The Winter King review – behold! The medieval nonsense of your dreams approacheth!
It's already December and I can't help but wonder why I haven't seen any medieval-inspired festivities yet. I long for the magical and adventurous vibe that reminds me of Christmas more than the usual holiday traditions. Reindeers, celebrities in Santa hats, and even old TV shows don't give me the same kind of joy.
So far, no one has arrived. To cope with my sadness, I have been drinking a lot of wassail. But wait, what is that sound in the distance? Could it be the galloping hooves of the Equity horses on their way through a snowy forest? Have the costumes from Game of Thrones been taken out of storage and placed on smaller sets? Is that the sound of wig and beard preparation, which indicates the fake medieval world I've always dreamed of? I can even hear the actors' boots on the cold floors of the castle as they speak with their agents about the next White Lotus series, set to be filmed in Seychelles. Indeed, I believe I can hear all of these things happening!
The Winter King has arrived! This TV show is based on Bernard Cornwell's book with the same title, but it doesn't follow it very closely. If you're a big fan of the original Warlord Chronicles, you might want to skip watching it and read the book again instead. However, if you're not too fussed about staying true to the original story, you can relax and enjoy 10 hours of intense battles, fancy clothing, pagan rituals, wild animals, evil villains and really bad hairstyles! It feels like I'm living in the good old days, and I'm overflowing with happiness.
Let's get down to business! In this story, Uther Pendragon's son and successor, who rules over the kingdom of Dumnonia, is unfortunately killed by the Saxons. Uther unfairly places the blame on his own illegitimate son, Arthur. He even threatens to harm him with a sword until Merlin intervenes and suggests banishment instead. Arthur is battered but determined as he sets off to Gaul, saving a Saxon slave named Derfel along the way. Derfel is left to be cared for by Merlin and Nimue at Avalon while Arthur deals with being banished. It's worth noting that the Silurian death pit has nothing to do with Doctor Who or any other crossover; Siluria was actually a group of three kingdoms in south-east Wales that were inhabited by a Celtic tribe called the Silures, originally from Spain. Sorry for getting off topic!
Fast forward eight years later. Derfel has now grown up, but unfortunately, he's sporting the most terrible wig in all of history. It's a pity because he is enamored with Nimue, who has beautifully luscious locks. I don't see how they can make it work, especially since Merlin informed Nimue that her spiritual gifts will only flourish if she devotes herself to them rather than to a husband and children. She looks distraught, but I advise her to take a gander at Derfel's hair once more. Everything will be alright, sweetie. If not, just listen to him talk. I'm unsure if Campbell intended to pay homage to the garbled language of the Celtic Britons, or if they should have hired a voice coach rather than spend the wig budget. Derfel seems to hail from the Welsh Lanarkshire border near Cornwall.
At the conclusion of the initial episode, a son is introduced to Uther and Queen Norwena, leading to a foreboding vision in Merlin. Additionally, Uther forms a new agreement with Gundleus, the Silurian leader who killed Derfel's mother. The episode includes plenty of chaos, and the acting is generally satisfactory, although there are some questionable creative decisions made by the director. For instance, random blurring occurs during certain scenes, while pointless closeups drag on unnecessarily. There are also many unusual camera angles utilized throughout. Despite its oddities, the episode serves as a reminder of the importance of competent directing in the entertainment industry. As the holiday season approaches, it is worthwhile to appreciate those directors who fly under the radar and consistently deliver high-quality entertainment.
Finally, Merlin reaches a point where he cannot bear his overwhelming sense of impending disaster any longer. He decides to travel to Gaul to fetch Arthur. When Arthur arrives, there is much jubilation, at least within the household. Over the past eight years, Arthur has cleaned himself up, gotten a fantastic haircut, and now appears ready to take on any adversary with one swift strike.
What can you expect from the rest of the episodes? It's pretty much more of the same! Expect more sex, violence, revenge, family drama, decent acting, and once again, disregard for historical accuracy. But who's bothered about that, right? So, sit back, relax with a cup of mead and cozy up with a warm blanket, and enjoy the show for what it is.
The show, The Winter King, is currently available on ITVX for viewers residing in the UK and can be streamed on the popular platform Stan for the Australian audience.
