As an older teenager myself, I think this sounds awesome. The characters seem pretty intriguing. I especially like the idea of leaning more into the dungeon as an entity, and the idea of trying to communicate or reason with it. The dungeon is dangerous enough as just a place, but it's always thrilling when the land around you consciously and actively wants you dead.

The Sorcerer's Isle was the first Knightmare book I ever read, and personally I think it has the best gamebook section out of all of them. I remember spending ages trying to find the best possible route through it.

Well, in the words of Knightmare's very first: "Every hero should meet a dragon".

This post made me re-watch the opening sequence closely, and wow, that is a lot of dragons. Which made me very happy for obvious reasons.

But seriously, I guess that dragons have simply evolved to become a symbol of a quest, perhaps even more so than the Chalice. I could be mistaken, but there seems to be far less grail imagery in the latter series.

And there were just more dragons featured in series 6-8, with Smirkenorff being upgraded to a speaking role as well.

And honestly, is there such thing as too many dragons?

Hi! An excellent list, with many great shows on it and many more I'll have to check out. You clearly know your stuff.

If you're looking to expand the list, I suggest you have a look at Jungle Run, Don't Unleash the Beast or Escape From Scorpion Island. And I'm sure everyone on here would recommend you check out the rest of the Broadsword Cinematic Universe.

I'm glad you decided to pop in.

To be honest, I think the lyrics are pretty fitting for Knightmare, even without editing. But here is my contribution. I call it: We Close the Visor, by Sidestep Left.

---

Inside, everyone roams dungeons dire

Outside, is Winteria's snow

Don't go, too close to Stiletta's knife

Safer just not to go

But we take the challenge

You can almost hear life-force slipping away-ay-ay-ay

We close the visor, we rarely win a game

Imagination makes a blue room not the same

We close the visor to reach the hall of fame

We close the visor when time's turning away

This show, on Friday kids wait for the time

Advisors, what should I say?

And no one listens

You can almost hear life-force slipping away-ay-ay-ay

We close the visor, we rarely win a game

Imagination makes a blue room not the same

We close the visor to reach the hall of fame

We close the visor and

We can talk to strange monks

We are burnt by Bhal-Shebah

And we can cross Dunswater

We are bludgeoned in the dark

We are burning

We close the visor

Heroes never give into Mark Knight

He wants the dungeoneers gone

And he won't surrender

You can almost hear life-force slipping away-ay-ay-ay

We close the visor, we rarely win a game

Imagination makes a blue room not the same

We close the visor to reach the hall of fame

We close the visor

We close the visor, we rarely win a game

Imagination makes a blue room not the same

We close the visor to reach the hall of fame

We close the visor

We close the visor, ooh nasty

We cross Dunswater

Stabbed and we are maimed

We are burning

You get a tooth. A very large, rather slimy, tooth. You’re not quite sure what - or who - it belongs to. It’s far too big to be human but, then again, this is the Knightmare dungeon. Things are rarely the size they should be.

I have a coin, so I insert it.

This being her last appearance, we never do find out why Aesandre hates blondes so much. Does she have a dark and traumatic history with a unknown fair-haired figure? Or maybe it has something to do with a certain White Witch?

But the real question is what Lord Fear would have done if Kelly was a brunette.

If the Cup that Heals is the Holy Grail, then does that mean the Sword of Freedom is Excalibur? Julie did have to pull it out of a stone after all.

And if that’s the case, what are the counterparts of the Crowning Glory and the Shield (who’s title I cannot recall)? Crowns and shields scarcely take center stage in legends.

Then again I could have forgotten something obvious. Or maybe there isn’t any secret symbolism behind the quest objects. Either way, I’m curious to hear what you think.

At the moment I am watching my box set of 'The Adventure Game'.

Ha! I love the Adventure Game. My Mum introduced me to it when I was younger. Escape rooms, riddles, shapeshifting space dragons... What’s not to love?

