Crusoe
Cast & Key People
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Our Review
Cast & Key People
▶
Our Review
Crusoe (2008) is a drama and action series from NBC. It has built a run of 13 episodes at roughly 60 minutes each. It premiered on October 17, 2008. Viewers rate it 6.6 out of 10. It is currently ended. It runs 1 season.
What Crusoe Is About
After exhausting all of his business ventures in London, Crusoe is forced to leave his family and travel to the new world in hopes of getting out his impending debt. After almost being killed by an assassin on the ship, Crusoe awakens to find himself stranded on a deserted island. Crusoe then saves a native man from the jaws of cannibals and makes a friend for life. Crusoe and his faithful friend Friday then struggle to survive on a deserted island with a little more than their wits. They must overcome marauding militias, hungry cannibals, pirates and starvation, Crusoe dreams of the day he will be reunited with his beloved family. Crusoe constantly is reminded of his wife Susannah and children left behind in England and their love story will unfold from meeting to marriage, as will his relationship with his mentor and patron, the mysterious Jeremiah Blackthorn.
What to Expect When You Watch
Episodes run about 60 minutes, which keeps the pace tight, the full run covers 13 episodes, spread across 1 season and it leans into its drama/action roots while leaving room for the quieter character beats.
Performance-wise the series leans on Anna Walton, Philip Winchester and Sam Neill to carry the emotional weight, with the rest of the ensemble filling out the world around them.
Cast and Creative Team
Anna Walton, Philip Winchester, Sam Neill, Tongayi Chirisa and Mia Maestro lead the cast.
Key roles include Anna Walton as Susannah Crusoe; Philip Winchester as Robinson Crusoe; Sam Neill as Jeremiah Blackthorn; Tongayi Chirisa as Friday; Mia Maestro as Olivia.
Why It Stands Out
Fans of drama, action and adventure have a clear reason to give this one a shot. It sits comfortably alongside NBC’s other originals, a 6.6/10 audience score puts it in steady company and it commits to its premise instead of hedging between tones.
Released in 2008 and carried by NBC with the series still ended, it lands hardest with drama and action viewers.
How Crusoe Compares
If Crusoe lands for you, the next stops are Breaking Bad, Firefly and The Wire, which share its drama/action lean.
Each of those sits at a different point on the same spectrum, so they make a natural follow-up once you finish the run here.
Where to Stream
Crusoe comes from NBC. Check your preferred platform for current availability, since regional rights move around.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up for a streaming service through links on this page. This helps support our independent reviews.
On the whole Crusoe is the kind of series that rewards a patient watch, with Anna Walton and Philip Winchester doing the heaviest lifting, a tone that stays true to its drama/action roots, It has held up since 2008 and so if the premise sounds like your lane, the execution holds up.
The Bottom Line
Crusoe is a safe bet for anyone already inside the drama and action lane, at 13 episodes it is an easy run to work through, the audience score holds around 6.6/10 and so there is little risk in starting it tonight.
Verdict: 6.6/10. Watch it if you want drama/action you can settle into.









