Seeking Persephone
Summary
Seeking Persephone is a Regency Era British miniseries based on a book of the same name by Sarah M. Eden. Starring Ryann Bailey and Jake Stormoen as Persephone Lancaster and Duke Adam Boyce, this short romance series is part Beauty and the Beast retelling with a dash of Classic Greek Mythology for flavor.
Assessment
Seeking Persephone follows a fairly standard romance format, although it has its own, unique charms. It is witty with quite a few memorable one-liners and stays remarkably consistent to its historical timeframe (there is definitely some modern influence, but for the most part it reflects the Regency Era well).
In terms of a theological message, the story is somewhat light; there is no overt Christianity to speak of, although that is present in the background. There is a strong message of how gentle, persistent love can win hearts.
In terms of cleanliness, the series is incredibly clean. Romantically, there are only a few kisses and, while a married couple are depicted in bed together, there is no sex or nudity (there is one, brief shirtless scene from the Duke, which is depicted in a non-romantic way). For action, there is some action and peril, as well as blood from a non-fatal injury. There is minimal to no cussing.
Light-o-Meter
Overall — 4 out of 5 Little Lights
Story: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Acting: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Cinematography: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Music: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Quality: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Age Appropriateness — Appropriate for intended audience (family friendly).
Talk
Seeking Persephone was, honestly, really really enjoyable. I grew up on various Pride & Prejudice versions and sometimes Regency Era romance just hits the spot so perfectly when done well, which is exactly what this series did. The costuming was delightful, the actors were skilled, the scenery and cinematography were gorgeous, and while the plot was a bit tropey and derivative, it never felt shallow or cheap.
I’m not sure I can pin down exactly one favorite thing about it. It was all really solid and nothing stood out a ton, except maybe the acting. I was really impressed with both the actress who played Persephone and the actor who played the Duke. There wasn’t a tone of sparks flying kind of chemistry between them, but they brought the characters to life really well.
I think the only reason I would not recommend this piece of media for younger audiences is just because it is one of those “male lead is a moody, traumatized bad boy who’ll be redeemed by the patient love of the female lead” type stories. It’s not as bad as some, but without proper guidance I’d be a little concerned young girls might latch onto this model of romance (Persephone and the Duke basically had an arranged marriage and were forced to navigate from that). But that is really my only concern with it, the rest of the story is amazing and it was really enjoyable to watch!
Where to Enjoy
Angel Studios: Seeking Persephone | Now Streaming for Angel Guild Member...
Amazon: Watch Seeking Persephone | Prime Video
Peacock: Watch Seeking Persephone Season 1 Streaming Online | Peacock
Tubi: Watch Seeking Persephone Streaming Online | Tubi Free TV
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