Product Description
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Ken Follett’s best-selling novel is brought to life in a
star-studded and critically-accled eight-part miniseries.
Emerging from the war-torn shadows of England’s Dark Ages, an
idealistic mason, Tom Builder (Rufus Sewell, The Holiday) sets
out on a quest of erecting a glorious Cathedral bathed in light.
But when that light threatens to illuminate the dark secrets of
ambitious Bishop Waleran Bigod (Ian McShane, 2005 Golden Globe
Best Actor, TV's Deadwood) and the battling progeny of King
Henry, Queen Maud (Alison Pill, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and
King Stephen (Tony Curran, Ondine), they’ll stop at nothing to
keep those secrets safe. The epic miniseries event also stars
Matthew MacFadyen (Frost/Nixon) as Prior Philip, Hayley Atwell
(Love Hate) as the beautiful noblewoman Aliena and Donald
Sutherland (TV's Dirty Sexy Money) as Bartholomew.
The Pillars of the Earth Episode Summaries
Episode 1: “Anarchy”
The death of King Henry’s heir ignites a battle between Queen
Maud and King Stephen to become the successor to the throne. Monk
Philip is enticed by an offer from her Waleran Bigod; in
return for his endorsement of Bigod to the appointment of Bishop,
Philip will be elected Prior. Tom Builder travels the countryside
in search of work.
Episode 2: “Master Builder”
When a fire destroys Kingsbridge Church, Tom presents a plan to
Prior Philip to construct a glorious new cathedral filled with
light. As Philip politics for funds to aid in the church’s
construction, he finds himself caught between Bishop Bigod and
King Stephen’s supporter, Earl Percy Hamleigh.
Episode 3: “Redemption”
Prior Philip and Percy’s son William find themselves in a
political stalemate as they compete for access to valuable stone.
Jack demonstrates amazing artistic prowess as he begins to carve
a monument to St. Adolphus and the destroyed Kingsbridge
Cathedral. ”
Episode 4: “Battlefield”
William plans his way towards Earldom and soon discovers he is
not alone in his ambition; a mysterious knight seeks the same
appointment. The battle between Maud and Stephen rages,
culminating in hostages from each side being seized. Philip is
tortured into confessing to the betrayal of Earl Bartholomew.
Episode 5: “Legacy”
Tom attempts to mediate a camaraderie between Jack and his son,
Alfred. However, their intense rivalry for the affection of
Bartholomew’s daughter, Aliena, proves too much of an obstacle.
Waleran and Regan Hamleigh negotiate a hostage exchange while
William s an attack on Kingsbridge in an effort to halt
Aliena’s pending success.
Episode 6: “Witchcraft”
Aliena’s brother, Richard, is shocked as he emerges from the
battlefield only to find his sister destitute and incapable of
supporting his knighthood. Aliena is torn between honoring a
promise made to her her, Bartholomew, and her love for Jack. A
catastrophe in Kingsbridge paves the way for Waleran to
orchestrate Philip’s impeachment.
Episode 7: “New Beginnings”
Jack’s travels provide him with valuable information which will
aid him in constructing his stepher’s majestic dream
cathedral. Aliena tracks Jack down using only her intuition and
the warm trail left by his distinctive carvings. Bigod makes
Philip an attractive offer, but it’s one which carries an
unattractive price.
Episode 8: “The Work of Angels”
Eight years have passed. Now completely obsessed with the notion
of erecting Tom’s cathedral, Jack is unable to focus on anything
outside of his divine calling. Aliena remains fixated on securing
her family’s right to the Earldom of Shiring and thus, fulfilling
the promise she made to her her.
.com
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A cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, this
Starz adaptation of Ken Follett's massive page-turner offers all
the scheming and plotting of royal potboilers like Elizabeth and
Showtime's The Tudors. The story takes place in the 12th century,
when King Henry I loses his son at sea. After Henry's death, his
nephew, Stephen (Tony Curran), assumes the throne, against the
wishes of the Earl of Bartholomew (Donald Sutherland, star of
Follett's Eye of the Needle) and Henry's daughter, Maud (Alison
Pill, convincing as a Brit), which pits them against Bishop
Waleran (Deadwood's Ian McShane) and Lady Hamleigh (Sarah Parish)
and her bloodthirsty son, William (David Oakes). Tom (Rufus
Sewell), a mason, and his apprentice, Jack (Savage Grace's Eddie
Redmayne), enter the fray when they offer to construct a
cathedral for Prior Philip (Matthew Macfadyen).
In the decades to come, Philip and the earl's children, Aliena
(Hayley Atwell) and Richard (Sam Claflin), battle the bishop and
the Hamleighs to complete Kingsbridge Cathedral and restore their
family name. Jack's mother, Ellen (Natalia Wörner), aids in their
efforts, while Jack and Alfred (Jared Leto look-alike Liam
Garrigan), Tom's ne'er-do-well son, compete for Aliena's
affections. As fortunes rise and fall, there's rape, incest, and
executions, resulting in nudity, profanity, and splashes of
blood. There are also over-the-top sequences, like a strange
smothering, but the multi-character story line is involving, and
the principal cast, particularly Sewell, is up to the task. The
eight-part series includes extra features that explore the
digital effects, the animated opening titles, and the production
with Follett, executive producer Ridley Scott, actor/writer John
Pielmeier, and director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan. --Kathleen C.
Fennessy
