User reviews

This is a well made, high production value, historical drama. Definitely worth the subtitle effort to avoid the dub (the dub sounds luke a HS theater dept made it). Solid acting, a good plot, character development and pacing. Left me wanting the next episode after finishing the 5 episode run in an evening.

Had to write a review as the score is so low! Fantastic series so far, and absolutely desperate for a Season 2. A great story with drama, battle scenes, romance and deception. Highly recommend just make sure you watch it with original audio and subtitles.

Firstly i find it funny that the latest reviewer - random 70778 - is critical of a historian who enjoyed the show. This reviewer makes out they know the historical inaccuracies in El Cid - while claiming that the Vikings never raided Spain in the 11th Century, when in fact Viking raids were a common occurrence in the 11th Century due to Spain being en route to Jerusalem - a route taken often by Olaf II of Norway. As for the Panteon - it was completed by Sancha after she was widowed - so it isn't as far off as this reviewer claims.

As for the program - it is good. It is more accurate, historically, than most historic dramas. It is well acted and keeps you interested throughout. It is not perfect but it is a far better offering than a lot produced lately. It reminds me of the quality and production values of Romulus.

I'm gladly finishing the last episode of this 1st season, and completely love it. When I read another users reviews I think they forget that this is a TV SHOW! It's not a documentary neither a facsimile of Ibéric medieval times. But as a tv show it's very impressive, has a well Rhythm, a beautiful photography, scenography and overall costumes, the action sequences are superb. I can even say that for me this is better than Vikings at least in this first season

I could both listen and read in the original language on subtitle track 23. This is a very well presented drama, nicely costumed and with some competent acting performances - well worth a second watch just to remember how to speak all those Vos words, for which modern Latins substitute almost exclusively 'Usted'. El Cid, as well as the battles focuses on the relationships between the knights and their monarchs, particularly the intrigues at court, in which women also have a their role. The drama's aims were probably a little too mighty for the amount of time and money they had at their disposal , but compared to 'Minions of Midas' or '30 Monedas' this one, in terms of production and entertainment value is probably the best TV drama of the three. The conclusion of Episode 5 indicates there is more to come. Looking forward to that.

I am a Spanish citizen who have deeply studied this critical time in histroy in Spain, during the transition of different empires and dominant religions. I can proudly say that the give a fairly impartial view on Islam, Christianity and how they lived back then. It is compeltely true that muslims were allowed to drink in Spain; Al-Andalus was part of the Islamic empire but they had their own interpretation of the Quran and they were very open minded about other religions. I am certainly happy this show made it to Amazon Prime so that the entire world can be educated on such an exciting time in history!

Skeptical, but nevertheless intrigued, I started watching this Amazon Exclusive mini-series of 5 episodes three days ago.

After the ending credits, I am not disappointed at all. Even if a few times the directors failed in keeping the momentum of the major plot scenes, El Cid represent a marvel for historical-thrillers. I really enjoyed watching it. The cast is good, the soundtrack is nice to hear, even if not memorable. The special effects, costumes and locations are a real pleasure to look at.

It would be 9 out of 10 stars for me, but I guess I can gift an extra star, not only because it's Christmas time, but because this was a good try in creating a tasty new historical series that deserves attention and a little kick for becoming even greater.

Series has a lot of conspiracy plans throughout, which kept me interested. It doesnt have production values of game of thrones, but wasnt bad either. Of course couldnt be totally historically accurate, this isnt a documentary. Worth watching if you like historical dramas.

This is accurate in almost every aspect and the story is sublime! Some people might think muslims didn't drink in Spain back then, but that is incorrect. Spain (Al-Andalus) was ruled very differently from how today Islamic countries are. It is so refreshing to see an impartial view on this moment of history!

Highly recommended!

Tremendous, great work. Couldn´t stop watching.t se

Hope the next season will come soon.

Feminism in the eleventh century, really? Jaime Lorente is a very lame actor, not good for this role. Just horrible to watch.

