The new KM episode is up!
-
This is a screenshot of the web stats for August.
Any guesses for the day on which the Knightmare episode aired?
-
Firstly, I can’t quite stress enough how happy I felt when the news came through of a new special episode of Knightmare for YouTube. Also like a child, I was counting down the days until it was released! Yesterday was truly one of the biggest highlights for me in several years. That says an awful lot for a Children’s adventure show which last aired 19 years ago.
As a fan of the later series, I was over the moon to see the later opening titles retained - which in my opinion are the ‘strongest’ by quite some margin. I couldn’t help but throw a clenched fist into the air and whisper “yes!” under my breath. Knightmare is back...!
I expected a big ‘build up’ to Treguard’s return and that’s what we got. There’s several ways it could have been done and yes, I would have done it a bit differently too. Yes, what we got was a little long-winded but I had no issue with Daisy/ Verucca as a character. She could easily be developed as Treguard’s new helper should he need one. She’s much, MUCH better than Majida who I always found rather grating.
Treguard, as ever, superb once he was woken up! He hasn’t lost any of his magic at all. He’s aged considerably better than me over the last 19 years and slipped straight back into his role with ease. It’s the same story with both Lord Fear and Lissard. Both were more or less ‘as you were’. Three very fine actors (special thanks especially to Mark Knight for flying across to film the special) and certainly characters to define Knightmare. Once again, first class performances all round. Excellent.
There’s a heck of a lot of potential for Sylvester. Knightmare, being a dark sombre dungeon, deserves a sorry looking Jester. I thought he fitted in perfectly. Also, did anyone notice the worn looking red and yellow prop he was carrying in one of his hands? A nod to good old Motley by any chance...?! Didn’t he used to hold that?! A very nice touch if so...!
The only character I didn’t really warm to was Theodora Snitch. Maybe it’s because we only met her the once...?
The team? A lot of people have groaned on about them and asked why were they there. The reason for adults on this was because as it suggests - it’s YouTube Geek Week putting the best British YouTuber’s together. They won’t be children..! For this one-off special I had and still have absolutely no problem with adults participating. It’s just a bit different. Yes, the lads were a bit too chatty for their own good and did spoil some of the old atmosphere but come on, they really weren’t that bad considering it’s a one-off episode. There’s several teams from ‘proper’ Knightmare that annoyed me more so. The girl, Emma Blackery, is actually someone who I already subscribe to on YouTube (I was pleasantly surprised to see her take part!) and as the episode progressed, it was clear she was taking it more seriously.
The rooms used? Well, as we know there wasn’t time to build a new set for Treguard. Of course that would have been ideal but if there wasn’t the time - then there wasn’t the time. No, I wasn’t very happy with the rather basic looking GCI effort but under the circumstances, acceptable for a single episode. Barring cheap looking cobwebs (again, acceptable under the limitations), the rooms used in the quest looked pretty damn good to me. Like ‘polished’ and cleaned up versions of older rooms. Very little to grumble about here. I would have liked to have seen a larger mix used but there we go... Overall, I thought they looked almost production/television ready. My jaw dropped when the ‘Slice Me, Dice Me’ appeared! I never expected that to actually be used! I loved the background noises for it - very intimidating. It’s a pity there was no graphics for the scroll reading or the showing of a hand raising the spy glass (it was just immediately ‘there’ already activated) but again, acceptable and understandable given the limitations. It’s the same story with the door sequences. They were just some rough edges which I’m sure would very easily be resolved with a little more time and money. Absolutely fine for a YouTube special put together with little time.
