Set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart.
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S1.E8
Eight years later, Jack's fixation with the cathedral leaves him little time or energy for anything else, while Aliena's fixation with the distant Earldom of Shiring has married her to Alfred, a man ...
S1.E7
As a result of his journeys, Jack has learned how to fulfill Tom Builder's dream of a cathedral filled with light. Aliena tracks Jack by following the trail of his carvings. Waleran offers Philip a ...
S1.E5
Princess Maude seems to have gained the upper hand having defeated King Stephen on the battlefield and taken him prisoner. However, her brother, Gloucester, has been taken prisoner by the other side,...
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Title: The Pillars of the Earth (2010)
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The Pillars of the Earth is set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart. In that time, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against the backdrop, love-stories entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, the sadistic Lord William, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone work and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. Follett masterfully weaves these stories through political turmoil of 12th century England, creating a relevant and viable world for today's audience and for generations to come. Written by Anonymous
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Nothing is sacred. See more »Parents Guide:
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Ian McShane ironically would go on to play a church builder in Game of Thrones (2011). See more »Goofs
Throughout the series, Stephen and Matilda are both referred to as "Majesty". English kings and queens did not use the title "Majesty" until the middle of the 16th century, nearly 400 years after the setting of this series See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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23 July 2010 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Pillars of the Earth See more »Edit
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$40,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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Tandem Communications, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Scott Free Productions See more »
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I have read everything Ken Follett has written, but I pretty much had him pegged as a writer of extraordinarily readable suspense potboilers. Better than Stephen King, but no Cormac McCarthy. Then, in 1989 he unveiled "Pillars of the Earth" and I was stunned. Follett gave full rein to his incredibly vivid and compelling storytelling abilities. When I finished I was sad. I could no longer follow the adventures of these heroic and scheming English men and women in the the tumultuous 12th Century, a time of uncertainty over who should be on the throne.
I have now watched the first six episodes (available on Netflix for instant viewing) and am dying to see the final two when they come available. I didn't know what to expect, but I can declare myself fully satisfied.
What worried me most going in was the series was what the tone would be. Follett is a master of grand, operatic gestures. The mini-series captures that.
He also is far from shy about sex, barbarism and vulgarity. There's a scene when the monks put Ellen on trial as a witch that made my jaw drop. No F-bombs, but one startling c**t bomb. The incest theme between William and his mother is not explicitly shown, but very clear.
Occasionally, it's a bit "stagey" and the CGI is good, but not state of the art.
Still, "Pillars" is a triumph of epic storytelling.