Variety has given an excellent review of Pillars of the Earth. Here is a choice excerpt:
"...Starz's acquisition of "The Pillars of the Earth" -- an eight-hour adaptation of Ken Follett's massive novel -- is another shrewd programming move, overflowing with prestigious British talent and a lusty story tailored to the pay-TV palate. Dealing with the building of a cathedral against a backdrop of royal succession in 12th-century England, "Pillars" doles out bloody battles, melodrama, illicit sex, rape, incest and revenge -- in short, everything people expect from their premium channels, all in one six-installment package."