What I’m Watching: “The Letter For The King”
Although I read widely as a young reader, The Letter For The King by Dutch author, Tonke Dragt, was not one of the books that made it into my avid hands. In fact, I only learned about it a few years back when Marion Drolsbach, who translated The Heir of Night into Dutch for Luitingh, gave me a copy of what has—since it was first published in 1962—become a Dutch childhood classic.
So having become acquainted with the book quite recently, I was keen to see the television series. I also felt that, having first read the children’s book as an adult, I would be able to approach the TV series in a more open spirit than if it had been a dearly loved childhood favourite.
The Book and The TV Show: Similarities and Departures
As it turns out, the latter view was correct because by-and-large I enjoyed the show despite the fact that it departed from the book in many respects. Having said that, I feel that the “spine” of the story is essentially the same. The similarities are that the protagonist, Tiuri, must break his knight’s vigil to render aid to others and ends up being charged with delivering a vital letter to Unauwen, King of a neighbouring realm. (Tiuri is an aspiring knight of Dagonaut.)
Tiuri’s epic quest-journey then ensues in the book, as it does in the TV show. Elements in common include the gallant black steed, Ardanwen, that he inherits from the knight who entrusted him with the letter; the pursuit by the evil Red Knights; a series of adventures, including being imprisoned then freed by a young woman called Lavinia, and falling in with a number of acquaintances who either further or hinder his quest—although these encounters differ quite substantially between the book and the film.
The essence of the reason for the letter and the quest is also the same, in that one of King Unauwen’s sons, who has conquered a third kingdom, Evillan, is plotting to usurp his father’s throne. (Btw, this is not a spoiler: it becomes clear very early on in the TV series.)
So in fact, that’s quite a lot in common. However, if the book’s original storyline can be likened to a Triumph Herald, the TV show has strapped, if not an aircraft carrier, but definitely a Mack truck onto the chassis. I don’t recall magic in my reading of the book, but it’s definitely a substantial part of the TV story, plus a good-evil, saving-of-the-world prophecy.
The cast of characters has also has been expanded exponentially—we’re definitely in aircraft carrier realm in that respect—with a whole new backstory for Tiuri and his parents, plus introducing five additional, friends-cum-enemies travelling companions in the form of Tiuri’s fellow vigil squires. In the book, he only had one consistent companion, Piak, who appears in the TV series in a “cute kid-brother” role. The TV series also considerably amps up the role of Lavinia, making her (rather than Piak) Tiuri’s main travelling companion—plus with a mysterious storyline of her own.
In short, the TV show is epic fantasy, whereas the book is a chivalric quest in a medieval-historical, albeit made-up, world.
Considering the TV Show In Its Own Right:
Since there’s absolutely nothing wrong with epic fantasy, if I set aside the book and consider the show solely on its own merits, I did enjoy it well enough.
I really liked the character of Tiuri, I warmed to Lavinia as the series progressed, and I enjoyed the diverse personalities among the squire “band-of-brothers.” The villains, chiefly Prince Viridian of Evillan and Jaro, the leader of the Red Knights, were suitably villainous, and the stakes felt suitably high. I also quite liked some of the secondary characters, including the Queen of Dagonaut and Prince Iridian (Viridian’s brother), and David Wenham as Tiuri’s father, Sir Tiuri the Valiant.
Some aspects of the storytelling, though, were either not well fleshed out or downright puzzling. Although appreciating the need to set up a second season, I was left puzzled as to Tiuri’s actual role and powers, and also where his mother fitted into his backstory (beyond actually being his Mum, that is.) A sequence in a mountain monastery was also somewhat perplexing—and although I understand that the “denial of powers” and “denial of mission” are both time-honoured epic tropes I felt the way in which they were introduced, particularly the “denial of mission”, didn’t really ring true to Tiuri’s character, as established up until that point.
I do note an endeavour to counter/subvert the “chosen hero” trope of epic, which I felt worked moderately well. I am not going to go into detail, though, because it would be a spoiler, and it’s not necessary to go there to substantiate my “terribly important thoughts” on the show (as it was with Noughts and Crosses recently.)
I also note that the ending felt a little anticlimactic, in terms of actual denouement versus build up, but not to the extent of being a disappointment, or worse, a flop.
Conclusion:
To return to my overall summation at the outset, by-and-large I enjoyed the show. I also think it’s important to remember that The Letter For The King is a kid’s story and the screen adaptation stays true to its “kidult” roots. This is a coming-of-age story with some really engaging young adult characters and a quest-journey with some solid action sequences, and a life-affirming vibe that I enjoyed. It’s very definitely family-friendly viewing, too, so if you’re looking for Game of Thrones level violence and sex, this is definitely not the show for you.
The clincher question, of course, is would I rock up for a second series? The answer: yep, I would.