Beauty and the Beasthas been adapted and reimagined many times, but one of the darkest versions is almost certainly the 1987 TV series. It is one ofthe most underrated 1980s TV shows, and would fit the modern-day trend for paranormal romance. The show is set in New York, where Catherine, a lawyer, falls in love with a beast.
When Catherine is attacked, she is rescued by Vincent, the beast, forming a psychic bond with him. The show has a similar tone todark romance TV showslikeInterview with the Vampire, and turns from a modern fairytale to a gritty paranormal crime drama in the third season. With an audience score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, it is excellent, but largely forgotten.
1987’s Beauty And The Beast Is Underrated, But It’s A Must-Watch TV Show
The Main Actors In Beauty And The Beast Became Major Stars
While the prosthetics inBeauty and the Beastwould not hold up today,the underground sets showing the beast’s magical subterranean home showcase the best in practical effects. Ofall the actresses who have played BeautyinBeauty and the Beast, Linda Hamilton plays the role well. The focus on inner beauty makes the TV show an unique adaptation and a must-watch.
Ron Perlman’s career went from strength to strength after being praised for his acting.
TheBeauty and the BeastTV show was the first major TV role for both of its main actors, who then became major stars. Linda Hamilton played Sarah Connor in 1984’sThe Terminator,but afterHamilton left theBeauty and The BeastTV seriesdue to her pregnancy, she became a household name when she returned to theTerminatorfranchise forT2.
Ron Perlman’s career went from strength to strength after being praised for his acting under the prosthetic beast make-up. Some of his best roles include the corrupt biker president Clay Morrow inSons of Anarchy, and Hellboy in theHellboyfranchise.Other people involved in the show also found success, with George R. R. Martin creating the ultimate dark fantasy,Game of Thrones.
George R.R. Martin Wrote 14 Episodes Of This Forgotten ’80s Gem
The Show Foreshadows George R. R. Martin’s Habit Of Killing Unexpected Characters
After working onThe Twilight Zone, George R. R. Martin was taken on as a writer forBeauty and the Beast, penning 14 episodes of the TV show. He worked on all three seasons, and described his pride in his work toThe Hollywood Reporter, sayingBeauty and the Beastwas “a literate show and such a smart show.”
WhileBeauty and the Beastis very different to the adult-themedGame of Thrones,the show foreshadows some of George R. R. Martin’s writing habits. Long before the infamous Red Wedding massacre inGame of Thrones, Catherine was brutally killed off at the end of season 2 after having Vincent’s baby.Beauty and Beastthen drastically shifted in tone, becoming much darker.
Beauty and the Beast
Cast
Beauty and the Beast is a 1987 CBS drama series created by Ron Koslow. It reimagines the classic fairy tale, focusing on the bond between Vincent, a noble man-beast, and Catherine, a New York Assistant District Attorney, as well as a hidden Utopian community of social outcasts.
