Pillars of the Earth...

Just watched the first episode of this new Starz series. It's pretty good [though I always like Ian McShane] and, while not nearly as trashy as something like Spartacus, it looks like it should be solid entertainment. I also hadn't read the book before, so it's prompted me to at least take a look...but what I REALLY want to know is, how in the world the Eurogame of the same title be based on such an unrelentingly blood-soaked story?!

Not just violent,but filled with sex as well!

jason10mm wrote:

Not just violent,but filled with sex as well!

See...now there's a Euro theme that hasn't been explored. Rather than "impressing" the Archbishop, perhaps it's time to introduce "get the Prior laid" as a new mechanic...

Dogmatix wrote:

[...] how in the world the Eurogame of the same title be based on such an unrelentingly blood-soaked story?!

It's full of subtle references. Drill a shaft into the mine, etc.

The book's well worth a read, it's one of my favourites. I think it's always a good sign with a book when you wish you could climb inside it and punch the villain in the face! The beginning is a little meandering but when it gets going you'll be hooked.

The first two episodes were pretty good. There's a new season of Mad Men and Rescue Me and now Pillars of the Earth. Thing are looking pretty good on TV.

I wish I'd like Pillars the miniseries--at least the first two hours--more than I did. I gather from some spoiler-free reviews that it does get a bit better, and there are likable parts, but it just seemed a bit one-dimensional to me in an unpleasing way. I mean, it's possible to enjoy one-dimensional characters, where the goodies are good and the baddies are bad, but--and this is subjective--I just found the first couple of hours to be dull and predictable. I hadn't read the book, but as soon as I saw the Wiccan woman and compared her looks to Tom's wife, I knew we were in for a Spousal Upgrade, a sort of high medieval trophy witch.

The book is such hokey bullshit. There's no nuance to anyone. The bad guy is the most evillest bad guy of all time! The good guy is so pure of heart he farts rainbows. The only character that was keeping me interested was Aliena's brother, whos a good guy, while being kind of a dick. At least there's some conflict there. Everyone else doesn't even merit two dimensions.

I assume the show features a lot of rape and cathedral drawing montage scenes.

I gave up on the book about halfway through, though it's pretty rare that fiction holds my attention these days. There's two episodes of it on Roku; how many have they shown on TV?

S.

There's only 2 on Netflix as well. The wife is watching the first one right now. She actually loved Spartacus.

jeb wrote:

The bad guy is the most evillest bad guy of all time! The good guy is so pure of heart he farts rainbows.

Agreed, very one dimensional, and average. I'll probably keep watching the series, but I'm certainly glad I didn't suffer through the book if this is how the characters are portrayed.

Sagrilarus wrote:

I gave up on the book about halfway through, though it's pretty rare that fiction holds my attention these days. There's two episodes of it on Roku; how many have they shown on TV?

S.

2 or 3; the series just kicked off.

the first 2 episodes look like they are now up on Netflix Instant play.

There were two episodes' worth last Friday, back to back. I assume it's on Fridays, though it wouldn't break my heart if I'd missed a few eps.

Some reviewer suggested PotE was a lot like a 1980s major-network miniseries. I think that's about right: it's pretty earnest, offers the patina of history without being historical, makes you feel like you learned something when you haven't, and doesn't make you think too hard.

I gather from the review of the whole miniseries that there's not a lot of sex in it. It is not "Spartacus: Brick and Mortar."

jpat wrote:

"Spartacus: Brick and Mortar."

The violent and sexy chronicles of running a FLGS. I smell a sequel to "There Will Be Games".