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Cadfael

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by Greg Bakun


I'm back for my second article of Brit-Streaming. We broke everything out into sections so it is easier to read. This week, I bring you some great news about how Acorn TV is adding more content to their successful service, I actually sample some of the goodness they offer. I travel back to the 12th century to visit Cadfael. Alright, so I don't actually travel back in time but I do watch an episode from the series Cadfael from the first series. It's not the best episode from the series but a poorer episode of Cadfael is still better than the best episodes of a lot of other series. Also, as usual, I keep a running list of the programs currently streaming at Acorn TV.

Also in this column we have some of the latest news when it comes to streaming British TV directly into your home, as well as a list of new shows that have been added to Acorn TV. Scrolling down to the bottom, you'll find a hint about what will be in the next column as well as a listing of all the shows currently streaming on Acorn TV.


Streaming News

I wish I can take credit for this news via Brit-Streaming but seeing as I wrote my first article only 2 weeks ago, it seems unlikely. Acorn TV has increased its programming available to subscribers by 200% since the launch of the service. This is pretty cool! It is now streaming 18 full seasons (up from 6) of all sorts of wonderful British television. It’s also worth noting that the if you are reading this article from Canada, Acorn TV is now available to Canadian subscribers plus a monthly subscription option of $2.99 has been added. So you can either sign up at $2.99/month or $29.99/year. It’s a pretty good deal to view up to, on average, 125 hours of programming a week. To me, it’s frustrating that I have another job that I have to be at during the day. Sitting on the couch watching these programs all day would be quite nice thank you! For more information, go to Acorn Media for more information: www.acornonline.com


New Shows on Acorn TV

Acorn TV has added these new shows recently:

BritStream 10-11

Trial & Retribution – Set 3 Vol. 9 Part 1 (ends 11/4/12)

The Making of the President – (ends 11/4/12)

Upstairs Downstairs – The 1970s version! Series 2 (ends 11/4/12)

Foyle’s War – All episodes! (ends 10/28/12)

Rosemary & Thyme – Series 1(ends 11/11/12)

Cadfael – Series 1  (ends 11/11/12)

The Last Detective – Series 1 (ends 11/18/12)

Island at War – 6 episodes (ends 11/18/12)


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Spotlight

Cadfael

Cadfael Series 1 - Monk's Hood


As I am sure many fans of British television can attest to, sometimes there are good series out there that are worthwhile to watch but with so many choices, these perfectly wonderful series may not get the viewing it deserves. The series Cadfael generally falls into this category quite easily. It has rich locations, which takes viewers back to the 12th century. Another piece to the series that I personally love is the combination of a “monks/holy order” spun in with murder and intrigue. It’s taking something that should be so pure and add to it something that can be so evil. That added with the contextually historical aspect of it makes this irresistible to me. Therefore I am not so sure why I don’t watch this all that often. I made amends to this recently.


Going to the wonderful Acorn TV service, I originally thought about watching George Gently. I have never seen it before but I was in the mood for something more historical and saw Cadfael was available to view. I started to watch Cadfael but then thought to myself, “Well, I have never seen any George Gently before so maybe I should watch that instead.” Finally, my gut instinct kicked in and I realized that what I really wanted to watch was Cadfael. I guess my point here is that I am spoiled for choice here. If you are a person who has difficulty making simple decisions like myself, then this could be a wonderful problem. The Acorn TV service is like having an archive of television programs in my computer. After much internal debating, I am really happy with my choice of Cadfael.

I decided for my Cadfael viewing to take a look at the final episode of the first series, Monk’s Hood. The original airdate for this series was June 19, 1994 and was, as all episodes, based off the Ellis Peters book originally published in 1980. The name Cadfael is Welsh meaning Battle (cad) and Prince (fael). Unbeknownst to me, the proper way to pronounce Cadfael is cadvel even though it appears no one on the series really pronounces it this way. For the record, I don’t either.

The episode itself, Monk’s Hood, is a basically a straightforward murder mystery set in the 12th century. The book itself sets the period of the story in 1138. In it Gervase Bonel is to give over his manor home to his stepson, Edwin. At the beginning of the episode it is not clear why but there is a massive argument between Edwin and his stepfather which results in Edwin being thrown out of the house. To me I thought there was some interesting misdirection as it looks as though Edwin is ungrateful and perhaps he is the one causing the argument. We later learn in is not as simple as that. Gervase is not a nice person. He is rude to many and even constantly seduces his young female servants. The root of the argument is Edwin is treating people as equals which Gervase does not approve. He does not think a Lord of a Manor House should be socializing with people who work in the trade profession. Instead of giving the house to his stepson, he donates the house and his entire estate to the abbey. Of course this is the same abbey that Brother Cadfael belongs to and as it happens things are changing in the abbey too.

Cadfael 2

The church is reforming and the current head of the Abbey, Abbot Heribert, needs to leave to be a part of these discussions leaving Prior Robert in charge. When the Abbot returns, he may no longer be in charge. There is change in the air at the Abbey and not only because of a possible change in leadership but because Gervase and his wife Richildis are now living in a modest cottage on the Abbey since they gave everything over to the church. Richildis is able to get her son Edwin to come to the Abbey to try and make peace with his stepfather but this does not go well. The two start fighting again, which ends with Edwin being chased out of the house. While all of this is going on, Prior Robert sends to the Gervase house a partridge for the household to eat as a thank you for giving over all of his wealth. The partridge has poison on it that kills Gervase. The poison is Wolfsbane which is also known as monkshood. Cadfael recognizes it instantly and may have come from his own supply.

