King and Conqueror

Oh dear, we watched the first episode! 🙄

Why do BBC programme makers meddle with what was an interesting period of history?
It was turbulent and exciting enough without changing it, changing dates to make it historically inaccurate and irritating.

I gave up after ten minutes. It was so dark I thought there might be an issue with my screen. It was impossible to discern which faction was Norman and which the English.
I agree that '1066 And All That' is the best antidote to this mangled version of history. My dad gave it to me in my early teens and even my History teacher recommended it to the 6th form. It's time to introduce it to the next generation!

Unless I am completely bemused, the first episode includes the coronation of Edward the Confessor (although the actor looks nothing like any pictures of him) which was in 1043.

At that time, William (later Conqueror) would have been about 16; the actor playing him is 55! Although he doesn't look that old. 😀
Harold Godwinson was about 21. James Norton is 40.

Choosing a fifty something for the part of William means this William will be about 78 by the time of the Battle of Hastings.

Is it the BBC or am I right to be confused?

After 20 minutes of this gloomy fare I told DH 'this one's for you'. Went to bed and left him to it. Not my favourite period of history

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who plays William, said,

"I didn't know anything about this history, and once I started doing my research and reading about it, I was really surprised by how different Europe looked back then and how the influence of the Normans, the Vikings, how great that was at that time."

Research according to BBC records or proper historical research

Having just watched War And Peace again in which James Norton was superb I was looking forward to this but I am finding it hard going, perhaps because my history of that era is rather shaky. Perhaps it will improve in the third episode when I have sorted out the characters and how they relate to each other and history.

I live in “1066 Country” so I’ve been watching with interest. It’s probably historically accurate but the little horses they all ride on make me giggle and remind me of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I watched a bit more last night. I really want to like it; I’m trying to like it but, thus far, everything about it is just rubbish.

It isn’t historically accurate. There isn’t the slightest historical basis for some of the things that happen, and we do have records of the time. In docudrama, you have to bend the truth in order to hold the audience, but some of it was ridiculous and the BBC want their backsides kicking.

I was ok with the ponies at first because, back then the horses were smaller but now I agree that they look like something out of Monty Python! What's with Harolds wife getting herself captured? What's all that about?

At my advanced age, I refuse to watch anything that doesn’t grip my interest. New dramas etc get 10 - 15 minutes to prove their worth. If they don’t, it’s goodbye. I don’t care how many of actors I like are in it, if it’s no good (only my opinion, of course), out it goes!
Life is literally too short!
Mind you, if Sidney Poitier had been in it, wild horses wouldn’t have dragged me away!

Mind you, if Sidney Poitier had been in it, wild horses wouldn’t have dragged me away!
Not even a sweet little Icelandic pony? 🐎

MayBee70

I was ok with the ponies at first because, back then the horses were smaller but now I agree that they look like something out of Monty Python! What's with Harolds wife getting herself captured? What's all that about?

Was that Edith the Fair? There were a few Ediths around at the time and I think the BBC changed some of their names to avoid confusion but in fact that caused more confusion!

Edith the Fair (Edith Swan-Neck) was Harold's common-law wife and they had several children. Supposedly she identified his body after the Battle of Hastings but seems to have disappeared from history afterwards.
Harold married another woman in 1066, a Church marriage, presumably for political purposes and allegiances. Confusingly she was another Edith (Ealdgyth, also known as Edith of Mercia) as was his sister who married Edward the Confessor. Harold's widow Edith of Mercia was taken away by her family for safety after Harold was killed.

I think that's right.

As a confirmed James Norton fan I suggested to the OH the other night that we might have a look at this.
He wasn't keen so I didn't push it.
Glad I didn't bother by the sound of it.
Like everyone here I like to make up my own mind so I might look in on one episode but let's say I won't be surprised if I don't get to the second episode.........

Allira

^Mind you, if Sidney Poitier had been in it, wild horses wouldn’t have dragged me away!^
Not even a sweet little Icelandic pony? 🐎

Yes, if SP came with it! I’m besotted!

