The world of
The Luminaries is rich with possibilities. Set in the mid-1800s during New Zealand’s gold rush, the series ventures into historical drama, romance, murder mystery, and mystical science fiction. The challenge lies in fusing these genres into a cohesive story, and
The Luminaries, despite some strong performances and absolutely stunning cinematography, doesn’t quite pull it off. The series is based on Eleanor Catton’s award-winning 2013 novel of the same name; the author also wrote the series, but as she veers from certain elements of her book, the ideas don’t translate into a rewarding television adaptation. There are enough seeds planted for all the genres the show explores, but none of these ideas get the attention they need to flourish.
Eleanor Catton adapts 'The Luminaries,' her Man Booker Prize-winning novel about love, murder and gold-digging in 19th-century New Zealand, as a six-part Starz miniseries.
The Luminaries.
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The Luminaries will premiere Feb. 14 at 9:30 p.m. EST following the
Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham premiere. The series originally aired on TVNZ 1 and BBC One.
In the trailer, Eva Green plays Lydia Wells, a fortune-teller who clashes with Anna Wetherell (Eve Hewson), a woman who travels to New Zealand in search of gold. Anna ends up accused of killing Lydia s husband, Crosbie Wells (Ewen Leslie).
Himesh Patel co-stars as Emery Staines, a fortune-seeker who befriends and develops a romance with Anna.
The Luminaries tells an epic story of love, murder and revenge, as men and women traveled across the world to make their fortunes, Starz said in a press release. It is a 19th century tale of adventure and mystery, set on the Wild West Coast of New Zealand s South Island in the boom years of the 1860s gold rush.