Knightfall

Knightfall is almost entirely fictional, but uses actual historical figures in its story-telling, which has spurred further research on my end, leading to interesting discoveries. When dealing with entertainment, it goes without saying but still has to be said: "not historically accurate" :) This series is inspired by historical events/persons, not to be taken as a depiction of reality. As entertainment, the main concern here is the violence and frequent bloodiness accompanying it. Obviously many people will be shot with arrows or run through with swords, daggers, axes, etc. Characters are sometimes brutally beaten. Medieval torture is also depicted. Castration is threatened, possibly completed, but not onscreen. I found that the context of the violence was often more unsettling than the gore itself. For example, viewers see people burnt at the stake, which is less graphic than the swordplay, but unsettling as the cries of the victims are heard. A person is sacrificed by Luciferians (Satanists) in a pagan ritual (throat slit, then burnt at the stake). Infants are killed on and off-screen. A medieval c-section is fully depicted. A man's tongue is ripped out. The sexual content is enough to give pause, but in general shows only rear nudity, and not in action. The circumstances of the sexual encounters are often more serious/significant than their depiction. For example, a Templar sworn to celibacy meets a married woman for a rendezvous, which later carries serious consequences for them both. Heavy kissing and groping shown, the characters start to undress one another, but if there is any nudity here, it is fleeting. Later, two unmarried characters are heard in a sexual encounter, and then shown sitting up chest to chest talking. The lighting/positioning obscures any graphic nudity. Elsewhere, a woman is shown nude from the back, but scene cuts away before any further engagement occurs. Another character sworn to celibacy is shown in a bathtub with a woman, but the couple are interrupted before anything happens. In another example of context overshadowing the visual depiction, a woman is forced to watch her husband and infant son's murder, and then is taken as a prisoner/mistress by the assailant. No sexual interactions are shown, but the concept is disturbing. Further darkening this storyline is that the murderer is unable to have sex with his own wife, but after violating the widow seems to regain his libido. Other: a young woman is subjected to an examination to verify her virginity. A character sets up a woman to look like she engaged in a threesome, with tragic outcomes. A disturbed character digs up a grave (decayed corpse shown). A character leads a Herod-type vendetta that leads to the death of several babies. Period-accurate antisemitism is depicted. Grown children betray their parents. Parents lie to/manipulate their grown children. The content of Knightfall would make it a hard watch for younger viewers, and I'd recommend intentional discussion if your teens are interested or watching this series.

Though it is very violent, that is to be expected when covering the Knights Templar. This drama shows the humanity of those put in charge of others well being.