But back on point, I only have a few memories of watching as a young kid mainly of series 1 and 2 but I’m willing to share them.

First: Owen. Once again, the dragon catches my attention. I remember really liking the animation on the blinking eye. He remains my favourite character, Gwendoline the Green Warden being second.

Next: The life force clock. I actually missed a couple of episodes, it frightened me so much, but it soon dragged me back in. I was convinced that the life force was the dungeoneer’s soul, and that they would return home as an empty husk. Strange how your mind loves to make things even scarier than they actually were.

Next: Lillith. There was something gloriously sinister about her and little 5-year-old me believed every word she said. When you’re more powerful than the powers that be...

Finally: Wall monsters, or just clue rooms in general. I only remembered Granitas and Igneous, though. Olgarth was completely wiped from my memory. Maybe because his name doesn’t have anything to do with rocks. The clue object that really stuck with me was the ruby in the first episode. I always picture it when I think of Knightmare.

Personally, I think the second series was the greatest, but I quite liked seeing outdoor locations. What I didn’t like was when they used a photo for a room background. I always found that the lighting was slightly problematic

I’m glad you caught my references.

I didn’t know about the reused scenario, Drassil, and after reading about it, it has sparked a few more theories.

First of all, it says that Fay’s two main scenes, the one where she is under the ice and the one where she gives the prophecy to Will, were both originally done by those who are dead (e.g. the spirits and an undead creature.

Leading to my new theory: Fay is dead.

It makes sense. Treguard would have certainly had nieces and nephews. He had three older brothers, and all of them would have been expected to get married and have children. And all the Dunshelms died. So maybe Fay perished in the fight, but her spirit lived on. Why? Well I’m moving on to that.

The early dungeon was full of hauntings; cavern wraiths and skull ghosts to name a few. A place like Knightmare Castle is bound to have some spirits lurking about, so why not the ones of people killed within its very walls. It makes sense for them to be vengeful. Although if Treguard knew they were his relations… Maybe let’s not go there.

But I’m pretty sure Fay was not a floating sheet, nor a skull. She seemed very human. Which takes me to part two of the theory: Fay is an oracle.

So maybe the oracles aren’t dead, but they don’t look very alive either. They certainly look other-worldly. And where did Treguard get that prophecy from? Maybe from Fay herself.

Finally a second theory. Canadanne, your point about her being Treguard’s wife’s niece is interesting. And from that, I give you Fay, niece of Anna, the girl from the fen.

Are these theories ridiculous?

Yes, they are.

Did I really enjoy making them?

Absolutely!

I’m kinda curious about what everyone thinks about Fay. She never appears outside The Dragon’s Lair, and her very existence is suspect.

First things first, she should be dead. All the Dunshelms (bar Treguard, of course) were killed in the battle with Vestan. So how is she alive, how did Treguard find her and why don’t we see her on screen?

My personal theory on this, is that Fay was somehow smuggled out of Dunshelm to Wolfenden before Vestan’s attack. She lived there for years, until suddenly Wolfenden became part of the dungeon. Somehow, her and Treguard meet - maybe something like this:

**A random (obviously not canon) series 6 quest

[Wolfenden village street, Fay standing in the middle. The dungeoneer walks up to her ] **

Advisor: Go say hi.

Dungeoneer: Hi, who are you?

Fay: I'm Fay of Dunshelm. Or at least they say I am, I've never been there.

Treguard: What?!

[He faints. Pickle goes over to him]

Pickle: Don't worry Team. he's not dead, just unconscious.

Well, maybe someone else has a better idea.

So why do we never see her? More theorising, but I think that Fay went and joined the modern world. In both The Forbidden Gate and The Dragon’s Lair, Knightmare Castle is shown to exist in our world. So maybe Fay just spends her time going to school and acting like a normal kid. She certainly seems quite normal, what with her ‘Pop star pin-ups” comment.

