‘THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO’: PBS MASTERPIECE BRINGS NEW LIFE TO CLASSIC
Inspired by the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo gets new life in a lavish eight-part series.
The Count of Monte Cristo (2026) PBS TV Review
The future is bright and optimism is the attitude of young Edmond Dantès (Sam Claflin). He’s a sailor who impresses his superior with his ingenuity. Willing to put in the work and risk, it’s this that earns Edmond a promotion and better his circumstances. He is also about to marry the woman who holds his heart. Mercedes (Ana Girardot) has waited for Edmond, and it’s been easy given the love they share. Now this change in Edmond’s circumstances will allow them to finally begin their life.
Everything changes when Edmond is charged with a crime of treason, and his best friend (Harry Taurasi) participates in seeing him sent to the prison Castle de’If, a dark place where anyone who wants to be forgotten is sent.
Years pass, and without hope, Edmond languishes away, until one day finally he meets a fellow prisoner, a man who gives Edmond his first human interaction and sense of hope in many years.
‘THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO’: PBS MASTERPIECE BRINGS NEW LIFE TO CLASSIC. Review of the 2026 miniseries #TheCountofMonteCristo on #PBS. #SamClaflin Share on XThis is the first adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo I’ve seen since the 2002 feature with Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce. As that is the only one I’ve seen, it’s really unfair to tag it as my favorite, but I do love that movie, no matter any inaccuracies; what I love about it doesn’t change which is its sense of adventure and eventually, its message to find peace not vengeance. This is a production. Something to say about this 2026 series is there is likely to be more scope. This because it gives us eight parts versus just the two hours a feature has. Differences also shape this version of the story.
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The production quality is wonderful, as we always anticipate from anything we see airing under PBS banner, but judging this as an adaptation is again something I cannot do since I haven’t read the novel. It’s also not something I see myself reading because of its length. As a period drama production, this one is outstanding. It has a good cast which is to put a recognizable period drama star in the titular role and then surround him with some less recognizable, but equally talented, names. Veteran star Jeremy Irons also appears, and this isn’t the first Dumas adaptation he has lent his talent to!
This is only one episode in, but this series is set up as big and beautiful and bold. It’s a reimagining worth seeing for anyone who likes Dumas stories or just swashbuckling adventure that also brings a dash of romance to the game. So far, PBS’ The Count of Monte Cristo is definitely worth setting aside time for.
Photos: Masterpiece
Stream, at publication, The Count of Monte Cristo with the PBS app or find the show with the Masterpiece PBS Prime Video add on. Catch the broadcast debut of this show March 22 on PBS and see new episodes weekly Sunday nights throughout April!
Content: some of the prison scenes in this one get intense (someone languishes and gives up on life, refusing food only to be forced to eat). There are themes of betrayal and death. The series, depending on the episode is TV-PG or TV-14. Note; this is only based on the first three episodes.
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looks interesting
It is! So well produced. :)