nanamoo-96928

While this isn't a faithful play by play of the old books and legends, The Winter King is a refreshing, unique adaptation for a modern audience. It's dark and gritty, which is certainly what it was during this period, and a more realistic portrayal of 3rd century life and politics. Arthur and his men are flawed, impulsive and real. Arthur is a powerful, respected warrior until he returns home. He is committed to protecting his brother's throne, but being labeled a king's illegitimate offspring (can't use the "b" word here) leaves him vulnerable. He's not a legend. He's a man. This is a bit of a slow burn to start, but the story is compelling. Drop the purism and give this a go. I haven't been disappointed yet.

I initially had no interest in watching this due to the terrible ratings it had, despite the fact that I really like Tom Holland. I was browsing for something to watch, and nothing appealed, do I thought I'd give it one episode to see if it piqued my interest. I was invested 15 minutes in and watched all three episodes back to back. It's fabulous! Tom Holland is so believable, so masterful in his performance! Now I understand why I'm seeing news stories about how he's taking time away from acting because the series has broken him. It's intense! While the series is a bit of a slow burn, it's as it should be. The story, suspense, and top notch performances have been riveting. I can't wait til next week!