The new KM episode is up!
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Wombstar, that's a bit bleak! At the very least it shows that there's a superb TV format being wasted as long as KM isn't on our screens.
I wonder if we'll get to see the deleted scenes at any point?
I too like the new jester - a 'serious fool' in the Robin Hobb mould.
I think the show could perhaps work with adults who weren't used to being on camera. This lot were obviously very confident and had no respect for the dungeon master which is why they felt they could talk over him!
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OK: some notes on the reprised Knightmare.
Google didn't want us to show them what a new show would look like, and although they wanted the players to be adult geeks, they were hooked on nostalgia, They also wanted me to take full advantage of two new members of cast who were brought in by them at no small expense. Actually I thought both new girls were excellent.
When it became clear that we had neither the time nor cash to rebuild the live set, I opted for a virtual one as the only choice. We had no time in which to build anything more than basic, so to conceal its deficiencies I packed the opening with a few special effects (like Treguard's transformation) to 'busy' things up. Unfortunately this had the side-effect of slowing things down, and the front of the programme lacked pace. For those of you who remember the Knighmares of the 80s with the aid of 19 years worth of rose-tinted glasses, I would remind you that those programmes often had less pace than a tortoise.
Setting the game difficulty level for a team of highly intelligent adults (no matter what some of you thought of them - they were just that), was also problematic. And I thought we got that about right. Few of the best children's teams would have survived the 18 odd minutes of game-play we threw at them, let alone the scenes you did not see. They coped faultlessly with most of the logic puzzles, and were cruising towards a point when we were planning to freeze time and give them an honourable draw, when they suddenly did something quite silly and killed off their dungeoneer. The credit for this goes to 'Slice Me Dice Me' simply one of the best puzzles we've ever used in Knightmare, and one which also offers immense flexibility and genuine threat.
This team of adults were so intimidated by the giant blades that they neglected to 'shuffle' Stuart to the edge of his 'safe' pallet, from which point the jump to the next causeway was practical.
Given the unexpected bonus of a dramatic ending to the show, I then had to chop seven minutes from the adventure scenario in order to accommodate it, and I don't regret doing so, even if some of the edits did inevitable telegraph themselves even to an inexpert audience. Losing a couple of strategic cut-aways to a software glitz when encoding, didn't help either.
It was interesting and intriguing pitching game at adults, the more so because there is little chance in today's market for Knightmare re-emerging as a children’s show. Neither is it likely to re-appear in a half hour format, because today even game-show formats eschew this, and a dramatised adventure game of any ambition will need more time and space to breath.
The short form also renders them financially prohibitive.
I understand why some of you felt moved to criticise, but believe me when I claim pre-eminence in the matter of criticism. Although I’m saddened that some of you didn’t like the new show, it doesn’t particularly surprise me. It wasn’t made only for you, but to address the demands of a commercial client who had their own legitimate agenda, and no vested interest in the future or otherwise of the format.
TC
Firstly, my heartfelt thanks to you and everyone else involved for agreeing to do this. I'm well into my adult years now and inevitably have seen a few things I wish I hadn't. So, when a wonderful treat like this appears seemingly from nowhere and gives me a moment of sheer delight, it is all the more precious.
Headlines: I think everyone did a fine job especially given the constraints involved. This episode felt like Knightmare and I was absorbed. The returning regulars have lost nothing. I'm also reminded that you write some lovely dialogue that is every bit as essential to Knightmare's existence as Chromakey. Slice Me Dice Me is even more intimidating than Play Your Cards Right. Their reaction when the blades swung was my favourite bit. I think Knightmare still works and adult players are a fun new vein. I hope so much this is seen as a backdoor pilot that leads to more, with resources that allow you to craft what I feel sure will be an essential and much-loved addition to a wonderful creation.
With gratitude and affection,
Andrew
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it is a bleak opinion, but that's because my childhood tv show has now been reduced to being a parody of itself for 'youtube emo celebs'
Not that I want to be a purist but this really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.. and it's all down to the teams. In particular the two emo blokes. They didn't even come prepaid with pad and pencil. They were trying so hard to find a way to crack a joke and live up to their 'stage personality' pity they couldn't be themselves.
But as I say it shows that a updated version can work and I take note this was kinda cobbled together for youtube.
It reminded me of that horrid Doctor who special from the early 90s LOl .
I'm putting it to one side with the VR pilot. As someone else said in this topic is not a real episode but a 'dvd extra' lol not canon.