Ignore the political and religious BS in the reviews, this is an excellent production

Is El Cid good? In some aspect exceed expectations. In other is lame.

Para hablar de esta serie tenemos que partir de dos puntos de vistas. El primero sin saber nada de la historia de Rodrigo Díaz y la segunda es sabiendo más o menos la leyenda, leído alguno de sus libros, o verlo en teatro o cine, siendo el Cid de Charlton Heston de dónde provengan todas las odiosas comparaciones.

Sin saber nada de la historia del Cid lo mejor son las batallas y lo dinámico de la historia. Más allá de que alguna parte no se entienda por desconocer el contexto histórico y la inverosímil lucha del Campeador contra una tortuga ninja.

Ahora conociendo en algo la historia. El hombre vivió hace casi 1000 años y si bien existen muchos textos documentados casi todo lo que se conoce es por leyendas posteriores de tradición oral y posteriormente escrita ya que en el siglo XI y siguientes poca gente sabía leer. El mito del Cid ha servido para la unidad de España y ha Sido utilizado por todos los gobiernos españoles La única gran película hecha hasta la fecha es El Cid de 1961 dirigida por Anthony Mann y protagonizada x Heston , Sophia Loren y Genievive Page entre otros.

Para hacer el Cid se consultó en ese momento con los más prestigiosos historiadores españoles que posteriormente fueron acusados de franquistas, y en cierta medida estos críticos tenían cierta razón.

El Cid fue utilizado x Franco, que como siempre este no agregó nada a la historia sino que se limitó a resaltar lo que a él le convenía.

En la película de Mann los musulmanes (moros) son malvados, cuando muchos y por mucho tiempo fueron aliados del Cid. Lo cual muchos la tildaran hoy de islamifoba. Pero en realidad la culpa no fue ni de los historiadores, ni de Franco, ni de Hollywood. Simplemente había que condensar 50 años de historia en 180 minutos y además darle color y la magnificencia que el cine espectaculo de aquella época exigía. Incluso es bastante más cercana a la historia que otras películas de su epóca.- espectacularidad. Tiempo de colores puede que por ello el film quedó más suntuoso, imponente y rico de lo que fue la historia real, con alguna decoración i vestuario fuera de época.Pero eran todavía los años del technicolor y los 70mm es decir el cine espectáculo en colores brillantes. El guión era una sintaxis de cantares de gesta y obra de teatro.

En esta versión se quita toda regia suntuosidad y nos vamos al otro extremo, de la espectacularidad de la Corte Leonesa de Mann a una corte fea, sucia y pobre. Mucho más pobre e iletrada de lo que fue en realidad. Todas las referencias relativamente sutiles de Mann se vuelven en escenas escatológicas literales que nada aportan a la trama y arruinan la historia de España con el fin de hundir a la actual monarquía. Ver a Doña Urraca cagando suma algo!? Ver a los reyes desnudos y barrigones casi cincuentones teniendo sexo lo único que da es pena. Podrían decirse que hay tradición del cine y las series españole de poner a los reyes y nobles en escenas escatólogica, pero estos al menos fisicamente eran más agradables y todas esas películas pasaron de moda por su guarrería.

Sacando esos elementos de reyes, príncipes y altos nobles que quedan todos malparados. Es interesante ver a Ruy (no es Rodrigo todavía x que su abuelo que se llama igual aún vive) hablar con los pájaros así como la dulzura y nobleza de Doña Jimena, y los compañeros de armas del Cid, aspectos que muchas veces han Sido omitidos, así como ver a los moros vasallos. Así como los interiores son muy malos por lo pobremente adornados que están. Los escenarios naturales están muy bien fotografiados y señalan una belleza muy turística de que no ser por los disparates históricos quedarían muy bien. Las escenas de justas y batallas es otro aspecto que sobresale y que nada tiene que envidiar a series de mayor presupuesto como GOT pues la sangre y el polvo se palpan en la piel del televidente.

En definitiva se pueden observar los puntos positivos de está serie por lo que sus aspectos negativos se pueden superar en ulteriores temporadas.

