Watch Saints and Strangers

Saints and Strangers is a two-part miniseries that tells the story of the Pilgrims and their journey to America. The miniseries was produced by National Geographic and aired on the National Geographic Channel in November of 2015. The story of the Pilgrims begins in 1619 in the English village of Scrooby. A group of Separatists, who had become disillusioned with the Church of England, led by William Bradford (played by Vincent Kartheiser), decided to leave England and seek religious freedom in America. They secured a charter from the Virginia Company and set sail on the Mayflower in 1620.

The journey across the Atlantic was long and arduous, with the Pilgrims facing many challenges, including bad weather, sickness, and the threat of attack from pirates. When they finally arrived in America, they landed in what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts.

The Pilgrims soon discovered that the land they had arrived on was not uninhabited. There were already Native American tribes living in the area, including the Wampanoag tribe led by Massasoit (played by Kalani Queypo).

The Pilgrims and the Wampanoags had an uneasy relationship at first, but eventually, they came to a mutually beneficial agreement known as the Treaty of Friendship. This agreement allowed the Pilgrims to establish a settlement at Plymouth, where they built homes, grew crops, and raised families.

Saints and Strangers tells the story of the Pilgrims and their interactions with the Wampanoags in a historically accurate and sensitive manner. The miniseries does not shy away from the harsh realities of life in the 17th century, including disease, hunger, and violence.

The acting in Saints and Strangers is superb, with standout performances from Vincent Kartheiser as William Bradford, Anna Camp as Bradford's wife, and Kalani Queypo as Massasoit. The production values are also top-notch, with detailed sets and lush cinematography.

One of the strengths of Saints and Strangers is its portrayal of the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags. The miniseries makes it clear that both groups had their own agendas, but were willing to work together when it was mutually beneficial.

The Wampanoags are not portrayed as savage or bloodthirsty, as they often are in other depictions of Native Americans in popular culture. Instead, they are shown as complex individuals with their own desires, fears, and motivations.

Overall, Saints and Strangers is a thoughtful and engaging exploration of one of the most important events in American history. It presents a nuanced view of the Pilgrims and their interactions with the Native Americans, and is well worth watching for anyone interested in early American history.

Saints and Strangers is a documentary with a runtime of 58 minutes.