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In my opinion, the introduction is necessary, little more than an extension of a typical "team intro", and does little harm. I suspect that an equally sized group of people would have whined had there been no real nod to the passing of 20 years.
Ah, but nobody's objecting to there being a nod to the passing of twenty years. In fact, the opening wouldn't have been so bad had there been a little more focus on that - say, a little more explanation for what had happened in between times. What has Lord F been up to in all this time, for instance?
But part of the problem is it only briefly mentioned the passing of twenty years. Instead, much of it was taken up with Verruca bellyaching in a deeply unfunny way about her job, as though we're expected to care about that when we only first laid eyes on her thirty seconds earlier. It's not entertaining, it's not relevant, and it's not needed. All it does is delay the start of what people actually want to see.
As I say, it would be a lot, lot better if they just didn't bother with assistants at all. Then they wouldn't have to waste time with an introduction scene for them, they wouldn't keep getting in Treguard's way, and they wouldn't keep reducing him to a parody of himself.
I don't mean to give the impression that I didn't like the episode, or that I have an aggressive hatred for Verruca/Daisy. Neither is the case. But I do think Knightmare should stop doing these over-developed 'comedy' intros, if only because they're never anywhere near as funny as they seem to imagine they are.
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OK: some notes on the reprised Knightmare.
Google didn't want us to show them what a new show would look like, and although they wanted the players to be adult geeks, they were hooked on nostalgia, They also wanted me to take full advantage of two new members of cast who were brought in by them at no small expense. Actually I thought both new girls were excellent.
When it became clear that we had neither the time nor cash to rebuild the live set, I opted for a virtual one as the only choice. We had no time in which to build anything more than basic, so to conceal its deficiencies I packed the opening with a few special effects (like Treguard's transformation) to 'busy' things up. Unfortunately this had the side-effect of slowing things down, and the front of the programme lacked pace. For those of you who remember the Knighmares of the 80s with the aid of 19 years worth of rose-tinted glasses, I would remind you that those programmes often had less pace than a tortoise.
Setting the game difficulty level for a team of highly intelligent adults (no matter what some of you thought of them - they were just that), was also problematic. And I thought we got that about right. Few of the best children's teams would have survived the 18 odd minutes of game-play we threw at them, let alone the scenes you did not see. They coped faultlessly with most of the logic puzzles, and were cruising towards a point when we were planning to freeze time and give them an honourable draw, when they suddenly did something quite silly and killed off their dungeoneer. The credit for this goes to 'Slice Me Dice Me' simply one of the best puzzles we've ever used in Knightmare, and one which also offers immense flexibility and genuine threat.
This team of adults were so intimidated by the giant blades that they neglected to 'shuffle' Stuart to the edge of his 'safe' pallet, from which point the jump to the next causeway was practical.
Given the unexpected bonus of a dramatic ending to the show, I then had to chop seven minutes from the adventure scenario in order to accommodate it, and I don't regret doing so, even if some of the edits did inevitable telegraph themselves even to an inexpert audience. Losing a couple of strategic cut-aways to a software glitz when encoding, didn't help either.
It was interesting and intriguing pitching game at adults, the more so because there is little chance in today's market for Knightmare re-emerging as a children’s show. Neither is it likely to re-appear in a half hour format, because today even game-show formats eschew this, and a dramatised adventure game of any ambition will need more time and space to breath.
The short form also renders them financially prohibitive.
I understand why some of you felt moved to criticise, but believe me when I claim pre-eminence in the matter of criticism. Although I’m saddened that some of you didn’t like the new show, it doesn’t particularly surprise me. It wasn’t made only for you, but to address the demands of a commercial client who had their own legitimate agenda, and no vested interest in the future or otherwise of the format.
TC
Great to hear from the legend and the brains behind Knightmare! Apart from first few minutes, and considering the constraints you have mentioned, I thought it was a great effort for one episode and first since 1994 and thanks a million!
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You know what, I didn't consider the fact this was being worked on to a supplied brief - it didn't occur to me at all but makes complete sense.
I have had a second watch through and whilst I stand by my comments in my original post, it is still good to have had something, albeit not quite what we are used to, of Knightmare. Whilst there is something in it for us oldies, I do hope this raises the profile for the young 'uns, what with the trendy YouTube kids being on it. I am definitely old, I have no clue who the advisers were!! At least I am cool enough to say I knew who Ashens was!!
I still think it sounded like wtf though...!
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Watched on the commute to work at 8am. Loved it!