The last few minutes were brilliant. Okay, I know the death got some laughs (I must admit that even I found myself sniggering at it and the ‘whilstle’ sound as he dropped to his doom! ) but come on fellow fans - don’t take it too seriously. It’s a special one-off episode with adults - not part of the series. If you want to take some positives, Emma was rather subdued. Treguard’s “Ohhhhhh nasty” was one of the best examples of his famous phrase where it sounded pretty painful and sincere to me! Delayed, I admit but given the previous few seconds, who can blame him?! Of course, with children taking part it would have been different. The hairs on my neck and arms also stood up on end when Daisy and Treguard appeared in that stone coridoor. His deep, echoing and somewhat domineering voice was just as scary as I remember it as a child. Top work to Hugo, there. Also more importantly, it was left open-ended.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion about it and I’ve read more or less the whole of this thread. With the greatest of respect, I do feel that some people have been overly critical and harsh on this episode. Infact as a fan, I feel like apologising to Tim Child on behalf of some of the comments I’ve read which even I’ve felt rather upset by.
I have to say I’m very impressed with what has been made. Given the fact it’s not even a televised special episode, I really don’t think Tim Child and his crew really could have done much better. Yes, there’s the odd rough edge and Tregard’s GCI chamber was pretty poor/basic but please remember - it was made with tight time constraints and I suspect with very little money. It was also aimed at a much wider audience than just the older Knightmare fans. I fully understand and respect all of that and I’ve reflected upon this in my own review.
If they can produce something like that - which in my opinion wasn’t all that far off television quality with what little they’ve had, just imagine what could be done with just another few days worth of editing and a huge heap of money from a broadcaster? We’d end up with one seriously polished and accomplished Knightmare - as long as the original format was retained (it’s the only way it works if you ask me). This YouTube one-off has just galvanised my own opinion that the existing formula still very much works after all these years. However I do agree having children back, or even teens for ease/speed in a ‘proper’ Knightmare series, would be better overall for the game and the atmosphere.
So, there you go. With the restrictions in place I’d certainly rate it as a good, solid 8/10. Excellent work all round and I only hope this can be the launch-pad for perhaps some more episodes in the future if there’s no possibility for an entire series.
Again Mr Child, I can’t thank you enough for not only the many memories of Knightmare and the countless hours of fun it brought to me and my friends attempting to play it out in the school playground, but also for putting together this new special episode. I’ll always be grateful for this. I only hope you don’t take some criticisms from others here too much to heart. I for one certainly appreciate the effort you and all your team have put in to make this. Not just for us, but to also try and introduce it to a wider, newer audience.
I’m also pleased to report that because of this episode (and Knightmare Live), has put me back in touch with an old friend (and fellow Knightmare fan) of whom I’ve not actually seen for close to ten years. So again, thank you to Mr Child on that, too!
-
Regarding a commentary for the episode...
I could try to have a word with the contestants and/or cast and see if any of them would be interested. As a last resort, I was obviously there, so may be able to provide some additional information.
Let me think of the best way to approach it. Pester me if I haven't done anything in a couple of weeks
-
~ I too was fairly confused by the scene in the ex-Hall of Spears - there was nothing to stop them from simply exiting through the open door, and normally when a bomb is present, the thing to do is RUNNNNN!, so it was weird when they decided to light the fuse instead.
During the first spyglass scene, Lord Fear implied that the team would have to take care of Ariadne to stop her taking care of them. It's interesting to learn that some of her pursuit of Stuart was cut though. And bombing the old dear was a little harsh. A giant glass or a magic torrent of water might have been more humane. It would also have meant that we didn't have two explosion scenes in a row.
Can't say I feel that much fondness towards [Daisy] so far, but there are many characters I was initially iffy about (e.g. Majida, Lissard) who grew on me enormously over time, so I expect she will too.
This is an important consideration. In my opinion, one episode is too soon to judge a Knightmare character. Most of them are defined by their recurrence: how often we see them, how (un)expectedly we see them, what they do predictably (e.g. catchphrases) and what they do unpredictably. Any opinions formed about Geek Week Knightmare's new characters could easily shift if we were to see more of them. For example, although I wasn't enthralled by Sylvester, I'm intrigued by the idea that he may be more than a jester.
Did anyone notice that Treguard referred to Series 1-8, or perhaps just Series 8, as the Age of the Dragons? Does that mean that something serious has happened to Smirkenorff, Firestorm and Owen since then?
