Period drama enthusiasts seeking a gritty historical show are being directed to the BBC miniseries Gunpowder, currently streaming for free on Channel 4. The three-part series, which first aired in 2017, follows Robert Catesby (Kit Harington) and his Catholic co-conspirators in the infamous plot to assassinate King James I (Derek Riddell).
The cast includes Game of Thrones star Harington, Liv Tyler, Derek Riddell, Peter Mullan, Edward Holcroft, Tom Cullen, Mark Gatiss, and Shaun Dooley. Harington also developed and produced the show, inspired by his own family history—his full name is Christopher Catesby Harington, and Robert Catesby was a distant relative.
Audience reviews on IMDb have been overwhelmingly positive. One user compared it to Wolf Hall and Taboo, praising Harington's performance as the plot mastermind and Tom Cullen's portrayal of Guy Fawkes. Another reviewer called it a “brilliant and gritty British drama,” awarding it a perfect 10/10 and stating, “All in all, British Drama at its best!”
Harington previously explained his motivation for the project, saying, “The story follows such a fascinating, dark and twisted piece of British history which is very close to being forgotten in the fog of time. It goes far beyond the name Fawkes and examines many fascinating characters and their desperate, tragedy-strewn lives.”
