Like that alliteration, did you now? The 8-part TV adaptation of Ken Follett's novel of historical fiction is now available at Netflix, and I'm in clover! I didn't get to see it when it aired since I don't have premium cable channels; the basics are expensive enough! Anyway, I do love me some historical drama -- and I don't care too much if the history is mangled as long as I get some good storytelling and some good acting. 12th century England, here we come! It was a time so messy that it's sometimes referred to as "The Anarchy." That's impressively messy even to a history nerd who's used to big messes. A caveat: it's basically rated R for a lot of graphic violence (swords! axes! burning at the stake!), and it doesn't come close to "The Tudors" for that other kind of R-rated graphic stuff.
Recognize any of the cast? Just ignore the prerequisite "pretty youth" and "pretty maiden" stereotypes. Look at everybody else. It's a fantastic line-up of actors who can actually ... hm, act. Ian McShane. (If you've never seen him in "Kings" -- now on DVD -- then you are missing out.) Donald Sutherland. Rufus Sewell. And Matthew Macfadyen, whom I loved as Tom Quinn in "MI-5" and Mr. Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice." Plus Tony Curran too. See the trailer after the jump.
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