I've liked this series since I first saw it back in 1990. The use of an international cast is startling, and gives a mythic atmosphere to the story. Like Star Wars, the Mahabharata happens long ago and far away. There is a great deal of action--especially in the last half-- and the acting is as kinetic as it is stylized. The faults of the characters, both heroes and villains (and these designations can be foggy) are what drive the story, and excessive virtue can be as evil as excessive vice. How does one tell one of the largest stories in history in less than ten hours? With subtext and acting. Instead of trying to transcend the rituals of the stage, this story revels in them. A single actor telling us what he sees, and a single scarf or a simple backdrop, shows us things that would look cheap even with the most advanced CGI. This one is definitely worth a look.
Review of Peter Brook's the Mahabharata
