El Cid

Series has a lot of conspiracy plans throughout, which kept me interested. It doesnt have production values of game of thrones, but wasnt bad either. Of course couldnt be totally historically accurate, this isnt a documentary. Worth watching if you like historical dramas.

Skeptical, but nevertheless intrigued, I started watching this Amazon Exclusive mini-series of 5 episodes three days ago.

After the ending credits, I am not disappointed at all. Even if a few times the directors failed in keeping the momentum of the major plot scenes, El Cid represent a marvel for historical-thrillers. I really enjoyed watching it. The cast is good, the soundtrack is nice to hear, even if not memorable. The special effects, costumes and locations are a real pleasure to look at.

It would be 9 out of 10 stars for me, but I guess I can gift an extra star, not only because it's Christmas time, but because this was a good try in creating a tasty new historical series that deserves attention and a little kick for becoming even greater.

Firstly the review here saying that "as a historian" that this is "accurate" is just bizarre and laughable, I doubt that reviewer is a historian. Historians in Spain are aghast at the massive amount of inaccuracy in this little miniseries, and this series tanked in Spain. I'm not hung up on a few or even moderate amount of inaccuracies and anachronisms in period pieces, after all this is common from the Iliad to Shakespeare, but let's not say down is up, or white is black and say this is accurate when there are a huge number of major inaccuracies and anachronisms. The gothic architecture in this is just insanely out of period. El Cid (which by the way at the time only the Muslims called de Vivar "El Cid, which is a contraction of El/Al Sayyid (the Lord or "The Sir"). The Spaniards a the time, and now, called him El Campeador (an idiom for master of battlefield). And the recreation of the Panteon de los Reyes is NOT accurate and off by at least 250 years. Across the board the architecture is just way way off. Why does Zaragoza look like Istanbul? The relatively short period of Muslim dominance there the Muslims did not significantly alter the architecture. Viking raids in the 11th century Spain? Again way off in timing. The battles and battle tactics, even allowing for budget, are ridiculously inaccurate. OK beyond that the script dialogue and acting are at an extremely base level, rarely rising to mediocre. The tropes are utterly predictable. Compared to the genre it is attempting to insert itself in, including outright theft of several plotlines (Last Kingdom, Vikings, Musketeers) , it is at the bottom of the barrel. Lastly the elements of poltical correctness, absurdly anachronistic feminism, and a total omission of the issue of the downside of foreign domination by the Berber and Arab invaders, which included religion based democidal, genocidal acts, and a lot of broad violence agains the native Romano Christians doesn't go to accuracy. The invasion, occupation and subjugation of virtually 100% Christian lands in Iberia and the Christian Byzantine east were a significant driver of the crusades.

After an average season 1, the season 2 is very exciting with a much better plot. The character of El Cid becomes more extreme and reaches a climax at the end of season 2.

All characters are very good and the battle scenes are amazing.

Highly recommended.

I am a Spanish citizen who have deeply studied this critical time in histroy in Spain, during the transition of different empires and dominant religions. I can proudly say that the give a fairly impartial view on Islam, Christianity and how they lived back then. It is compeltely true that muslims were allowed to drink in Spain; Al-Andalus was part of the Islamic empire but they had their own interpretation of the Quran and they were very open minded about other religions. I am certainly happy this show made it to Amazon Prime so that the entire world can be educated on such an exciting time in history!