Plot Synopsis

Adapted from the classic 19th century book by Victor Hugo, LES MISERABLES is a six-part series set in France at a time of civil unrest. The story opens in 1815 in war-torn France, which has been defeated at the battle of Waterloo. Convict Jean Valjean is nearing the end of his sentence in Toulon after serving 19 years for a petty crime and is released by the ambitious prison guard Javert. Convinced he will reoffend, Javert forms a deep personal hatred of Valjean. Haunted by his past, Valjean experiences a brutal life as an ex-convict, with prejudice at every turn. But an encounter with the wise bishop of Digne forces Valjean to consider his own morality and the life he wishes to lead. Little Marius Pontmercy is being raised as a royalist by his grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand. Marius' father, Baron Pontmercy, a colonel in Napeleon's army, is accidentally saved from death at Waterloo by a passing looter, Thenardier. Returning from Waterloo, Pontmercy confronts Gillenormand over his parental rights to Marius - but with tragic consequences. Meanwhile, in Paris, beautiful young seamstress Fantine meets the charming Felix whilst out dancing with friends. But will her naivety be her undoing? PBS aired the U.S. premiere of this series on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 9pm (check local listings).
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On Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 9-10:30pm (check local listings), PBS premiered the finale of LES MISERABLES. Marius mans the barricades, where a hostile Valjean intercepts him. They end up fleeing together through the sewers of Paris. Cosette's story reaches its conclusion. So does Javert's.