Turn: Washington's Spies

Turn is a heart-racer at times. That’s the sign of a thriller done well.

This remains an intelligent, well-made drama that wants to get most of the history right, or at least not adulterate it too much.... But, alas, same virtues, same flaws.

It may not be as intriguing as "Thrones" or as tense as FX's spy thriller "The Americans," but Turn--which touches on still-relevant topics like torture, homosexuality and politics--offers a fresh spin on the War of Independence.

This is a thoughtful, dutiful historic drama filled with all the requisite period details and British accents, too. But what's missing here, glaringly so, are passion and sweep .

In choosing to center its story of Revolutionary War-era spies on relationships (particularly between Abraham and Anna and Abraham and his father), it has a fighting chance at finding its way to something compelling. The problem is that the show has yet to figure out a way to make those relationships fresh or interesting in the slightest.

Turn never quite turns the corner in its first three episodes, but perhaps will perk up a bit if the recurring George Washington (Ian Kahn) finally makes his presence felt.

For all those neatly appointed trappings and period touches, Turn simply feels hollow at its core. And that, ultimately, is something even an accomplished spy ring can’t disguise.