Thought the team playing were great. I'm not too concerned as to how they played it - I'd have actually been more disappointed if the production was played as straight as the original shows. Both the team and production were faithful to the format/game while acknowledging - and having fun with - its aged audience.
Thanks to all involved in this production - a fitting and loving tribute, paving the way for something new! Considering this was only filmed a fortnight ago, that's a pretty tight turnaround to get it edited. I can imagine the budget was extremely tight too and suspect that there were a lot of contributors working above and beyond in order to make this production happen. Particularly delighted Mark Knight flew over to reprise Lord Fear - that's real commitment by all to ensuring this would be something special!
In terms of future... A web-series production seems the ideal platform for Knightmare (a Kickstarter campaign?! I'd chip in to production costs for the chance to be a dungeoneer!) I'd hope that the show would evolve though as it has done here...
If this is to be the end, I'm really happy for the show to have had its own opportunity to say 'goodbye'. It helps close the chapter on a very distraught 10-year-old searching the September TV listings from 1995 onwards!
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it is a bleak opinion, but that's because my childhood tv show has now been reduced to being a parody of itself for 'youtube emo celebs'
Those "youtube emo celebs" (a term that I strongly disagree with and suggest you may wish to drop) are helping to get "your" childhood tv show back.
Not that I want to be a purist but this really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.. and it's all down to the teams. In particular the two emo blokes. They didn't even come prepaid with pad and pencil."
Might I be so bold as to suggest you conduct a little fact-finding before forming your conclusions? Particularly if you're going to be so negative and particularly if you're going to state them publicly?
Are you under the impression that previous teams have provided their own note-taking equipment and that this team simply couldn't be bothered? Is that your assumption?
They were trying so hard to find a way to crack a joke and live up to their 'stage personality' pity they couldn't be themselves.
I met them and hung out with them back stage. I therefore feel that I can say with some degree of authority...
They were being themselves.
But as I say it shows that a updated version can work and I take note this was kinda cobbled together for youtube.
This is perhaps the most confusing statement that you've made. You say that "it shows a updated version can work". However, you've attacked every(?) difference between this episode and previous episodes of Knightmare shown on YouTube. So exactly what "updates" do you believe are shown to have worked in this episode?
Far be it from me to come across as sycophantic. There are things in the episode that I wouldn't have done, there are a couple of bits that needed a tweak, and there are highs and lows to the episode as is the case with every episode of Knightmare; If every episode was nothing but floor puzzles, I think it would quickly get boring.
However, the general style and feel of the episode is what matters, not the specific individual encounters, nor the individual team. You're writing off an entire concept based on a few encounters and one single team. But I feel confident that the same could be done with virtually any series of Knightmare.
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I loved it. I thought it was fun, I thought it was fresh without turning its back on what we know as Knightmare, and I think it's been a long time coming!
So there were cuts and shakes and things we might not have chosen for a new ep. We forget that we're the diehard fans that know the original series inside out, and in reality it was not made for us alone. The whole thing was a brilliant nod to something that still entertains two decades on, and the crew behind it had a lot more to consider than they would if they were making it for the fandom with a large budget to blow.
Tim did a stellar job and you know what? He got us talking. He may even be taking notes right now, just in case...
I will be holding my breath for an online Series 9. Dreaming? Maybe. But this is the best thing that has happened in the fandom for a long time and I'm not going to waste my breath being closely critical.
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It was like I was ten years old again, just for 30 minutes. The first time in almost 20 years I was watching an episode of Knightmare and I didn't know what was coming next. For me, that was the most important thing. I just hope we don't have to wait another 20 years for the next one.
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In my opinion, the introduction is necessary, little more than an extension of a typical "team intro", and does little harm. I suspect that an equally sized group of people would have whined had there been no real nod to the passing of 20 years.
Ah, but nobody's objecting to there being a nod to the passing of twenty years. In fact, the opening wouldn't have been so bad had there been a little more focus on that - say, a little more explanation for what had happened in between times. What has Lord F been up to in all this time, for instance?
And thereby immediately alienate, right at the critical time period, the much bigger audience who either doesn't know or doesn't remember, but is somehow expected to care, who or what "a Lord Fear" is?
But part of the problem is it only briefly mentioned the passing of twenty years. Instead, much of it was taken up with Verruca bellyaching in a deeply unfunny way about her job, as though we're expected to care about that when we only first laid eyes on her thirty seconds earlier.
