The center of the tale, however, finds Landry facing an understandably hostile Templar brotherhood who see his actions with Joan as the height of betrayal.
After a solid debut as part of History’s venture into the world of scripted historical drama, Knightfall jumps feet first into its sophomore season with some fascinating cast additions and several fresh story arcs. Even though Queen Joan’s illicit love affair with Landry no longer occupies the narrative’s center, that doesn’t mean its impact doesn’t still play a relevant role. “God’s Executioners” zeroes in on tales of redemption and revenge as the life and future of baby Eve hang in the balance, and the intrigues within Philip’s palace and the Templar brotherhood shift to accommodate the changing balance of power.
The opening dream sequence in which Philip takes the upper hand on the battlefield speaks to Landry’s fear that he won’t be able to protect his child from the clutches of one who most certainly will come after her, and also to the helplessness he feels knowing his life has spiraled out of control.
Of course, it’s not unexpected that Landry entrusts Tancrede to take baby Eve and hide her away from Philip, and while we know Landry must endure a certain amount of suffering as he atones for his sins and mourns the loss of Joan, it’s encouraging that his core group of friends remains loyal.
Of course, every successful serial drama requires a solid antagonist or two, and with the duplicitous William de Nogaret already in place, Philip’s quest to ruin Landry’s life should be enough. Riding hooded and unannounced into the king’s hall, Prince Louis (Tom Forbes) returns from a prolonged off-screen absence and immediately establishes himself as Landry’s primary nemesis for the season after Philip lies and tells him that Landry murdered his mother.
In spite of, or perhaps because of his father’s harsh words, Louis displays his impetuous nature and promptly sets of to learn what truly happened to his mother. “Your mother has brought shame on us,” Philip tells his son, and while there’s an element of truth in that pronouncement, Louis seems determined to challenge Landry which could lead to the truth of Joan’s death being revealed. It will be interesting to watch Philip’s reactions as his son gets closer to the facts of his mother’s death.
Nevertheless, the palace intrigue goes far beyond Louis’ new found presence there. Aside from the fact that Genevieve Gaunt (The Royals) assumes the role of Princess Isabella, Louis’ sister bears watching as she learns to navigate the dark intricacies of royal influence. When her father puts on a show interrogating the man accused of spreading “lies” about Joan’s killer, she insists on witnessing justice and watches with fascination as the king yanks out the man’s tongue before sending him to the dungeon. Symbolically, Philip throws the severed appendage into a fire, but we know this is not the last we’ve heard of the truth concerning Joan’s death. With its kings, queens, knights, and pawns, the game of chess represents the requisite strategies a successful monarch must master, and Isabella’s checkmate of her father reminds us that this is a young woman to be respected and ultimately feared.
While things move briskly at the palace, Landry finds his return to the Templars will be neither quick nor painless. Learning that he’s been expelled from the brotherhood, Landry’s persistence eventually pays off, and after waiting weeks outside the temple walls, the Grandmaster finally relents, acknowledging the warrior qualities Landry brings to the Templar cause.
After a season in which he openly and somewhat brazenly breaks his Templar vows, watching Landry now humbly attempt to recapture his lost spiritual life makes for a compelling narrative even though it seems likely he’ll quickly regain his standing in the brotherhood. How long can they keep the former temple master down and his sword on the sideline?
The buzz surrounding Mark Hamill's addition to the Knightfall family turns out to be well founded as the barely recognizable Star Wars icon carries every scene in which he appears. Given Landry’s history, it’s a bit surprising that the brothers are so unforgiving and possess such selective memories regarding the former temple master, but when his reinstatement comes down to the final deciding vote, it becomes clear that Landry faces a long and arduous journey back.
Hamill’s Brother Talus takes charge of the young initiates in their Templar training, and when Landry learns that he must begin his redemption tour at the bottom rung, whether he can humble himself in front of young men far less experienced and talented will set the stage for a relationship with Talus that’s sure to have numerous bumps along the road.
Denofgeek
