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Caspar Didn't Like It But He's Probably Just Jealous: Rufus Sewell Is "Zen"

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (7)

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“Was there ever a series so boring as ‘Zen’?” (Caspar Salmon)

Oh come on! Look at this man—he hasn’t a boring bone in his body (me):

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I can’t say that I blame Caspar for trying to throw us off by pretending that Sewell could ever be boring, but sorry chappie, we’re not going to fall for your little attempt at diversion.

It’s not as if we don’t have enough to watch on Sunday nights already (“Breaking Bad, True Blood, Curb Your Enthusiasm”), but the lure of Sewell starring as a detective in Rome is just too great to pass by. PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery, “Zen” will play similarly to “Sherlock,” with three episodes corresponding to Michael Dibdin’s popular Aurelio Zen crime novels. The stories follow good cop, Zen, as he takes on criminals both within and outside his own department. Series developer, Andy Harries, speaks to “Zen’s” realistic depiction of Italian politics: “The levels of corruption are so immense, so culturally ingrained in Italy,” he said, referring to the scandals involving the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. “We might regard it as corruption, but the Italians don’t. It’s just a very, very different culture.” And of his character, Sewell says, While not corrupt in the same sense that his colleagues are, he said, Zen “can be quite morally dubious when it suits him. He has a slightly lackadaisical moral code, a sense of wanting to do something good. But he’s not above kicking someone when they’re down. He’s a gray area, and that’s what makes it incredibly fun.”

Here’s the trailer:


I may have to record it because of its Sunday night time slot, but a brooding, (foreign) cop draws me in every time. Think of Zen as Luther’s hot cousin.

“Zen” will air on PBS Sundays, July 17-31, 2011 at 9 pm EST.









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Comments

I would like his bone in my body.

Posted by: duckandcover at July 13, 2011 5:19 PM

Oddly enough, Sewell did nothing for me in his younger days but age has taken away that bug-eyed look he used to have and now he looks pretty damn good to me.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 13, 2011 5:46 PM

Once again we are in accord, PaddyDog.

One more thing. I have played this song before but if you (in the general sense, not just Paddy)like Sewell (even if you don't) please see Shakespeare Retold version of The Taming of the Shrew. He's A D O R A B L E and he and Shirley Henderson are PERFECT together (as in The Last Monarch).

Posted by: klingonfree at July 13, 2011 6:15 PM

Rufus Sewell is now 43. And now I find him attractive. Coincidence? I think not.

And aside: When I looked up Sewell's age on Wikipedia, I saw that his first wife's name is Amy Gardner, which freaked me out a little.

As an aside to that, it seems that Martin Sheen is the voice of FIFA (at least for the Women's World Cup).

Posted by: Three-nineteen at July 13, 2011 6:26 PM

Rufus Sewell.... ROWR! I have dim but fond memories of him as the brooding, sexy farmer guy in Cold Comfort Farm (among other things).

He does look better with age, I agree.

Posted by: MM at July 13, 2011 10:13 PM

I didn't think it was all that great a series. Beautifully shot, but felt kind of empty. Maybe I'm spoiled though, as it aired after a whole run of fantastic Wallander episodes.

Posted by: Renton at July 14, 2011 6:04 AM

Rufus Sewell, like George Clooney, is one of those men on whom maturity sits well. I remember him from Cold Comfort Farm and didn't find him particularly sexy or even attractive. But when I saw The Pillars of the Earth, I thought, DAYUM, he's fine!

Posted by: Carolina Girl at July 14, 2011 4:52 PM