# The Pillars of the Earth (2010)

> A sweeping 12th century English miniseries about a master builder and a monk fighting to raise a cathedral amid war, faith and royal intrigue.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/30578

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 53 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, history
- Created by: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
- Network: STARZ
- Cast: Robert Bathurst, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Macfadyen, Rufus Sewell, Ian McShane, Eddie Redmayne, Natalia Wörner, Hayley Atwell
- TMDB rating: 8.0/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453159/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: brutal
- Tone: sweeping, sensuous, spirited, violent, romantic

## What critics say

Audiences rate the miniseries positively for its sweeping scope, lavish period production and intrigue-driven storytelling, though it is seen as a faithful but conventional costume epic.

## Synopsis

The Pillars of the Earth (2010) is a American-produced historical miniseries created by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan for STARZ. Set in 12th century England, it follows a master builder, Tom Builder (Rufus Sewell), and a determined prior, Prior Phillip (Matthew Macfadyen), as they struggle to raise a great cathedral in a kingdom torn by civil war and religious strife. Around them, Aliena (Hayley Atwell) fights to hold her family's inheritance while Earl Bartholomew (Donald Sutherland) and Waleran Bigod (Ian McShane) pursue their ambitions through church and crown. The engine of the story is the constant friction between building stone and scheming men: every ambition needs money, land, or a bishop's favor, and every delay invites treachery. Told across a single eight-episode run, it plays as one continuing story rather than a case-of-the-week format, with sweeping battles, cathedral construction sites, and courtly plotting. Its tone is sensuous and spirited, combining violence and beauty with a grounded, earthy look at medieval life. Fans of Game of Thrones, The Tudors and Wolf Hall will find resonance in its blend of political intrigue, religious ambition and historical sweep.

## Shows like The Pillars of the Earth

- [Wolf Hall (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/54963)
- [The Spanish Princess (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/73417)
- [The Bastard Executioner (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/56253)
- [Cathedral of the Sea (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/63303)
- [Maximilian and Marie De Bourgogne (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/61682)
- [The Tudors (2007)](https://ember.film/tv/2797)
- [Parade's End (2012)](https://ember.film/tv/36399)
- [The White Queen (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/51114)
- [World Without End (2012)](https://ember.film/tv/36868)
- [Shardlake (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/142642)

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