Emerald City is an American fantasy drama television series developed for NBC by Matthew Arnold and Josh Friedman based on the early 20th century Oz book series written by L. Frank Baum, set in the fictional Land of Oz. Directed by Tarsem Singh, Emerald City received a 10-episode order by NBC in April 2015, and premiered on January 6, 2017, with a two-episode debut. The season concluded on March 3, 2017. On May 5, 2017, NBC announced that they had canceled the series after just one season.
After being transported from Lucas, Kansas, to the Land of Oz by a tornado, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale sets out to find the Wizard, unaware that she is about to fulfill a prophecy that will change everyone’s lives forever.
Trivia
- The series was created by Matthew Arnold who pitched an alternative telling, a dark, edgy version of The Wizard of Oz to Universal Television. Arnold wrote the pilot script, which then received a 10 episode direct-to-series order on NBC.
- The series was originally slated to air in 2015, with filming scheduled to begin in 2014. However, it was cancelled before entering production due to creative differences between Friedman and the studio. On April 15, 2015, NBC reversed course and decided to go ahead with the series.
- Isabel previously worked with director Tarsem Singh on the film “Immortals” (2011)
- A special episode, titled “Oz Reimagined: The Making of Emerald City”, originally aired on December 16, 2016, and detailed the behind the scenes of the series including locations, effects, costumes and interviews.
- The series launched on 5Star in the UK on February 8, 2017 to 670,000 viewers, the TV station’s largest audience to date.
- According to director Tarsem Singh in his interview for Collider.com, some of the conditions to accept directing the show were that he would be directing all 10 episodes, and also all episodes had to be written before shooting begins, because he wanted the final results to be exactly as planned and not influenced by audience or channel network demands. And that’s exactly how it was.
- Tarsem said to Collider.com that he was afraid to work with NBC because he never worked in a television show before, but the process turned out to be easier than his previous movies because of the giant machine that a television network is. As they don’t have enough time to waste, everyone knows exactly what to do, when to do and how to do it in a incredible efficiency.
Episode Guide
Episode 1: The Beast Forever (6 Jan. 2017)
While looking for her mother, Dorothy Gale is swept up in a tornado and lands in a mystical world where the powerful ruler of a kingdom faces the wrath of witches and a mythical force.
Episode 2: Prison of the Abject (6 Jan. 2017)
While trying to find a way home, Dorothy meets an amnesiac wounded soldier and a young man trying to free his best friend from a mysterious woman.
Episode 3: Mistress – New – Mistress (13 Jan. 2017)
Dorothy and Lucas find out the Wizard’s guards are coming to kill her; in Emerald City, the Wizard looks to his counsel for advisement as the witches show their power; Tip and Jack head to the city of Ev for a cure following a revelation.
Episode 4: Science and Magic (20 Jan. 2017)
Dorothy and Lucas encounter a mysterious young girl who has lost her way; Tip is caught between two powerful forces; the wizard exacts his authority over a village’s citizens; a unique woman leads Jack down a new path.
Episode 5: Everybody Lies (27 Jan. 2017)
Seeking revenge for the death of her sister, the Witch of the East, the Witch of the West tracks down Dorothy and interrogates her; while the wizard seeks help from the Kingdom of Ev to defeat the beast.
Episode 6: Beautiful Wickedness (3 Feb. 2017)
Dorothy’s confrontation with the Wizard takes her one step closer to learning the truth about her past; Lucas allies with West to recover his memory; the Wizard enlists Langwidere to enact a plan.
Episode 7: They Came First (10 Feb. 2017)
The Wizard enlists West to help launch an attack on a village as his power is threatened.
Episode 8: Lions in Winter (17 Feb. 2017)
Dorothy finds what she’s been looking for upon her and Lucas’s arrival at Glinda’s castle; the Wizard travels to Ev, where he completes his weapon arsenal; Tip reconnects with her past thanks to one of West’s more risky spells.
Episode 9: The Villain That’s Become (24 Feb. 2017)
As the Wizard and his army arrives in the Kingdom of Ev, an intense negotiation may lead to a standoff with Langwidere. Dorothy and Lucas find themselves on opposite sides as Dorothy defeats Lucas and leaves him for dead up on a cross as she found him. Meanwhile, Jack makes a deadly decision that may have deadly consequences he didn’t know would happen. Elsewhere, Tip transforms again as West solidify their bond growing strong as they free dozens of battle tried witches. Dorothy uses magic to mount a battle of her own against the Wizard. A surprise is in store for all…
Episode 10: No Place Like Home (3 Mar. 2017)
Conflict between the witches and Oz come to a head. Langwidere is unmasked. Tip gets revenge and a crown but remains conflicted. Something wakens. Dorothy meets her past and gets sent home.
