The
lowdown: 'Knights of God' is a 13-part children's
drama series that was broadcast on ITV1 between 6 September and
6 December 1987. It has
the distinction of being Patrick Troughton's last broadcast television
role, although he had been in
several other programs that
were shown before this one. The series is set in a dystopian Britain in
2020, in the aftermath of
a civil war which destroyed
London and resulted in the deaths of the royal family. Britain is now ruled
by the Knights of God,
a fascist religious order
led by Prior Mordrin (John Woodvine). Troughton is Arthur, the leader of
the resistance movement in
England, who is determined
to overthrow Mordrin and restore democracy. During the course of the series
Arthur reveals that
Mordrin is actually his
son. Gareth Thomas of Blake's 7 fame is Owen Edwards, the leader
of the resistance in Wales, and
George Winter is his son,
Gervase, whom the viewer quickly learns has a great destiny.
When Mordrin learns that
Gervase is Owen Edwards' son, he persuades him to join the Knights of God
and uses drugs to
brainwash him into killing
Mordrin's greatest enemy - apparently the leader of the resistance. However,
Arthur reveals that
one member of the royal
family survived, and it is this rightful king of England whom Mordrin wants
to destroy. Meanwhile,
Mordrin plans to crown himself
king, but faces a threat from within when his second-in-command Brother
Hugo plots to take
his place. Gervase is put
on trial by the resistance for killing one of them during an ambush, and
ordered to live in exile with
no help from the resistance.
However, Arthur sends him on a secret mission to locate the true king.
It is then revealed that
Gervase himself is the king
(although most viewers will probably have figured this out already), and
he has been protected
by Arthur and Owen for many
years, until the time was right for him to reclaim the throne. Mordrin
is killed by Owen, and
Arthur tells Gervase to
rule wisely. 'Knights of God' is a superb drama that should appeal
to adults as well as children, and
it is a shame that it was
only shown on Britisn TV once and was never released on VHS or DVD.
Who
connections: John Woodvine of course played the Marshal
in The Armageddon Factor, while the series also features
Don Henderson (Gavrok in
Delta
and the Bannermen) as an English resistance fighter, while Christoper
Bowen (Mordred in
Battlefield) had
a brief role as a helicopter pilot. Peter Childs (The Mark of the Rani),
John Hallam (Light in Ghost Light) and
Doctor Who regular
Michael Sheard also had brief roles.
Video: Arthur
and Owen 8.4mb
The truth about Mordrin
1.7mb
Sentenced
to exile 3.0mb |
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