The more I learn about the history of this period, the better I like Book 3 of North & South. A lot of viewers dislike it because they feel it isn't up to the first two books. In a sense, they're right. And the reason is that the history of the prewar period, of the war itself and of the postwar period --known as "Reconstruction," a fairly gross misnomer--are very different things. The prewar and war had gallantry to go along with the conflict and the misery. Reconstruction, by contrast, has a dreadful history that nobody likes. The period is unpopular with the general public, and it's shunned by historians. It was a frankly awful time in which many sordid scores were settled; in which the country had to find its way through an ethical and political morass, with few happy endings. I haven't read Jakes's novel "Heaven and Hell," but I do feel that the film is true to the period it portrays. With all the difficulties, a lot of nobility comes out through the characters who exemplify ordinary decency; and those who are depraved--a large portion--are sharply and well defined. Other production values are good, with handsome cinematography and an excellent score. The major problem in the production is that casting issues are widespread, while a major character, Cooper, shows up rather implausibly as a "deus ex machina." For all that, I give the film a rating slightly lower than the highest possible. But don't worry. As long as you're not expecting to see a drama just like that of the buildup to the war and then the war itself--as long as you can get used to the idea that something new and not always easy is coming--you'll find a lot of satisfaction.
