‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin’ Review – An Anachronistic Reimagining Of A Legendary Outlaw

Have you found yourself missing the over-the-top, slightly anachronistic adventures of the Gentleman Pirate and Blackbeard in Our Flag Means Death? Then Apple TV+ has just the show for you. Meet Noel Fielding’s Dick Turpin in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin – a slightly anachronistic, over-the-top look at the legendary highwayman. While occasionally feeling a bit unfocused and listless, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin breathes new life into an old legend, bringing along a whole host of hijinks and shenanigans. Led by an outstanding ensemble cast and carried by a variety of sitcom tropes and absurd punchlines, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin offers a feast of swashbuckling delight.

A Swashbuckling Adventure

Meet Dick Turpin (Noel Fielding), the son of a butcher and Hampstead’s latest highwayman. The only problem? He’s an utterly terrible criminal. But thanks to a series of fortunate (or are they unfortunate?) events, he’s found himself a gang, a biographer, and a turf with which to make his name. But when he draws the ire of the thief-taker general, Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville), and the mysterious organization he works for, Dick faces a threat he surely can’t escape. For Dick, it’s the adventure of a lifetime. And for the rest of his gang? Well, there are probably worse horses to hitch a wagon to. The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin breathes new life into this legendary figure by completely reimagining his life in the most over-the-top way humanly possible. And it’s an utter delight from start to finish.

Each episode follows Turpin and his gang, Nell (Ellie White), Honesty (Duayne Boachie), and Moose (Marc Wootton), as they work their way up in the criminal underworld – with all of the shenanigans and hijinks that ensue. Put simply, imagine Our Flag Means Death but about a highwayman and his gang rather than an ineffectual pirate, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the vibes The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin are going for. This isn’t some grand, sweeping adventure. No, it’s a workplace comedy about eighteenth-century criminals. And it’s all the better for that. Sure, there is an overarching plotline at play here. But it’s rarely any given episode’s main focus. Instead, the show uses its time to dig deeper into Turpin’s relationship with his gang – and with himself. It’s a deeply silly yet surprisingly heartwarming watch; one that’s quite befitting of this infamous legend.

A Legend Reimagined

Dick Turpin’s one of those historical figures you often hear about but functionally know very little of. An eighteenth-century highway robber and the subject of numerous legends, he’s the perfect character for this kind of anachronistic reimagining. What if Dick Turpin was a bit naff? What if all of his greatest achievements were simply strokes of luck or even wholesale misattribution? That’s the exact energy series creators Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis, Stuart Lane, and the rest of the writing team bring to this show. It’s the kind of premise where, quite simply, anything goes. Maybe one week, Dick meets a wannabe warlock and befriends him. Perhaps in another, he faces off against a mythical witch bent on taking his soul. And what about ghosts, cursed wagons, and a criminal syndicate that would make The X-Files drool? Sure, why not? After all, these adventures are completely made up.

However, this kind of approach only works if you’ve got an actor who can pull it off. And, luckily for Dick Turpin, Noel Fielding’s more than up to the task. Sure, Fielding’s Turpin frequently feels like an extension of himself; often irreverent, quite suave and charismatic, and frequently over-the-top. But there’s a heart of gold that lies underneath that ridiculous exterior, and every time Fielding taps into that wealth of warmth, the character comes to life. Fielding’s Turpin is a dreamer who wears his heart on his sleeve. Naive to a fault, but fiercely loyal and surprisingly compassionate – as far as criminals go, anyway. He’s the kind of outlaw you can’t help but root for; an edgier Robin Hood with a heart of gold. And Fielding plays the role remarkably.

The Gifts of a Charismatic Cast

But honestly, Dick Turpin is merely the bait that gets you in the door. No, it’s the rest of the ensemble that truly steals the show. White, Boachie, and Wootton are the perfect foils for Fielding’s Turpin. They’re the more seasoned veterans, the career-long outlaws. But as the show progresses and digs into their characters, each of them gets the chance to properly come into their own – to let their inner dreams and emotions rise to the surface. Not to beat a dead horse, but it’s all very Our Flag Means Death; an unusual crew of outlaws who wear their hearts on their sleeves bands together and better themselves along the way. But why shy away from a winning formula, especially when the ensemble pulls it off as remarkably as they do?

As far as antagonists go, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin has more than enough to whet the appetite. Alongside Bonneville’s deliciously melodramatic Jonathan Wilde comes a smorgasbord of guest stars – a real who’s who in modern British comedy. And, put simply, it’s just an utter delight to watch all of these comedic minds come together in such an irreverent, joyous way. Whether you’re a fan of Ghosts, Cunk on Earth, or good old-fashioned panel shows, you’re bound to recognize one of these actors. And the fact that they all blend into this world so seamlessly is just a testament to their performances and true commitment to the bit. Utter comedic joy all around – and that’s exactly what this kind of show needs.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin delivers an over-the-top, anachronistic reimagining of a legendary outlaw. It may be easy to compare it to any number of similarly themed shows and its overarching plotline may leave a bit to be desired, but there’s never a moment where The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin fails to delight. Led by its charismatic cast and a smattering of absolutely delightful sitcom tropes, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is well worth a watch – especially if you’re into these kinds of irreverent historical comedies. It’s sweet, it’s absurd, and it’s full of swashbuckling joy. What more could you ask for?

New episodes of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.

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