-
Did anyone notice that Treguard referred to Series 1-8, or perhaps just Series 8, as the Age of the Dragons? Does that mean that something serious has happened to Smirkenorff, Firestorm and Owen since then?
I noticed that! My first thought was, "SMIRKENORFF'S DEAD!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! "
-
Did anyone notice that Treguard referred to Series 1-8, or perhaps just Series 8, as the Age of the Dragons? Does that mean that something serious has happened to Smirkenorff, Firestorm and Owen since then?
I noticed that! My first thought was, "SMIRKENORFF'S DEAD!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! "
Perhaps, but the REFRESH spell restored Treguard to his youth and their adventure took them through all the rooms that were destroyed at the end of Series 3, so I wouldn't be surprised if the dragons came back as well!
And bombing the old dear was a little harsh. A giant glass or a magic torrent of water might have been more humane.
Haha, indeed!
-
"Age Of The Dragons" could mean almost anything though. 'Dragon' means 'leader' or King in the tongue of the Ancient Britons, so it might be a reference to great leader figures, and there were plenty of them in the mid-to-late seasons. Or it could mean wyrms, but only a time when they were a lot more active. Or before the climate became so cold that they had to fly south, or go into hibernation.
The line was probably just a quick cover so they didn't have to say, "Well, we can't afford to build a big animatronic dragon on an internet-episode budget, and going back to a hand-painted dragon's head in this day and age would make it all too obvious just how small the budget is."
-
There hasn't been a great deal to talk about from my perspective for quite a while. Before I start on my thoughts well done to the Knightmare Live gang for doing an excellent job elsewhere and good luck in the fringe - I full enjoyed my time performing there 10 years ago..where does my age go *sob
As for the latest 'official' episode. It came from nowhere having had a short announcement a few days before. I have to say I really, really enjoyed it. It was mickey taking but in such an affectionate 'this is how it used to work' sort of way.
The performances of Hugo, Mark and Cliff were at all times credible and true to to the characters we knew as well as sterling work from the supporting cast. The scenarios a refreshing mix of cheekiness and loving throw backs to all manner of things with excellent graphics and appropiate effects thrown in.
There were obvious cuts and that is about the only negative I can say of this. There needs to be a 20 year timegap before I can go into nitpicker central. If anything, it proved there is more than life in the concept still but either way a great job. Thankyou for making me go further back in my youth than my Edinburgh days!
Tim, if it's all possible can you provide dvds of a final edit of this at all...or will this be a bonus feature on a proper release?
-
Tim, if it's all possible can you provide dvds of a final edit of this at all...or will this be a bonus feature on a proper release?
I think someone else further up on this thread requested sight of the additional cut footage and if it would be possible, it would be amazing to see this, please, in whatever format possible!!
-
We went down that route a few years ago, and it had nowhere near enough support.
Sadly.
-
I didn't realise it had a name, lol so does anyone know what 'swords and sorcery' was? When I applied to be on the show we received the 'blue letter of death' confirming the shows cancellation and was being replaced by a new show 'swords and sorcery' I believe they called it. Instead it was replaced by a fish.
-
so does anyone know what 'swords and sorcery' was? When I applied to be on the show we received the 'blue letter of death' confirming the shows cancellation and was being replaced by a new show 'swords and sorcery' I believe they called it.
I think you're referring to The Sword of the Sorcerer.
-
For those already asking, a full edit of and including all the material shot and played in Norwich on July 24/25 will be completed by september and will be made available via an Internet link in due course. This includes the Fountain of energy - described by Theodora Snitch (but deleted), allowing leaks from the Fountain in Level One to fall into Levels two and three, providing emergency energy renewal.
Its a feature you are all going to like, but as a gamestmaster, its partricularly useful for one can place it in perilous positions, forcing the players to take the risk, or not. Look on the end credit screen of the Youtube version and you will see it previewed.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login