‘King & Conqueror’ – Review
For one to rule. The other must fall.
So begins King & Conqueror, the sweeping historical epic that brings to life one of the most defining moments in English history: the clash between Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, and William, Duke of Normandy. Two titans of ambition, pride, and ruthless military might, whose fateful meeting on the battlefield at Hastings on October 14, 1066, would forever change the destiny of England.
Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. These two former allies were forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of the British crown.
A joint presentation from the BBC and CBS Studios, King & Conqueror is an eight-episode miniseries that dramatizes this legendary struggle with a heady mix of fiery passion, venomous political intrigue, and bone-crunching medieval combat. It’s a story of will to power and unrelenting ambition, told with operatic intensity, where both words and swords strike with deadly weight.
Showrunner Michael Robert Johnson and acclaimed filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur strike an impressive balance between the personal dramas of these two mighty rulers and the sweeping forces of history. They deliver a story that doesn’t just lead us to the infamous Battle of Hastings but immerses us in the bloody, conniving, and deeply human world that shaped it.
What makes King & Conqueror compelling is that it isn’t just about the battle. Johnson and Kormákur build an atmosphere of intrigue where every whispered promise, every forged alliance, and every betrayal cuts deep. The world of 11th-century power is vividly realised here: brutal, merciless, and intoxicating.
The show thrives on the tension of its politics. Words carry violence. Decisions ripple into bloodshed. From the first episode, we’re pulled into a world where thrones are won and lost not just on battlefields, but in bedchambers and council halls. Episode by episode, the narrative accelerates toward its inevitable conclusion, and by the time Episode 5, “The Beast in the Mirror,” rolls around, the stakes have become perilously high. The tension is a slow-burn fuse that explodes into fire and steel.
At the centre of this storm is James Norton’s Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, remembered in history as Harold II of England. Norton, who spent more than six years developing this project, brings ferocious energy to the role. His Harold is a man torn between duty and desire, both heroic and fatally ambitious.
This is not the Harold often dismissed as history’s “loser.” Norton transforms him into a deeply complex figure: a devoted son of Wessex, a warrior of magnetic charisma, and a man driven by power that he cannot fully control. There are flashes of the noble king he might have been, but also shadows of arrogance and pride that seal his fate. Norton’s performance is commanding, layered, and ultimately heartbreaking — and it cements why he remains one of Britain’s most versatile actors.
Facing him is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William, Duke of Normandy, remembered by history as William the Conqueror but also as William the Bastard. Illegitimate son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, William rises through cunning, brutality, and sheer willpower to become one of the most feared rulers of his age.
Coster-Waldau imbues William with icy determination and terrifying ambition. Yet, like Norton, he avoids one-dimensionality. His William is not just a conqueror but also a man haunted by his outsider status, constantly forced to prove himself against rivals and detractors. There’s a vulnerability behind the steel, a sense of someone who has clawed his way from nothing to everything. That mix of ruthless strength and raw humanity makes William utterly magnetic on screen.
Together, Norton and Coster-Waldau create a clash of titans — two men bound by destiny, locked in a collision course where only one can emerge victorious.
King & Conqueror also wisely gives voice to the women caught within this whirlwind of ambition. Far from mere bystanders, they are commanding figures in their own right, whose influence echoes throughout the story.
Clémence Poésy is riveting as Matilda of Flanders, William’s wife and confidante. Politically astute and fiercely loyal, Matilda is both strategist and counsellor, often seeing the larger picture more clearly than her husband. Poésy plays her with feline grace and sharp intelligence, a woman of poise who hides daggers behind her smile.
Emily Beecham delivers a moving performance as Edith Swanneck, Harold’s wife. Where Matilda embodies cold calculation, Edith is warmth and humanity. She witnesses the transformation of Harold as power corrupts him, and her growing dread for the storm that will consume England lends the series its emotional core. Beecham’s performance adds vital heart to the brutal chess game of conquest.
From the grand halls of Normandy to the mist-laden fields of England, King & Conqueror spares no detail in bringing this world to life. Political machinations are matched by raw depictions of combat. Sword, shield, and axe are given the spotlight, and the series doesn’t shy away from the violence of the age.
While it leans into drama rather than strict documentary, the show is deeply respectful of its historical source material. Iconic scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry are brought vividly to life, blending accuracy with cinematic flair. The production is lavish yet gritty, never romanticising the brutality of medieval power.
The final two episodes, “Cost of War” and “The Hand of God”, push the story to its brutal climax. The Battle of Hastings itself is staged with jaw-dropping scale and intensity. Mud, blood, and steel dominate the screen in sequences that are as unflinching as they are epic. No mercy is shown. No quarter is given. It is history written in blood.
For those of us who have waited years to see the Battle of Hastings brought vividly to screen, King & Conqueror is nothing short of exhilarating. It has everything: drama, spectacle, fire, passion, and a cast that tears into their roles with ferocity.
James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau embody Harold and William with rare intensity, while Poésy and Beecham bring vital dimension to the story through Matilda and Edith. Michael Robert Johnson and Baltasar Kormákur craft a series that is both high drama and visceral spectacle, one that never loses sight of the human cost of ambition.
King & Conqueror is an event television experience of the highest order — bold, brutal, and utterly gripping. With its tale of power, blood, and destiny, it does justice to one of history’s most pivotal moments.
This is not just the story of two men who fought for a crown. It is the story of ambition, love, betrayal, and the merciless clash of wills that shaped a nation. From its grand political manoeuvrings to its thunderous battle sequences, King & Conqueror will seize your attention and not let go. Only one could be king. And this miniseries captures that fight in all its fire and fury.
King & Conqueror is now streaming on NEON.
Image: SKY TV
