A book as expansive and as remarkably detailed as Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo has always deserved the limited series approach, with an actor who can thoroughly convey a full range of emotions, and that’s exactly what we get in the PBS adaptation. Directed by Bille August and starring Sam Claflin, it outshines every other adaptation by the sheer actuality of how it explores all routes through a careful and quietly thoughtful process.
To start, the production design’s simplicity effectively transports viewers through time in a tone that feels effortless to stay in. A grand and more overtly saturated practice is becoming the norm for a number of period pieces right now (and we love it!), but here, we get just the right amount of colors delicately blending with shades of grey to bring the story’s darkness to the forefront. In a sense, it makes the series harder to watch because the story itself isn’t an easy one to digest, yet the cinematography is exactly what makes the beats evocative and heartbreaking.
Sam Claflin Delivers a Remarkable Performance in PBS’ The Count of Monte Cristo
More importantly, it’s Sam Claflin’s performance that meticulously delivers the complexities of a shattered and vengeful fan. This is something the 2024 film also manages, but Claflin’s range is ultimately incomparable in showcasing the transformation before and after wrongful imprisonment. As an actor, part of his expertise lies in ensuring how different mannerisms showcase the passage of time for his character, and he also does this admirably in Daisy Jones and the Six.
This specific embodiment not only underscores the most important layers in Edmond Dantès and the Count, but I imagine it’ll have the same effect on viewers who aren’t familiar with the novel. Claflin’s performance is, without question, the best we’ve had so far in all versions, and if we were to sit here singing his praises, we’d be here all day.
The Adaptation Effectively Showcases the Fractures in Relationships
There’s a part of me, with every adaptation, that hopes the romance may lead to the happy ending that Edmond and Mercedes deserve. That maybe this time, they’ll try again, leading to the kind of second chance romance that’d be loaded with endless love and understanding. But it wouldn’t be as accurate an adaptation if it changed the ending of the story as significantly. Still, the moments between the two of them are some of the loveliest throughout the show, better and more tender than we’ve seen before. The tethers that have always bound them are a reflection of the healing that love brings, and while the story sticks mostly close to the text, the brief beats of hope throughout are a welcome salvation.
There are a number of gorgeous moments throughout that feel transcendent, but none are more rewarding than the last shot in the eighth episode that leaves viewers with the kind of conclusion that’ll stay with us long after the credits roll. With relatively seamless pacing to follow, the weekly release schedule will be riveting for viewers who want to sit with and fully grasp the emotions. Stunning as a binge as well, but I imagine those who are nostalgic for a true period piece will appreciate everything PBS’ The Count of Monte Cristo has to offer.
The Count of Monte Cristo is now streaming on PBS Passport and will air live on Sundays for eight weeks.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Masterpiece PBS