Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

88% Tomatometer 40 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings

PBS and BBC One present this adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel by screenwriter Andrew Davies. Following a cast of characters as they struggle to survive in war-torn France, the six-part drama features Dominic West as Jean Valjean and David Oyelowo as Javert. The production also features Lily Collins in the role of Fantine.

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Les Misérables — Season 1

Les Misérables — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Andrew Davies' deft adaptation of the oft-retold Victor Hugo classic affords viewers a newfound intimacy with these outcasts and revolutionaries, who are ably brought to life by a star-studded cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Ben Pobjie Sydney Morning Herald As Daffy Duck said, it's the rich what gets the gravy, and the poor what gets the blame. Les Miserables is a gorgeously conceived means of getting that depressing, eternal truth across. Jun 24, 2020 Full Review Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Judy Berman TIME Magazine As the miniseries jumps from one classic scene to the next, what's lost in the script, if not in the acting, is the slow process of character development. Dec 6, 2019 Full Review Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Allison Keene Collider Les Misérables is a haunting, unforgettable journey of sacrifice and forgiveness that changes its characters significantly over the time we spend with them. Rated: 5/5 Dec 6, 2019 Full Review Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Alex Behan Stuff.co.nz I found myself drawn into this story almost against my will, in part due a high-calibre cast... But mostly it's the timeless tale itself that wouldn't let me go. Sep 17, 2021 Full Review Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Tim Appelo AARP Movies for Grownups Dominic West, 50, is good as Victor Hugo's righteous fugitive, Jean Valjean, and British-American actor David Oyelowo is even better as his hunter, Javert. The six-part miniseries is way more faithful to the book than the musical was. Aug 14, 2020 Full Review Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Paula Vázquez Prieto La Nación (Argentina) The goal of the British Andrew Davies in adapting the Victor Hugo classic consists in affirming his visionary realism as a portrait of a cruel and unequal world, not too different from the contemporary one. [Full Review in Spanish] Dec 17, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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marcel d Breathtaking adaptation of one of the most important novels in history! It is a story about compassion, forgiveness, and suffering. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member I love the story from the novel and the musical as well. I don't mind to watch the non musical version of Les Mis because it should be truer to the novel. Yes this BBC version is truer to the novel, plot wise. Andrew Davies bashed the musical and guess what? This adaptation didn't really do the character justice. Valjean in my opinion, having read the book, is too aggressive in this adaptation. This is the story of redemption (one of the themes) what's the point of making him so aggressive even after the Petit Gervais event. Two, why the heck did Marius have a wet dream about Eponine. Three, in the novel Valjean and Cosette have a loving father-daughter relationship, so far as Cosette wants to make Valjean happy and vice versa. Why did Cosette become such a rebel and very rude at one point in this adaptation? To be honest the 2012 musical did the character, especially Cosette and Valjean, so much more justice than BBC, even though they changed some of the plots. Characters' personality is also important imo because they are a part of the story (moreover if they are the main characters) and BBC failed to do that. I like Fantine's part though, they did that very well. Lily Collins showed the naïve and shy personality of Fantine (and her descent into the low points of her life) very well . That's the only thing that I really like Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Awful bastardisation of Hugo's story. Everyone involved should be ashamed. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm white, and not particularly "tuned in" to what exactly is racist and what's not. Generally I don't care care about actor's colour. But I couldn't help but notice that almost all BAME actors are casted as devious and promiscuous while the socially maligned heroes are white and in the case of the heroine blonde and blue eyed. Apparently this is not the case in the source. Yes, I know, BAME actors participate in productions such as these and Hamilton willingly, but I suppose you take what you can get and I still wanted to point it out. I'm surprised none of the reviews on this page make mention of it.Other complaints: The accents. I took to calling it "Chavvy Mis".The performances. Lily Collins and Josh O'Connor could cry on queue but gave no clear personality to their roles. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Sublime la mejor versión de esta obra. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I've avoided this story for years, having read lots of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy in college and decided I wanted to get out of tragic novels for awhile, I never read the book and never watched another musical or movie until this PBS one. I was glad to know it had a "happy" ending even. though it seemed a bit trite in the whole sin/redemption theme. The acting was great and the story line was entertaining, but I'm pretty sure it didn't do justice to a great piece of literature which I've never read. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Les Misérables — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

Dominic West Jean Valjean David Oyelowo Javert Lily Collins Fantine David Bradley Gillenormand Adeel Akhtar Thenardier Enzo Cilenti Rivette
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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Dec 30, 2018 Episode 1 In war-torn France, ex-convict Jean Valjean and seamstress Fantine must decide their futures. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 6, 2019 Episode 2 Desperately poor, Fantine leaves Paris to find work and must make a heartbreaking decision to give her daughter Cosette a better way of life; Jean Valjean forges a new identity and Javert is determined to catch him out. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 13, 2019 Episode 3 After revealing his true identity, Jean Valjean breaks free from the guards to find Fantine in the infirmary, and makes a vow to find her daughter Cosette before he is imprisoned again. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 20, 2019 Jean Valjean and Cosette leave the convent to start a new life in Paris, although Jean worries it could be dangerous; the Thénardiers plot their revenge; Jean worries when Cosette meets idealistic student Marius. Details Episode 5 Aired Jan 27, 2019 Paris is on the brink of revolt as unrest spreads through the streets and taverns, among students and the working-class; Javert redoubles his efforts to find Jean Valjean. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 3, 2019 The revolutionaries and the army prepare for the next assault, and the fighting becomes more bloody and desperate; Jean Valjean arrives at the barricade to find Marius, conflicted over his feelings about the man who promises to take Cosette from him. Details

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Les Misérables — Season 1

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Director
Tom Shankland

Executive Producer
Faith Penhale, Bethan Jones, Andrew Davies, David Oyelowo, Dominic West, Rebecca Eaton, Eurydice Gysel

Screenwriter
Andrew Davies, Victor Hugo

Network
BBC

Rating
TV-14 (L|V)

Genre
History, Drama

Original Language
British English

Release Date
Dec 30, 2018
Les Misérables: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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