
  11. Web site: Sky l Vision – Sky's production and distribution arm. skyvision.sky.com. en. 2018-10-03. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221159/https://skyvision.sky.com/programme/19077/patrick-melrose. dead.
  12. Web site: Patrick Melrose: Miniseries . June 4, 2024 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  13. Web site: Patrick Melrose . June 4, 2024 . Metacritic.
  14. Web site: The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century . The Guardian . 16 September 2019 . 23 September 2019.
  15. Web site: The British Screenwriters' Awards 2018 . April 5, 2023.
  16. Web site: Best Cinematography in a Television Drama . March 20, 2023.
  17. Web site: The Operators Awards – Television Drama . March 20, 2023.
  18. Web site: 22nd Annual TV Awards (2017-18) . Online Film & Television Association . May 15, 2021.
  19. Web site: Patrick Melrose . Emmys.com . . July 12, 2018.
  20. Web site: Emmys: Netflix Beats HBO With Most Nominations . . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018.
  21. Web site: 'Killing Eve,' FX Lead 2018 TV Critic Awards Nominations . Lesley . Goldberg . . June 19, 2018 . June 19, 2018.
  22. Web site: World Soundtrack Awards . . December 18, 2021.
  23. Web site: Hipes . Patrick . 'Roma,' 'Cold War' Among American Society of Cinematographers Awards Nominees . . 7 January 2019 . January 17, 2019.
  24. Web site: Nominees/Winners . . February 6, 2019.
  25. Web site: BAFTA Awards: Television in 2019 . . 2019 . March 28, 2019 . .
  26. Web site: BAFTA Awards: Television Craft in 2019 . . 2019 . March 28, 2019 . .
  27. Web site: Winners Broadcast Awards 2019 . 2022-03-18 . Broadcast . en.
  28. News: BPG Awards 2019 Winners news release . . March 15, 2019 . March 20, 2023.
  29. News: BPG Awards TV Nominations . . February 13, 2019 . March 20, 2023.
  30. Web site: Patrick Melrose – Golden Globes . . July 5, 2021 . .
  31. Web site: Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Episodic Long Form – Sound Effects and Foley . . June 22, 2019.
  32. Web site: THE MUSIC+SOUND AWARDS BEST SOUND DESIGN 2019 WINNERS . masawards.com . April 5, 2023.
  33. Web site: RTS Programme Winners 2019 . 2 October 2018 . . September 22, 2022.
  34. Web site: Craft & Design Awards 2018 . . 2 July 2018 . 24 February 2023.
  35. Web site: 2018 Satellite Awards . . . November 28, 2018.
  36. Web site: Past Scripter Awards . . November 8, 2021.
  37. Web site: 3rd IMAGO International Awards (The Winners) . imago.org . 13 March 2020 . March 13, 2020.

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