En cuanto a los aspectos históricos, yo no voy a juzgar si tenía que estar o no la tizona y sobre la espada que usó Ruy . Una serie no es historia y menos en la de un ser legendario en una época legendaria. Tampoco sobre el feminismo, ya que en el siglo XI en toda España las mujeres tuvieron mucho más poder en el derecho y en los hechos que en el resto de Europa y probablemente del mundo.

Pero si que si se hubieran fijado en los documentos existentes la historia estaría mucho mejor. Se perdió la oportunidad de describir los usos y costumbres de la edad media.-

El Horror es tratar de reescribir la historia e imaginar con cabeza del siglo XXI lo que ellos creen que debería haber pasado 1000 años antes afean mucho el resultado.

Una pena por qué las intrigas palaciegas entre 1062 y 1065 eran mucho más interesante que las bobadas que se inventaron para dar origen a la trama. Básicamente quieren suplantar al rey por su mujer. Cuando en realidad los problemas sucesorios entre hermanos se originaron con la muerte de Sancha y no con la de Fernando. Y Urraca y Alfonso fueron aparentemente más queridos que Sancho.-

Afortunadamente la historia del Cid trasciende a sus escritores y si quisieron hacer a un Cid progre , les salió lo contrario un héroe aún más inmaculado y cursi que el de Heston.

Jaime Lorente, pese a no ser un actor alto y fuerte que intimide como seguramente fue el Cid, cumple aceptable mente con su papel, de servir a varios señores. Cómo dato anecdótico este joven actor con discurso de izquierda se ha descubierto que su primo es uno de los lideres pertenece al principal de derecha el PP. Habiendo el actor y su madre participado en diversos mítines de orden cultural del PP. Lorente como el Cid tiene muchos señores pero un solo rey Fernando López Miras.

En fin ni es GOT ni una porquería, ni siquiera que quedó a mitad de camino pues se necesita aún ver una segunda temporada. Después de todo GOT fue bastante barata y malita en su primera temporada. más cerca de Xena Princesa Guerrera que del Señor de los Anillos. Luego el guión y el preupuesto mejoró y se volvió en la serie de la decada.-

En síntesis puntos fuertes la agilidad de la trama, la panorámicas y las batallas, así como resaltar aspectos míticos como hablar con los pájaros, y todo lo relativo a lo estrictamente militar. Puntos débiles. El origen de la trama, diálogos carentes de sutilezas, la invención de hechos que palidecen con la historia real, desarrollo de la mayoría de los personajes secundarios y el diseño de interiores pobremente decorados.

Hollywood continues to re-write history to sell a show about feminism.

Skip this one if your into historical accuracy. Watch if you like 1pm soap operas with a 'surprise' feminist hidden message.

I am always searching for a new sword show, and as you may know, it is not easy to find a true gem. El Cid happens to be a gem!

I do not speak Spanish, so I have the subtitles on instead of a dubbed version. This is highly recommended because keeping the original language adds to the authenticity. It is worth it.

If you are a fan of this genre, hit play! You will not regret it.

Firstly the review here saying that "as a historian" that this is "accurate" is just bizarre and laughable, I doubt that reviewer is a historian. Historians in Spain are aghast at the massive amount of inaccuracy in this little miniseries, and this series tanked in Spain. I'm not hung up on a few or even moderate amount of inaccuracies and anachronisms in period pieces, after all this is common from the Iliad to Shakespeare, but let's not say down is up, or white is black and say this is accurate when there are a huge number of major inaccuracies and anachronisms. The gothic architecture in this is just insanely out of period. El Cid (which by the way at the time only the Muslims called de Vivar "El Cid, which is a contraction of El/Al Sayyid (the Lord or "The Sir"). The Spaniards a the time, and now, called him El Campeador (an idiom for master of battlefield). And the recreation of the Panteon de los Reyes is NOT accurate and off by at least 250 years. Across the board the architecture is just way way off. Why does Zaragoza look like Istanbul? The relatively short period of Muslim dominance there the Muslims did not significantly alter the architecture. Viking raids in the 11th century Spain? Again way off in timing. The battles and battle tactics, even allowing for budget, are ridiculously inaccurate. OK beyond that the script dialogue and acting are at an extremely base level, rarely rising to mediocre. The tropes are utterly predictable. Compared to the genre it is attempting to insert itself in, including outright theft of several plotlines (Last Kingdom, Vikings, Musketeers) , it is at the bottom of the barrel. Lastly the elements of poltical correctness, absurdly anachronistic feminism, and a total omission of the issue of the downside of foreign domination by the Berber and Arab invaders, which included religion based democidal, genocidal acts, and a lot of broad violence agains the native Romano Christians doesn't go to accuracy. The invasion, occupation and subjugation of virtually 100% Christian lands in Iberia and the Christian Byzantine east were a significant driver of the crusades.

