While there are no epic battle scenes, or even any sequences with dozens of soldiers, "The Fall of Eagles" remains on the best costume dramas ever produced by the BBC.
In many ways this mini-series, which highlights the collapse of three great European dynasties - the Romanovs, the Habsburgs and the Hohenzollerns - can be seen as a companion piece to "Nicholas & Alexandria."
It begins with the ominously titled episode "Death Waltz" in Vienna, 1848. Europe has just faced numerous rebellions, uprisings and revolutions... and Franz Josef hosts a waltz with the royalty of Austria. Over the course of 13 episodes the leaders of the royal families are introduced and the final 50 years of these great dynasties is shown.
The scenes with Prussia are certainly impressive, and contrast those with Austria perfectly. Where the Princess Sofie arrives in Austria and is dominated by her husband and more so, his mother, she gradually becomes the iron Empress of Austria, while Princess Victoria of England marries Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia and attempts to modernize and liberalize Prussia. Of course the result is that their son Wilhelm is fully unprepared to take the reigns of leadership when the time comes.
The backwardness of these rulers is shown time and time. These most powerful men in Europe are almost completely out of touch, behind the times and of course utterly self-absorbed. The mini-series heads towards the climatic collision course, and throughout you can see where things could easily have turned out differently.
Numerous characters enter and leave throughout the series including Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and even Lenin (played by Patrick Stewart). The performances are brilliant, the sets marvelous and the costumes and uniforms simply fantastic. A true five star mini-series for history buffs.