Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Middling Knights Templar docudrama has sex, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Knightfall
What's the Story?
KNIGHTFALL is a docudrama that tells the story about the Knights Templar and their efforts to protect Christianity during a volatile period in history. Landry (Tom Cullen), Godfrey (Sam Hazeldine), Tancrede (Simon Merrells), and Gawain (Pádraic Delaney) are members of the powerful and wealthy secret brotherhood of warrior monks fighting on behalf of the Holy See. When they are not fighting battles in the Holy Land to preserve the faith and its most important relics, they remain in France to defend Christians and Jews who need to be protected from brutal marauders and other injustices. But the efforts of Pope Boniface VIII (Jim Carter) to usurp the authority of European kings leads to strife between the Vatican, for whom they fight, and their king, Phillip IV of France (Ed Stoppard), which puts the members of the Catholic military order in a difficult position. Meanwhile, their own human frailties lead to dark secrets and painful betrayals. The work of the mysterious order is complicated, but they are driven by their mission and are willing to pay for it with their lives.
Is It Any Good?
This dramatic and violent series attempts to demystify the legend of the Knights Templar, a Catholic military order founded during the Middle Ages to protect pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. It reveals the secret missions that they were committed to, including securing the Holy Grail, and highlights the historic feud between the Pope and the King of France during a very tumultuous time.
It has some big battle scenes and some mildly entertaining side plots, but Knightfall feels more Hollywood than historically accurate. Meanwhile, those who are not familiar with the history of the warriors will find it difficult to immediately understand the plotlines being presented. Some may enjoy it, but for fans of good history chronicles, it lacks profundity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the history of the Knights Templar. What other names are they known by? Do they exist today?
Does Knightfall have to show a lot of violence to show what life (and war) was like back then? What would the show be like without those scenes?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 6, 2017
- Cast : Tom Cullen , Ed Stoppard , Jim Carter
- Network : History
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 7, 2022
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