Obviously the first person who is a suspect is Edwin but Cadfael knows better. It’s too obvious for him to be the murderer. To make matters worse for Cadfael is that he knows Richildis. They were in love many years ago before Cadfael went off to fight in the Crusades. He never returned and Richildis believed he was dead. She lived her life never knowing that Cadfael was still alive. Prior Robert orders Cadfael to stop interfering in the case. Since Cadfael’s friend Deputy Sheriff Hugh Beringar is away, Sergeant Warden is handling the case with all of the tact of a bull in a china shop. Things are not looking so good for Edwin as a full on manhunt for him begins led by Sergeant Warden. Cadfael has a lot at stake in this too. He has given a promise to his one-time love; she is depending on him yet he is ordered by his superiors to not get involved. By the time this is over, Cadfael will face expulsion from the Abbey.


I have dipped in and out of this series over the years and never been too lost by what was going on with it. I have yet to watch this series in order. As I mentioned earlier, the episode can be from any murder mystery series as it follows the formula of a character is not like by many, in this case Gervase, who is murdered. Multiple people have motives for killing him. From there figuring out who killed him is a usual murder mystery. As much as I liked the episode, it is a fairly safe story. Not that Cadfael, as a series, is scandalous but considering the time period the series is set in, there is nothing ambitious about it. If you want to see an excellent episode, a really good start to the series is actually the first episode, One Corpse Too Many, as it really gives a lot of information into Cadfael’s warrior past. That is one of the things I love about the character Cadfael. He is gentle, calm, and intelligent but during the Crusades, he was a warrior who had to do things he will always keep with him. He has taken a vow in the religious order that will never be broken. That makes the scenes between him and Richildis interesting to watch. I think she would take him back immediately if he wanted to be in her life again but he is resolute. The story has nothing to do with whether he will break his vow. It has no bearing on anything. The point of the episode is for him to risk everything to help clear the name of a son to someone he cared very deeply for years ago. In that case the episode is a success.

Cadfael 3

Most of the action of the episode takes place at the Abbey with some of it taking place in Wales and at the manor house. It is gorgeous. A lot of great outdoor locations. I hope there is a possibility that this series can have its film rescanned and re-released on Blu Ray. I think it would look gorgeous.

Sir Derek Jacobi is Cadfael. He plays the part very well and although he plays it well here, in this episode Cadfael is more of a victim in many ways. Cadfael gets a lot of pressure from Prior Robert in this episode so he is taking a less aggressive role and more of a secretive one. He sneaks around a lot to get things done and also gets Brother Oswin to help him with many things. Cadfael doesn’t have a lot of fire to him in this episode. That is fine but he does seem a little watered down.  Sean Pertwee plays Hugh Beringar. Once again, there isn’t much to his performance as he is not in it as much as in other episodes. I have been watching a lot of Poirot lately and I think this episode falls in line very closely with that in terms of the relationship between Cadfael/Beringar and Poirot/Inspector Japp.

The biggest surprise for me is that Jonny Lee Miller played the part of Edwin. Miller is now starring in the new CBS series Elementary. He is quite young in this and much of his time is on the run or arguing with Gervase.

Monk’s Hood is an enjoyable episode of Cadfael but by no means the best. This is a great episode to watch if you have seen other episodes and enjoy the premise but this is not a great episode to watch if you have not seen the series before. As I mentioned above, I don’t feel this episode has the fire and energy that is representative of the series but if you enjoy a top-notch murder mystery set in the 12th century, this is certainly a worthwhile episode to watch.

 

Cadfael 4

Coming Soon

Next time: I will be spotlighting the series Rosemary & Thyme. It is called a cosy mystery which stars Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris, I can see myself really getting into this on a fall Sunday evening or something. I am really looking forward to this.

Currently on Acorn TV

Demob – Episodes 1-6 (ends 10/28/12)

Murder in Suburbia – Episodes 1-6 (ends 10/28/12)

The Grand Series -  1 Episodes 1-8/Series 2 Episodes 1-10 (ends 10/28/12)

Blue Murder – Series 1 (ends 10/21/12)

Murdoch Mysteries – Series 1 (ends 10/21/12)

Vera – Series 2 (ends 10/14/12)

Poirot – Series 1 (ends 10/14/12)

Reggie Perrin – Series 1 & 2 (ends 10/14/12)

Trial & Retribution – Set 3 Vol. 9 Part 1 (ends 11/4/12)

The Making of the President – (ends 11/4/12)

Upstairs Downstairs – The 1970s version! Series 2 (ends 11/4/12)

Foyle’s War – All episodes! (ends 10/28/12)

Rosemary & Thyme – Series 1(ends 11/11/12)

Cadfael – Series 1(ends 11/11/12)

The Last Detective – Series 1 (ends 11/18/12)

Island at War – 6 episodes (ends 11/18/12)

 

Coming Soon:

Agatha Christie’s Poirot – (starts 9/24/12)

The Making of the President – (starts 10/15/12)

First Among Equals – (starts 10/15/12)

Agatha Christie’s Marple – (starts 10/15/12)

Special Branch – Set 1 – (starts 10/22/12)

Fingersmith – (starts 10/22/12)

Poldark – (starts 10/22/12)

Midsomer Murders – (starts 10/29/12)

Doctor Zhivago – (starts 10/29/12)

We’ll Meet Again – (starts 10/29/12)

Pie in the Sky – (starts 10/29/12)


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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on October 12, 2012 7:32 AM.

The previous post in this blog was Acorn TV - Streaming British TV.

The next post in this blog is Rosemary and Thyme.

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