When we were promised an epic retelling of 1066, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. Historical dramas can go either way – brilliant like or a bit pretty boring like, well, some others we won’t mention.
But this King and Conqueror review comes with some surprising news: this might’ve actually created off something special here.
James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are leading the charge in this eight-part series that’s been months in the making, and after watching the first few episodes, there’s definitely more to unpack than your average Sunday night drama.
What’s All The Fuss About?
If you slept through history lessons (and let’s be honest, most of us did), here’s the quick version: 1066 was a pretty massive year for England. Two blokes called Harold and William both reckoned they deserved to be king, and they decided to settle it the old-fashioned way – with a massive battle that changed everything.
Our King and Conqueror review focuses on how the show handles this legendary clash, and honestly, it’s not what you’d expect from a typical period piece.
Norton plays Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, while Coster-Waldau (yes, Jaime Lannister himself) takes on William the Conqueror. The casting alone had people excited, and thankfully, both actors deliver performances that justify the hype.
But here’s where things get interesting – this isn’t just about the battle. The series spends serious time showing us how these two men went from being mates to mortal enemies. And that’s where the real drama lies.
The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody
Let’s start with what works. The King and Conqueror review wouldn’t be complete without praising the sheer ambition of this project. Filming entirely in Iceland (yeah, that’s right – no English countryside in sight), the production team has created something that feels genuinely epic.
The battle sequences are properly brutal. None of that sanitised sword-fighting you sometimes get in family-friendly historical dramas. When someone gets hit with an axe, you feel it. Norton even broke his collarbone during filming and kept going – now that’s commitment.
Coster-Waldau brings real intensity to William, especially when he’s rallying his troops with lines like “I am the true King of England!” His previous experience in Game of Thrones clearly prepared him for this kind of medieval political manoeuvring.
But not everything’s perfect.
Several critics have pointed out that the series suffers from what we like to call “exposition overload.” The first couple of episodes spend so much time explaining who everyone is and why they matter that the actual story sometimes gets lost. It’s like the writers were worried we’d forgotten everything from our history lessons (which, to be fair, most of us probably have).
The Darkness Problem Nobody’s Talking About
Here’s something that keeps coming up in every King and Conqueror review we’ve read: the show is really, really dark. Not emotionally dark – though it’s that too – but literally difficult to see what’s happening.
Maybe it’s the Icelandic winter lighting, or maybe it’s a deliberate artistic choice, but there are scenes where you’re genuinely squinting at the screen trying to work out who’s talking to whom. Combined with some seriously mumbly dialogue delivery, it can be frustrating.
One reviewer described it as watching “hairy, pumped-up fellas in IKEA fur throws” pop back and forth across the Channel, and honestly, that’s not entirely unfair.
Where The Magic Really Happens
Despite its flaws, our King and Conqueror review has to highlight what the series does brilliantly: the relationship between Harold and William.
Norton explained in interviews that he wasn’t aware these two were actually friends before they ended up trying to kill each other. That friendship-turned-bitter-rivalry gives the whole series its emotional weight.
“I cannot let William even think that he can take the crown,” Harold says in one candlelit scene, and you can hear decades of betrayal in Norton’s voice.
The supporting cast deserves a mention too. Eddie Marsan is having an absolute ball as King Edward, playing him like a religious fanatic with serious authority issues. Juliet Stevenson brings her usual class to Lady Emma, and Emily Beecham and Clémence Poésy add depth as the wives caught up in their husbands’ political games.
The Budget Question
Let’s address the the obvious issue that every King and Conqueror review seems to mention: this isn’t Game of Thrones.
The broadcasters clearly didn’t have HBO’s budget, and it shows. Some battle scenes feel a bit thin on extras, and there are moments where you can almost see them trying to stretch every penny. One critic described it as “recreating the Bayeux Tapestry on a tea towel,” which is harsh but not entirely wrong.
But here’s the thing – sometimes limitations breed creativity. The focus on character development over massive set pieces actually works in the series’ favour. When the big battle scenes do happen, they feel earned.
The Verdict From Our King and Conqueror Review
This series won’t be for everyone. If you’re looking for something light and cheerful for Sunday night viewing, maybe stick to Antiques Roadshow.
But if you want something with proper historical weight, strong performances, and battle scenes that don’t hold back, King and Conqueror delivers. Norton and Coster-Waldau have created characters you actually care about, which makes their inevitable clash all the more powerful.
The pacing issues in the early episodes are real, and yes, you might need to adjust your TV brightness settings. But stick with it, because the payoff is worth the journey.
What The Critics Are Saying
Early reviews have been mixed but largely positive. The Guardian noted that while the series “starts slowly and never quite attains escape velocity,” the final battle scenes are genuinely gripping.
The Times called it “historical tosh” but admitted it remained “highly entertaining.” Sometimes that’s exactly what you want from Sunday night television.
Other King and Conqueror review pieces have praised the authenticity of the costumes and weapons, even if they’ve been less kind about the sometimes awkward dialogue.
The Bottom Line
Our King and Conqueror review comes down to this: it’s an ambitious historical drama that mostly succeeds despite its limitations.
Norton proves once again why he’s one of Britain’s most reliable leading men, while Coster-Waldau brings real strength to a role that could’ve easily become a cartoon villain. The series takes its history seriously without becoming a boring history lesson.
Yes, it’s dark. Yes, the first couple of episodes drag a bit. But when it works – and it works most of the time – King and Conqueror is exactly the kind of epic storytelling that British television does best.
If you’ve been waiting for something to replace Game of Thrones, this won’t entirely do it. But it offers something different: real history, real consequences, and real characters facing impossible choices.
Plus, you’ll finally understand why 1066 was so important. You might actually remember something from history class for once.
King and Conqueror is available now on iPlayer, with episodes airing Sunday and Monday nights.
