Franklin
"Diplomacy is a game. America is the prize."
Overview
In December 1776, Benjamin Franklin is world-famous for his electrical experiments. But his passion and power are put to the test when he embarks on a secret mission to France—with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance.
Historical dramas often focus on the tactical scale of war, but this miniseries places weight on the private anxieties behind a public figure. By framing the American Revolution through the eyes of Benjamin Franklin as he navigates the high-stakes political intrigue of 18th-century France, the story moves away from traditional battlefield narratives. Michael Douglas portrays a strategist vulnerable to the complexities of foreign diplomacy while feeling the pressure of a nation that does not yet exist.
The dynamic between Franklin and his grandson provides an anchor for this period piece. Watching their relationship evolve during a secret mission highlights the personal cost of founding a country. Instead of viewing historical icons as statues, the show emphasizes the specific, flawed human choices that dictated the final outcome of the revolution. Themes of loyalty and generational tension ground the colonial setting in a familiar emotional reality.
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Details
- First Aired
- April 11, 2024
- Status
- Ended
- Origin
- US
- TMDB Votes
- 52