The Winter King: ITV's chilly new Arthurian drama keeps us guessing
Looking for a fresh approach to bring King Arthur to a different group of people, ITV's realistic and bold version of the story takes an unexpected route - by avoiding showing their protagonist as much as they can.
Starting on December 21, The Winter King is a TV show that combines different adaptations that include elements of magic, battles, love triangles, and family conflicts. However, it has a unique style that allows it to surprise viewers and is the most similar to Game of Thrones that Camelot has ever been. It's important to note that this is not like the BBC’s Merlin.
Iain De Caestecker recently appeared in Agents of Shield, and now stars as a bloody Arthur who returns from battle to announce the shocking news of King Uther's son's death and their defeat. Surprisingly, Arthur is the illegitimate son this time around, but his great skills on the battlefield and heroic personality make him the best option to lead the Dumnonia kingdom. Sadly, Uther (played by the talented Eddie Marsan) refuses to acknowledge Arthur's worthiness and instead banishes him from his kingdom.
The beginning of the show looks hopeful as the main character, who may become king, saves a child's life and shows his bravery. However, he is absent from the show for most of the second episode. It's hard to make a judgement on his kingly qualities since only two episodes were given for review. Nevertheless, we'll try to evaluate it.
In this blog section, we will talk about Stuart Campbell, who plays the role of Derfel in a play, and Olumide Olorunfemi, who plays the role of Lunete.
The Winter King gains its reputation in a peculiar manner by not being present. The kingdom of Dumnonia faces a crisis due to the invasion of Saxons, Uther grows old, and eventually, he passes away. This leaves his infant son Mordrid, who the Gods predicted would cause destruction, as the new king. As a result, Arthur turns into a hero for his inactivity, similar to Luke Skywalker, where people talk about him, yearn for him, but he is nowhere to be found.
When Arthur isn't around, the story's attention turns to Derfel, a fair-haired character played by Stuart Campbell. He grows up in a society of outcasts called Avalon and learns from Merlin, played by Nathaniel Martello-White who looks unusually young for the role. Merlin's character serves as the common thread tying the many different storylines together. While in Avalon, Derfel becomes friends with Nimue, a spiritual character played by Ellie James who learns from Merlin too. Their developing relationship is easy to understand and adds a unique angle to the classic tale.
The Winter King, a television series inspired by Bernard Cornwell's The Warlord Chronicles, boasts of an extensive scope, much like the vast and beautiful landscapes of fifth century Britain. The show comprises of ten feature-length episodes, however, after watching just two episodes, it becomes quite distressing because of the growing number of characters. One might wonder how all these characters and their stories will interconnect.
In this blog post, we will be discussing Nathaniel Martell-White's portrayal of the famous wizard Merlin. Let's delve into this character that has been portrayed many times in popular culture. Nathaniel's interpretation of Merlin is quite unique and refreshing. He brings a sense of charisma and humor to the character that is not often seen in previous depictions. Nathaniel has been able to bring this classic character to life in a new and exciting way. He is able to connect with the audience and make them feel as if they are a part of the story. Overall, Nathaniel Martell-White's portrayal of Merlin is definitely worth watching. He has definitely brought something new and exciting to this classic character.
The section also experiences an unavoidable pressure. Like famous British icons James Bond or Robin Hood, which have also been extensively covered, the story has been told and retold numerous times. This results in us pondering over predictable elements as the episodes progress, such as the whereabouts of Guinevere or why Arthur hasn't discovered Excalibur yet. If Lancelot isn't introduced soon, what's even the purpose? Furthermore, if Arthur is comparable to Luke Skywalker, does that mean Derfel is similar to Rey?
Keep watching The Winter King even if the first episode is mostly peaceful and steady, setting up basic storyline elements without much excitement. However, in the second episode, the pace quickens as the enemy king, Gundleus (played by Simon Merrells), attacks and conquers Avalon. He convinces Uther to let him have control over Dumnonia. This is where the show really picks up and proves itself to be a mature and compelling drama.
The level of violence portrayed is not exaggerated or used gratuitously. However, it should be noted that this version of the story from The Sword in the Stone is not suitable for young viewers. In fact, there is a scene depicting a sexual assault and the murder of innocent children is depicted in a graphically brutal manner. The overall tone of the movie creates a sense of unpredictability and danger. Anything could happen at any moment in this world, making it a hazardous place to be.
Arthur's comeback in the second episode gives a sense of victory without being corny. This is a hopeful sign for the rest of the series, and we wish it the best of luck.
Starting December 21, you can watch The Winter King on ITV X.
