Series 6

Do you think Peggatty's laughter is Tom Karol? I always think it sounds a lot like Mrs Grimwold. This is something I've wondered about too, and asked for Billy's opinion on via Beg Billy on the Interactive Knightmare website many years ago. I certainly think Peggatty's laughter was done by a man. If it was Tom Karol, I wonder if they'd had it on tape for three years, unused, or if it was newly recorded as an uncredited contribution. I'm not keen on the idea of Tom Karol being called back in just to record a little bit of audio, then sent on his way (even though we know that Tim Child did keep Tom in mind post-Series 3 and worked with him again on the TimeGate pilot in 2002). I do like the idea of Tim deciding to recycle Mrs. Grimwold's laugh for Peggatty, reminiscing about the Grimwolds and that being why Tim included references to the Grimwolds (including a son) in Series 6.

It's chrysalis from earlier in the thread. I have since read a lot of the episode and backstage stuff on the site, and now I know the life graphics were edited in after the show was filmed, I will change my view on what I said earlier, I now just consider it poor editing rather than necessarily a harsh death. Also agree all the winners were generally helped in some way, although they usually needed to be reasonably good at the challenge to get on the winning path. Still remain fascinated by this show, even many years later with all the new tech we have.

I never expected to say anything positive about the incidental music in Series 6, but I noticed something fun. When you next watch this episode, pay attention to the music when Chris is running through the dwarf tunnels to the Cloudwalker. Then compare it to the music in Doctor Who episode Rose when the Ninth Doctor (another Chris) and Rose are running to the London Eye (a track known as Westminster Bridge). I'm just making my way through Series 5 and it's so mind-numbingly still and quiet that I'll never dislike the Series 6+ incidental music. The only repeated criticism I've seen of it seems to be the fallacy that it "gives away when a Dungeoneer is about to die" which is just completely wrong. Whilst it is used in most deaths, it is FAR from used on only those occasions. More often than not it is actually used when Dungeoneers *escape *death, thus it really does achieve its goal of adding tension because when it starts, you know the Dungoneer is in peril but you genuinely have no idea whether they're about to die or not. Of course, you could say that this is also the case with no music at all, except that at least the music adds atmosphere and removes that awful clinicial TV studio-set silence.

It's a credit to Mark Knight's impersonation skills that so many of us mistook him for Clifford Norgate playing one character playing another character, even after rewatching Knightmare in adulthood. Lord Fear's hand materialised to grab Alan, but he used the gauntlet to stop Fear. Although Alan put the gauntlet on his right hand, it summoned a giant left hand. If I conjecture that it was Mark Knight playing both giant hands, I can't imagine it being as controversial as the Harris identity debate. Wilder speculation would be that Sir Hugh de Wittless exists as a personality within Lord Fear and that the gauntletted hand represented an inner conflict between the personalities.

Hordriss appears By my reckoning, Sumayya was the fifteenth dungeoneer to encounter Hordriss. I wonder if she ever watched Fifteen to One.

This is my favourite episode of the series. I do think the return and final return of the skull and the life force beats an the pause when game ends is very dramatic and Treguard gets time to give an excellent Ooh nasty - one of his best i feel. Miss Morgaine did enjoy this one

The previous time that i watched this episode, i didn't particularly notice the pose and funny walk as they departed. Yes, this was a very enthusiastic and competent team.

What i thought of S6: Let's get the worst over first with this one. The new mellow arrangement of the theme music didn't do anything for me. I much prefer the dramatic original, altho the 2nd version was good as well. The new opening visual didn't really appeal either. You can see what the designers were aiming for, but somehow it didn't quite seem to work. Finally, the new life-force sequence was very disappointing. Why on earth did they feel the need to change it? The original life-force clock was one of the iconic features of Knightmare. At least it got one last, surprise appearance during the series.... But onto the better aspects. There was a vast improvement from S5. The pace of the quests had improved dramatically and seemed much more action-packed. The number of interminably slow eye-shield sequences were dramatically reduced and were far shorter when they did appear. The causeways were again excellent and the timer was a great idea, adding more pressure. There were some good familiar faces: Hordriss, Motley, Scaramonger, Hands and, of course, Elita. The new characters were generally a good selection. I thought Sidriss-the-confused might be a bit annoying at first, but i quite warmed to her as time went on. Greystagg was a nicely ambivelant character, but sadly didn't have enough screen time. I thought the character Nemanor seemed a bit out of place, but i really enjoyed Adrian Neil's other role: Ridolpho, the charming minstrel. A real shame that he only appeared in one series. Ridolpho gave Elita a run for my money as the most enjoyable character in S6. Heggatty was ok, made me think of Mistress Goody from S4. Not sure how Ah-Wok got past the politically-correct sensors.... The dreadnort seemed rather bland. I prefer the blockers as they are vaguely reminiscent of the early wall monsters. There were only seven teams, but they were an excellent selection. Not a single disappointing team this time round, really enthusiastic and competent. A couple of them could easily be rated amongst the Knightmare elite. Did the producers change something about the auditioning process for S6? Overall, S6 doesn't compare to the classics S2 & S3, but it was still a welcome return to form.