I am writing this review mainly in response to the "hate speech" style reviews which seem intent on dismissing the series because it doesn't fit what they want history to be like.

So, why do I give it an 7? Firstly, let's note this is historical drama and not a documentary, so if the architecture and costumes don't always fit the period, its what you'd expect - they're presenting an image not recreating the past. But while it's not a documentary, it does a pretty good job.

Let's look at what some of the critics have said and respond, and while I'm not a historian of this period I am an academic so used to dealing with evidence and arguments.

1) No vikings in this period: there are records of viking raids so that's fine and accurate.

2) Zaragoza looks like Istanbul: Muslim dynasties and large Muslim populations were around for several hundred years, and while I don't know how many mosques were in Zaragoza it was said that Cordoba had 700, so we might even expect more mosques in the skyline than shown here?

3) Women weren't involved in politics: they were, Margaret of Anjou - while from another context and a few centuries later - even led troops into battle, and we know women often were strong political players.

4) It doesn't reflect a Muslim-Christian power struggle strongly enough: the idea of a Christian reconquest was largely a rhetorical ploy of Isabelle and Ferdinand (look a powerful female figure and a queen in her own right in that pairing) to unite the various still feuding kingdoms and regions, while, throughout the period Muslims were of Al Andalusia, Muslims and Christian fought other Muslims and Christians - again, out of this context, but Queen Elizabeth allied with the Ottomans against the French, while in the famed siege of Vienna Louis XIV, the famed Catholic Sun King, was allied to the Ottomans. El Cid himself served both Christian and Muslim lords.

So, in summary, while some people may want a history of Muslim-Christian conflict with subservient women and dominant men, that's in their heads not in history. This is undoubtedly the best retelling of El Cid that I have yet seen on the screen, and yes it is fiction so don't get so worked up about every slight inaccuracy. The Muslim characters could also be fleshed out more, and arguably are more plot devices, but come across often with sympathy, so that still needs work. Also, I would agree that some acting can be a bit ropey, and the main character could have more charisma rather than simply brawn and brooding looks, but you can't have everything, so a 7 and not an 8, 9, or 10.

They have no taste in shows and movies. This show is epic and great. It stays true to history more then most shows do. It has a great interesting story with many great actors. I love it.

4 episodes on a row...Also is very well adapted to the history. Important to know that MOST of muslim people in Spain were really Spaniards converted, that explains why they drank wine for example. That society was very special, they had nothing to do with muslim people nowadays. Excellent production, very well based to the events.

So far this series falls far short of mist of the recent historical epics. I see terrible acting and poorly done overdubs.

After an average season 1, the season 2 is very exciting with a much better plot. The character of El Cid becomes more extreme and reaches a climax at the end of season 2.

All characters are very good and the battle scenes are amazing.

Highly recommended.

I generally liked it in spite of its historic inaccuracies, however, I do agree that the dramatization you need to make it attractive to a 21st century audience plays the feminist card a bit too much.

As an actual professional historian I was not surprised to see how inaccurate it was, being yet another rewritten anti-history for this new Orwellian age. Boring to boot, a bad attempt to board the Game of Thrones bandwagon.