Unveiling the Epic Battle That Could Surpass Game of Thrones Season 1's Letdown

Warning: Major spoilers for The Winter King episode 8 below!

Summary

The Winter King, with its limited budget, portrays less extravagant battle sequences and setpieces compared to Game of Thrones.

In its debut season, The Winter King centers around Arthur's efforts to bring together the fragmented kingdoms of Britain, only to encounter unexpected complications in his planned marriage that was intended to unite them.

The conclusion of episode 8 foreshadows a conflict between Dumnonia and Powys, potentially serving as the climactic event for the first season. The Winter King, a TV series adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles books by MGM+, is approaching the end of its inaugural season. Unlike Game of Thrones season 1, Winter King aims to learn from past mistakes. While both shows share certain surface similarities – such as a large ensemble cast and a blend of historical drama and fantasy – their overall tone and scope distinguish them from one another.

The show is significantly limited in terms of funding compared to HBO's fantasy saga. While Game of Thrones had extensive battle scenes with dragons and undead armies towards its conclusion, the most extravagant setpiece Winter King has managed thus far is a sword fight between two characters in the rain. It is worth mentioning that the first season of Game of Thrones had a relatively smaller budget, which impacted its approach to battle sequences.

The Winter King Must Avoid Game Of Thrones Season 1's Battle Trick

Season 2's iconic Battle of the Blackwater, where Stannis Baratheon's unsuccessful attempt to capture King's Landing took place, marked a turning point for the show. Up until then, Game of Thrones had only briefly touched upon large-scale battles, such as the Battle on the Green Fork in season 1, where the Lannisters clashed with Robb Stark's forces. In that battle, Tyrion, ill-prepared and reluctantly participating under his father's orders, is swiftly knocked unconscious and wakes up to find the fight already concluded.

This strategic maneuver allowed Game of Thrones to circumvent the need to visually portray the actual battle, albeit at the cost of some artistic authenticity. Fortunately, as the first season of Winter King nears its end, the eighth episode strongly suggests an inevitable full-scale war between Dumnonia and Powys. While the show has thus far had a somewhat limited focus, it must now steer clear of the avoidance tactics employed by Game of Thrones and boldly depict this upcoming clash in all its gory glory.

Will Arthur Go To War Against Powys In The Winter King Season 1?

In season one, Arthur (played by Iain De Caestecker) made efforts to unite the divided kingdoms of Britain to fight against the invading Saxons. As part of his plan, he intended to marry Ceinwyn (played by Emily John), the daughter of powerful King Gorfydd (played by Aneirin Hughes) from Powys. This would have helped bridge the divide between Powys and Dumnonia and foster trust. However, Arthur unexpectedly fell in love with Ceinwyn's best friend Guinevere (played by Jordan Alexandra) and called off the engagement. This decision angered Gorfydd, as shown in the closing scenes of episode 8, titled "The Winter King." Gorfydd's crucifixion and execution of Bishop Bedwin (played by Steven Elder) demonstrate that peace between their kingdoms is unlikely. This sets the stage for a potential civil war, which is anticipated to conclude the first series based on Cornwell's original novel.