Knights of God Episode 13 (ITV 6 Dec 1987, with Michael Sheard)

In the final eisode of Knights of God Gervase has discovered that he is the rightful King of Britain, having had his true identity kept secret until the time was right. Of course he has been brainwashed by Mordrin to kill the rightful king. When he leans the truth he runs headlong towards the edge of a cliff. Only Julia can save him and she does.

Mordrin has some kind of epiphany where he realises exactly who Gervase is, he collapses but when he comes around he makes it plain he intends to organise his coronation as King as quickly as possible. Everyone around him thinks he has completely list his mind. Meanwhile Hugo and Tyrell are planning to march on Mordrin’s headquarters and take full control.

Once Gervase understands his destiny he heads back resistance headquarters and very quickly becomes the new leader and figurehead. Although we don’t see it, other than a gathering of soldiers at an army camp, it’s made very clear that a mass uprising means Gervase has control of much of the country again. Meanwhile the action centres on a couple of hundred Knights, on the sides of Hugo and Mordrin, doing battle against each other. It’ a pretty full on sequence actually, mass explosions and gins blazing everywhere. Of course it means that Hugo and Mordrin can simply destroy each other and Gervase can pick up the pieces.

And so the series ends how you expect to, although it is Owen rather than Gervase that takes out Mordrin. It would have been much more satisfying to have Gervase revealed as the rightful King much earlier on allowing for a more natural rise of the anti-Knight brigade rather than having it all go down in the final episode.

production details
UK / ITV – TVS / 1×25 minute episode / Broadcast 6 December1987

Writer: Richard Cooper / Director: Andrew Morgan

Series: Knights of God Episode 13 (of 13)

cast
Claire Parker as Julia
George Winter as Gervase
Julian Fellowes as Hugo
John Woodvine as Mordrin
Nigel Stock as Simon
Peter Childs as Tyrell
Gareth Thomas as Owen
Shirley Stelfox as Beth
Owen Teale as Dai
Tenniel Evans as Dafydd
Robert Swann as Chaplain
Frank Middlemass as Father Gregory
Michael Sheard as Doctor
Dean Harris as Brother Dean