This past Monday night AMC’s TURN: Washington’s Spies premiered its second season, the culmination of a behind-the-scenes marketing campaign that mirrored the secretive spy ring on which the series is based.

The show’s rich historic context inspired a few unique marketing initiatives that involve a revolutionary concept: reading.

“Heading into season two of TURN: Washington’s Spies, we wanted to extend the experience of the show and find more ways to bring to life this critical period in American history,” said Theresa Beyer, AMC’s SVP of promotion, activation and partnership.

Continuing its first season tradition, TURN produced “Rivals,” a comic book primer for the second season. “Rivals” is penciled by legendary artist Paul Pope’s protégé Chris Hunt, and written by LaToya Morgan, who writes for the show. “Rivals” takes it one step further than last year’s “Origins,” as “Rivals” spun out of the Season 2 writer’s room as an extension of the series’ world.

In addition, AMC partnered with Young Minds Inspired, the nation’s leading provider of educational outreach programs, to develop high school and college
curriculum covering the Revolutionary War and the Culper Ring, the narrative thrust of TURN’s second season.

“We’re excited to be providing schools with a curriculum that showcases the fascinating characters, events and intrigue of that time,” Beyer says.

This month every high school history teacher and half of the history professors at colleges and universities nationwide received the TURN-inspired lesson plans. The activities invite students to compare and contrast the original American spy organization with its modern descendants.

Earlier this month, the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. hosted an advanced screening of TURN’s two hour premiere, with the cast and crew of the show in attendance. Panel discussions and screenings have similarly been held at American University and New York University, with educational materials also available at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

While George Washington’s spies were forced to live in secret, AMC hopes TURN’s initiatives inspire young viewers to uncover those secrets.

TURN: Washington’s Spies airs on AMC every Monday at 10 p.m.

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