Let’s be real. There’s something deeply satisfying about the sound of metal clashing against metal. We’ve been obsessed with knights for centuries, and honestly, the fascination isn't slowing down. Whether it’s the clunky, historically accurate plate armor or the shiny, idealized fantasy version, tv shows about knights tap into a very specific part of our collective psyche. It’s about more than just swords. It’s about the code. The Chivalry. The betrayal.
Some people think the genre died with the middle ages. They're wrong.
Actually, we are currently living through a massive resurgence. Thanks to the massive budgets poured into streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO, we aren't just getting guys in cardboard suits anymore. We’re getting grit. We’re getting mud. We’re getting the complicated politics of the 14th century delivered in 4K resolution.
The Gritty Shift in TV Shows About Knights
Back in the day, knights were usually depicted as these stainless, perfect heroes. Think of the old Ivanhoe adaptations. They were boring. Today, the best tv shows about knights embrace the dirt.
Take The Last Kingdom, for example. Uhtred of Bebbanburg isn't technically a "knight" in the later medieval sense—he’s a Saxon-born, Danish-raised warrior—but the show perfectly captures the evolution of the knightly class in England. It shows the messiness of swearing an oath. It’s not just about winning a battle; it’s about the soul-crushing weight of loyalty to a king who might not even like you. Alfred the Great is portrayed not as a saint, but as a calculated, often frustrating strategist. This nuance is why people keep coming back.
Then you have Knightfall.
History Channel tried to capture the Templar mythos, and while it took some serious liberties with the Holy Grail, it nailed the aesthetic. The armor felt heavy. You could almost smell the sweat and the incense. It reminds us that being a knight was basically a full-time job in a very violent corporate cult. The Templars weren't just soldiers; they were the world’s first real bankers. Seeing that blend of religious zealotry and financial power makes for incredible television.
Why We Can't Get Enough of the Middle Ages
It’s the stakes. Life was short.
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In a modern legal drama, if someone loses, they lose their job or maybe go to prison. In tv shows about knights, if you lose an argument, you lose your head. Literally. That’s why Game of Thrones—despite being fantasy—felt so grounded for so long. It treated its knights like Brienne of Tarth or Ser Duncan the Tall (in the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) with a sense of "real-world" consequence.
The Accuracy Debate: Does It Even Matter?
You’ll always find that one guy on Reddit complaining about the "ahistorical" leather armor. And he’s kinda right. Most tv shows about knights use way too much leather because it’s cheaper and lighter for actors to wear than actual gambesons and chainmail. But does it ruin the vibe?
Not usually.
What matters more is the "internal logic" of the world. The Hollow Crown is a masterpiece in this regard. It’s a series of British television films based on Shakespeare's history plays. It features Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons, and Tom Hiddleston. Because it’s Shakespeare, the dialogue is elevated, but the production design is remarkably grounded. It shows the transition from the medieval era to the early modern period. You see the armor getting more complex. You see the weight of the crown actually breaking the men who wear it.
- El Cid (Amazon Prime): This one is a sleeper hit. It follows the life of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. It’s Spanish, it’s grand, and it covers the complex intersection of Christian and Muslim cultures in medieval Spain.
- The White Queen / The White Princess: These are less about the battlefield and more about the "knights in the parlor." It’s the Wars of the Roses from the perspective of the women who actually controlled the men in armor.
Misconceptions About the Knightly Life
Most people think knights were just these tank-like soldiers who couldn't get up if they fell over. Total myth. A well-fitted suit of plate armor actually allowed for a surprising amount of mobility. You could mount a horse, run, and even do a cartwheel if you were fit enough.
TV shows are finally starting to show this. They’re showing the wrestling. Because when two guys in full plate fight, the sword doesn't actually cut the metal. You have to find the gaps. The armpits. The eye slits. It’s more like MMA in a tin can than a graceful dance.
Another thing? The cost.
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Becoming a knight was like buying a private jet today. You needed the horse (usually several), the armor, the squires, and the land to pay for it all. When you watch a show like Medici or The Borgias, you see how the rising merchant class started to clash with this old-school military nobility. The world was changing, and the knight was becoming obsolete thanks to longbows and, eventually, gunpowder.
Finding the Best TV Shows About Knights Right Now
If you’re looking to binge something this weekend, you have to look at the variety.
For the pure historical buff, The Pillars of the Earth is essential. It’s based on Ken Follett's novel. It’s more about building a cathedral, but the knightly politics of "The Anarchy" (a real civil war in England) provide the backdrop. It’s brutal.
For those who want something a bit more stylized, Vikings: Valhalla touches on the knightly traditions forming in Normandy. It shows the DNA of what would eventually become the chivalric code.
And we can't ignore the lighter side. Galavant was a musical comedy about knights that was cancelled way too soon. It poked fun at every single trope mentioned here. It acknowledged that the "Middle Ages" were mostly just people being muddy and singing about their feelings.
What to Watch Based on Your Mood
If you want heavy politics and betrayal, go for The Hollow Crown.
If you want 100-man battles and screaming, The Last Kingdom is your best bet.
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If you want something that feels like a fever dream of medieval legends, The Winter King (based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles) attempts to strip away the "shining armor" of King Arthur and show what a 5th-century warlord actually looked like. It’s controversial among fans, but it’s a fascinating take.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Medieval Binge
To really appreciate tv shows about knights, you have to look past the action. Pay attention to the heraldry. Look at the way characters treat their horses. In the real Middle Ages, a horse was worth more than a dozen peasants.
Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Medievalist:
- Check the Source Material: Many of the best shows are based on books by authors like Bernard Cornwell or Philippa Gregory. The books often contain the gritty historical details that TV budgets have to cut.
- Follow the "HEMA" Community: If you want to know if the sword fighting in a show is any good, look up Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) experts on YouTube. They break down scenes from shows like The Witcher or Game of Thrones to see what’s realistic and what’s just "Hollywood flailing."
- Visit Real Sites: If a show inspires you, look up where it was filmed. Many "English" knight shows are actually filmed in Hungary or Ireland because the landscapes are more preserved and the tax credits are better.
- Diversify Your Watchlist: Don't just stick to British history. Look for shows about the Samurai (the "knights" of the East) or the Mamluks to see how the warrior-elite class functioned in different cultures.
The age of the knight might be over in reality, but on our screens, it’s just getting started. The technology to render massive castles and thousands of armored soldiers has finally caught up to our imagination. We don't need to imagine the Battle of Agincourt anymore; we can see it in high definition, from the comfort of our couches, without the risk of catching the plague.
Stop looking for the "perfect" historical documentary and start embracing the "historical fiction" that captures the spirit of the era. The truth is usually messier, but the shows are a lot more fun.
Next Steps for Your Viewing Journey:
Start by watching the first episode of The Last Kingdom on Netflix to see the transition from Viking raider to Saxon protector. Then, contrast that with the first season of Knightfall to see the height of the religious knightly orders. By the time you get to The Hollow Crown, you'll have a complete picture of how the image of the knight evolved from a tribal warrior to a sophisticated, albeit doomed, political figure. Keep an eye on upcoming releases from HBO, as they continue to mine George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg stories, which promise a much more intimate, ground-level view of knighthood than the world-ending stakes of Game of Thrones.
The armor might be fake, but the stories are as real as it gets.