Review of Episode Four of "The Pillars of the Earth"

If you haven't yet had a chance to enjoy the Starz original series "The Pillars of the Earth," you should definitely take a chance to do so on a Friday night (although you might want to catch up on some of the episodes that have already aired.) Since it first aired a few weeks ago, "The Pillars of the Earth," (based on a novel by Ken Follett,) has continued to build up suspense as it explores the lives and passions of a group of men and women living in a medieval English town.

I've said it before, but I definitely think it bears repeating, that one of the major strengths of this series is the casting. Ian McShane, who portrays the villainous Bishop Waleran, manages to still the scene any time he appears, due to a combination of reptilian cunning and a voice that is gravelly but nevertheless appealing. I would like to point out, however, that all of the men, even the most unappealing and villainous (such as William and Alfred, petty and jealous men, both,) manage to have something physically attractive about them.

This is especially important in William's case, since he is without a doubt one of the most villainous and destructive of the characters (let's not forget that he was responsible for the death of several innocent people, as well as the rape of Aliena.) His attractiveness, as well as his general appeal (he manages to have a boyish charm, despite everything,) makes you consider the humanity at the heart of even the most evil and corrupt of men. Indeed, this is one of the most notable differences between the novel and the film versions of the story, for in the novel William is completely unsympathetic. However, the fact that he is sympathetic in the film is what adds some of the drama and the interest.

It is also worth noting that the series does an excellent job of juggling several different storylines, as well as the historical backdrop (which is itself quite complex,) True, some of the story lines get short shrift due to time constaints (this particular episode focused more on the Prior and Jack than on Tom Builder and Aliena,) but that is only to be expected, considering the fact that the novel is a venerable tome of a work. All things considered, the series manages to keep itself well-plotted, and everything continues to move forward, although not at so fast a pace as to be confusing.

This is definitely one of the best and most interesting series currently airing on cable channels. Even if you're not particularly interested in the historical period in general, you're sure to find something about the many characters in the novel to get you involved. Even those who are evil are, in the end, quite interesting and worthy of watching.