Sharing little with the medieval Old English epic except for the title, this British ITV series was apparently intended to attract the Game of Thrones crowd but failed miserably and was cancelled after its initial run. Beowulf (Kieran Bew) returns to his homeland after a long absence out wandering. He was brought up at the court of Hrothgar (William Hurt)—the Thane of the kingdom of Herot, and the Jarl (or Overlord) of the various human realms comprising the Shieldlands—after his father was killed by one of the CGI beasts inhabiting the land. Now Hrothgar is dead, and Beowulf is looked upon with distrust by the ruling family: Hrothgar's widow, Rheda (Joanne Whalley), who has taken the title of Jarl, and her son Slean (Edward Speleers), who sees Beowulf as a dangerous rival. But Rheda's dominion is also being challenged by other local warlords (including Rheda's own brother), and gradually Beowulf's ability as a warrior will become indispensable to her. Naturally, the plot also includes romance, with the lovely but troubled Elvina (Laura Donnelly), and those computer-generated creatures pose almost as grave a danger as Rheda's human foes and the traitors who lurk among her own retinue. The main problem with Beowulf is a tonal inconsistency, as it vacillates between juvenile adventure story and grim tale of political intrigue without ever finding a proper balance. Still, this will appeal to hardcore genre fans, making it a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands
PBS, 4 discs, 600 min., not rated, DVD: $49.99, Blu-ray: $59.99 March 6, 2017
Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands
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