New “Blood-And-Thunder” ‘Game of Thrones’ Replacement Defies Critics to Conquer Streaming

by

Power isn’t simply given – it’s seized. And that’s exactly what this new historical drama is doing, quickly rising in popularity on streaming platforms. Often compared to Game of Thrones due to its intense battles, political maneuvering, and featuring , the series focuses on a conflict that shaped a nation and an entire continent for centuries.

The new series, King & Conqueror, takes viewers back to England in 1066. It stars Charles Dance, known for his role as Jamie Lannister, as William, Duke of Normandy, and features Hugh Bonneville, famous for Downton Abbey and known for James Bond roles, as King Harold Godwinson. The eight-episode show is currently performing well on Netflix, ranking at number 4 in TV shows and number 8 overall on the platform.

After debuting on BBC earlier this year, King & Conqueror is gaining popularity on Prime Video. The rest of the top 10 includes titles like the documentary Allen Iv3rson, the superhero series Gen V (a spin-off of The Boys), the action thriller prequel The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, the biblical drama House of David, the animated show Hazbin Hotel, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus, and Maxton Hall – The World Between Us. You can find a summary of King & Conqueror below.

William of Normandy and Harold of Wessex were originally allies, but they became rivals when they both sought the throne of England in 1066, ultimately leading to the Battle of Hastings.

‘King & Conqueror’ Has Been Met With a Mixed Response


BBC/Prime Video

Although King & Conqueror draws inspiration from historical events and figures of the Medieval Period, it presents a fictionalized account of the Norman Conquest of England. Despite featuring strong performances from James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and offering the gritty battles and political intrigue that initially made Game of Thrones popular, the series has received mixed reviews. Critics gave it a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences scored it even lower at 36%.

Despite this, the series has become popular quickly on Prime Video, likely because viewers were attracted by its medieval action and drama. Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes have been largely positive. Tilly Pearce of iNews.co.uk gave King & Conqueror a near-perfect score of 4 out of 5, praising the performances of James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and stating that their acting is key to the show’s success, suggesting the BBC is on track for a hit. Christopher Stevens of the Daily Mail also gave it 4/5, highlighting Eddie Marsan as Edward the Confessor and Juliet Stevenson as his mother, Lady Emma, as standouts in the first hour, even amidst the show’s dramatic action.

Read More

2025-11-11 18:33