If You’re Not Watching, You Should Be: Manhattan

Update: WGN announced the cancellation of Manhattan last week, a mere two days after this blog entry was written. I’m choosing to publish this entry in it’s entirety, and not amend it after the cancellation. RIP Manhattan. 

In my latest entry into “If You’re Not Watching It, You Should Be...” I’m focusing on the WGN period drama Manhattan. The show, which was created by writer Sam Shaw, recently wrapped its' sophomore season on the small network, and the series continues to come into its' own as one of the most interesting and well-crafted series on television.

The cast of WGN’s Manhattan.

Manhattan follows the colorful cast of characters caught in the middle of the development of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos New Mexico during World War Two. The series has developed a focus on historical accuracy that this history nut applauds whole heartedly. While it might have been tempting to shoot in the deserts outside Los Angeles and on Hollywood soundstages, the crew chose to build a painstakingly accuracte set in New Mexico, allowing the cast to be fully immersed in the environment of Los Alamos, which plays a vital role in the show. 

I’ve already sang the praises of Ashley Zukerman, who plays the talented, up-and-coming physicist Charlie Isaacs through the first two seasons. Actor John Benjamin Hickey is another stand-out. Hickey is continually on the receiving end of amazing reviews, touting his layered portrayal of scientist Frank Winter. These are just two performers in an insanely talented cast, which when combined with an skilled writing, pushes the show to another level.

Watching season two has been fascinating in the incredible development which has occurred around the storyline following Charlie (Ashley Zukerman) and his wife Abby (Rachel Brosnahan). Viewers are first introduced to Charlie and Abby as a wide-eyed young couple, newly arrived on “The Hill.” Abby is the perfect example of the stereotypical, 1940s housewife, and Charlie (though nervous in his new role) is excited to provide for his young family in his quickly developing career. (I will endeavor not to give away spoilers in the coming section... but you have been warned...). As the series progresses, the stress and secrecy of Charlie’s expanding role within the Los Alamos scientific development team, as well as the almost surreal environment of ’The Hill’ forms a wedge between Charlie and Abby. The narrative shifts surrounding the couple, who are both openly struggling with the expected gender norms of World War II era America, is fascinating to watch. In the opinion of this writer, that they have become two of the most interesting characters in the series.


Finally, if you aren’t familiar with the name Katja Herbers, be sure you get that way.  Herbers plays female physicist Helen Prins in the series. Helen is the only woman employed on ‘The Hill’ who is not in the secretarial pool. She has worked her way up within Frank Winter’s organization, and is a trusted member of the group of scientists. In Herbers portrayal, Prins is (quite literally) a woman trapped in a man’s world. Glancing at her filmography, Herbers has been incredibly active in her home country of Netherlands; however, Manhattan is her first (and incredibly successful) foray onto American television screens. This writer can’t wait to see more work from her in the future. .

As I stated earlier, Manhattan just wrapped it’s second season on WGN. There has been no announcement of a third season renewal, but this writer is crossing her fingers that one will be coming soon. Until we know something on the third season, the first season is available widely through various streaming sources, as well as on DVD. Season two has been available to stream, and DVD’s should be coming by this summer.