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

Although they somewhat missed the mark with their original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" (which often feels like a watered down version of the film "300,") Starz seems to have gotten the ingredients for historical drama in the right measurements in their new mini-series "The Pillars of the Earth," based on the Ken Follett novel of the same name. The series features a number of venerable stars, including Ian McShane and Donald Sutherland, to name but a few.

One of the best things about this new series is that it manages to remain fairly faithful to the source text, which is a sprawling book of over 1,000 pages, with a multitude of plot twists and turnings that would make it challenging for any adaptation to screen. The makers of this extraordinary series, however, have managed to weave together the various strands of the novel into a film that is believable and, perhaps just as importantly, easy enough to follow for the standard audience-goer. It would be incredibly easy to get lost in the twists and turns of the plot, but the director here clearly knew what he was going.

What also makes this series enjoyable is precisely what makes "Spartacus" so painful to watch sometimes: they don't overuse special effects. The result is a film that focuses more on the human characteristics of the characters, rather than allowing the special effects to utterly take over the narrative. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the effect is understatement; instead, i would say that the power of the series lurks under the surface, giving everything a feeling of tension and suspense that is all too often lacking in historical dramas.

Speaking of the historical, the mini-series also does not shy away from showing viewers the truly squalid and dangerous conditions in which many lower-class citizens lived in the Middle Ages. Even Earl Shiring, who has the advantage of living in a castle, must sometimes slog through the mud in his courtyard to get where he wants to go. Unlike earlier medieval epics, which tended to romanticize this period of history, "The Pillars of the Earth" shows everything in its muddy glory, a true step forward.

However, it is with the casting that this mini-series truly shines. From the scheming and hoarse-voiced Waleran (portrayed by McShane,) to the venerable and quite likable Earl Shiring (played by Donald Sutherland,) the cast seems to inhabit the very characters they are supposed to represent, which can be quite difficult to do with historical characters. What's more, the characters interact with one another with a fluidity and a comfort level that speaks to just how carefully they were chosen and how much they have worked on becoming their charters.

All in all, the series from Starz should definitely be considered a success. Since the novel itself spans several years, we have much to look forward to in the coming weeks, so be sure to tune in to Starz for this exciting new historical drama.