Franklin: Nest of Spies!

I very much enjoyed the AppleTV+ series, Franklin—or what I like to call it, “Benjamin Franklin: Nest of Spies” (or “The Corruption of Temple Franklin,” Temple being Franklin’s grandson, who accompanied his grandfather to Paris as his secretary). 

While some people couldn’t get past Michael Douglas in the role, I found the series very entertaining and compelling, and appreciated its attention to the history and the complex friendships and relationships that made Franklin’s mission to procure French support for the American revolution a challenge. (My knowledge of this period is based on history books and study, including the excellent 2022 Ken Burns’ documentary on Franklin and, of course, multiple viewings of the musical 1776, both film and on stage, over the years!)

In the series, Franklin navigates the competing interests and political intrigue of the French court, as well as numerous spies and enemies in his midst (American, English and French—French figures were played by French actors and many scenes were entirely in French and subtitled). 

The series goes beyond just Franklin and features bigger-than-life characters and matching performances. Among the best and most fun is the arrival in Paris of the puritanical, humorless and indignant John Adams, whose contempt for Franklin and his libertinism (as well as of the French) is a source of much humor. (Adams is played with great high dudgeon by Eddie Marsan, who apparently had also auditioned for the John Adams miniseries, a role that went to Paul Giamatti). But he is also far from one note and capable of surprise, as he gradually but grudgingly comes to see the craft of Franklin’s approach, after first believing him to be in France’s pocket. (The fractious American delegation becoming one voice—future Supreme Court Justice John Jay being the third in their triumvirate—to effectively negotiate a peace treaty with the British is another pleasant turn to watch.) Another standout is the figure of Lafayette, as the youthful and idealistic French nobleman eager for glory and battle.

I thought it was a wonderful series with a polished cinematic production design and a keen understanding of the political currents and complex personalities that Franklin had to deftly navigate and leverage to gain French support. Along with the recent Manhunt, about the search for John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of President Lincoln, Apple+ has become a source for some solid historical drama series.