“Ken Follet’s World Without End: The Epic Eight-Part Miniseries” is a sequel that features beautiful set and costume design and also showcases wonderful performances from various talents featured in the eight-episode mini-series. But it is a series that may be very different from its original novel and may disappoint some. But for those who have never read the novel and are coming into this mini-series wanting to see a series created during the time of the “Hundred Years’ War” or during the time of the “Black Death” plague that killed many in Europe and watching fictional characters during that era, can enjoy this series for what it is. A fascinating and intriguing storyline that will surely appeal to fans of historical European storylines.
© 2012 Tandem Productions GmbH, World Without End (T5) Productions Inc. and World Without End (Quebec) Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Ken Follet’s World Without End: The Epic Eight-Part Miniseries
AIR DATE: 2012
DURATION: 389 minutes
DVD INFORMATION: 1:85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Audio: English, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English – Audio Description Track, Subtitles: English, English SD and French
COMPANY: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
RATED: Not Rated
RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2012
Directed by Michael Caton-Jones
Written by John Pielmeier
Produced by Ridley Scott, Tony Scott
Executive Producer: Jonas Bauer, Rola Bauer, John Weber, David W. Zucker
Co-Producer: Arnie Gelbart
Co-Executive Producer: Jim Gillespie
Associate Producer: Christopher Monger
Consulting Producer: John Pielmeier, John Ryan
Music by Mychael Danna
Cinematography by Denis Crossan
Edited by Istvan Kiraly, Susan Maggi
Casting by Priscilla John, Zsolt Csutak, Diane Kerbel, Cornelia von Braun
Production Design by Marek Dobrowlski
Art Direction by Bence Erdelyi, Lorant Javor, Csaba Stork
Set Decoration by Lee Gordon, Zoltan Horvath
Costume Design by Mario Davignon
Starring:
Ben Chaplin as Sir Thomas Langley
Charlotte Riley as Caris
Nora von Waldstatten as Gwenda
Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Ralph
Rupert Evans as Godwyn
Tom Weston-Jones as Merthin
Tom Cullen as Wulfric
Blake Ritson as Edward III
Sally Bankes as Madge Webber
Cynthia Nixon as Petranilla
Aure Atika as Queen ISabella
Tatiana Maslany as Sister Meir
Miranda Richardson as Mother Cecilia
PEter Firth as Earl Roland
Sarah Gadon as Philippa
Jason Langley as Matthias
Sarah Beck Mather as Annet
Richard Durden as Sir Henry
England is on the brink of a devastating war with France that will last over a hundred years. A terrible plague which will wipe out a third of Europe’s population before it is done is spreading. Caris, a visionary young woman, struggles to rise above the suffering and oppression in order to lead her people out of the Dark Ages. With her loverMerthin, she builds a community in Kingsbridge that stands up to the church and the crown. Together, they unearth a dangerous secret and must fight to save their town from ruin, ultimately ushering in a new era of freedom, innovation and enlightenment.
Back in 1989, Welsh author Ken Follett released his historical novel “The Pillars of Earth”. Best known for writing thrillers, Follet grew up reading medieval architecture and fascinated by the construction of a cathedral and through his reading of this time period, he would develop interest and eventually decided to write a story that centered around the building of a cathedral but trying to capture characters that revolve around that time period.
Follet’s novel would be based on the reign of King Stephen and the Anarchy and exploring the conspiracy in this historical event and it would eventually become his most popular novel.
In 2010, an eight-part mini-series was adapted and featured on the Starz network and on Channel 4 in the UK, the first series centered around the construction of a cathedral in the fictitious town of Kingsbridge during The Anarchy in the 12th Century.
Note: According to Wikipedia, “The Anarchy” was a civil war in England and Normandy between 1135 and 1153, characterized by a breakdown in law and order. The conflict originated with a succession crisis towards the end of the reign of Henry I, when the king’s only legitimate son, William Adelin, died aboard the White Ship. Henry’s attempts to install his daughter, the Empress Matilda, as his successor were unsuccessful and on Henry’s death in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois took power with the help of his brother, Henry of Winchester. Stephen’s early reign was marked by fierce fighting with English barons, rebellious Welsh leaders and Scottish invaders. Following a major rebellion in the south-west of England, Matilda invaded in 1139 with the help of her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester.
The war dragged on for many more years. Matilda’s husband, Geoffrey of Anjou successfully conquered Normandy, but in England neither side could achieve victory. Rebel barons began to acquire ever greater power in northern England and in East Anglia, with widespread devastation in the regions of major fighting. In 1148 the Empress returned to Normandy, leaving the campaigning in England to her young son, Henry Fitzempress. Stephen unsuccessfully attempted to have his own son, Eustace, recognised by the Church as the next king of England. By the early 1150s the barons and the Church mostly wanted a long-term peace.