Ah, thank-you. My memory is fading already....

Team 6 were a fantastic team who were extremely enthusiastic and very competent. In the end they were only undone by one wrong answer in level 3. (Like several teams in S3.) I actually think that they were even better than the winning team immediately before them and that Sophia's team were one of the best ever on Knightmare. Very unlucky. I completely agree. This was the calibre of team I wish we had seen more of (instead of kids who acted like they had no idea what they were doing there. I'll never understand why so many of that type got through when apparently there was a very competitive audition process). This team deserved to win and were cheated. And they knew it, as you can tell by their demeanor at the start of the closing credits when we see them walk off. They were NOT happy. And rightly so. They only got 1 question right in Hordriss' classroom, but they would have got 2 correct if the actor had given them time to interject with "Hordriss" when the other classmate answered "Merlin". I strongly suspect they were supposed interject there but simply weren't given the time to do so. Most unfair. Given how sharp this team were, i assumed they would have known that. The thing with general knowledge is, unlike problem solving or other measures of intelligence, it doesn't matter how clever or bright you are, if you don't happen to know a fact, you don't know it. You could be the dumbest person in the world but just so happen to know what alchemy is because you had seen it mentioned on a cartoon the day before. It's not really a fair way of deciding the team should die, given how excellently they had performed all the way through the Dungeon. The only (questionable, in my opinion) way of using general knowledge to assess intelligence or cleverness is to ask a very, very large volume of questions, so at least then a law of averages can be used. But to determine someone's progress through the dungeon based on whether they happen to know just one very specific, random, fact when the rest of their gameplay is spot on, is really rather odd to me. Again, if Clifford Norgate had given them time to speak up about "Hordriss" being the greatest magician in the dungeon, perhaps it wouldn't have been an issue. But by the time the advisors had passed this instruction onto Sophia, he was moving on to the next question. Not fair.

Well, that's a first. After her initial insult, Elita was very kind to Sophia and gave her advice, plus the causeway combo. They started really well on the causeway, but just got a little flustered before making it across. Encountered Scaramonger in the marketplace. Dealt with Scaramonger very efficiently to get the dragon caller. They very honestly left him the silver after he had fled. Summoned Elita and received dragonmint for Smirky, plus the level 1 password. Sophia retorted to Elita's insult. (Not sure how she would have reacted if Elita had been on top form.) *This was very bold of her, but not necessarily wise. The last team who gave Elita some backchat was S5 team 3 and it came back with a vengeance. When they re-encountered Elita in level 3, she took their red gem and scarpered without helping them, leaving them to perish in the corridor of blades. * Got past the dreadnort then paid Smirky to take them to level 2. Think the haunting in the dwarf tunnel gave them a shock. Reached the level 2 clue-room. Took the lute and the ring. (Liked the way he thumped the broken pool of voracity and it started working again. ) Found Ridolpho by the waterside and returned his lute. He was off-form today, but agreed to row them across to witchhaven to evade the goblins. Team 6 are a really likeable team. They are very enthusiastic and have a great ability for rational thinking. Considering they are a noticeably younger team, they have done really well so far.

An action-packed episode. Team 5 entered witchhaven, and narrowly avoided Lord Fear's grasping hand, then Ben was hit by one of Peggatty's fire-blasts for life-force damage. They started to cast their spell, but Pickle cut them off and they hurried Ben out instead. (A let-off?) First dungeoneer encounter with Greystagg. They wisely decided to trust her and exchanged the ring for knowledge of how to use the pooka-in-a-bottle. She also instructed them to abandon their spell as it would destroy them. Cornered by skarkill in the next room, but they unleased the pooka on him. Gained a key from him. Learned the causeway combo from the scroll. Made easy work of the causeway again. Used the key to open the descender and entered level 3. Ben picked up a string of sausages which somebody had considerately left there, then entered the clue-room. Took the gold and the cross. Reached the ship "Cloudwalker" and paid Captain Nemanor. He sent them to retrieve an astrolabe from Ariadne, via the hold. At first it looked like Ariadne had got them, but i think it was an optical illusion as she was above them. (They didn't dither, but even so they didn't really have time to gather the food, read the scroll and collect the astrolabe.) Returned it to Nemanor, who transported them to the final dungeon. A scroll offered them a choice from two spells: "TRICK" and "TREAT". Time-out arrived before they could decide. A tantalising level 3 cliffhanger....

