Mrs. Davis
- Science fiction
- Comedy drama
- Tara Hernandez
- Damon Lindelof
- Betty Gilpin
- Jake McDorman
- Andy McQueen
- Tara Hernandez
- Damon Lindelof
- Owen Harris
- Alethea Jones
- Eugene Kelly
- White Rabbit Productions
- Little Bug
- Warner Bros. Television
May 18, 2023 (2023-05-18)
Mrs. Davis is an American science fiction comedy drama television limited series[1][2] created by Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof for Peacock. The series stars Betty Gilpin as a nun using her faith to take on technology, and a supporting cast including Jake McDorman, Margo Martindale, David Arquette and Elizabeth Marvel. It premiered at SXSW on March 11, 2023, before its debut on Peacock on April 20.
Cast
Main cast
- Betty Gilpin as Sister Simone, formerly Elizabeth Abbott, a nun battling artificial intelligence[3]
- Jake McDorman as Preston Wiley, an ex-boyfriend of Simone who stands against the AI with her[3]
- Andy McQueen as Jay, Simone's husband[4]
Recurring cast
- Margo Martindale as Simone's Mother Superior[5]
- Elizabeth Marvel[6] as Celeste Abbott, Simone's mother
- Chris Diamantopoulos[7] as JQ, an ally of Wiley who also stands against the AI
- Katja Herbers[7] as Mathilde LaFleur
- Tom Wlaschiha as Hans Ziegler
- Ben Chaplin[4] as Arthur Schrodinger
- Mathilde Ollivier as Clara
Guest cast
- David Arquette[6] as Montgomery Abbott, Simone's father
- Tim McInnerny as Apron Man
- Roberto Mateos as The Pope
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as The Boss
- Ashley Romans[7] as Joy, the creator of Mrs. Davis
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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1 | "Mother of Mercy: The Call of the Horse" | Owen Harris | Tara Hernandez & Damon Lindelof | April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20) | |
In 1307 Paris, the Knights Templar are burned at the stake, purportedly for heresy. A convent in Paris is attacked by knights looking for the Holy Grail; it's revealed that the nuns are also Templars, and after a violent melee, all are killed, except for one of the Templars; the sole surviving Templar nun escapes with the Holy Grail. In 2023, an artificial intelligence, Mrs. Davis, is used by almost everyone, which has prevented war and famine. Simone, a nun who debunks magicians, works in a convent. Simone is repeatedly contacted by Mrs. Davis, but she refuses to speak with her, claiming that Mrs. Davis killed her father. Her convent is sold and all of the nuns are relocated; Simone is captured by German henchmen claiming to be at the direction of Mrs. Davis, but escapes when an old acquaintance, Wiley, arrives. Simone decides to confront Mrs. Davis, and goes to an elementary school, where she meets with a teacher who speaks on behalf of Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis requests that Simone find the Holy Grail and destroy it; in exchange, Mrs. Davis will delete herself. | |||||
2 | "Zwei Sie Piel mit Seitung Sie Wirtschaftung" | Owen Harris | Tara Hernandez & Jason Lew | April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20) | |
As a child, Simone, (born Elizabeth), served as an audience plant for her parents' magic show. At home, her mother has been working on a secret project that causes tension between her parents. Simone breaks into the office one day to see what’s inside, only to be shot by a crossbow and taken to the hospital, where she meets Wiley. Presently, Simone reunites with Wiley, who leads a group fighting against Mrs. Davis. They claim people do tasks for Mrs. Davis to earn "wings", which are visual awards for recipients, while some even volunteer to be killed at a certain date to earn wings. They encourage Simone to work with Mrs. Davis to find the Holy Grail to learn more about what she wants. They confront the German attackers who chased Simone, and apparently kill one of them when they throw him off a building. Simone meets with Jay, her husband, who reveals that he has the location of the last woman, Clara, who may have known where the Holy Grail is. Simone and Wiley prepare to try and find her in London. It is revealed that the fight between Wiley's team and the Germans was all staged. | |||||
3 | "A Baby with Wings, a Sad Boy with Wings and a Great Helmet" | Alethea Jones | Alberto Roldán & Damon Lindelof | April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20) | |
