EntertainmentYou might have missed this. 10 clever details in Netflix's "Fall of the House of Usher"

You might have missed this. 10 clever details in Netflix's "Fall of the House of Usher"

"The Fall of the House of Usher" has been on Netflix for over a week, garnering positive reviews from critics and viewers. This series, based on Edgar Allan Poe's novella, is interspersed with various pop culture references, deftly hidden by its creator, Mike Flanagan. See what you missed.

"Rahul Kohli in the series 'The Fall of the House of Usher'"
"Rahul Kohli in the series 'The Fall of the House of Usher'"
Images source: © Press materials

11:19 AM EDT, October 21, 2023

Described as perhaps the scariest series of the year, it tells the tale of the ruthless siblings, Roderick and Madeline, who have built a pharmaceutical empire, which has become their kingdom of power, privileges, and wealth. When a mysterious woman from the past appears on the horizon, the family's dark secrets begin to surface, and its members start dying one by one. As the Collider service traced, Flanagan has hidden many references to Poe's work in this dark story.

The character Annabel Lee is a reference to the writer's wife

Roderick Usher's first wife, Annabel Lee (Katie Parker), serves as a tribute to one of Poe's most famous poems, in which this name and surname can be found in the title. The work speaks of the poet's love for his wife, Virginia Clem, and her loss. This reference is more noticeable through Roderick, who quotes various verses from the poem throughout the series.

Katie Parker as Annabel Lee
Katie Parker as Annabel Lee© Press materials | © 2023 Netflix, Inc.

Significant names of Usher's children

Roderick Usher is the father of six children: Frederick (Henry Thomas), Tamerlane (Samantha Sloyan), Victorine (T'Nia Miller), Camille (Kate Siegel), Napoleon (Rahul Kohli) and Prospero (Sauriyan Sapkota). Each of them bears the names of characters from Poe's works.

Roderick Usher's Children
Roderick Usher's Children© Press materials | © 2023 Netflix, Inc.

The family lawyer is the hero of the only completed novel

The Usher family wouldn't manage without their trusted lawyer Arthur Pym (Mark Hamill), who is one of the most interesting characters in the series. He is named after the hero of Poe's only completed novel, "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym". His story comprises various details from Poe's book, including Pym's expeditions and the horrors he experienced during his travels.

Marc Hamill as Arthur Pym
Marc Hamill as Arthur Pym© Press materials | Netflix

Deputy prosecutor inspired by another character

The Deputy District Attorney, August Dupin (Carl Lumbly), initially met Roderick while conducting an investigation during one of the lawsuits brought against his company. Over the years, Dupin made every effort to make the Usher family pay for their crimes, but no matter how much evidence he presented, it was never enough.

As reported by Collider, the inspiration for the determined deputy is another of Poe's detectives, C. Auguste Dupin, who first appeared in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", considered to be the first modern detective novel.

Carl Lumbly as August Dupin
Carl Lumbly as August Dupin© Press materials | Netflix

Glasses instead of eyes for Madeleine

Roderick's sister, Madeline, is fascinated with rare Egyptian artifacts and has an extensive collection of them. While some prefer to collect works of art or ceramics, she is more interested in the tools used in the mummification process or sapphires from the royal sarcophagus.

The collections of Madeline and the circumstances of her death are a reference to Poe's story "Some Words with a Mummy". In this story, a group of doctors examine a mummy, whose eyes have been replaced with beautiful glass similar to that which Roderick uses to cover his sister's eyes after her death.

Mary McDonnell as Madeleine Usher
Mary McDonnell as Madeleine Usher© Press materials | Netflix

Significant building number

In the first episode, viewers will meet William Longfellow (Robert Longstreet), who is the boss of Eliza Usher and, what remains a mystery, the father of her children, who refuses to recognize them as his own. It is worth paying attention to the house number of the hero - it is the same as the one that appears in Poe's last, New York address. The writer left the city in 1844, hoping that solitude and fresh air would help his wife battle with tuberculosis.

Robert Longstreet as William Longfellow
Robert Longstreet as William Longfellow© Press materials | Netflix

Male rivalry - on screen and in life

After Longfellow's death, Rufus Griswold takes over as the Director General of Fortunado and soon becomes a pawn in the game of Roderick and Madeline. Although Roderick agrees to abide by Griswold's rules, a rivalry begins to form between the two men, and they use each other for their own benefit.

As Collider reports, Griswold embodies various references to the novella "The Cask of Amontillado", and the name of this character is significant in Poe's personal life. The character was named in honor of another famous writer, Rufus Wilmot Griswold, who was one of Poe's biggest rivals. Initially they were cordial to each other, but when Griswold took over Poe's previous job as an editor of "Graham Magazine", their friendship was irreversibly damaged.

Michael Trucco as Rufus Griswold
Michael Trucco as Rufus Griswold© Press materials | Netflix

The black cat refers to Poe's story

In the fourth episode, Leo deceives his partner Julius about his cat Pluto and convinces him that it slipped out the door. Leo finally decides to adopt another black cat so that it can "replace" the missing pet. Although the cat looks like its predecessor, Leo begins to notice something sinister about it.

As Collider explains, the title and assumptions of the episode are based on the same scheme as Poe's story titled "The Black Cat". The anonymous narrator has a pet of the same name as in the series. After the cat bit him, in retaliation he removed one of its eyes and killed it. Soon after, he begins to feel guilty and finds another pet, which also lacks an eye and looks incredibly similar to Pluto. Eventually, the cat drives the hero to madness.

Rahul Kohli as Leo Usher
Rahul Kohli as Leo Usher© Press materials | Netflix

Roderick's text messages

During a meeting with Dupin, Roderick receives a series of texts from his granddaughter Lenore (Kyleigh Curran), but he does not respond to any of them. He also ignores the persistence of his interlocutor. However, when he discovers that the girl died earlier that night, he finally shows Dupin the texts. All of them contain the incorrectly spelled words "Never again".

The news of Lenore refers to the famous verse from one of Poe's most famous stories, "The Raven". The story is narrated by a man who is tormented by a raven, as he mourns the loss of a beloved woman named Lenore. This name also appears in the title of Poe's poem, which describes the death of a kind woman, who -- like Roderick's granddaughter -- was taken prematurely from this world.

Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher
Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher© Press materials | © 2023 Netflix, Inc.

Fortunato - the protagonist of Poe's story

After their mother's death, Roderick and Madeline are determined to take over their father's company, Fortunato. This name originates from a character in Poe's famous story "The Cask of Amontillado". Like Griswold, Fortunato falls victim to the heroes' revenge and is bricked up alive in a wall. Flanagan even goes a step further, presenting Griswold in the disguise of a jester – in the same costume that Fortunato wears in Poe's story.

The name "Fortunato" is not accidental.
The name "Fortunato" is not accidental.© Press materials | Netflix

You have to admit, Mike Flanagan really did his homework, incorporating so many references to Poe's work in the series. Did you catch them all?

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