Watch Masterpiece Classic: Wuthering Heights

Masterpiece Classic: Wuthering Heights is a beautifully crafted six-part miniseries based on Emily Bronte's classic novel of the same name. Directed by Coky Giedroyc, the show is a visual and emotional feast that skillfully depicts the tormented love story between Heathcliff and Catherine, two passionate souls caught in a web of jealousy, revenge, and desire. Released in 2009, the show features an all-star cast that includes Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Tom Payne, Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Lancashire, Burn Gorman, Rosalind Halstead, Rebecca Night, Des McAleer, Kevin McNally, Shaughan Seymour, Sia Berkeley, James Harper, and Barnaby Kay.

At the heart of the story is Heathcliff, a mysterious and brooding orphan who is taken in by the wealthy Earnshaw family and grows up with their daughter Catherine. As they explore the wild moors around their isolated estate, Heathcliff and Catherine form a bond that is both intense and unsettling. They share a language of their own, a kind of raw and passionate poetry that sets them apart from the civilized world beyond. When Catherine's father dies and she marries a well-bred gentleman, however, their love is put to the test. Heathcliff becomes consumed by his thirst for revenge, and Catherine is torn between her duty to her husband and her undying love for Heathcliff.

The show captures the gothic atmosphere of the novel with eerie landscapes, misty rain, and haunting music. The production design is impeccable, with beautiful costumes, intricate props, and detailed sets that bring the 19th century world to life. The cinematography, by Adam Suschitzky, is particularly outstanding, creating a dream-like quality that enhances the emotional intensity of the story. The camera seems to caress every detail of the actors' faces, capturing the emotions behind their eyes with startling clarity.

The performances are superb across the board, with Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley delivering particularly powerful performances as Heathcliff and Catherine. Hardy, who would later become a Hollywood superstar, is simply breathtaking as the tortured anti-hero. He brings a complex mix of vulnerability, anger, and despair to the character, making him both sympathetic and terrifying. Riley, too, is outstanding as Catherine, capturing the character's mercurial nature with admirable grace. She is fiery and headstrong one moment, tender and vulnerable the next, and always utterly compelling.

The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Andrew Lincoln as the gentle but weak Edgar Linton, Sarah Lancashire as the stoic housekeeper Nelly Dean, and Burn Gorman as the sadistic Hindley Earnshaw. Each actor brings depth and nuance to their roles, creating a rich and varied tapestry of characters that are both fascinating and repulsive.

One of the strongest aspects of the show is its fidelity to the novel. While some adaptations of Wuthering Heights have taken liberties with the original text, Masterpiece Classic: Wuthering Heights stays true to Emily Bronte's vision. The dialogue is lifted straight from the book, and the story unfolds in a faithful and respectful manner that will satisfy even the most ardent Bronte fans.

At the same time, the show offers a fresh and contemporary take on the story, with a sensibility that is both sympathetic and critical of its characters. While Heathcliff and Catherine's love is undeniably powerful, the show does not shy away from the darker aspects of their relationship. It portrays their passion as a kind of addiction, a destructive force that blinds them to the realities of the world around them. At times, the show feels almost like a cautionary tale about the dangers of desire and obsession.

Overall, Masterpiece Classic: Wuthering Heights is an outstanding adaptation of a literary classic. Its stunning visuals, masterful performances, and faithful retelling of the story make it a must-see for fans of period dramas, literary adaptations, and romantic tragedies alike. Although it can be bleak and intense at times, it is ultimately a deeply moving and unforgettable work of art.

Masterpiece Classic: Wuthering Heights is a series that ran for 1 seasons (2 episodes) between January 18, 2009 and on PBS