For Sir Derek Jacobi, he grows on you and feels like Cadfael, not like some actors who you never get used to playing a character. They switch to a dark-haired Hugh Beringar to fit the description more, I guess, but I definitely thought Sean Pertwee was better. He had better presence even though he's shorter than the new Hugh. In fact, I really liked that about him, maybe because I'm short. Brother Mark shows up but certainly not as much as Brother Oswin. My little sis and I love Abbot Rudulfus because he strikes us as looking very Vulcan. :p I admit I am one of those silly people who wouldn't mind going to visit Shrewsbury Abbey.

I didn't realize you hadn't seen the TV series actually. Kind of cool to be able to read someone's fresh impressions of it. Watching Cadfael is fun. :)