The Last Kingdom (5th Season Out)

[Incontinenta Buttox]

Maybe they should have gone with something a bit more different than vikings for the BBC. I'm affraid it will be too similar to that.

Spain during the reconquista, the political intrigues of the Holy Roman Empire in the medieval period including the Teutonic order's rise to power, The dutch struggle for independence against Spain in the pike and shot era, the first conquests of Europe in America and their interactions with the natives.. there's room for a lot of things where most people really dont know that much about, so it leaves more room for wonder and surprises. Unless they look it up.

I mean, with anything medieval its always about france and england it seems. The Holy Roman Empire is never seen, aside from a few soldiers in Kingdom of Heaven. With it being a collection of many countries, I feel that the tensions of that alone could make for a great series. The teutonic rise to power could also be included in this to some extent.

I don't see a problem with a the British broadcasting cooperation making TV about British history. If you want to seen Spanish, Dutch, Germany history set in the dark ages, then Spanish, Dutch and German TV companies might be your best hope.

Anyway. The dark ages is a fascinating period of history that has has very little mainsteam coverage wherever it's set.

[Copperknickers II]

We really have reached a sad state of affairs in historical programming when anything with swords and medieval sounding names is considered a 'rip off' of game of thrones. Is Eastenders a 'rip off' of coronation street? Is Downton Abbey a 'rip off' of Upstairs Downstairs? Why can't we just have a genre of 'Medieval epic' like we have modern soap operas, Imperial period dramas, sitcoms, etc.

[Påsan]

Simple: Beacuse Stav does not like the BBC.


Anyway I'd personally love something from the thirty years war. But nobody knows wtf the thirty years war was in the Anglosphere so good luck getting anything from there. The english civil war, little more than a sideshow to the real conflict in Europe, have gotten twice, if not trice the media coverage.

Whose fault is that? Well mainly the European nations who let the Anglos monopolize the quality media. Germany and France should get their thumbs out their asses and start to produce some historical epics of their own.


Since you know, their history is worth telling.

[Markas]

If it's the Beeb I reckon the restrictions on Sex and Gore will count against it. That's why HBO is so good.

The english civil war, little more than a sideshow to the real conflict in Europe,

I don't think it's accurate to describe the ECW that way. They were pretty much separate conflicts.

[redxavier]

I'm pleased they are making this series, I've been waiting a long time for this.

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

Sex and gore? That doesn't really matter, if the story is good and the characters are well fleshed out then I can watch it.

[Sir Walter]

As long as it's not as bad as Atlantis. I don't think I could bear to watch any Uhtred if he's going to be like he was in the books, Warlord Chronicles would've been much more interesting if only they hadn't made Merlin so recently. If they make it as good as the White Queen was last year though, I'll be very happy.

[Ishan]

So when does it start?

[Denny Crane!]

I hope there are some people from Rome involved in this.

It is fantastic that this is a thing. Instead of just recycling the same old same old they are branching out into making books into films. Fantastic, turns out not everything requires a super original screenplay when books are writing compelling stories that make great TV shows. When Sharpe and Hornblower were made (less of the hornblower really) I hoped that was going to spawn a few more historical dramas and after years I'd given up hope then pow, GoT, Vikings and more.

[beckyolt]

I'm interested, I thought the books were pretty good, although I think Cornwell's best work was the Warlord chronicles. Also lol at this being a ripoff of GoT.

[Inhuman One]

Alternatively, to create a historic series with surprises, an alternate scenario can be used which allows the story to be surprising like game of thrones is, to get that suspense of not knowing what will happen. It should stay within reason of course, and would require a lot of historical research to determine what realisticly could have happened.

What if Hannibal got his reinforcements from Carthage?
Such a series could start with establishing the situation as it was, with Hannibal's great victory at Cannae and moving forward from there.. first giving the idea there wont be reinforcements but surprising audiences when reinforcements do show up! Rome's position could weaken, and perhaps while Carthage and Rome are bleeding each other dry, other nations could take advantage of this.

What if Julius Caesar was not assasinated? A very familiar story thats been told many times, though this could actually make for an interesting retelling. Or what if Pompey defeated him?

What if the knight's templar where not destroyed?

What if Alexander the great did not die young?

What if the Goths became a dominant power instead of getting destroyed from all sides?

What if Japan kept their isolation?

What if Hitler never came to power?

What if the french revolution never happened?

what if the south won the american civil war?

What if the French defeated the British in their conquest of America?

What if England completely conquered France during the 100 years war?

So many possible scenarios..

[athanaric]

Alternatively, to create a historic series with surprises, an alternate scenario can be used which allows the story to be surprising like game of thrones is, to get that suspense of not knowing what will happen. It should stay within reason of course, and would require a lot of historical research to determine what realisticly could have happened.

What if Hannibal got his reinforcements from Carthage?
Such a series could start with establishing the situation as it was, with Hannibal's great victory at Cannae and moving forward from there.. first giving the idea there wont be reinforcements but surprising audiences when reinforcements do show up! Rome's position could weaken, and perhaps while Carthage and Rome are bleeding each other dry, other nations could take advantage of this.

What if Julius Caesar was not assasinated? A very familiar story thats been told many times, though this could actually make for an interesting retelling. Or what if Pompey defeated him?

What if the knight's templar where not destroyed?

What if Alexander the great did not die young?

What if the Goths became a dominant power instead of getting destroyed from all sides?

What if Japan kept their isolation?

What if Hitler never came to power?

What if the french revolution never happened?

what if the south won the american civil war?

What if the French defeated the British in their conquest of America?

What if England completely conquered France during the 100 years war?

So many possible scenarios..

What if the Persians had won at Kadesia?
What if Bâbak Xorramdin's uprising had succeeded?
What if the Mongols had been defeated by their Turkic/Chinese/Persian/other enemies?

Or, in keeping with the English theme, what if the Saxons had won at Hastings?

[Condottiere 40K]

We'll miss our mutton and beef.

[Wulfburk]

Only read Azincourt (think they are making a movie about that one too) and the Warlord Chronicles, both are outstanding. I guess if they do the show right it will be very good!

(oh and ps, GoT and Vikings are real bad IMO )

[Denny Crane!]

Only read Azincourt (think they are making a movie about that one too) and the Warlord Chronicles, both are outstanding. I guess if they do the show right it will be very good!

(oh and ps, GoT and Vikings are real bad IMO )

Must be joking they are not just bad, awful !

[athanaric]

Must be joking they are not just bad, awful !

How so?

[Caesar Germanico]

I think he is being ironic.

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

As far as the five episodes of Vikings I saw I actually enjoyed it.
Game of Thrones on the other hand had me quit after two seasons.

[Stívarðr Reynitré]

I have bought each of the Saxon stories by Cornwell on their release day, so I am immensely excited by this announcement and will be looking forward to this with extreme pleasure!

I am only hoping they cast Uthred with an intriguing actor. He must be a Northumbrian with an anti-hero stance and somewhat of a grimacing face.

I'm going for Charlie Hunnam - a Geordie native.

[Sir Walter]

Is anyone going to actually substantiate a reason why Game of Thrones is a) now the original source for all vaguely medieval entertainment or b) terrible?