Ep 1. Episode 1

In Dickensian season 1 episode 1, viewers are plunged into the dark and gritty world of Victorian London as imagined by author Charles Dickens. The show is set in a fictionalized version of Dickens' universe, with a cast of characters drawn from his most famous works.

At the center of the first episode is the murder of Jacob Marley, the business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. As the episode opens, viewers see Marley's body being discovered in an alleyway by a group of street urchins. The police are called in, and soon Inspector Bucket (a character from Bleak House) is on the scene, trying to solve the mystery.

As Bucket begins his investigation, he interviews Martha Cratchit (also from A Christmas Carol), who turns out to have been one of the last people to see Marley alive. She tells Bucket about a strange man who had been hanging around Marley's business, and this sets the inspector off on a new lead.

Meanwhile, back at Scrooge's counting house, the old miser is in a foul mood. He doesn't seem too bothered by Marley's death, but he's irked by the fact that his clerk Bob Cratchit (Martha's husband) has taken the day off to attend his son's funeral. Scrooge berates poor Bob, telling him he should be grateful to have a job at all.

Elsewhere in London, we meet Fagin (from Oliver Twist), the criminal mastermind who rules over a gang of young pickpockets. Fagin is a shrewd businessman, and he's always looking for ways to scam and swindle the wealthy citizens of London. In this episode, he's plotting to steal a priceless necklace from a rich woman named Amelia Havisham (from Great Expectations).

As the episode unfolds, we also get to know a few minor characters who will later play bigger roles in the series. There's Honoria Barbary, a spoiled and wealthy young woman who is engaged to be married to the dull but reliable Arthur Havisham (Amelia's brother). Honoria isn't too happy about this arrangement, though, and she's always looking for ways to escape her stifling life.

We also meet Nancy (from Oliver Twist), a prostitute who is being abused by her violent and controlling boyfriend, Bill Sikes. Nancy is a kind-hearted woman, though, and she takes pity on one of Fagin's young pickpockets when he shows up at her door, looking for help.

Finally, we see a few glimpses of Miss Havisham (from Great Expectations), the enigmatic spinster who is locked away in her mansion, still wearing her wedding dress decades after her fiance jilted her at the altar. Miss Havisham is a tragic figure, and viewers get the sense that her story will be one of the darkest and most haunting parts of the series.

Overall, episode 1 of Dickensian sets the stage for a complex and interwoven narrative, full of secrets, lies, and tragic backstories. The show is beautifully shot, with moody lighting and a richly detailed visual style that brings Victorian London to life. Fans of Dickens' novels will love seeing their favorite characters interact in new and surprising ways, while those who are new to the author's work will find plenty of drama and intrigue to keep them hooked.