The year 1066 is etched deeply into the English imagination. Hastings, Harold, and William the Conqueror are familiar names, tied to a story of ambition, betrayal, and the seismic shift that followed the Norman Conquest. Recently, the television series King & Conqueror has attempted to dramatise this defining moment. But how well does it succeed? Is it faithful to the facts of history, or does it distort them for spectacle? And what does the real story of 1066 actually look like when stripped of its modern embellishments?

King & Conqueror is a series with sweeping ambition. It presents itself as a gritty, dramatic, and character-driven retelling of the rivalry between Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, and William of Normandy, the duke who would cross the Channel and claim the throne. The show foregrounds personal drama: Harold’s conflicted loyalties, William’s ruthless ambition, and the political intrigue surrounding the throne of Edward the Confessor. Cinematically, it leans into stark visuals—mud, blood, and candlelit chambers—stylistically reminiscent of Game of Thrones or The Last Kingdom. The music and costuming further attempt to immerse the audience in a dark, quasi-medieval atmosphere that prioritises mood over meticulous accuracy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.