When Henry re-invaded England in 1153, neither faction’s forces were keen to fight. After limited campaigning and the siege of Wallingford, Stephen and Henry agreed a negotiated peace, the Treaty of Winchester, in which Stephen recognized Henry as his heir. Stephen died the next year and Henry II began the long period of reconstruction in England. Chroniclers described the period as one in which “Christ and his saints were asleep” and Victorian historians called the conflict “the Anarchy” because of the chaos, although modern historians have questioned the accuracy of the term and some contemporary accounts
With that being said, the series would be nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2011.
In 2007, a sequel to Follet’s popular novel “Pillar of Earth” was released in the U.S. and would take place in the fictional town of Kingsbridge but would feature the descendants of the “Pillar of Earth” characters 157 years later. As the first mini-series revolved around the characters during “The Anarchy”, the sequel “World Without End” would take place during the start of the “Hundred Years’ War” and during the “Black Death”.
According to Wikipedia: “The Hundred Years’ War” was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France and their various allies for control of the French throne. The first phase of the Hundred Years’ War, started in 1337 and ended in 1360, with the signing of the Treaty of Brétigny. This initial phase was known as the Edwardian War because it was driven by Edward III’s ambition who wanted sovereignty in Aquitaine and also to become king of France.
While “The Black Death” was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Although there were several competing theories as to the etiology of the Black Death, recent analysis of DNA from victims in northern and southern Europe indicates that the pathogen responsible was the Yersinia pestis bacterium, which causes the Bubonic plague, although these were different, previously unknown ancestral variants of those identified in the 20th century. The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30–60 percent of Europe’s population. The plague reduced the world population from an estimated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million in the 14th century.
With the success of the “Pillars of the Earth” mini-series, an eight-episode TV Miniseries was adapted and was aired in October 2012 on The ReelzChannel in the U.S., Channel 4 in the UK and Showcase in Canada.
“Ken Follet’s World Without End” is presented in eight episodes on two DVD’s. Here is a brief summary of each episode:
- EPISODE 1 – KNIGHT: The series begins with Queen Isabella victorious over her husband, King Edward III and giving the crown to her son, King Edward III. The series focuses on four children Merthin, Caris, Gwenda and Ralph who live in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, England. One day, two of the children witness a wounded Sir Thomas Langley defeat two men-at-arms. When the boys talk to Sir Thomas, he asks for them to bury a letter and only deliver it if he should die. As the family go to help Sir Thomas, he later seeks refuge in a monastery and becomes a Benedictine monk. King Edward II was founded murdered in jail, Sir Roland is made the new Earl of Shiring and because the current Earl is arrested for treason, his two songs Ralph becomes a squire, while Merthin becomes an apprentice to Elfric Builder. Meanwhile, Caris starts to learn medicine from Mattie Wise.
- EPISODE 2 – KING: While Merthin and Caris are in love with each other, she is forced to be in an abusive marriage with Elfric, Merthin’s master. When Caris tries to help Merthin get a job, she is beaten and raped, and when Merthin tries to intervene, he becomes unemployed and Caris is repudiated. Meanwhile, Mattie Wise faces a witch trial and King Edward III tries to take control from his mother.
- EPISODE 3 – PRIOR:  When the bridge collapses and many people are killed, lives are changed forever. Meanwhile Brother Godwyn proclaims the bridge collapse as God’s punishment for their sings. Will a new bridge be built and what happens when King Edward III feels that God has sent him a sign?
- EPISODE 4 – CHECK: Godwyn imposes strict religious rules on Kingsbridge. He has Merthin dismissed as a bridge builder and also has Caris accused of witchcraft. Wulfric discovers Annet in the forest and vows to kill Ralph for the crimes committed against her.
- EPISODE 5 – PAWNS: The story fastforwards seven years later. Caris is a nun, Merthin works in Florence and has a family. And Caris receives an inheritance to build a new hospice, but Prior Godyn wants to use the money for himself. The war against France is taking its toll on the English army. Caris receives a letter from Italy about a new disease called “The Great Mortality”.
- EPISODE 6- ROOK: English soldiers return back home with rats that are infected by the plague. Ralph is rewarded with an Earldom and becomes wealthy. Meanwhile, Prior Godwyn continues to build a place using gold stolen from the church. A riot breaks out and the plague wreaks havok on the land.
- EPISODE 7 – QUEEN: Carin, Merthin, Thomas and Matthias head for the forest monastery to hunt down Godwyn and the stolen treasure. Caris returns to Kingsbridge to find out that the plague has took its toll on villagers and King Edward finds out what happened to his daughter, Princess Joan. Also, revelations of King Edward II is revealed.
