The winter King - Bernard Cornwell trilogy on Arthur

[lemmingjames]

A heads up for those that have read and liked Bernard Cornwalls trilogy on Arthur's rise to power, they've finally made it into a TV series.

For those that don't know, apparently the trilogy of books is one of BC own favourites of all those he's written so I'm hoping they do it justice.

Not sure what channel its on but it's available out there on the internet

Edit - apparently its coming to itvx in winter but available now to those with mgmx access (which I think is via amazon subscription)

Edited by lemmingjames on Monday 21st August 13:30

[DeejRC]

Not even heard of mgmx!
Yep, have Amazon Prime subscription, so will try and look out for it.

[SlimJim16v]

I'll have a look for it later, it sounds like something I'd like.

I just had a look at IMDd, apparently people have been giving it low scores because Merlin and a couple of other characters are black

[lemmingjames]

DeejRC said:

Not even heard of mgmx!
Yep, have Amazon Prime subscription, so will try and look out for it.

Sorry, its MGM+ not x but it is on Amazon but this programme isnt there yet...

MGM+ seems to be a weird channel in so far as it seems to have loads of 80/90/00 Movies and is in answer to Disney+ channel which features all these movies

SlimJim16v said:

I'll have a look for it later, it sounds like something I'd like.

I just had a look at IMDd, apparently people have been giving it low scores because Merlin and a couple of other characters are black

TBH, when i read the books, i did picture Merlin as Sam Neill (probably due to the BBC production). Cant really say it spoils it with him being black

So far, Its no Vikings (which it should be)/Game of Thrones production but more The Last Kingdom/bbc sort of level. First episode seems to be buzzing through the timeline as well so itll be interesting to see how they handle this aspect as its not really Arthurs story

With Vikings/GOT, you couldnt wait for the next episode but this one i feel will be a 'might as well wait to the end of the season or a few episodes in and binge watch it' as at the moment, i feel they are going to do it dirty.

[page3]

SlimJim16v said:

I'll have a look for it later, it sounds like something I'd like.

I just had a look at IMDd, apparently people have been giving it low scores because Merlin and a couple of other characters are black

Or because they’ve changed the plot dramatically from the book. Unfortunately it’s difficult to tell as Amazon have censored all the reviews that aren’t 10 star. That does kind of look suspicious.

[anonymous-user]

I found the books pretty dull, to be honest. It felt like chore to get through them. That was coming off the Uhtred books, which were far more readable.

Neither are high writing, but the Arthur trilogy is very slow and a bit unsatisfactory. IMO.

[Paul Dishman]

BlackWidow13 said:

I found the books pretty dull, to be honest. It felt like chore to get through them. That was coming off the Uhtred books, which were far more readable.

Neither are high writing, but the Arthur trilogy is very slow and a bit unsatisfactory. IMO.

I enjoyed the Uhtred books and the The Last Kingdom, but Cornwell's heroes are all basically reboots of Sharpe.

[lemmingjames]

BlackWidow13 said:

I found the books pretty dull, to be honest. It felt like chore to get through them. That was coming off the Uhtred books, which were far more readable.

Neither are high writing, but the Arthur trilogy is very slow and a bit unsatisfactory. IMO.

Just wondering, at which book number did you get to to before deciding it was dull and what made you carry on past it?

I'm guessing you won't be watching this series then?

[anonymous-user]

lemmingjames said:

BlackWidow13 said:

I found the books pretty dull, to be honest. It felt like chore to get through them. That was coming off the Uhtred books, which were far more readable.

Neither are high writing, but the Arthur trilogy is very slow and a bit unsatisfactory. IMO.

Just wondering, at which book number did you get to to before deciding it was dull and what made you carry on past it?

I'm guessing you won't be watching this series then?

Oh, I read them all, but that’s just me. I virtually never give up a book part way through. It’s an oddity I have.

[popeyewhite]

SlimJim16v said:

I'll have a look for it later, it sounds like something I'd like.

I just had a look at IMDd, apparently people have been giving it low scores because Merlin and a couple of other characters are black

I'm sure BC wrote them as black in the books so what's the problem?

[SlimJim16v]

Well, just finished it. Not good, the supposedly wise Arthur making stupid decision after stupid decision, battles with about 5 - 10 combatants per side, dull and unfinished. I doubt it'll get another series.

5.5 stabbings out of 10

[popeyewhite]

SlimJim16v said:

Well, just finished it. Not good, the supposedly wise Arthur making stupid decision after stupid decision, battles with about 5 - 10 combatants per side, dull and unfinished. I doubt it'll get another series.

5.5 stabbings out of 10

Bugger, I've just downloaded the whole series.

[SlimJim16v]

popeyewhite said:

Bugger, I've just downloaded the whole series.

Maybe with suitably lowered expectations you may find something good about it.

[popeyewhite]

SlimJim16v said:

popeyewhite said:

Bugger, I've just downloaded the whole series.

Maybe with suitably lowered expectations you may find something good about it.

Yes maybe. I enjoyed that other BC (The Last Kingdom?) adaptation so as long as this isn't significantly worse... .

[Jasandjules]

Given that I love The Last Kingdom I had expected a touch more of this. Episode 1 was quite rubbish and I am struggling to get into Episode 2.....

[SlimJim16v]

popeyewhite said:

Yes maybe. I enjoyed that other BC (The Last Kingdom?) adaptation so as long as this isn't significantly worse... .

The Last Kingdom is like Game of Thrones in comparison to this.

[popeyewhite]

SlimJim16v said:

popeyewhite said:

Yes maybe. I enjoyed that other BC (The Last Kingdom?) adaptation so as long as this isn't significantly worse... .

The Last Kingdom is like Game of Thrones in comparison to this.

Yes, considerably more sophisticated. Looks like TWK was directed by a University graduate with a modern degree in pop video directing and no skill whatsoever. Having watched the first episode I can agree with the comment about the amount of non whites cast as soldiers/villagers/Merlin. It simply was not the case in early Medieval Britain. Britain was not diverse at all. We were off the main trading routes and were extremely predominately white Celts/Saxons etc. Trendy tokenism is reverse racism they cry! At least everyone didn't speak in fake Oirish accents and wear flat caps in the Guy Ritchie style. 4/10 so far.

[marcosgt]

My wife is quite excited about this, but I also found the first book turgid and didn't bother with any of the others, so I'll probably give the TV series a try, but not with any great expectations.

I really enjoyed the Sharpe novels and TV series and liked The Last Kingdom TV series, but the Arthurian book I read (the first) felt (as someone else said) like a chore.

I found it very repetitive.

[popeyewhite]

marcosgt said:

My wife is quite excited about this, but I also found the first book turgid and didn't bother with any of the others, so I'll probably give the TV series a try, but not with any great expectations.

I really enjoyed the Sharpe novels and TV series and liked The Last Kingdom TV series, but the Arthurian book I read (the first) felt (as someone else said) like a chore.

I found it very repetitive.

I've not read the books on which TWK is based, but I can't think the TV series is a close adaptation. Maybe it is though and after the highs of Sharpe and The Last Kingdom TWK series is Cornwell's stinker.

[EmBe]

It's a stinker, isn't it? We've given up after 3 episodes (we like to give things a try).