Has anyone else watched any of
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norril? It's an interesting show that excels at establishing the period (Britain around and during the time of the Napoleonic conquests) while creating more than a few memorable characters. Something about this period seems to excite the imagination of authors. Novik's dragon series uses the same backdrop and in the same way, take the period as you find it, add one otherwise absurd element, like dragons, or in this case magic, and imagine what happens.
At any rate, it's a good show, with a solid turn by Eddie Marsan (Inspector Lestrade from the horrible, horrible Robert Downey Jr. version of Sherlock Holmes) as the bookish Mr. Norril, who has designs on bringing practical magic back to England with respectability/. Then there's Jonathan Strange, ably brought to life by Bertie Carvel as a likable, aimless fellow of means who suddenly finds inheritance of the latter coupled with the purpose of a unique aptitude for magic.
The special effects are mostly seamless and extremely well done. The acting is convincing and the plot (so far) sufficiently involving to have me back at it with regularity. Good show (either).