- EPISODE 8 – CHECKMATE: Ralph informs Queen Isabella of the rebellion, meanwhile the sadistic Godwyn wants Caris burned as a witch. Ralph leads an attack against Thomas and the townspeople for revolting against the crown. Who shall live and who shall die?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
It is important to note that “World Without End” is presented in 1:85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen and audio presented in English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. For those wanting the best in picture and audio quality, there is a Blu-ray release available.
When it comes to period-based drama series, “World Without End” is a series that looks good on DVD with production set design capturing the look and feel of the era, while costume design is also featured with good detail. While I do feel that the main characters look to clean-cut for the series at times, the overall look of the series and its production is well-done. And looks very good on DVD.
Audio quality is clear, dialogue is understandable and good use of surround sound for ambiance especially with scenes with action and crowds.
Subtitles are in English, English SDH and French.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Ken Follet’s World Without End: The Epic Eight-Part Miniseries” comes with the following special features:
- The Making of Ken Follet’s World Without End – (24:21) Interviews with Ken Follet, the producers and talent of the creation of “Ken Follet’s World Without End”.
When it comes to Ken Follet’s novels, especially from the “Pillars of Light” novels, I would imagine the difficulty that it takes to adapt the novel into a series in eight episodes.
Not only do writers have to make changes from the original novel but one can only hope the time period and at least the characters are accurately portrayed.
It’s important to note that prior to watching “World Without End”, I have not read the novels in order to comment of how much things changed from the novel to the TV series adaptation, nor am I an erudite when it comes to European history, customs, or clothing of that time period.
So, with that being said, perhaps not knowing about what is accurate or inaccurate made me enjoy this mini-series much more.
The series which focuses on lives of several younger individuals who eventually grow up and face major difficulties from that time period. For the character of Caris alone, you can’t help but feel sorry for her because no matter how good of a person she is, there are too many things that go against her. To the point you wonder if she will ever discover true happiness.
And just when you think that things will get better, unfortunately with war and a killer plague, you just realize that “World Without End” is a mini-series that is not meant to be a story of happily ever after, nor is it a series about good overcoming evil. It’s a story about the lives of individuals of Kingsbridge that are affected by corruption, war, disease and how some are able to live or not live through these ordeals.
The hanging scenes looked so realistic, the collapse of the bridge scene was also well-done and the sword fighting scenes were also well-planned and orchestrated.
While watching the series, I do feel that while the costume and production design was good, perhaps the characters were a bit too clean cut for that era. Some people looked as they would in 2012 than they should back in the 1300’s with their trimmed beards, styled hair. So, for a historical drama, I felt that “World Without End” looked to clean for its time period.
But I did enjoy the performances by actress Charlotte Riley and Oliver Jackson-Cohen and although not huge roles, it was good to see talented actresses such as Cynthia Nixon (“Sex and the City”, “Amadeus”) and Miranda Richardson (“The Crying Game”, “The Hours”, “Sleepy Hollow”) involved with the series.
As for the series and its rating, while “not rated”, the series does feature nudity and profanity and plenty of mature situations. From the lecherous Prior Godwyn feeling up Caris’ breasts when she is sleeping, Caris’ husband forcibly having his way with her, Gwenda having to use sex as a way to gain freedom and of course the visual nature of public executions and war is can be seen in this series. So, it’s not exactly a series you want to have children watching with you.
As for the DVD, for those wanting the best PQ and AQ, the Blu-ray is the way to go. But as for the DVD, the series does look good. As for special features, only one making of featurette is included.
Once again, I haven’t read the novels, so I don’t really know how much was changed. I do know that for those who have, some have expressed disappointment that too much was changed, with the beginning and ending alterations and how minor characters became the focal point of the series and things that were created for this TV series and not having occurred in the novel. I would imagine I would be disappointed if there were too many changes but once again, I haven’t read the novel and just going with what I saw in each of the eight episodes.
But I do know that with a historical novel that is quite epic in story and characters, there is only so much you can fit into eight episodes and quite simply, there are going to be changes. It’s bad enough when a novel is forced to be dwindled into a two-hour film. So, with that being said, at least the series was able to have eight hours to feature what it can from the novel. But I do understand if given eight hours, people can be disappointed if the series strays too much from its original storyline as featured in the novel. But with that being said, Ken Follett does explain in the making-of featurette that he knows that the series will be different from his novel, but he himself enjoyed the script and was quite supportive of the making of the drama series.
Overall, “Ken Follet’s World Without End: The Epic Eight-Part Miniseries” is a sequel that features beautiful set and costume design and also showcases wonderful performances from various talents featured in the eight-episode mini-series. But it is a series that may be very different from its original novel and may disappoint some. But for those who have never read the novel and are coming into this mini-series wanting to see a series created during the time of the “Hundred Years’ War” or during the time of the “Black Death” plague that killed many in Europe and watching fictional characters during that era, can enjoy this series for what it is. A fascinating and intriguing storyline that will surely appeal to fans of historical European storylines.