Finally, what do you think about Fay being Treguard’s assistant? It would certainly be an interesting dynamic. Fay would definitely respect Treguard, but maybe also be more confident to challege him.

Another thing to think about is how Fay would react around the advisors, bearing in mind that she is roughly the same age (or younger) as them. It might put the younger teams at ease, or just be awkward. Any actor playing her would have to be a kid as well, and that brings up a whole new set of problems.

I, personally, am fine with all this, although Fay calling Treguard “Uncle” might give me flashbacks to Charmian Gradwell and an aspidistra.

So here is my take on Fay. Thank you for reading, if indeed you still are.

Thank you for such a warm welcome, I can’t wait to start contributing.

I hope, for all our sakes, we never see this.

Add accents as you see fit

[Majida stands alone in the antechamber]

Majida: Welcome watchers of illusion, to the castle of confusion. I’m very sorry watchers, but we’re having… staffing problems. Greybeard is unfortunately unavailable…

[There is a sudden noise that sounds like muffled shouting. Majida continues]

M:…but luckily you’ve got me!

[She grabs the staff and taps in to the ground]

M: Enter stranger!

[A male dungeoneer appears. Majida leaps back]

M: No, I don’t want a boy, send him back!

Dungeoneer: But-

[He vanishes, followed by some more muffed shouting. A new dungeoneer appears, a girl this time. The muffled shouting continues.]

M: Better. What is your name?

Dungeoneer: Ruby.

M: Very strange name, but that's typical of humans. Now call your advisors.

Ruby: Clara, Josh, Willow.

[The advisors appear. Josh looks confused.]

Josh: Can any of you hear someone –

M: I can't hear anything.

[The voice falls silent, like it’s been gagged. Majida picks up the quest items from a crumpled pile, almost as if they’d been thrown there during a struggle. She describes the items as she puts them on the dungeoneer.]

M: This is your Knapsack. You put food in it, so you don’t starve. This is the Eyeshield. It allows your friends to see the path ahead, which they’ll need to, as you’ll be wearing the…

[She stops. Her hands are empty. The Helmet of Justice is not there]

M: Oh silly me, I must have left it in… the cupboard.

[She slowly turns towards the cupboard. The shouting restarts, louder than ever. Majida suddenly turns away from it, a fixed smile on her face]

M: But you don’t need to worry about that because you’re going in without it.

R: But the rules say –

M: Forget about the rules, Treguard just makes them up anyway. Besides, it will make it much easier, yes? I always say it’s too difficult. Go now.

[She grabs Ruby and pushes her towards the dungeon entrance. But before she goes through, there’s a flash of red light and Hordriss appears, blocking the way]

Hordriss: What are you thinking, genie? A dungeoneer can’t go into the dungeon without the Helmet of Justice! Especially not after last time! Go get it at once!

[Majida looks from Hordriss to the cupboard to Hordriss again. She crosses her arms and pouts]

M: Shan’t.

H: Shan’t, what do you mean, shan’t? Some assistant you are! It’s in this cupboard isn’t it?

[He goes to open the cupboard]

M: No!

[The cupboard is open, and a very familiar Dungeon Master falls out, tied up like a Christmas present (not literally, I wouldn’t put you through that again). Majida smiles sheepishly]

M: Wow(!) What’s he doing in there?

[All eyes on her. She disappears back to her bottle]

Hello, pleasure to meet you. I am DragonsBeHere, but you can call me Dragon.

I am a teenager, and neither of my parents watched Knightmare, so how do I know about it?

Easy, I time travelled from the 90’s to the future watched the reruns on Challenge as a young kid. I have only vague memories, and none at all from series 8 (although my research indicates that may be a good thing).

Random thought, but did anyone else find that when the teams waved goodbye after dismissed, their eyes looked kinda strange. Maybe it was my incredibly overactive imagination, but it almost looked like they had their souls sucked out…

No, it was my imagination.

If anyone could give me recommendations on which threads to join in with, that would be great.

Thanks for having me,

Dragon