The Winter King Season 1: Major Departures from the Books

This article contains discussion of sexual assault.

Major spoilers for The Winter King season 1 below!

Article Overview

The Winter King TV adaptation made significant changes to the original novel, including altering the framing device and introducing characters earlier.

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The show introduces Arthur at an earlier stage, diverting attention from Derfel, the novel's protagonist.

To streamline the storyline, the TV adaptation omits several characters, including Lancelot and Galahad.

The Winter King, an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's novel, has received criticism for making significant changes. Cornwell, known for The Last Kingdom series, considers his Warlord Chronicles trilogy his greatest accomplishment. These novels reimagined the King Arthur legend with a blend of historical facts. Their ambitious and emotional nature posed a challenge in bringing them to television.

MGM+'s adaptation showcases a strong cast and breathtaking locations, but it deviates from Cornwell's original text. Important supporting characters are missing, major battles are yet to occur, and certain characters have been softened. The future of The Winter King season 2 remains uncertain, but viewers who enjoyed the first season are encouraged to read Cornwell's book to discover the omitted elements.

10. The Winter King Story Is Told In Flashback By Old Derfel

Derfel is the main character of The Warlord Chronicles trilogy

An important change that stands out is that The Winter King no longer follows the narrative structure of an elderly Derfel recounting his experiences with Arthur. Instead, the novel unveils that Derfel, in his later years, became a monk and, at the instigation of Queen Igraine (who commonly appears as Arthur's mother in Arthurian legends), decides to document his adventures while serving at a monastery. Effectively, The Warlord Chronicles positions Derfel as the central character, allowing readers to view the saga through his perspective.

Stream The Winter King on MGM+. The showrunners may have chosen to remove this element for various reasons, such as highlighting Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) as the main character. The removal of this framing device would also entail revealing spoilers, such as Derfel having a missing hand in his older age. If MGM+ successfully adapts all the books, they could potentially include an epilogue delving into Derfel's life as a monk and recounting his youthful experiences.

9. Arthur Doesn't Appear Until Much Later In The Book

The Winter King novel delayed Arthur's entrance for maximum impact

Audiences are introduced to Arthur, the protagonist of the series, in a poignant scene where he cradles the lifeless body of his half-brother Mordred after a fierce battle against the Saxons. Consequently, Arthur is expelled by his father, King Uther (Eddie Marsan). However, he makes a triumphant return to Britain years later, marking his debut appearance in the novel after being mentioned in prior chapters.

Once again, the entire story is narrated from Derfel's perspective, making Cornwell's interpretation of the myth all the more invigorating upon its release. Julie Gardner and Lachlan MacKinnon, the show's executive producers, discussed the alterations they made and the decision to introduce Arthur earlier during an interview with CinemaBlend:

A crucial aspect... is that in the novel itself, the story is told through Derfel's viewpoint. This adds a significant element of freshness, as we experience Arthur through Derfel's lens and later through Nimue's perspective. This unique approach is a refreshing take on the narrative. However, as filmmakers, we faced two main challenges. Firstly, since the series centers around King Arthur, it is imperative to feature Arthur prominently and not delay his appearance until Episode 8.

While their argument remains valid that Winter King is primarily a narrative about Arthur, it would have been more impactful if his introduction had been delayed by a few episodes. Derfel, the current protagonist, effectively captivates the audience, and the sudden entrance of Arthur at the conclusion of episode 2 would have carried greater weight if it served as his initial appearance.

8. Mordred Is King Uther's Grandson, Not His Son

The series makes Mordred Arthur's half-brother, not his nephew

Uther is depicted as a resentful and self-centered ruler who harbors jealousy towards his "illegitimate" son Arthur. Despite hearing tales of Arthur's triumphs in battle years after his banishment, Uther stubbornly refuses to acknowledge him as his heir. Just before his death, Uther's wife, Queen Norwenna (Grace Ackary), gives birth to their son, Mordred. Despite Merlin's prophecy that Mordred will become a ruthless tyrant upon claiming the throne, Uther insists that his son will be a king, naming him after his deceased son, Mordred.

In the novel, Mordred is actually Uther's grandchild. Norwenna is the wife of Uther's son Mordred, with their baby being born shortly after Mordred's death in battle. This relationship makes Mordred Arthur's nephew instead of his half-brother, as portrayed in the series.

7. Mordred's Guardians Are Different

The protectors of Mordred got a line-up change on MGM+'s adaptation

Uther appoints three guardians for Mordred, until he is ready to ascend the throne. In the TV show, the chosen guardians are Bishop Bedwin, the trusted warrior Owain, and the controversial choice of Gundleus, the King of Siluria. Despite Gundleus being known for his cruel nature, Uther believes this will protect Mordred during his formative years. However, Gundleus soon reveals his true intentions by plotting to harm the baby and claim Dumnonia for himself and his uncle.

In the book, the guardians differ from the TV show. While Owain remains, King Tewdric of Gwent and the magician Merlin are selected as the other two protectors. However, Merlin is absent during this part of the story. Instead, Gundleus becomes Mordred's foster father and marries Norwenna. This alteration in the Winter King adaptation is likely a simplification of the narrative and to emphasize the character of the kind-hearted Bedwin.