As far as I can see, she only does this between 1:47 and 2:30. A mere 43 seconds. During which, she makes a couple of jokes and refers to an NPC that we meet later. Also during these 43 seconds, Daisy explains a great deal about the dungeon. She refers to magic, she states that the dungeon is full of "creatures of darkness" and she implies that she has a recent, working knowledge of the dungeon.
You might think that's wasted time, but consider that in a mere 43 seconds, she's explained who she is, why she's there, what she'll do, who Treguard is, and the nature of the dungeon. To someone who doesn't know what Knightmare is, or only vaguely remembers it, that's critical information that's been provided upfront and helps ensure that they continue to watch. Even to you, who knows most of that, she's given you her name and purpose.
It's not entertaining, it's not relevant, and it's not needed. All it does is delay the start of what people actually want to see.
No. It delays the start of what you and I want to see. It is essential information to anyone who comes to this with significantly less knowledge.
As I say, it would be a lot, lot better if they just didn't bother with assistants at all. Then they wouldn't have to waste time with an introduction scene for them, they wouldn't keep getting in Treguard's way, and they wouldn't keep reducing him to a parody of himself.
Well, that's simply a subjective "taste" thing, and I can't argue with that. It is by no means a unanimous view, and had there been no assistant then I'm sure another bunch of people would be clamouring for one. Either way, the production team appear to lose.
Of course, if it was Treguard on his own, it would be a little shorter. Though I imagine you'd still have similar references to the dungeon being "full of monsters" and the presence of "magic" in order to explain to the audience what's going on.
I don't mean to give the impression that I didn't like the episode, or that I have an aggressive hatred for Verruca/Daisy. Neither is the case.
/quote]
No worried. For the record, you're not giving such an impression
But I do think Knightmare should stop doing these over-developed 'comedy' intros, if only because they're never anywhere near as funny as they seem to imagine they are.
With respect, that's your subjective view, and shouldn't really be presented as a fact.
You don't find them as funny as they were intended. It doesn't mean that they aren't as funny as was intended.
Looking at the youtube stats there are 7193 "likes" and 170 "dislikes" giving an approval rating of 97.7% from the target audience. On the whole, I'd have to say that the episode has therefore been a success and did its job.
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Just saw the geek week episode, I thought it was great:) Whether this was a one of reprise or sparks a new era, thank you sincerely Tim and all involved. Loving Lord Fear looking majestic under the shards of light there.
Yep Hugo's Barnet and general youthfulness has faired a lot better than many of the 30 somethings from the first time round .
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@Kully: I agree. In fact, I think most of my post is just a poorer phrased version of yours
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Not that I want to be a purist but this really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.. and it's all down to the teams. In particular the two emo blokes. They didn't even come prepaid with pad and pencil."
Might I be so bold as to suggest you conduct a little fact-finding before forming your conclusions? Particularly if you're going to be so negative and particularly if you're going to state them publicly?
Are you under the impression that previous teams have provided their own note-taking equipment and that this team simply couldn't be bothered? Is that your assumption?
They were trying so hard to find a way to crack a joke and live up to their 'stage personality' pity they couldn't be themselves.
I met them and hung out with them back stage. I therefore feel that I can say with some degree of authority...
They were being themselves.
But as I say it shows that a updated version can work and I take note this was kinda cobbled together for youtube.
This is perhaps the most confusing statement that you've made. You say that "it shows a updated version can work". However, you've attacked every(?) difference between this episode and previous episodes of Knightmare shown on YouTube. So exactly what "updates" do you believe are shown to have worked in this episode?
UGH, my comment regarding the pad and pencil was OBVOUSLY A JOKE.
The team came across as jokey and if they can have a joke then so can the rest of us, this isn't me knocking them it just an observation, it's laughing with them not at them, they always gave the impression they were looking for something silly to say, that was clearly the catch, hence they were on the show.
I don't feel the need to repeat all the positives with the episode everyone has already done that. As i clearly said this is kinda like a demo/prototype/pilot in which a proper production would iron out all those little issues everyone has spoken about which i decided not to comment on, theses things were clearly 'unfinished' you could say, because of the tight restrictions. budgets, time scale it was made under, (sound effects, editing, character interaction, main chamber and so on) and i applaud what they did in such a short time. It had all the right ingredients. And quite frankly others have said pretty negative things about the episode too.
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If this is to be the end, I'm really happy for the show to have had its own opportunity to say 'goodbye'. It helps close the chapter on a very distraught 10-year-old searching the September TV listings from 1995 onwards!
