Miniseries · SAT.1
World Without End
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Oliver Maltman
Bishop Richard
8 eps
David Bradley
Brother Joseph
8 eps
Ben Chaplin
Sir Thomas Langley
8 eps
Charlotte Riley
Caris
8 eps
Cynthia Nixon
Petranilla
8 eps
Carlo Rota
Edmund
8 eps
Rupert Evans
Godwyn
8 eps
Nora Waldstätten
Gwenda
8 eps
Miranda Richardson
Mother Cecilia
8 eps
Kostja Ullmann
Holger
8 eps
André Hennicke
Joby
8 eps
Hannes Jaenicke
Roger Mortimer
8 eps
Diana Kent
Rose
8 eps
Hera Hilmar
Margery
8 eps
Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Ralph
8 eps
Tom Weston-Jones
Merthin
8 eps
Tom Cullen
Wulfric
8 eps
Blake Ritson
Edward III
8 eps
Sally Bankes
Madge Webber
8 eps
Neil Bell
Sim Chapman
8 eps
Alexandra Gallusz
Merchant
8 eps
Aure Atika
Queen Isabella
8 eps
Tatiana Maslany
Sister Meir
8 eps
Peter Firth
Earl Roland
8 eps
Sarah Gadon
Philippa
8 eps
Jason Langley
Matthias
8 eps
Richard Durden
Sir Henry
8 eps
Ian Pirie
Elfric
8 eps
Sarah Beck Mather
Anett
8 eps
Caroline Boulton
Sister Elisabeth
8 eps
Iván Fenyő
Alan Fernhill
8 eps
Jude Wright
Sam (Child)
8 eps
Megan Follows
Maud
8 eps
John Owens
Blind Carlus
8 eps
Attila Árpa
General Lecoursy
8 eps
Daniel Ainsleigh
William
8 eps
Duncan Bell
Saul Whitehead
8 eps
Romy Caton-Jones
Young Joan
8 eps
Oliver Doherty
David
8 eps
Alex Palmer
Nate Reeve
8 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How World Without End actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
World Without End reads strongest on Character Depth, Serialized and Bingeability.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
Two hundred years after the construction of the great cathedral, the medieval town of Kingsbridge is taken under siege by Queen Isabella. Caris, a visionary young woman, inspires her people to stand up for their rights and revolt against to the most powerful forces of her time, the Church and the Crown.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E02
King
Kingsbridge is busy with its Fleece Fair, but the town's creaking, rickety bridge may fail any day. After being forced into a loveless marriage, Caris continues to see Merthin and tries to win him the opportunity to rebuild the town's bridge. A witch trial results in spectacular tragedy.
S01E08
Checkmate
Caris and Merthin are reunited in love, but it may be too late. Godwyn will stop at nothing to destroy Caris and see her burned as a witch. The King’s Army arrives to quell the peasant rebellion and destroy Kingsbridge. Brother Thomas reveals a great secret.
S01E01
Knight
Queen Isabella defeats and imprisons her husband King Edward II, crowning their young son Edward III. In the town of Kingsbridge, made famous in PILLARS OF THE EARTH, rumors are rampant that the imprisoned King has been murdered. A knight filled with secrets arrives in Kingsbridge seeking sanctuary. He will change the fate of all its citizens.
S01E06
Rook
The Black Death makes it way to England. Kingsbridge is ravaged by the plague and the town descends into chaos.
S01E03
Prior
After the bridge collapse, Caris helps the wounded and hopes to open a hospital. Godwyn schemes to become Prior following the suspicious drowning of Prior Anthony. King Edward III declares war on France, and the Hundred Years' War begins.
S01E04
Check
Petranilla will stop at nothing to see Godwyn’s power rise continue. When Caris tries to foil Godwyn’s plans, she is framed for murder and faces execution.
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S00E05
World Without End: Going Medieval
S01E08
Checkmate
S01E07
Queen
S00E04
Journey into the Dark Ages: The Great Women of the Middle Ages
S00E03
Journey into the Dark Ages: The Black Death
S00E02
World Without End: Bringing the Dark Ages to Life
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Howard EllisProducer
- Tony ScottProducer
- Ridley ScottProducer
Writing
- John PielmeierWriter
Direction
- Michael Caton-JonesDirector
Cinematography
- Denis CrossanDirector of Photography
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
Checking regional listings…
If you liked this
Similar Series
Series that share this one's texture, not just its genre tags.
The Pillars of the Earth
2010
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Emma
2009
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
And Then There Were None
2015
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Towards Zero
2025
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
The Death of Bunny Munro
2025
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
2015
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Pride and Prejudice
1995
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
The White Queen
2013
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Mildred Pierce
2011
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Olive Kitteridge
2014
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Bag of Bones
2011
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Poldark
2015
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Where to go from here
Watch Next
Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
Lucky
2026
Another morally complex epic for anyone who wanted more grey.
The Vampire Diaries
2009
Another invented world built with the same seriousness — start at episode one.
House of the Dragon
2022
If the world-building is what held you, this is the next map to walk.
Reacher
2022
Another morally complex epic for anyone who wanted more grey.
Perry Mason
1957
Watch this next if you like protagonists you can't quite defend.
Midsomer Murders
1997
A crime story told with the patience of a novel.
Never stop watching
Related Collections
No related collections yet
This title isn't in a published Nutevio collection yet. It will appear here automatically as soon as it is.
Join the conversation