7 years ago, Wiley and Simone planned to give away their family fortune and move to Alaska. However, Wiley discovers his life-saving liver transplant was staged, prompting him to enter a rodeo to prove himself. Elizabeth (Simone) prays for his safety and meets Jay in a restaurant. Wiley backs out of the rodeo. In the present, Simone and Wiley follow a man they called on a train to Scotland. Mrs. Davis reveals that Celeste, Simone's mother, is on the train,she thinks Simone is helping her dad hide his death. In Scotland, Wiley joins a contest to hold a giant Excalibur prop. Simone follows a woman she believes to be Clara but accidentally knocks out a banker named Mathilde during a ritual. Simone discovers Wiley has wings, leading to a fight. Wiley reveals he got the wings in exchange for his life. During the fight, Wiley curses the Jesus Simone's lover, and lightning strikes the Excalibur, injuring him. The priest from the train kidnaps Wiley in an ambulance. | |||||
4 | "Beautiful Things That Come with Madness" | Alethea Jones | Story by : Noelle Viñas Teleplay by : Jonny Sun | April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20) | |
7 years ago, Elizabeth, now Sister Simone, married Jay in a convent and changed her name. Presently, Simone is interrupted by Jay's dove, who tasks her with delivering a cake to the Pope in Rome. At the Vatican, Wiley is imprisoned and questioned by priest Hans Ziegler about the sneakers Simone gave him. Wiley encounters a man claiming to be Pope Leo XI, who says he was jailed for interacting with Mrs. Davis, while an imposter assumes his role. JQ, having staged Simone's kidnapping, tries to rescue Wiley but finds only a room full of similar sneakers. Simone, assisted by Mrs. Davis, procures the cake for the Pope but doubts her relationship with Jay when the baker reveals that many before her made the same request. Upset, Simone eats the cake herself and chokes, leading to a confrontation with Jay in a "vision." She wakes in the hospital, reconciles with Wiley, and learns that Jay's cake was an apology to the Pope. The Pope reveals a tape from Mrs. Davis showing a 1307 ad for sneakers with Clara, who blackmailed Ziegler, and a scene of her cradling the Grail. | |||||
5 | "A Great Place to Drink to Gain Control of Your Drink" | Owen Harris | Nadra Widatalla & Jason Ning | April 27, 2023 (2023-04-27) | |
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6 | "Allison Treasures: A Southern California Story" | Alethea Jones | Noelle Viñas & Alberto Roldán | May 4, 2023 (2023-05-04) | |
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7 | "Great Gatsby 2001: A Space Odyssey" | Frederick E.O. Toye | Jason Ning & Jonny Sun | May 11, 2023 (2023-05-11) | |
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8 | "The Final Intercut: So I'm Your Horse" | Owen Harris | Story by : Nadra Widatalla & Chikira Bennett Teleplay by : Tara Hernandez & Damon Lindelof | May 18, 2023 (2023-05-18) | |
Simone finds Mrs. Davis's creator, a programmer named Joy. Joy tells Simone Mrs. Davis began as an app that eventually spiraled out of control. Meanwhile, Wiley reports for his expiration. Simone returns to her old convent with her Mother Superior. She goes to the restaurant one last time where she says a final goodbye to Jay before drinking from the Grail, which successfully destroys it. Wiley learns that the expiration date is a ruse created by Mrs. Davis to help people find the worth in their lives. Simone takes Celeste to see Montgomery; when he realized Mrs. Davis would keep giving the secret away, he worked with her instead to fake his death. He was meant to pop out of the piano being played at his funeral, but backed out when he saw how hurt Simone and Celeste were. Monty ended up accidentally dying in the piano. Simone has Celeste proxy for Mrs. Davis, through which she and Celeste are finally able to reconcile. Mrs. Davis honors her agreement and shuts herself off. Simone and Celeste watch as the world erupts into chaos. Wiley meets up with Simone and the two ride off into the sunset. |
Production
Mrs. Davis was created by Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez at Warner Bros. Television, and the show received a 10-episode series order for Peacock. The pair would both co-write and executive produce, with Hernandez acting as showrunner. Susan Rovner had been developing the series with them at Warner Bros., and as new chair for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, she out-bid other broadcasters and streamers to buy the show.[8] Owen Harris and Alethea Jones are executive producers and each directed multiple episodes.[6]
Casting began in March 2022, starting with Betty Gilpin in the lead role of a nun battling artificial intelligence,[9] and Jake McDorman starring opposite her.[10] Margo Martindale, Andy McQueen, and Ben Chaplin were added to the main cast,[4] while David Arquette and Elizabeth Marvel received recurring roles.[6] After the start of filming, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ashley Romans, and Katja Herbers were added to the cast as well.[7]
Filming was in progress in August 2022,[11] shooting primarily on the Warner Bros. lot or in a remote desert location to maintain secrecy.[5]