A nicely-paced episode. Team 5 resumed at the entrance to Dungarth. Ben nearly trod on the spy-glass. It should have been put on a box or something. Didn't discover the causeway code, so they will need to find help. Notable that the eye-shield sequences have been dramatically shortened this series. (Not before time!) Into the level 1 clue-room. Had to rush their choice and grabbed the gold and also a horn. Correctly decided to trade with Ah-Wok because of the scroll clue, altho did they seriously need to ask Ah-Wok if he woz oriental? Very sarcastic comment from Ah-Wok about liking a man who makes up his mind. If they had taken the silver instead , would the script have been changed so that Scaramonger had an item they needed to trade for? Encountered Ridolpho who saved them from yet another pooka. Learned the level 1 password from him. Next up was Sidriss, who was under Fear's spell, lusting after Sly Hands. Gave her Ah-Woks true-sight potion, which cured her, and she sent Hands packing. Gained the causeway combo from her. Got past the dreadnort and entered the causeway. Made easy work of the causeway until the final block, then nearly had a disaster. Just stopped Ben in time. Taken to level 2 by Smirky. Straight into the clue-area. Only two clue objects, so no need to make a decision. ( Did anybody notice when they ditched the horn from level 1?) Gained a "BACKFIRE" spell, plus a ring and a pooka-in-a-bottle. Given the hurry-up by yet another haunting. This must already be a record number for a quest. Were this team continually given the hurry-up coz they were too slow making decisions in the studio?

Oh wow, that's really unfortunate but at least she still managed to take part as one of the team. (It was actually Sarah C. that i thought was the extremely enthusiastic "lead advisor".) I really enjoy reading these background stories about the actors/contestants.

At the start of this episode they did recognise the spyglass for what it was. Bizarre scene with Hands. If they had accepted his half-eaten carrot, would it have half restored life-force? Neat work in the market to dispel the "SAMURAI" spell and save Ah-Wok. Gained the blocker password in thanks. Amusing scene in the ale-house with Sly Hands & Ridolpho. Laughed when Alan sat on the edge of Hands cloak. They should have simply remembered the musical score and told it to Ridolpho, (as one of the advisors could clearly read music) then they could have taken an extra object from the clue room. They were very slow across the causeway. Paid Smirky with silver to reach level 2. Liked the way he called them cheapskates coz they only had silver, not gold. Encountered Sidriss, who was very upset and agreed to help her. Team 3 generally made good progress, but like team 1, were iffy on the causeway.

Team 2 were straight into the level 2 clue area. They took the "shield" potion & the red gem, but overlooked the scroll clue telling them to take the amber (necklace). Looked like it could be a costly mistake.... Noticeable that in S6 they just hold the spyglass up in the air, not in front of the eye-shield. Used the potion to get past Peggatty, then encountered Ridolpho and sang him a song (sort of) to earn the causeway combination. Next up was Heggatty, who wanted amber in exchange for her help! They had to move on unaided and were cornered by the dreadnort. Oooh nasty! I don't think it was downright unfair as some have suggested, but it was a real pity as they were a capable team. As others have said they were very polite, which is always nice. Team 3 just had time to choose the sword quest and enter the level 1 clue-room. They didn't seem to realise that the glass was a spy-glass. Shouldn't they have just remembered the message on the scroll and taken two other objects? One advisor understood what the musical notes were.

So, a new series and more changes to the formula. Team 1 seemed a competent outfit and Matt was a very enthusiastic dungeoneer. His great interaction with the characters reminded me of Martin in S3. They made easy work of level 1 and generally directed Matt well, altho they made a mess of the causeway. Surely they walked him onto on a wrong block (4)? A massive reprieve? Early appearance by skarkill. (alas) Had really hoped he would have been ditched at the end of S5. Great line by new arrival Ridolpho, the minstrel: "I am called Ridolpho by my friends. And by my enemies, I err, am also called Ridolpho." Suave voice provided by Clifford Norgate for Smirky.

series 6 is my favourite. Went downhill from there.

The best ‘post eyeshield’ series - consistently entertaining, likeable teams and characters, varied quests etc. I only have a few minutes so I’ll focus on the things I don’t like (cos that’s more interesting!). There’s a subtle stylistic shift in this series which makes the visuals particularly unsatisfactory to me - a lot of the real world photography often seems to be almost completely untreated. Although S4’s purple skies looked horrible, I think S6 actually goes too far the other way; it’s almost as if the line is crossed from the real world standing in as dungeon locations to the locations simply being the real world. It sometimes feels as if the dungeoneers are largely just wandering around historic sites meeting cosplayers! The lack of floor puzzles/trap rooms (apart from the causeways of course) doesn’t help. [S7 does try to address some of these issues but unfortunately gets other things horribly wrong.] The stormgeists, pookas and dreadnought aren’t a patch on their early series counterparts imho. To me they mainly feel like hurry-ups rather than suggesting a constant possibility of death. You don’t really feel a team is in imminent danger unless they find themselves on a causeway (and favourites like the CoB and Ariadne barely get a look in). I also hate the whole ship at sea thing simply because the ‘dungeon’ really is now a distant memory. The final underground stages offer a partial redemption and the great causeway brings a much needed ‘end of game boss’ feel to proceedings. I also like the fact it was allowed to claim a victim so close to victory (although another team had just won of course…). But I would definitely agree that it’s an excellent series overall. Oh, I should also say that I do like the new title sequence – shame the actual series didn’t really reflect this trap-filled dungeon!

Treguard would have a huge pile of crowns he'd have to flog on Ebay just to make room. Or he could stick them in those cash-my-gold envelopes and send them off for a few quid.