BBC One's new historical drama King & Conqueror brings the Battle of Hastings to television screens this week. The series stars James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy, depicting their relationship leading up to their 1066 clash that changed British history forever.
The drama follows the aftermath of years of civil war as three rival English nations unite under Edward the Confessor (Eddie Marsan). Harold bonds with Norman noble William across the Channel, despite both men being destined for the battlefield at Hastings. Supporting cast includes Juliet Stevenson as the venomous Lady Emma and Emily Beecham as Harold's wife Edith.
Performance struggles with characterisation
Norton and Coster-Waldau embrace their roles as two self-serious men driving their kingdoms towards modernity. However, their characters Harold and William emerge as rather bland vessels, bobbing along on the tide of internal politics. The most distinct figures to emerge are the brow-beaten Edward and Lady Emma, who serves as puppet master controlling the Confessor.
The drama faces significant challenges with historical gaps in the source material. Anglo-Saxon Britain before the Norman conquest remains a slippery backdrop, with players largely unknown save for fleeting appearances in the famous Bayeux Tapestry. The show presents medieval Europe primarily through tense conversations on roads between towns we rarely see.
Production values under scrutiny
The series suffers from severe lighting issues that make it almost unwatchably dark. High contrast and crushed black colour grading may cover shortcomings in production design, but viewers watching on TVs, laptops and mobile phones will find much of the action dissolving into blackness. This continues a problematic trend seen in recent BBC period dramas including Great Expectations and Jamaica Inn.
The show takes significant historical liberties despite aiming for verisimilitude. Critics suggest the treacheries, violence and dialogue feel "more George RR Martin than William of Poitiers". The commitment to ahistorical detail while struggling with basic production values makes King & Conqueror a frustrating viewing experience.
Sources used: "Independent", "The i", "Manchester Evening" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