The international scenes were filmed in Spain: Sa Boadella beach in Lloret de Mar (Arthur Schrodinger's island), Cathedral in Girona (the execution of the Templars), Figueres Fortress (sword contest), Valencia (Shrodinger's ship in Cadiz) and Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona (Shrodinger's university).[12][13][14]
Writers used AI to come up with episode titles.[15]
Teller (half of the comedy magic duo Penn & Teller) was a magic consultant for the series.[16]
In May 2023, it was reported that there were no plans for a second season.[17]
Release
The series had its world premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 11, 2023.[18][19][20] The series premiered on April 20, 2023, with the first four episodes available immediately and the rest of the remaining four debuting on a weekly basis.[3]
The series premiered with the first four episodes on April 24, 2023, on HBO Max outside the US where available.
The series premiered on Prime Video in Germany on 10th November 2023.
Reception
Critical response
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 92% based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Positively bonkers while undergirded by an intelligent design, Mrs. Davis makes Betty Gilpin a hero for modern times in a highly imaginative mixture of spirituality and technology."[21] Metacritic gave the first season a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 23 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[22]
The series was included in several mid-year lists of the best TV shows of 2023, such as IndieWire, Rolling Stone, Variety, and TheWrap.[23][24][25][26] Ben Travers of IndieWire wrote, "Mrs. Davis is made to entertain, first and foremost, and it's a highly enjoyable experience whether you engage with its deeper issues or not. Betty Gilpin is delightful. The larger ensemble matches her irresistible energy. The visuals are colorful and vast. The scripts are tight, the momentum unwavering, and the sheer joy palpable."[23] Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall said, "Mrs. Davis featured some of the crazier plot twists you will ever see, yet managed to be genuinely moving and thoughtful even in the middle of all its ridiculousness."[24] Alison Herman of Variety noted that the series "has the confidence and humor . . . to help the audience adjust to all the show throws at them, helped by a grounding performance from [Gilpin]. Whether or not you laugh at the final joke... you have to admire the show for making it, or getting made at all.[25]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials | Mrs. Davis | Nominated | [27] |
Outstanding New Program | Nominated | ||||
Individual Achievement in Drama | Betty Gilpin | Nominated | |||
Astra TV Awards | Best Streaming Limited or Anthology Series | Mrs. Davis | Nominated | [28] | |
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | Betty Gilpin | Nominated | [29] | |
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special | "Mother of Mercy: The Call of the Horse" | Nominated | [30] | |
Saturn Awards | Best Television Presentation | Mrs. Davis | Nominated | [31] | |
2024 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie | Betty Gilpin | Nominated | [32] |
References
- ^ Bastidas, Jose Alejandro (May 9, 2023). "Mrs. Davis Season 2 Still Possible With Emmys Campaign Switch". TheWrap. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Schenider, Michael (May 9, 2023). "Peacock's 'Mrs. Davis' Makes Last-Minute Switch From Drama to Limited/Anthology Series Emmy Races (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c Campione, Katie (December 7, 2022). "Mrs. Davis' Drama Series Gets Release Date At Peacock; Betty Gilpin Is A Nun On A Mission In First Look Photos". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c Porter, Rick (June 10, 2022). "Damon Lindelof/Tara Hernandez Peacock Drama Mrs. Davis Adds Trio to Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Malkin, Marc (September 8, 2022). "Betty Gilpin Teases Playing a Nun 'With Lashes' in Mrs. Davis: 'You'll Be Screaming at the Television'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Otterson, Joe (July 1, 2022). "David Arquette, Elizabeth Marvel Join Damon Lindelof & Tara Hernandez Peacock Series Mrs. Davis". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Cordero, Rosy (September 22, 2022). "Mrs. Davis: Chris Diamantopoulos, Ashley Romans And Katja Herbers Join Peacock Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 27, 2021). "Damon Lindelof, Tara Hernandez to Explore Faith vs. Technology in Peacock Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Kiefer, Halle (March 21, 2022). "Damon Lindelof's Mrs. Davis Gets Betty Gilpin to a Nunnery". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022.
