King and Conquorer - from 24 August BBC and iPlayer

[IwantToRetire]

I had heard about this and sort of didn't listen as I thought it was Netflix.

But it isn't. Its the BBC!

"A clash that defined a country, and a continent, for a thousand years. The epic story of 1066 and the brutal battle for a kingdom. Starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024pyz

Supposedly based on verified historical facts.

I am imagining a mash up of Game of Throne and Vikings.

(Haven't seen another thread but am nominating this as a binge watch thread, rather than tv pace. If available on iPlayer.)

Hmmm. I’m definitely underwhelmed by the first episode but will give it another go next time. It all looks very authentic (as far as I know) and it’s a strong cast but I agree that it’s very confusing to follow who’s who and who’s in league with which side etc. James Norton feels a bit too prissy and posh to be playing a Saxon warrior.

I was looking forward to this but found it disappointing and quite confusing.

Very disappointed - hammy and cliched. Lots of good actors let down by an exposition a minute script. The director did Game of Thrones and my DD just commented that it was like a low budget GoT without any dragons. Fighting in forests is a way to disguise the lack of extras ……

Worth reading Prof Hicks review of it on BlueSky - safe to say she wasn’t impressed.

(Will continue to watch it though!)

Do you have a link please

https://bsky.app/profile/lvhicks.bsky.social/post/3lx6cdhsjjk2e

here you go.

Watched slightly behind. Quite enjoyed it. A bit dark and mumbly. Need to swot up on my pre 1066 history. Didn’t really know who was who.

I see even before it has being shown the historians aren't happy!

No surprise there!

I too liked the horses. Short and chunky. Makes sense if they are Icelandic.

James Norton sounded short tongued in his first few scenes.

Emma of Normandy was quite a woman and is worth googling if you don’t know much about her.

I’ll stick with it but found it dark and violent.

But unlike Game of Thrones, we already know the outcome for the two main protagonists, so that takes away a lot of the tension. It's not like we can believe that William is in any real danger right now.

Why has Harold's sister Edith been renamed Gunhild? And why have they made a big deal out of her not be crowned alongside Edward when it's well documented that she was crowned Queen?
I don't mind when historical dramas add motives and conversations that we can't possibly know about, but to change actual historical facts really annoys me.
I'm also informed by nerdy weapons expert son that the leather jackets used as armour are anachronistic, he's been shouting at the screen asking wtf are the costume designers doing. We also think that they all might have freshened up a bit to attend the event of the year, Edward's coronation. So that is all putting me off.
On the other hand, the casting and portrayal of Edward adds another dimension to the historical facts, it may or may not be accurate but it is thought provoking. Not at all what I was expecting or imagined. And Harriet Walters as Emma is fab!

Why has Harold's sister Edith been renamed Gunhild?

I thought Edith was there as well.

And Harriet Walters as Emma is fab!

Juliet Stevenson, isn't it?

Anyway, meant to add, BBC4 went all Norman straight after (all repeats,) talking of the Saxon lack of horses gave me a flashback to Sallust's Catalina (A-level set text I thought I had forgotten,) where he sends all his horses away to be on equal terms with his men. If your enemy have horses and you don't, it's not likely to ho well for you in battle.

It's Juliet Stevenson. We also commented on the horses. Four episodes in and really enjoying it. DS is pointing out inaccuracies as we watch (historian) but according to him it is much more accurate than other programmes of that ilk. They all have glorious teeth.

They didn't have much sugar, so while they'd possibly be crooked (no braces) or simply knocked out in the endless fighting thry all seem to have on the programme, they wouldn't necessarily be rotten.

Dreadful, anachronistic script. I didn't expect them to be speaking old english but there were some real howlers. And Godwin of Wessex as a cockney geezer?

It was filmed in Iceland, and it shows. Distinct lack of the broad-leaf woodland and grassy slopes that you'd expect in Wessex and Normandy.

I'm quite disappointed, despite the terrific cast.

Shiny white and perfectly straight?

I know the history of it,but goodness it was confusing. And the anachronisms! It even starts with one. Any time today?!

Whatever about there being a lot of anachronisms, the writing would be terrible even if it was set in modern day. Why on earth would you choose someone to write it whos credits are Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes and Pompei which I remember had terrible reviews.

If you're going to throw historical fact out the window, then at least make something more interesting rather than less.

spoilers!

Harold’s sister was born Gytha. Like her mother
But named Edith of Wessex when she got that title.
I didn't hear her being called Gunhild

Lots of mumsnetters are using the term ‘hammy’.
How is it hammy I didn’t see that

The only irritating part I’m finding is the different accents. Harold’s family are a bit northern and a posh southern. We’ve got Williams English and a French relative. It’s like little fingers out of place Irish accent ., it’s irritating

Apart from that I’m enjoying it and went straight on iplayer for the second episode … I won’t give any of it away

I would also say the fort architecture looks so wrong too and some of the buildings roofs aren’t the right material but I’m guessing that won’t irritate most 😆

i enjoyed it, i did find it confusing but hopefully after a few episodes will understand a bit more

Don’t worry- it’s likely this was just a flight of fancy by the person who wove the tapestry later on. There is no actual evidence he was ever shot in the eye.
It’s far more likely he was just hacked to bits or shot in some other place and then bled out.

(God I’m glad I don’t live in the 11th century)

Agree about the script: I hate historical drama (and novels) that are all “Prithee good sir” but this did go a bit too much the other way. I quite liked Godwin as a thug though as I think the general qualification for being a Saxon noble is a willingness to be more stabby than the rest in order to advance yourself and your family so a Cockney villain would probably have done quite well.

Also not sure whether the banging on about Europe was accurate. I don’t know how much it was really regarded as a geopolitical bloc at that point in time?

Still loving the horses (ponies, I suppose) although all the modern actors are presumably a lot taller than men were a thousand years ago so their feet are practically dragging along the ground 🤣

Disappointed, the sound quality is awful, lots of mumbling, it's not as slick as I expected, and sorry but not impressed by James Norton so far.
Will watch episode 2 to decide whether to continue or give up.