The Conspiracy is an American-French conspiracy fiction anthology series created & written by Emmanuel Indo, which premiered on FX on 30 May, 2023. The Conspiracy 's first season, subtitled Lockdown, focuses on the conspiracy of population control and artificial configuration via the Covid-19 pandemic, where world leaders used scientists to create the virus so that supposed high-ranked officials can put micro-chips in human bodies via the vaccine, not caring about the millions of deaths the virus caused. The second season, entitled Illuminati, focuses on the vast conspiracy theories surrounding the infamous illuminati cult, including their ties with the FBI & CIA, as well as the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The episodes of the second season change between black & white and coloured cinematography as they do time-jumps between the 1960's & 2010's. The third season, entitled Death by Design, focuses on the conspiracy of how society had broken down the elite during World War I and II, which could have caused the battles in the first place. The show jumps between the 1990's, with interviews with Veroníque Vuíton, and the 1940's, which is the season's main time setting.
Many returning FX actors and actresses star in the show's first season, such as Frances Conroy playing conspiracy-nut Regina Dupont, Danny Huston portraying a manipulative, malicious version of billionaire Bill Gates, with Evan Peters, Judith Indo, Kathy Bates & Leslie Grossman in supporting appearances. FX newcomers Brandon Scott Jones & John Waters play a god-willed maniac Elon Musk & especially taunting Donald Trump respectively.
The show's second season had an early cast reveal compromised of Sarah Paulson portraying a fictionalised Marilyn Monroe with Caspar Phillipson being in the same boat with his portrayal of John F. Kennedy (a role he had previously received recognition in the film Jackie). Judith Indo re-appears in the first season, playing Kennedy's wife, Jackie Kennedy, with the rest of the main cast including Kathy Griffin (despite the smite of controversy surrounding her), Sam Waterson, Bobbi Charlton, and Bob Gunton.
A third season had the smallest main cast of the entire series, with the entire cast being reviewed during promotional material a mere two months before the season aired. Indo had wanted a stellar season of a topic nobody had ever thought of being important - extravagance and so he cast the "best actors to play those extravagants". The main cast is compromised of Kiernan Shipka, Mariska Hargitay, Denis O'Hare, Darren Criss (returning from the second season), and Carol Burnett.
Emmanuel Indo revealed on December 7th, 2025 that the upcoming fourth season, titled The Conspiracy: Red Dawn, will serve as the final season of the show.
The first season consists of 10 episodes, the second season also consisting of 10 episodes, while the third season is compromised of merely 8 episodes. There are a total of 28 episodes.
Cast and characters[]
Lockdown[]
Main[]
- Frances Conroy as Regina Dupont, an old woman who has lost her sanity at the hands of the pandemic.
- Jesse L. Martin as Mr. Freed, a journalist investigating the vaccine claims.
- Genelle Williams as Anna Silverman, a young actress who has attracted the virus.
- Danny Huston as Bill Gates, a billionaire who uses the vaccine as a gateway to human annihilation.
- Brandon Scott Jones as Elon Musk, another billionaire with a god-complex
- Leslie Grossman as Hendrietta Osborne, one of the chemists that lead the creation of Covid-19.
- Judith Indo as Alexia Hill, a lawyer stranded between a rock and a hard place.
- John Waters as Donald Trump, the president of the United States.
Recurring[]
- Dustin Hoffman as Joe Biden, a runner for presidency in the US-elections.
- Evan Peters as Aiden Troust, a conspiracy theorist and extremist.
- Ken Lerner as Dr. Hayes, a medical professional who is aware of the microchip implantation.
- Kathy Bates as Melinda Gates, Gates' wife who has become more and more suspicious of his actions.
- Jeff Goldblum as Ricky, a homeless leper (apparently) with a phobia for the virus.
- Ken Jeong as Vic, an Asian man setting to clear the name of his people.
Illuminati[]
Main[]
- Kathy Griffin as Marcia Lohan, a CIA agent with ties to a cult.
- Sam Waterson as Felix Smith, a CIA agent in a tough situation.
- Sarah Paulson as Marilyn Monroe, an actress having an affair.
- Bobbi Charlton as Ariana Lohan, a mother with suspicions and a sharp mind.
- Bob Gunton as Henry Kissinger, a former secretary of state administrating corrupting files.
- Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy, a president more scandalous than first thought.
- Judith Indo as Jackie Kennedy, a first lady in-search of answers.
Recurring[]
- Dichen Lachman as Anne-Sophie Caillat, a CIA secretary feeling melancholy.
- Charles Melton as Zane Murray, an incredibly stupid man with an odd kink.
- Darren Criss as Phoenix Pacheco, a scorned capitalist sensing something is amiss.
Death by Design[]
Main[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Veroníque Vuíton, a heiress telling the story of how society kills itself.