Allira

MayBee70

I was ok with the ponies at first because, back then the horses were smaller but now I agree that they look like something out of Monty Python! What's with Harolds wife getting herself captured? What's all that about?

Was that Edith the Fair? There were a few Ediths around at the time and I think the BBC changed some of their names to avoid confusion but in fact that caused more confusion!

Edith the Fair (Edith Swan-Neck) was Harold's common-law wife and they had several children. Supposedly she identified his body after the Battle of Hastings but seems to have disappeared from history afterwards.
Harold married another woman in 1066, a Church marriage, presumably for political purposes and allegiances. Confusingly she was another Edith (Ealdgyth, also known as Edith of Mercia) as was his sister who married Edward the Confessor. Harold's widow Edith of Mercia was taken away by her family for safety after Harold was killed.

I think that's right.

Allira, you're on it! as far as who was who circa the 11th century, but...........have you established the connection as to how Danny Dyer's umpteen greats figured??? tongue placed firmly in my cheek he's a direct descendant from William the Conqueror , don't you know?

Crossstitchfan

Allira

Mind you, if Sidney Poitier had been in it, wild horses wouldn’t have dragged me away!
Not even a sweet little Icelandic pony? 🐎

Yes, if SP came with it! I’m besotted!

Yes, he was rather, wasn't he, but sadly, he wouldn't have been in this 😥

TerriBull

Allira

MayBee70

I was ok with the ponies at first because, back then the horses were smaller but now I agree that they look like something out of Monty Python! What's with Harolds wife getting herself captured? What's all that about?

Was that Edith the Fair? There were a few Ediths around at the time and I think the BBC changed some of their names to avoid confusion but in fact that caused more confusion!

Edith the Fair (Edith Swan-Neck) was Harold's common-law wife and they had several children. Supposedly she identified his body after the Battle of Hastings but seems to have disappeared from history afterwards.
Harold married another woman in 1066, a Church marriage, presumably for political purposes and allegiances. Confusingly she was another Edith (Ealdgyth, also known as Edith of Mercia) as was his sister who married Edward the Confessor. Harold's widow Edith of Mercia was taken away by her family for safety after Harold was killed.

I think that's right.

Allira, you're on it! as far as who was who circa the 11th century, but...........have you established the connection as to how Danny Dyer's umpteen greats figured??? tongue placed firmly in my cheek he's a direct descendant from William the Conqueror , don't you know?

Yes, I did know he was descended from royalty but didn't know about William the Conqueror. DD was in a film with him once! Not a lot of people know that 😀
He was fighting a lot in that one, must take after his Greatx100Grandfather!

Yes I'm sure the de Dyers (recently anglicised after their arrival in 1066, previously known as de Colorants) but a fighty lot they were for sure having the Duke himself at the helm of their branch of the family Not a lot of people know this but they are recorded in the Doomsday book having settled in Carre de Albert. .

😂😂😂

Most people in Western Europe could trace their ancestry through one link or another to Wills the Norman I believe!

Off thread I know, has anybody watched " Playing Nice" with James Norton?
New 4 episode on itv.

Bridie22

Off thread I know, has anybody watched " Playing Nice" with James Norton?
New 4 episode on itv.

I watched Playing Nice a while back. James Norton is much better in that, although the plot is also unbelievable.

Might have a watch then, it has to be better than King and Conqueror!

I thought the last couple of episodes were better ( although what were they thinking of with the Edward bath scene; trying to out do Game of Thrones perhaps but cringe worthy embarrassing). I feel sorry for the actor.I think the women actors came out of it the best. The more I read up on that period of history the more I wonder why they even attempted to dramatise it. The complete opposite of Vikings in which every time I thought something they did was implausible I’d find out that it did actually happen. They should have either stuck to the historical facts or gone full on Henry XIII. Annoyingly by the last episode I’d worked out how to use subtitles on my daughter’s tv but don’t think I can face rewatching it just to know what they were actually saying. What I did actually hear was pretty awful anyway. However, I ‘m still enjoying listening to all of the podcasts about it.

Who is Henry the thirteenth?