Did you ever wonder how Peter got to Neverland? What about why Hook has it in for Peter
and the boys? And what about that pesky crocodile’s fixation on the hook handed captain? How did that come about? Syfy’s two night event Neverland answers those questions and many more with a new look at the J.M. Barrie classic characters. This prequel to the story of Peter Pan is a bit Oliver Twist, a little Golden Compass and a touch of The Empire Strikes Back.
The story begins on the Spanish Main in the 1700s with a battle between two great ships, one carrying precious cargo; the other pirates lead by the beautiful and deadly Elizabeth Bonnie (Anna Friel). After winning the battle the pirates bring their plunder aboard. Amongst the spoils is a box containing a glass orb. As Bonnie inspects the strange object she is spooked by a face inside and shoots the orb. There is a flash and the ship vanishes.
When we first see Peter (Charlie Rowe) he is part of a band of thieves in Victorian England. Peter and the lads are working for Jimmy (Rhys Ifans), a shady bloke who is working many angles trying to get back in to English society. Jimmy has fallen from grace with the upper crust and needs that big score to “buy” his way back. The score that Jimmy is 
looking for could just be in the local antique shop; a shop he has been planning on hitting. Peter, eager to prove himself to his mentor goes against orders and goes through with the break in. Jimmy shows up as the lads are pilfering the store and finds what he is looking for, a box containing an orb. While Peter is off in the other room, Jimmy examines the orb. Jimmy loses his balance while he is examining the orb causing an impact to it; the ensuing flash envelops half of the store including Jimmy and the lads. Peter and the orb are all that remain in the ruins of the antique shop.
Peter returns to the gang’s lair and ponders the ramifications of his actions, blaming himself for what happened to his friends. While he is alone a stranger comes looking for Jimmy and Peter informs him that Jimmy is not around. When the stranger leaves Peter follows him to a nice house in an upscale neighborhood. Peter sneaks into the house that the man went into and meets the mysterious Dr. Flood (Charles Dance). Peter tells Flood of the “explosion” that killed Jimmy and his friends but Flood corrects him and tells him it was not an explosion. Flood tells Peter it was the orb and asks its whereabouts but Peter refuses to relinquish the information. Peter returns to the lair and strikes the orb with his dagger transporting himself to Neverland.
Telling more of the story would rob you of the joy of discovery. Neverland will answer how Peter met the Indians, what Hook’s obsession with Peter is and how Peter became the leader of the lost boys. Syfy’s prequel to Peter Pan is quite satisfying.
Written and directed by Nick Willing, the man who brought us the Emmy winning Tin Man back in 2007. Willing’s approach to the world of Peter Pan was an interesting take on the J.M. Barrie classic. The character of Jimmy who would eventually become Captain Hook was by far the most interesting character in the series. For me, Hook as always been a one dimensional character but in Neverland, he was portrayed by Ifans with complexity.
Hook didn’t just go from a “good guy” into “bad guy” mode it was more of a descent into madness. According to Ifans (on the thought of eternal life)…”it is maddening, but we’ve got madness coming — a freedom. But that freedom eventually corrupts, I think, and it is a descent into madness.” You can even see the point when Hook’s feelings for Peter change. In the scene where Peter has been tricked by Hook to lead him to the passage through the mountains, Hook says Peter used to remind him of his mother but now Hook can see Peter’s father in him.
Neverland is a winner for Syfy. In a great bit of casting Bob Hoskins reprises his role of Smee from the movie Hook. There are some weak points in the story mostly in the second half during the final fight between Peter and Hook. That final confrontation really reminded me of the fight between Vader and Luke in Empire. Both scenes dealt with Daddy issues and had a character lose a hand. Luke’s hand was lost in the winds of Bespin and Hook’s was a croc snack. Despite this one scene I felt that Neverland was enjoyable bit of escapism. I had never thought of Neverland as being another planet. I always thought it may have been just a forgotten realm on Earth.
If your only exposure to the story of Peter Pan is the Disney version get out of your comfort zone and try something new. You will not be disappointed. Neverland airs on Syfy Sunday December 4th and Monday December 5th.