Definitely a better coda to the show than Knightmare VR if it does turn out to be the very last really-this-time ever episode, I'm sure everyone can agree!
wonders idly if it's going to be bunged in with the S8 rights if Challenge get that far
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How about someone remixes the episode to add all the correct Knightmare things, and get rid of some stupid parts of the opening? Also put the full ending music on, proper lifeforce, etc. That'd be very doable.
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I think some people were expecting a perfect, jaw-dropping "Series 9" of an episode that was going to absolutely blow them away and be the best episode ever made in the history of the show, or at least near. Secretly so did I but that was always going to be impossible - it was only filmed a few weeks ago and they've had to rush-edit it to be out in time for today, so it was never going to happen.
What they have made, given the time and budget constraints, is utterly bloody brilliant. Definitely don't agree that it should be lumped in the same category as Knightmare VR or Doctor Who's 'Dimensions in Time' - the former was a brave attempt at rebooting the show for the noughties, the latter perhaps the worst episode of DW ever made . This for what it is may have been a little rough around the edges but is by far the best thing to come out of the show since the final episode of Series 8 left our screens nineteen(!) years ago.
Highlights:
[*]Hugo, Mark and Cliff. But was that ever in question? Save for a grey hair or two it was like they'd never been away, perfectly slipping back into their characters after two decades. Would have liked to have seen a Series 1-2 era Treguard but thankfully we got a little of that right at the end.
[*]Very very happy to see such a great mix of all eras of the show - including the best thing to come out of KMVR (Slice Me Dice Me) all together. Bizarre to think that was the first episode to see both bomb rooms and Lord Fear in together!
[*]Jessie Cave! Despite having perhaps the least knowledge of the show out of all the cast/contestants I was impressed by her portrayal of Theodora, nicely believable and a potential new Elita type.
[*]Great to see it left open-ended with the potential for further adventures with Treguard and Daisy. Can see lots of fanfiction being written exploring the interplay further, and I mean that innocently before anyone enquires
[*]Not in the episode itself but in the YouTube comments, those basically saying "I have no idea what this is but it's amazing and you have to make more!!" should be seen as very positive, successfully grabbing a new audience and what's the betting they'll be Googling 'Knightmare' and finding this site, or tuning into Challenge this Friday?
Not gonna use the term "lowlights" but on my first viewing it took me a while to work out what to make of it simply because of the editing issues. Again I understand that this was lack of time and money, even so the several awkward pauses, missing dialogue lines/sound effects/music and jump cuts are a great shame and make me wish Geek Week could have been delayed a month or two so they could have done a proper editing job. It has the unintended effect at points of making the show seem cheap, stilted and most importantly slow, when any episode from about Series 2 onwards (with a much higher budget!) shows this was never the case. I've seen some say that there was a lack of fear and save for a bit of worry at Ariadne and the SMDM blades the quest was something of a pleasant stroll, however I understand that some of it may have been cut in order to fit it into 25 minutes. There's a moment in the first spyglass scene where either Dan or Phil is seen clearly frantically shouting at Stuart to put the spyglass down...however not only is this seen in silence due to an editing error (so it's just him waving his hands around in panic for no reason) but it comes several seconds before the fireball actually appears, so in that instance a potential nice moment was sadly lost. It's just one of the visual/audio shortcomings that with just a bit more time could have been made much better.
Second time I put all technical aspects out of my mind and watched it more for the show itself and enjoyed it a lot more. I hope Tim doesn't take some of the more negative reactions here as the general fan consensus, when looking at the Youtube comments this is definitely not the case and it seems to be genuinely enjoyed by many.
Will this lead onto a new series? Gosh I hope so. If yes, bring it on. If not then it's a shame but even just a year ago I would have never predicted any of the excitement we've had in KM land this year, this especially. What I am is immensely chuffed to finally see a new episode of the show and extend my hearty congrats to all involved - please let this lead onto more awesomeness! The inner child in me salutes you
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Well said.
Due to the circumstances this was made under i don't think it's fair to fault the technical stuff, which is why i didn't focus on that in my previous comments. The only thing that really didn't work was the cheesy intro, but doing it in such a tight time scale i guess they had to make do.
I just hope a new generation of KM fan and keep it alive, i also hope any new series would have a proper revival story, this being a 'celebrity special' isn't always the best way to bridge the gap,
So am i the only one who liked the Jester then?
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So am i the only one who liked the Jester then?
No I thought he was brilliant, creepy and enigmatic, the perfect Knightmare character.
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