Here comes the top medieval TV series!!
We’ve been spoiled with historical TV series on Netflix, History and HBO. So, choosing the top medieval TV series is tough. But here goes!
THE LAST KINGDOM
A drama series set at a terrifying time in English history when the very idea of being “English” was being defined. Saxons and Vikings have divided the realm seizing territory and are slaying each other viciously. This is a period of history that was largely ignored when I was a kid at school. We skipped from the Romans to the Tudors and ignored everything in between. But these days, the so-called Dark Ages are being mined for great drama and documentaries. A light shone on this amazing and compelling time.
VIKINGS: Valhalla
You can’t really go wrong with the Vikings. Blood, guts and battles. This series featured the Viking explorer Leif Eriksson and his fiery sister, Freydis Eriksdotter. We find the Vikings and England at each other’s throats while within the Viking realm, the people must decide whether to be pagans or become part of the new Christian faith. But giving up their old gods isn’t easy.
DISCOVER: Which medieval video games are the most realistic?
PILLARS OF THE EARTH
Pillars of the Earth brought us a murderous romp from the civil war that engulfed England under the reign of King Stephen. It was a period called The Great Anarchy that tore families apart and reduced some aristocrats to outlaw status. This was at the beginning of the Templar era and a very violent time for England. I loved this series – absolutely faultless.
KNIGHTFALL
How the Templar Knight blog looked forward to this series from History. Yet the first season struggled to find its feet leading to Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame being introduced in season two as a hardened old Templar master. Despite Hamill’s heroic effort this medieval turkey flopped. It’s worth a rewatch for unintended comedic value but as serious drama – dear God no.
GAME OF THRONES
There are still people who claim never to have watched Game of Thrones. We pity them. It’s a brilliantly crafted mega series set in a fantastical pseudo-medieval world. You have kings and generals but also dragons and witches – whose spells actually work. Analogies abound with dynasties that resemble the Plantagenets for example with a declining quality of monarch due to massive inbreeding.
The series has now ended but stands up to umpteen repeats.
WORLD WITHOUT END
Like Pillars of the Earth, this comes from the pen of Ken Follett – only now we’ve moved about 150 years ahead. This is the reign of Edward III and again, it’s after another civil war. The last king, Edward II, has been killed….or has he? Edward II, by the way, was the last king to preside over the Knights Templar before they were crushed.
THE WHITE QUEEN
This BBC drama series takes us to the War of the Roses – the bloody end to the Middle Ages in England when the aristocracy tore itself to pieces. It focuses on the strong women who emerged in this conflict.
MERLIN
Merlin had a long grey beard when I was a kid but the BBC re-imagined him as a youth for this very dynamic and rather scary kids series.
THIBAUD
This was a 1960s French TV series about a crusader – I just like the theme tune to be honest! It’s a classic depiction of the Templars all neatly laundered white tunics and long flowing hair. Nobody seems to ever get filthy and dirty in the battle scenes.
Many of these TV series exerted a huge influence on the writing of my Templar novel Quest for the True Cross which you can download on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback in the US and UK. See if you can spot the TV historical influences! And watch the book trailer promo video here:
Reign is missing, that’s the best
Robin of Sherwood.