Dickinson
Dickinson
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Dickinson

"Hope is worth every fight."

8.5
Yr 2019
Status Ended
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Emily Dickinson. Poet. Daughter. Total rebel. In this coming-of-age story, Emily’s determined to become the world's greatest poet.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 65 /100

Critical reception of Dickinson is notably polarized, with critics debating whether its eccentric modernization of the 19th-century poet is a bold success or a muddled mess. Many reviewers praise Hailee Steinfeld’s charismatic lead performance and the show’s refreshing subversion of historical drama tropes, often characterizing it as an "enchanting" and fun departure from dense prestige television.

Conversely, some critics find the show's anachronistic tone and "pseudo-feminist" framing to be reductive or inconsistent. Reviewers who disliked the series frequently cited it as a "shambles" that struggles to balance its absurd premise with its historical subject matter, leading to a tone that can feel erratic rather than intentionally rebellious.

“This series is fresh, original, gorgeously loopy -- and absolutely enchanting.”

“In 'Dickinson,' Hailee Steinfeld is charismatic as the celebrated poet, but new Apple TV+ series is a muddled mess.”

“It comes off as a reductive, overly metaphoric and pseudo-feminist appropriation of Dickinson’s biography.”

“It succeeds by circumventing Apple’s idea of what a prestigious show should look like, bringing some much needed carelessness to the streaming platform.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Apple TV
US • UK • CA
Apple TV Amazon Channel
UK • US • CA
Next Signal

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Why fans love it

Premiering in 2019, Dickinson transforms the 19th-century period piece into an energetic fictional biography that balances comedic beats with sharp drama. Led by Hailee Steinfeld, the series centers on a determined young writer striving to establish herself through poetry. It plays out as a dynamic coming-of-age story that prioritizes an introspective look at artistic ambition over rigid historical tradition.

Audiences respond to how the show navigates emotional complexity beneath its stylized exterior. A central lesbian relationship brings genuine warmth and focus to the story, grounding its wlw themes in personal connection. The narrative shifts seamlessly between comedy and moodier territory, capturing a character who is frequently furious, frightened, and burdened by a quiet sense of foreboding as she fights to make her voice heard.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 14
Longest run 30 eps
Show 67 more
Gus Halper as Joseph Lyman 5 episodes Matt Lauria as Ben Newton 5 episodes Jason Mantzoukas as Bee (voice) 3 episodes Warren Katz as Minister 3 episodes John Mulaney as Henry David Thoreau 2 episodes James Urbaniak as Ophthalmologist 1 episode Emilio Oliveira as Loud Man 1 episode Anna O'Donoghue as Loud Woman 1 episode Brendan Hayes as Dishwasher Vendor 1 episode Olivia Khoshatefeh as Young Woman #1 1 episode Manuela Sosa as Young Woman #2 1 episode Timothy Simons as Frederick Law Olmsted 1 episode Jibz Cameron as Sanford Robinson Gifford 1 episode Kelli Barrett as Adelaide May 1 episode Curtis Bannister as Opera Chorus Member 1 1 episode Lindsay Nicole Chambers as Opera Chorus Member 2 1 episode Ron Crawford as Usher 1 episode Jessica Hecht as Aunt Lavinia 4 episodes Jen Ponton as Body Healer 1 episode Nick Kroll as Edgar Allan Poe 1 episode Ade Otukoya as Henry 'Box' Brown 2 episodes Omar Shaukat as Townie 1 1 episode Tim Simon as Townie 2 1 episode Braeden Brickner as Newspaper Boy 1 episode Tatiana Marie Barber as Activist / Dancer 1 episode Anthony Auguste as Dancer 1 episode Kenny Bermudez as Dancer 1 episode Teddy Bergman as Minister 3 episodes Chloe Campbell as Dancer 1 episode Shawn Alynda Fisher as Dancer 1 episode Marquis Floyd as Dancer 1 episode Antonio Harvey as Dancer 1 episode Marley Lubin as Dancer 1 episode Nerita McFarlane as Dancer 1 episode Bethany Puente as Dancer 1 episode Wade Watson as Dancer 1 episode Imani Wisdom as Dancer 1 episode Damani Van Rensalier as Dancer 1 episode Marié Botha as Mary Bowles 1 episode Finn Jones as Samuel Bowles 10 episodes Pico Alexander as Henry 'Ship' Shipley 9 episodes Ayo Edebiri as Hattie 6 episodes Gus Birney as Jane Humphrey 17 episodes Justine Rappaport as Puppeteer 2 episodes Zosia Mamet as Louisa May Alcott 2 episodes Will Pullen as Nobody 8 episodes Ziwe as Sojourner Truth 2 episodes Jamel Davall Rodriguez as Freddie 4 episodes Samuel Farnsworth as George Gould 15 episodes Kevin Yee as Toshiaki 18 episodes Sophie Zucker as Abby Wood 19 episodes Robert Picardo as Ithamar Conkey 10 episodes Wiz Khalifa as Death 6 episodes Allegra Heart as Abiah Root 17 episodes Darlene Hunt as Maggie 17 episodes Erin Gerasimovich as Anna 9 episodes Neville Lee as Clara 9 episodes Joey Odom as Archibald 5 episodes Max Chernin as Samuel Strong 5 episodes Levi Ricks as Helen 4 episodes Gabriel Ebert as Thomas Wentworth Higginson 7 episodes Nore Davis as Solomon 6 episodes Myles Alexander Evans as Erasmus 6 episodes Tristan Griffin as Everett 6 episodes Wavyy Jonez as The Wall 6 episodes Curt Morlaye as Michael River Jordan 6 episodes Merritt Chase as Union Officer (uncredited) 3 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Production Design
Second Assistant Director
Creator
First Assistant Director
Choreographer
Script Coordinator
Stunt Coordinator
Script Supervisor
Assistant Costume Designer
Set Decoration
Second Second Assistant Director
Art Direction
Key Makeup Artist
Costume Supervisor
Makeup Department Head
Costume Design
Transportation Captain
"A" Camera Operator
Post Production Assistant
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Dickinson overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

poetry lesbian relationship writer fictional biography introspective furious emily dickinson foreboding frightened wlw 19th century
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
November 01, 2019
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
989