''Copper'' is a

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television series created by Tom Fontana and Will Rokos for

BBC America BBC America is an American basic cable network that is jointly owned by BBC Studios and AMC Networks. The channel primarily airs sci-fi and action series and films, as well as selected programs from the BBC (such as its nature documentary ...

. It is set in 1860s New York City, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...

, and stars Tom Weston-Jones as an Irish immigrant policeman, or "copper", who patrols and resides in the Five Points neighborhood. Other cast members include Kyle Schmid,

Ato Essandoh Ato Essilfi Bracato Essandoh (born July 29, 1972) is an American television and film actor. Early life Essandoh was born in Schenectady, New York to Ghanaian parents and graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1990. He received a B.S. in ...

, Anastasia Griffith,

Tessa Thompson Tessa Lynne Thompson (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress. She began her professional acting career with the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College. She appeared in productions of '' The Tempest ...

and Franka Potente. The series was BBC America's first original scripted program after previously only airing co-productions and shows from the United Kingdom. Fontana, Rokos,

Barry Levinson Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American filmmaker, comedian and actor. Levinson's best-known works are mid-budget comedy drama and drama films such as '' Diner'' (1982); '' The Natural'' (1984); '' Good Morning, Vietnam'' (1987) ...

, and Christina Wayne were executive producers of the series. The first season of 10 episodes premiered on August 19, 2012. The series was renewed for a second season of 13 episodes, which premiered on June 23, 2013. On September 19, 2013, ''Copper''s cancellation was announced, three days before its second-season finale aired.

Premise

The series centers on Kevin "Corky" Corcoran, an Irish immigrant police detective trying to keep the peace in the historical Five Points neighborhood, in 1860s New York City. Initially, he is simultaneously searching for information on his wife, who disappeared, and daughter, who was killed, while he was fighting down south for the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

. The show explores the effects of the

as well as the

social stratification Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power (social and political ...

involving New York's aristocracy and

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

population.

Episodes

Cast and characters

* Tom Weston-Jones as Kevin "Corky" Corcoran, a rugged Irish immigrant cop in New York City * Kyle Schmid as Robert Morehouse, the son of a wealthy

Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue is a major and prominent thoroughfare in the borough of Manhattan in New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 populatio ...

industrialist, formerly Corcoran and Freeman's major in the Union Army *

as Matthew Freeman, an African-American physician and runaway slave, who serves as an informal pathologist for Corcoran * Anastasia Griffith as Elizabeth Haverford, the English wife of a wealthy Fifth Avenue friend of Morehouse's * Franka Potente as Eva Heissen, a shrewd

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an ...

n businesswoman and madam of a brothel * Kevin Ryan as Francis Maguire, an Irish cop working alongside Corcoran * Dylan Taylor as Andrew O'Brien, a detective who works with Corcoran and Maguire * Kiara Glasco as Annie Reilly, a 12-year-old orphaned prostitute *

as Sara Freeman, Matthew's wife, a runaway slave whose brothers were lynched by a group of Irishmen *

Alex Paxton-Beesley Alex Paxton-Beesley (born September 24, 1986) is a Canadian actress. She is noted for her acting roles in several TV series, including ''Copper'', ''The Strain'', ''Wynonna Earp'', ''Cardinal'' and ''Pure''. Early life Paxton-Beesley was born ...

as Ellen Corcoran, Corky's wife, who disappeared while he served in the Union army *

Ron White Ron White (born December 18, 1956) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and author, best known as a charter member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Nicknamed "Tater Salad", he is the author of the book ''I Had the Right to Remain Silent But ...

as Ciaran Joseph Sullivan, the captain of the sixth precinct and Corcoran's boss * Donal Logue as Brendan Donovan, a Civil War Brigadier General who is the Sixth Ward

Tammany Hall Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York City political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society. It became the main loc ...

boss *

Alfre Woodard Alfre Woodard (; born November 8, 1952) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards (tying the record for the most acting Emmys won by an African-American performer, along with Regina King) ...

as Hattie Lemaster, Sara's mother, a newly freed slave

Production

announced the series during the Television Critics Association (TCA) summer press tour, on July 28, 2011. General Manager Perry Simon said the series is a "great fit" for the network, as it " apturesthe early American multicultural experience in provocative, ground-breaking fashion". Series creators Tom Fontana and Will Rokos are joined as executive producers by

and Cineflix Studios president Christina Wayne. Additional members of the production team include Steven Cosens as director of photography, Delphine White as costume designer, and John Blackie as production designer. In January 2012, the main cast of the series—comprising Weston-Jones, Schmid, Griffith, and Potente—was unveiled. The actors hail from a variety of backgrounds: Weston-Jones and Griffith are British; Potente is German; and Schmid is Canadian. Irish actor Kevin Ryan and American actress

also joined as series regulars. Filming began in January 2012, in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...

. After naming it their "highest-rated drama series ever", BBC America ordered a second season of 13 episodes, which began airing in June 2013.

Broadcast

''Copper'' premiered August 19, 2012 on BBC America in the United States, and August 26, 2012 on Showcase in Canada.Shaw Media (2012). Copper on Showcase. Retrieved from http://www.showcase.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?Root_Title_Id=278563 . It is also broadcast on FX Australia in Australia and on HBO in the Netherlands. On September 19, 2013, BBC America announced that ''Copper'' would end its run after the Season 2 finale, stating that the series had reached "a fitting moment to conclude". A feature film was considered, but so far nothing has happened.

Soundtrack

On May 28, 2013,

Valley Entertainment Valley Entertainment is an American independent record label and music distributor based in New York City, United States. The company was founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen and Jon Birge. In 2001, it acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ...

released ''Copper: Original Soundtrack'', with music composed by Brian Keane, worldwide on CD and in digital formats.

References

External links

* , the program's official website * * * {{TV Guide, 327284 2010s Canadian drama television series 2012 Canadian television series debuts 2013 Canadian television series endings 2010s American drama television series 2012 American television series debuts 2013 American television series endings BBC America original programming English-language television shows Fictional portrayals of the New York City Police Department Television series set in the 1860s Television shows filmed in Toronto Television shows set in New York City Television series by Cineflix Television series about the American Civil War Television series by Corus Entertainment Television series created by Tom Fontana