Episode 1

1815. War-torn France has been defeated at the battle of Waterloo. Convict Jean Valjean (Dominic West) 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 (David Oyelowo). Convinced he will reoffend, Javert forms a deep personal hatred of Valjean.