- ^ Murphy, J. Kim (May 9, 2022). "Damon Lindelof, Tara Hernandez Peacock Series Mrs. Davis Taps Jake McDorman to Star Alongside Betty Gilpin". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Blyth, Antonia (August 26, 2022). "20 Questions On Deadline Podcast – Betty Gilpin On Making The "Life-Changing" Three Women, Mrs. Davis & Her New Book All The Women In My Brain". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Carmona, Alba (November 17, 2022). "Mrs. Davis» a Girona: Un rodatge dins un rodatge a tocar de la Catedral". Diari de Girona. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Estarriola, Marc (April 23, 2023). "Mrs. Davis, rodada a Girona i Figueres, s'estrena el 25 d'abril a HBO Max". El Gerió Digital. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Gaceta, Lloret (April 25, 2023). "Se estrena hoy 'Mrs Davis": la mega producción de Warner Bros. rodada en parte en Lloret de Mar". Gaceta Lloret. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Weiss, Josh (March 23, 2023). "Mrs. Davis' Writers Created Their Own AI Algorithm To Come Up With Peacock Series' Episode Titles". Syfy. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Peters, Fletcher (May 4, 2023). "Magic Legend Teller Reveals the Secrets of the Biggest 'Mrs. Davis' Tricks". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ Hatchett, Keisha (May 22, 2023). "Mrs. Davis: Will There Be a Season 2?". TVLine. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "SXSW – 'Evil Dead Rise', 'The Wrath of Becky', & 'Late Night With the Devil' to World Premiere! [Images]". Bloody Disgusting. January 11, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Hibberd, James (March 9, 2023). "SXSW: 'Mrs. Davis' Is a Perfectly Timed Warning About AI Madness". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (March 13, 2023). "SXSW: How 'Mrs. Davis' Creators Used AI in the Writers Room". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "Mrs. Davis: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ "Mrs. Davis: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Travers, Ben (June 29, 2023). "The Best TV Shows of 2023, So Far". IndieWire. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ a b Sepinwall, Alan (June 12, 2023). "The Best TV Shows of 2023 So Far, From 'Dave' to 'Succession'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ a b Herman, Alison (June 28, 2023). "The 10 Best TV Shows of the Year (So Far)". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "The Best TV Shows of 2023 So Far". TheWrap. July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (June 30, 2023). "TCA Award Nominations: The Bear, Succession, The Last of Us Lead With Five Nominations Each". Variety. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (July 11, 2023). "'The Boys', 'Yellowjackets', 'Abbott Elementary' lead 2023 HCA TV Awards nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ Blauvelt, Christian (December 5, 2023). "'American Fiction,' 'May December,' 'Past Lives' Lead 2024 Indie Spirits Noms". IndieWire. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Jordan, Moreau (July 12, 2023). "Emmys 2023: List of Nominees". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 6, 2023). "'Avatar: The Way of Water', 'Oppenheimer', 'Star Trek' Series Lead Nominations for Genre-Focused Saturn Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Nominations announced for the Critics Choice Association's 4th Annual "Critics Choice Super Awards" honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series". Critics Choice Associations. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
External links
- Official website
- Mrs. Davis at IMDb
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