LES MISERABLES (2019): Episode 1
An excellent, Christian-themed drama best suited to teenagers and adults.
Should You Watch It?
This first episode of the six-part PBS drama is often excellent. It places injustice, kindness, innocence, deception, condemnation and redemption side by side, while bringing Victor Hugo’s Christian and biblical themes to the forefront.
The episode makes Jean Valjean’s suffering deeply empathetic and draws the viewer into Fantine’s innocence and heartbreak. It also asks you to consider how cruelty can condemn people society has already cast aside, and how kindness can open a path toward redemption.
The content is mature, especially for younger children. You can watch if your teenagers or older children are ready to discuss sexuality, injustice and redemption with discernment. For most families, this is best suited to teenagers and adults.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn post-Napoleonic France, unrest and sharp class divisions shape the lives of the rich and poor. Jean Valjean, newly released after nineteen years of hard labor, finds that his past follows him everywhere.
Fantine, a young woman drawn into a relationship with an aristocratic gentleman, faces the consequences of his abandonment. Their stories unfold amid a world of injustice, kindness, condemnation and the possibility of redemption.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this episode is excellent. The drama handles its central contrasts with unusual strength, placing injustice and kindness, innocence and deception, condemnation and redemption in clear tension.
Young Fantine’s innocence is emotionally compelling, while Jean Valjean’s treatment inspires deep empathy. The episode also does an excellent job of making Hugo’s intended Christian and biblical themes central rather than incidental. Its portrayal of redemption gives the story its greatest power.
The Worldview
The episode presents a very strong Christian and moral worldview. It includes a church service, a crucifix, a bishop evangelizing a man, references to God, and an emphasis on hospitality, kindness, love, peace and redemption.
The story also exposes injustice and disparity between the upper and lower classes. Jean Valjean is punished harshly for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister, then continues to face rejection because of his criminal past. Fantine’s abandonment reveals the damage caused by deception and exploitation. Against this darkness, the episode presents kindness as a powerful response and redemption as a genuine possibility.
Its central longing is for people condemned by their past to receive mercy and a new beginning. Scripture says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
<strong>
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
</strong> Very strong Christian, moral worldview with the depiction of a church service, the crucifix, and a bishop evangelizing a man, references to God, hospitality, kindness, love, and peace, and an emphasis on redemption; <strong>
Foul Language
</strong> No foul language; <strong>
Violence
</strong> Mild violence with a field of wounded and dead bodies depicted, plus a man is shot by a firing squad; <strong>
Sex
</strong> Mild sexuality with several instances of sexual innuendo, several unmarried couples kiss, and it’s implied that they are sexual partners, a couple is shown in bed together, and sex is implied, and a woman has a child out of wedlock; <strong>
Nudity
</strong> Man shown nude from behind, several men are shown shirtless, woman’s bare back is shown; <strong>
Alcohol Use
</strong> People shown drinking wine at a party and wine is served at several meals; <strong>
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
</strong> Man smokes a cigar; and, <strong>
Miscellaneous Immorality
</strong> Stealing, lying, some displays of anger.
Talk About It
Four questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
Jean Valjean is condemned because of his past, while a bishop responds with kindness. How should Christians treat people whose history makes others reject them?
Luke 6:36 · Ephesians 4:32Fantine is deceived and abandoned by someone who claimed to love her. What does biblical love require that deception and selfishness refuse to give?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Philippians 2:3–4The episode places injustice between social classes at the center of its story. How does Scripture call God’s people to respond to injustice and disparity?
Micah 6:8 · James 2:1–9The story emphasizes redemption. What does it mean to receive a new beginning from God rather than being defined by your past?
2 Corinthians 5:17 · Romans 8:1The Final Word
This is an excellent opening episode with strong Christian themes, emotional storytelling and a serious look at injustice and redemption. Its mature content calls for discernment with younger viewers. For teenagers and adults, the answer is WORTH WATCHING — TEENAGERS AND ADULTS.
