A Different Kind of "Knight's" Tale

George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones novels gained a whole new legion of fans when they were adapted for television by HBO. The series redefined genre television with its cinematic scope, epic storytelling and larger than life characters. The recent prequel series, House of the Dragon, has largely retained the style of the original, but the latest entry in the franchise has a smaller scale, more personal focus in mind.  

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg, tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall, a "hedge knight" from a lowborn background who's a far cry from the larger than life Targaryens and Starks we're used to seeing in the previous iterations of Game of Thrones. After his mentor dies, "Dunk" travels to a tournament where he hopes to prove himself as a knight. Along the way, he encounters Egg, a young boy who offers to be his squire. The two unlikely heroes become friends, but there are challenges ahead that will test not only Duncan's mettle, but their friendship as well.

Set decades before Game of Thrones, this series trades continent-shaking wars, dragon fire and political machinations for something more intimate and emotional: at its heart, the show is a character study. Ser Duncan, who's earnest, kind, and often out of his depth, anchors the narrative as a decent man trying to live up to a knightly ideal in a less than chivalrous world. His companion and squire, the quick-witted Egg, provides both support and wise beyond his years counsel. Their growing friendship and respect for one another is at the heart of this entertaining series.

Despite the fact that, like its sister shows, some of the high born characters in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are unlikable and often downright villainous, there are people like Dunk and Egg who illustrate that decency and kindness still matter, even in an indecent world. The visual style of the series is a bit different from what we've seen before, as the show leans into providing a street-level view of the Game of Thrones universe. Taverns and tents are dirty and dusty, people are unkempt, and often revel in small pleasures like wild dancing, and singing colorful songs about loose women. There's definitely a more irreverent tone on display here than was featured in Game of Thrones, but it works well within the context of the series.

Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg have strong chemistry, and they lead a fine ensemble which also includes Daniel Ings as Lyonel Baratheon and Shaun Thomas as Raymon Fossoway. The series was created by Ira Parker and George R.R. Martin, and the directors for the six-episode first season are Owen Harris and Sarah Adina Smith. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now streaming on HBO Max, and this well-produced, well-acted, character driven tale is worth a look for Game of Thrones fans. The show also might be a good entry point to those new to the franchise. Here's a look at the trailer for the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sItUCKJQLTU.

Ponies: Cold War Spies and 70s Rock & Roll

Haley Lu Richardson and Emilia Clarke

Ponies (Persons Of No Interest) is a well-crafted espionage series now airing on Peacock. It's part Cold War thriller, part character drama, and part buddy comedy. Ponies tells the story of Bea and Twila, two women whose husbands are CIA agents based in Moscow. When their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances, Bea and Twila convince Dane, the CIA station chief, to let them investigate their husbands deaths by working as undercover agents. The women are both given jobs  as secretaries at the American embassy, where they work with Dane to figure out what the KGB is up to, and uncover the truth behind their husbands deaths.

Bea (played by Emilia Clarke) is  a college-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants, while Twila (portrayed by Haley Lu Richardson) is a sharp-tongued small-town girl with a fearless streak who often flies by the seat of her pants in difficult situations. The two women begin a rocky friendship as they go on increasingly dangerous missions for Dane. The show is sharp, stylish and visually striking. The series features excellent period detail (the show is set in 1977) and a fine supporting cast, including Adrian Lester and Harriet Walter. 

What really sets the show apart are the fabulous needle drops. All of the episodes in the first season are named after famous 1970s tunes, and each episode features several classic tracks, including songs from artists like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Rush, J. Geils Band, Blondie, J.J. Cale and Vicki Lawrence. The excellent soundtrack features the expected marquee names, such as Todd Rundgren and Heart, but also spotlights more obscure artists like folk rockers Goldberg and selections from beloved cult bands like Love and Fanny. The music choices feel very intentional, as the music is often used to underscore and comment on the action, adding depth and color to important scenes, which turns the show's strong moments into memorable ones.

Ponies is an entertaining spy series featuring excellent performances from Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, who exhibit solid chemistry as Bea and Twila. The entire first season is now available for streaming on Peacock. The show should appeal to fans of 1970s era spy thrillers, and the killer soundtrack will bring back a lot of memories for classic rock fans. Here's a link to the trailer for the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DlukUWtoCU.

 

 

The "Monsters" Aren't From Outer Space

The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street

Recently, I've been doing a re-watch of some of my favorite episodes of the original Twilight Zone series. Rod Serling's groundbreaking television show thrilled and fascinated us with memorable tales of science-fiction, fantasy and horror. The Twilight Zone also taught us some important lessons about the human condition, and commented on the state of the world we live in through its fictional lens. "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” is one of the most powerful and enduring episodes of the series, and its central message remains relevant, especially in these troubling and uncertain times.

The story takes place on Maple Street, a quiet suburban neighborhood, where strange events, such as power outages and malfunctioning electronics, occur after the residents witness a flash of light and hear a loud noise in the sky. The people of the town believe an alien invasion is imminent, and suspect that there are aliens in disguise living among them. Suspicion, fear and paranoia begin to grip the neighborhood, leading to the residents accusing one another of collaborating with the aliens, turning against their friends, and ultimately ending in violence and death.

 

"The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” illustrates how fear can turn ordinary people into their own worst enemies, and how negative emotions bring out the worst aspects of humanity. By the end of the story, the audience learns that the real “monsters” aren't the aliens, but the residents of Maple Street themselves. Spoiler Alert: The twist in the tale is that there really are aliens hiding outside of the town, manipulating events to show just how simple it is to turn human beings against one another, thus making our planet an easy target for conquest.

 

Written by Rod Serling and directed by Ronald Winston, the episode features a strong cast of familiar faces, including Jack Weston, Barry Atwater, Claude Akins and Mary Gregory. A re-imagined version of the story, entitled "The Monsters Are On Maple Street" was produced for the 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone, and starred Andrew McCarthy. "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” is widely acclaimed as one of the best episodes of the original series, and is certainly one of Serling's best efforts.

One of the episode’s greatest strengths is its powerful commentary on fear and mob mentality. Serling's fine script shows just how quickly kindness and empathy disappear when people feel threatened and paranoia reigns. The townspeople abandon logic and reason in favor of pointing the finger at their friends and neighbors, choosing fear over understanding. "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” which originally aired in 1960, is a bold and bracing commentary on the social and political situations of the Cold War era, but the themes present in this thought-provoking tale still feel very pertinent today.