6. Lancelot & Galahad Have Been Completely Cut

Two of Arthur's famous knights are missing in action

MGM+'s drama took its time introducing characters from Arthurian myth, notably saving Guinevere's appearance until the sixth episode. It's worth mentioning that the novel The Winter King features Lancelot and Galahad in supporting roles, but they were absent from the adaptation. In the series, Derfel encounters both of them while serving under King Ban in Benoic, also known as France. Lancelot, the arrogant and cowardly heir of Benoic, is despised by Derfel. However, Derfel forms a better friendship with Lancelot's half-brother, Galahad, as they face numerous battles together.

After the prolonged siege by the Franks, resulting in the downfall of the kingdom of Ynys Trebes, Lancelot and Galahad decide to venture towards Dumnonia. In order to maintain the suspense, the showrunners possibly postponed the introduction of Galahad and Lancelot to the second season. However, as the chapters featuring their presence were predominantly eliminated, it would have been challenging to seamlessly incorporate them into the first series.

5. There's A Big Time Jump After Arthur & Guinevere's Marriage

The show greatly condenses key events from Bernard Cornwell's novel

Instead of planning to ally with Powys and Gorfydd and marrying Gorfydd's daughter, Ceinwyn, Arthur unexpectedly falls in love with Ceinwyn's best friend, Guinevere. They run away together to get married, which is met with disapproval from Arthur's people who fear it will provoke war with Gorfydd, distracting from the need to unite against the Saxons. In the book, there was originally meant to be a significant time gap after the wedding, allowing Derfel to become a skilled warrior during his trip to Benoic and later making his discovery of Arthur banishing Nimue to the Isle of the Dead more impactful. However, for the adaptation, the timeline was condensed into a few months, and Guinevere's character was softened, in contrast to her manipulative nature in the novel.

4. Merlin Has Been Drastically Changed

The magician has been made much friendlier for TV audiences

In the TV version, another contentious choice was made regarding Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White). He appears right from the first episode as a wise and patient mentor to Arthur and Nimue (Ellie James), solely focused on saving Britain from the impending darkness. This portrayal aligns with previous interpretations of the character, but differs from Cornwell's books where Merlin is depicted as a disruptive force, rather than a youthful and understanding presence.

3. Derfel's Misadventures In France Were Taken Out

In the novels, Merlin is portrayed as an aged, lascivious character who remains absent during the initial half of the narrative. Rather than being Nimue's mentor, he is depicted as her lover, and together they are willing to employ extreme measures to satisfy the "Old Gods" they venerate. Derfel encounters Merlin while the latter is disguised as another individual in the region of Benoic. Merlin ventures there in search of knowledge that will assist him in locating the legendary Thirteen Treasures of Britain. Although Merlin's quest is still depicted in the show, it has been significantly condensed.

A key Derfel sidequest has been entirely cut out

As mentioned earlier, after Arthur's marriage, Derfel would have been sent to France for a time jump. During his time there, he would have assisted King Ban in repelling the invading Franks and would have encountered Lancelot, Galahad, and Merlin. Derfel spent a total of three years in Benoic before returning to Dumnonia, but this entire part is omitted from the adaptation. These changes were likely made to streamline the story, although the inclusion of Derfel's adventures in France would have added a refreshing change of scenery.

Naturally, the omission of this storyline also explains the absence of Lancelot and Galahad. Additionally, a section where Derfel and Nimue develop a romantic relationship after rescuing her from the Isle of the Dead has been cut. The possibility of Nimue forsaking the Gods to be with Derfel is considered, but ultimately, she decides against it. In the book, Gundleus plucks out Nimue's eye following her attack at Avalon, but this detail is removed in the series.

2. Arthur's Defeat Of Gorfydd And Powys Is Missing

The battle the first season was building towards didn't happen

The Winter King omits a lengthy section that details the conflicts between Dumnonia and Powys, where Gorfydd schemes to claim the throne for himself. It creates anticipation for an epic clash between the kingdoms. However, instead of exploring this further, the story takes a surprising turn with Arthur striking a desperate deal with the Saxons for a temporary truce. The focus of the finale shifts towards Arthur's efforts to rescue Derfel and Nimue from the Isle. It seems that the war will be saved for the next series, assuming there is one.

1. The Winter Book Book Ends With Gundleus' Death

Gundleus was spared the painful demise he suffered at Nimue's hands

Nimue's anger towards Arthur for pardoning Gundleus after the attack on Avalon is a significant part of her storyline in The Winter King. She despises Gundleus so much that she even attempted to persuade Derfel to kill him when he was imprisoned, but Arthur intervened. However, in Cornwell's narrative, she ultimately obtains her revenge by capturing Gundleus after Gorfydd's defeat and subjecting him to torturous death. In the sequel novel, Enemy of God, Derfel claims that the screams of Gundleus' demise may have reverberated throughout all of Britain. In the television adaptation, however, the character manages to avoid this fate, at least for the time being.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the changes made in The Winter King TV adaptation. On the one hand, I understand the need to streamline the storyline and make it more accessible to a wider audience. On the other hand, I feel that some of the changes alter the essence of the story and undermine the character development that is so crucial in Bernard Cornwell's novels.

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of Arthur at an earlier stage in the story. In the book, Arthur is not introduced until much later, and the focus is on Derfel, the protagonist. This change shifts the focus of the story and makes it more about Arthur, which I feel takes away from the complexity and depth of the character.