- Kiernan Shipka as Emilie Vuíton, a young author desperately trying to fit into society.
- Denis O'Hare as Nathaniel Delongpre, a wealthy fashion designer acting as a mentor for those inexperienced in the elite society.
- Darren Criss as Chris Peters, a young American foreigner trying to find love.
- Carol Burnett as Paulina Hanson, a show host with close ties with those all powerful.
Recurring[]
- Chloë Sevigny as Marie-Claude Rémy, a nosey journalist with a penchant for discovering the truth.
- Michael Beach as Alex Gueguen, a barista and close friend of Emilie's.
- Kate Phillips as Lillian Contard, a British venture capitalist interested in Emilie's novel.
- Hayden Panettiere as Maisie Lafléche, Delongpre's assistant and loyal confidant.
- Ty Burrell as Lieutenant General Daniel Hughes, a soldier strained from his wife and daughter.
- Ryan Alexis and Joseph Myron, a historian that frequently guest stars on The Hanson Hour.
Episodes[]
Lockdown[]
| Episode | # | Premiere | Writer(s) | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population Control | 1 | 2023-05-30 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,3 |
| Snakes in the Grass | 2 | 2023-06-06 | Emmanuel Indo | 7,8 |
| Checkmate | 3 | 2023-06-14 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,0 |
| We Need You, Mr. Gates | 4 | 2023-06-26 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,4 |
| Then | 5 | 2023-07-02 | Audrey Mitchell | 8,3 |
| Now | 6 | 2023-07-09 | Audrey Mitchell | 8,8 |
| Last Strands of Justice | 7 | 2023-07-17 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,6 |
| Over the Edge | 8 | 2023-07-22 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,2 |
| Running Scared | 9 | 2023-07-28 | Audrey Mitchell | 9,0 |
| The Impossible Dream | 10 | 2023-08-02 | Emmanuel Indo | 9,2 |
Illuminati[]
| Episode | # | Premiere | Writer(s) | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Birthday, Mr. President | 11 | 2024-09-25 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,0 |
| Stimulated | 12 | 2024-10-05 | Hannah Adefope | 7,9 |
| We Choose To Go To The Moon | 13 | 2024-10-15 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,4 |
| Magic All Along | 14 | 2024-10-25 | Hannah Adefope | 7,6 |
| Booby Trap | 15 | 2024-11-04 | Hannah Adefope | 7,8 |
| The Assassination of JFK | 16 | 2024-11-14 | Audrey Mitchell | 8,1 |
| Mama's Girl | 17 | 2024-11-24 | Hannah Adefope | 7,9 |
| The Triangle | 18 | 2024-12-05 | Hannah Adefope | 7,6 |
| Wanting Out | 19 | 2024-12-15 | Hannah Adefope | 7,2 |
| Getting Out | 20 | 2024-12-25 | Hannah Adefope | 7,5 |
Death by Design[]
| Episode | # | Premiere | Writer(s) | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Imitates Art | 21 | 2025-05-02 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,2 |
| Queen of Hearts | 22 | 2025-05-12 | Emmanuel Indo | 7,9 |
| Faire la Fête Comme en 1699 | 23 | 2025-05-22 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,4 |
| The White Owl | 24 | 2025-06-03 | Emmanuel Indo | 9,2 |
| How Lucky Are We? | 25 | 2025-06-13 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,5 |
| Je t'Aime | 26 | 2025-06-23 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,3 |
| Divided We Fall | 27 | 2025-06-30 | Emmanuel Indo | 7,7 |
| Is That All There Is? | 28 | 2025-07-07 | Emmanuel Indo | 8,2 |
Reception[]
While the show did face some controversy for it's political themes and portrayal of the pandemic, it was also critically acclaimed for it's writing, plot structure and performances, especially those of Conroy & Huston. It received 15 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards and won four. Lockdown also received received seven Critics' Choice Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Television Critics Association Awards nominations.
The second season averaged far poorer from the general audience, with many criticizing Hannah Adefope's writing, and Kathy Griffin's acting. Both Paulson and Phillipson were nominated for Emmy's, with the show also being nominated for Best Makeup. The show also had a massive dip in ratings, with many stating that, without Indo, the crew did not know how to handle such a massive storyline.
The third season broke the Emmy's again, similarly to the first season. Hargitay, O'Hare, Shpika, and Burnett were nominated for their acting in the series, with Hargitay winning for Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. The season was also nominated for Directing, Period Costuming, Main Title Design, and Writing, with Indo winning the latter for the episode "The White Owl". The season is widely regraded as the best of the show, with even the Golden Globes and Gotham Awards nominating the season substantially.
Character Portraits[]
Lockdown[]
NOTE: Some main cast members do not have official character portraits, however are still credited as part of the main cast. This is a similar situation with the recurring characters having portraits.
Illuminati[]
Death by Design[]
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