Overview

• King & Conqueror premiered on BBC One on 24 August with a second episode on 25 August, and all eight parts are available on BBC iPlayer.
• Viewers on social platforms reported switching off within minutes, citing quiet dialogue, loud action mixes and constant volume changes that pushed many to use subtitles.
• Multiple reviews highlighted extremely dark cinematography, with The Independent calling the drama almost unwatchably dark and noting a constrained sense of scale.
• Despite technical gripes, some commentary praised the supporting cast, with Eddie Marsan and Juliet Stevenson singled out for standout turns.
• The 1066-set series is an eight-part BBC/CBS co-production starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and was filmed largely on location in Iceland.