A moving documentary of a kingdom's descent into war. (Knightmare)

Member Name: Deep_Fort

Product:	Knightmare
Date:	20/10/09 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It is the only record we have of this turbulent time in the land of Knightmare.

Disadvantages: We will never know how it ended.

This show was originally broadcast over 7 years from 1987 to 1994 and followed the exploits of numerous young people as they attempted to make their way through a dungeon located under Knightmare Castle.

Although the adventurers were always 'summoned' by the Dungeon Master Treguard of Dunshelme there is the suggestion that they were expecting such action as they are never completely unprepared. Just where they were summoned from is never revealed.

The dungeon under Knightmare castle is hugely expansive and possible encorporates a dimension shift as it is populated by a wide variety of characters and includes some chambers which appear to be outside and even occasionally in deep space.

Although it is never specifically mentioned, Treguard's tenure as dungeon master is so long, and he seems at times so frustrated by the dungeoneers, that it has been suggested that he is serving some kind of sentence and can never leave his castle. This gives him plenty of time to think up witty rhymes.

In the period first recorded the land of the dungeon appears to be at peace. There are no 'good' or 'evil' characters and even the most negative character (Mogdred) seeks only to scare the dungeoneers into making a mistake. At one point in the old timeline it is known that as a result of Mogdred's actions two tragically dungeoneers died and this is often posited as one of the causes of the Old War.

Merlin, previously tolerant of Mogdred's behaviour, found his hand forced by this unfortunate death and - as had long been prophesied - the inhabits of the land divided into two sides. On one hand there were those who saw the dungeoneers as intruders and upheld that not only should Mogdred not be punished but that he should be praised for seeing off the out-worlders. On the other hand there were those who wished to protect the dungeoneers and seek justice on their behalf.

Although the beginnings of the Old War were never televised, by the showing of the fifth age the world of Knightmare had much changed. Treguard was no longer an impartial figure but stood by his dungeoneers as a force for good. He also harboured many of those made homeless by the war and in particular found love with his manservant Pickles. This ended in tears however when Pickles returned to the wood from whence he came. His replacement Majida was never fully trusted by Treguard.

Merlin and Mogdred both fell in the Old War and the side known by Treguard as 'the opposition' found themselves led by the nefarious Lord Fear. Although the war had started in Treguard's basement Lord Fear now used it as an excuse to wage death and destruction across the land. As a result the dungeoneers no longer battled under Knightmare castle but flew around on a dragon fighting Lord Fear's minions where ever they found them.

Aside from Treguard the only other known survivor from the first age was Hordriss the confuser who was possibley able to use his skills as a confuser to confuse anyone who should try and slay him. Thus confused they would not notice his excape.

It is not known how the conflict between the 'Powers That Be' and the 'Opposition' ended as after the showing of the eighth age a journalist from our world was captured by Lord Fear and as a result the British Embassy deemed it unsafe for travel. Henceforth no television crews have been allowed into the country.

We can speculate on a rather disastorous outcome for Treguard and his allies though. Their reliance on using mostly 11-16 year olds to wage their war surely led to their destruction as during all the showing not one dungeoneer succeeded in finishing their quest. In all honesty, more recent commentators have questioned the ethics of using pre-pubescent foreigners to wage war on the behalf of a number of indigenous adults who were clearly much better equiped with knowledge and experience. As Treguard oft said: 'Oooh, Nasty'.

Summary: Well worth a rent.