Will The Winter King Spark An Arthurian Revival On TV?

The Winter King is the latest in a long line of TV shows based on the legend of King Arthur. Released in the second half of 2023 to mixed reviews, it was loosely based on The Warlord Chronicles novel series, but will it lead to more shows about Arthur popping up on our screens?

The Medieval Appeal

King Arthur remains a fascinating figure who has been featured in many TV shows such as Merlin, The Legend of King Arthur, and Camelot. Numerous movies have also been based on his life, although some experts are unconvinced that many of the most popular elements of his story ever actually happened. That hasn’t diminished his appeal or our love for the medieval period in general. The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and Brittania are among the series that have succeeded by focusing on different parts of medieval history.

The period can be seen in other areas of the entertainment industry, such as movies and board games. The current list of Megaways™ Slots at Paddy Power shows that games from this period have also been well-received in casinos. Kingmaker by Big Time Gaming and Vikings Unleashed by Blueprint are both set in a medieval world where the symbols and backdrop crank up the atmosphere. Other themes including the Roman Empire and TV game shows are used in alternative slots, to create a diverse range of games.

Details of The Winter King

This is described as a historical fiction series and includes Iain De Caestecker in the role of Arthur, as well as Stuart Campbell playing Derfel Cadarn and Ellie James as the priestess Nimue. Spread over ten episodes, it starts with Arthur being banished by his father, King Uther. In later episodes, we see how Merlin encourages Arthur to return to Britain, while the different factions get ready for war.

Although so much of the Arthurian legend is shrouded in mystery, this review in The Guardian points out that it veers too far from the source material in Bernard Cornwell’s book trilogy. Other reviews mention that Cromwell’s books are heavily based on the real medieval history of Wales rather than fantasy themes and familiar mythology.

According to the Forbes reviews, this One Big Picture production takes a Hollywood turn by making interesting and diverse characters into rather bland caricatures, while they also criticize the wig used by Derfel. The review in the Independent states that late-Pagan Britain is a great setting for a show, but that it’s been let down by low-budget production and the lack of a fresh take on a familiar story.  

Source: Pixabay

Will There Be Another Series?

At the time of writing, there’s been no confirmation of whether The Winter King has been renewed or canceled. The largely negative reviews suggest that we may not see a second season, but there’s no doubt that there’s an excellent show tucked away in the source material that wasn’t properly used in the first season. The success of HBO in creating a selection of Game of Thrones spinoffs shows how a great original idea can produce excellent shows.

Regardless of the fate of The Winter King, expect to see King Arthur and the medieval setting continue to crop up in other new series. As fans look for more adventures set in the past the appeal of this period of history should lead to more shows like this in the near future.