Spike TV is best known for male-oriented programming and reality shows. However, the network is trying to get into the scripted game with a mini-series simply titled TUT.
The four-and-a-half-hour (well, six with commercials) series will start on Sunday, July 19 and will air over three nights. Starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Avan Jogia, the show takes the current Spartacus/Game of Thrones style that’s prevalent on premium cable and takes it to basic cable. That means we still get all the violence, just without gratuitous nudity.
Tut tells the story of Ancient Egypt’s most famous Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, with a script from Brad Bredeweg, Peter Paige and Michael Vickerman. It shows that we really don’t know much about the “Boy King,” who only lived to be 18 years old. We know his famous tomb, but little about what actually happened while he was alive.
The script really focuses on Egypt’s battles with the nearby Mitanni, who constantly try to take Thebes, and the internal struggles between Tut (Jogia), his vizier Aya (Kingsley), General Horemheb (Game of Thrones’ Nonso Anozie) and head priest Amun (Alexander Siddig who, of course, has also been on GOT). Tut also struggles to have an heir with his Queen, his sister Ankhe (Sibylla Deen, Tyrant). Ankhe is also involved in a soap opera love triangle, since she’s really in love with Ka (Peter Gadiot), who happens to be Tut’s best friend.
Directed by TV veteran David Von Ancken (CSI: NY, Californication and many others), TUT certainly understands its medium. The plots are very episodic and there’s even some continuity that’s forgotten about as the show goes on (is Tut supposed to limp or not?). And even though the runtime is over four hours, major events have to take place at the same time, so there’s a lot of montages.
The show does have some good acting, which might be surprising. Kingsley does the best with his cliched role as the scheming guy in the background and Jogia manages to portray a sympathetic but strong king. The producers did a good job finding a diverse cast to fill all the roles, although it is really hard to believe that Egyptians had British accents. TUT is also visually well put together. Perhaps it’s not as awe-inspiring as GOT, but it doesn’t look like the producers cheaped out when it comes to production design.
Since not much is known about Tut’s short reign as Pharaoh, TUT embraces being complete fiction. Once it gets into high gear, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the drama.
TUT premieres on July 19.
image courtesy of Spike TV