The early 20th century was a defining era in history, a time of unprecedented change, when old certainties were being torn down. The golden pre-war years would be shattered by a destructive war and countless lives would be changed forever.
Spanning the glittering, shallow world of London high society, the trench-scarred battlefields of France, and the breathtaking English countryside, the sweeping five-part HBO Miniseries presentation Parade’s End debuts Tuesday,Feb. 26 (9:00-11:05 p.m. ET/PT), Wednesday, Feb. 27 (9:00-11:05 p.m.) and Thursday, Feb. 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.).
Set against this backdrop of impending catastrophe is the story of English aristocrat Christopher Tietjens, trapped in a marriage to an unfaithful wife, and caught between his commitment to the values of Toryism and his unspoken love for a fearless young suffragette. Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock,” “War Horse”), Rebecca Hall (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” “The Town”) and Adelaide Clemens (“The Great Gatsby”) star in the production.
Married to Sylvia (Rebecca Hall), a callous socialite who has given birth to a child that may not be his, English aristocrat Christopher Tietjens (Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes entranced by Valentine Wannop (Adelaide Clemens), a fearless young woman who unexpectedly turns his world upside down. As warbreaks out across Europe, Christopher, compelled by an outmoded code of conduct, feels obligated to remain loyal to his wife as he leaves a heartbroken Valentine to fight in France.
Through Christopher’s experiences, Parade’s End captures the devastation of war and the end of Edwardian ideals, and bridges the gap between feudal England and the dawn of modernism.
