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BBC’s ‘King & Conqueror’ Debuts to Viewer Backlash Over Dark Visuals and Muddled Audio

The Iceland-shot BBC/CBS period series is drawing early criticism even as some performances earn praise.

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Overview

  • The eight-part drama premiered on BBC One on 24–25 August, and all episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.
  • Viewers reported hard-to-hear dialogue and uneven sound levels, with many saying they resorted to subtitles or switched off early.
  • Critics highlighted very low-light cinematography and complained about modern-sounding dialogue and perceived historical liberties.
  • Eddie Marsan and Juliet Stevenson drew positive notices for their supporting roles alongside leads James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
  • Filmed on location in Iceland and co-produced with CBS Studios, the production involved extensive stunt work and cold-water recovery routines, and Norton reportedly broke his collarbone during the shoot.