The Pillars of the Earth on Starz

[RichardWarrenField]

Well, for those of us watching on Starz, the last episode is coming up. I am really curious how they are going to finish this off, considering they have gotten up to about two thirds of the book, and we are three quarters through the mini-series. Seems like they have more story than time - they will have to make choices.

At this point, I have a few basic likes and dislikes as to what they have done with the original:

Likes - 1) The secret surrounding the death of Jack's father gets more time, and more drama, something available to them in a visual medium. 2) Jack is a stronger, more active character from the beginning.

Dislikes - 1) The "bad guys" seem over-the-top at times, especially Waleran Bigod, and the creepy relationship between William and his mother. 2) I liked Ellen more in the book - she had more direct involvement in the story earlier, though they're bringing her back in as we go.

All-in-all, it is good to see a high-profile production set during this time in history.

Richard Warren Field
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/TheSwordsofFaith.htm
Richard Warren Field's blog: http://creativeeccentric.wordpress.com/
(If you are watching "The Pillars of Earth" mini-series on Starz, stop by my blog for comments and discussion...)

[cat]

I've been watching this on Starz too and really enjoying it! I have not read the book...yet. So I cannot comment on any comparison. But I've had no trouble following the story - I think someone had asked somewhere in this thread if it was a problem for those not having read the books? I'm quite intrigued by Jack's father though...I have my suspicions at any rate.

I can't imagine how they can wrap this all up nice and tidy in only two hours that remain! But I will definitely be reading the book for more details into this time period!

[Ash]

1) The "bad guys" seem over-the-top at times, especially Waleran Bigod, and the creepy relationship between William and his mother

Thats pretty much the way it was in the book, and one of the (many) reasons I disliked it.

How did the production do with the cathedral construction parts of the story? In the book I thought those were so dry, when they should have been as spectacular as the cathedrals themselves. I'd think maybe the visual would give you a better sense of how magnificent they were even as they were being built?

[RichardWarrenField]

My opinion on the cathedral? They've done what they needed to do for a visual medium on a mini-series about the construction of a cathedral. I know from some of the background material that they paid a lot of attention to the cathedral set. I can't say I am blown away by anything, but I'm watching it on television - the "small screen." It could look much more impressive on a large screen. Anybody else have any ideas about this?

Richard Warren Field
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/TheSwordsofFaith.htm
Richard Warren Field's blog: http://creativeeccentric.wordpress.com/
(If you are watching "The Pillars of Earth" mini-series on Starz, stop by my blog for comments and discussion...)

[Madeleine]

Perhaps the construction scenes might not make for very exciting "visuals"? I'm always bored stiff by the barn-building scene in "Witness", for example!

[RichardWarrenField]

I agree - I would have been bored if they had turned the series into too much on the building. I think they needed to find a good place between those who would find the cathedral construction fascinating (as Follette definitely does in his book) and those who would be bored. And I'm okay with the balance they've struck.

Richard Warren Field
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/TheSwordsofFaith.htm
Richard Warren Field's blog: http://creativeeccentric.wordpress.com/
(If you are watching "The Pillars of Earth" mini-series on Starz, stop by my blog for comments and discussion...)

[cw gortner]

I'm so behind on this series; fortunately, Starz has it on-demand and I'm catching up on it this weekend.

[RichardWarrenField]

I saw the last episode last night. I thought they did a pretty good job telling this story, in some cases improving it by capitalizing on the advantages of a visual medium. But, I also felt they were constrained by limitations of time from offering some of the best parts of the story, and the villains, especially Waleran Bigod, bordered on campy. I will admit, though, that watching Ian McShane camp-it-up was kind of fun!

Richard Warren Field
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/TheSwordsofFaith.htm
Richard Warren Field's blog: http://creativeeccentric.wordpress.com/
(If you are watching "The Pillars of Earth" mini-series on Starz, stop by my blog for comments and discussion...)

[Brenna]

Richard-

Maybe your series started a week early, but my ondemand only has 7 episodes listed thus far and I know there are 8. I'm hoping the last episode wraps all of the loose ends because there are a bunch!

[RichardWarrenField]

Starz broadcast the series in six parts - a two hour opening, and a two hour closing, with four one hour episodes in between (adding up to eight hours total). I'm glad I didn't give away anything in my last post!

Richard Warren Field
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/
http://www.richardwarrenfield.com/TheSwordsofFaith.htm
Richard Warren Field's blog: http://creativeeccentric.wordpress.com/
(If you are watching "The Pillars of Earth" mini-series on Starz, stop by my blog for comments and discussion...)