Like Harry Potter got all the studios in a frenzy to get their own young adult series, ever since the success of Game of Thrones, every production studio, and streaming service is trying their hand in kick-starting a new fantasy series. The Letter for the King is Netflix’s stab at the genre, and everything we’ve seen so far points to a healthy direction and a long life for this series.
But just like every other young adult movies and TV shows were looked at through the lens of Harry Potter, the same is the case for every series trying to take the void left by Game of Thrones. Amazon tried their hand with the show Carnival Row, and to say the series was a dud is an understatement. So, they are going back to the fantasy well, this time for a better result with the mother of all fantasy series The Lord of the Rings.
Every fantasy show is going to be compared to the success of Game of Thrones.
Source: Deadline
No matter the outcome, people will flock to the show because of the history and legacy attached to the property. Comparing new fantasy series to Game of Thrones has become the modern pastime, and Lord of the Rings will face a similar fate. The Letter for the King is also going through similar comparisons, and whether there is even a point of comparing these two series will be made clear with the premiere of the show. At this point, every one of the cast members seems optimistic about their chances of making a mark with the audiences of all age groups.
The Letter for the King Cast Talks About the Game of Thrones Comparisons
Game of Thrones was a phenomenon, and when it started out in 2011, no one imagined the show would capture the pop culture in the way it did. The first few seasons of the series were limited to the core fans, but then the world took notice, and it became the biggest show on TV by the time the final episode aired in 2019.
Well, there is something to be said about the last three seasons of the series and how the flair was gone for the shock factor. There is also a case to be made about the final season of Game of Thrones being the worst thing to happen to the small screen. But those are discussions for another day, the IMDb score for the final season and the finale lets you know what the fans thought of the series.
The final season of Game of Thrones is considered to be the worst in television history
Source: HBO
But despite the negative reception of the final season, Game of Thrones was still something unique, something almost irreplaceable. This is the reason why most of the fantasy shows will be compared to the fan following and the pop culture interest of the series with the mad queen and her dragons.
The Letter for the King is suffering from the same comparisons; even though there is little to nothing, we can compare the two shows. Except for the medieval setting of the two shows, there is nothing to compare, and this was the exact sentiment echoed by the cast of The Letter for the King.
Watch: The trailer for the first season of The Letter for the King coming to Netflix
The cast of the Netflix series was recently promoting the upcoming series when they were asked about the comparisons between their show and the Game of Thrones by Access Hollywood. They understood the compliment it was meant to be and also explained why their show differs from something like Game of Thrones.
Recommended: The Letter for the King Season 2 – Queen Alianor’s Secret, and What’s Next for Lavinia and Tiuri?
Amir Wilson, who recently turned some heads with his performance in His Dark Materials, plays Tiuri in the series, and he said, “There’s obviously these themes that you see, cuz they are both medieval, the sword the horses.” The actor also went on to stress the watch ability of the show and how it differs from the adult themes of Game of Thrones, something Amir piggybacked off his fellow cast member’s point.
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Ruby Ashbourne Serkis plays Lavinia in the series, and she said the biggest difference from Game of Thrones is the viewing audience. She said, “It’s way more approachable for a wider audience. It’s a kind of thing you can watch with your family. It works on levels for people of all ages.” Something she said “arguably” Game of Thrones is not meant for with the violence and nudity prevalent in the series.
So, the constant theme about the difference between The Letter for the King and Game of Thrones is who can watch the show in the show. The cast of The Letter for the King thinks their show can be enjoyed by all age groups, and it is something you can share and watch as a family, which is a nice thing. It is also a working formula, perfected by Harry Potter, an approachable story which multiplies the viewing audience and is meant for people of all age groups.
The Ladies of the Cast also Talked About the Representation and Diverse Cast of the Series
The Letter for the King cast is a collection of diverse and talented kids.
Source: The Letter for the King Instagram
When you look at the cast list for The Letter for the King, you will find different groups represented in the show. There are strong ladies among the cast, not just your usual damsels in distresses. Even the trailer for the series shows Islam Bouakkaz’s character Arman calling Thaddea Graham’s Iona the most awesome fighters among the crew.
So, the most badass fighter in the group is a female, and something the two ladies doing the interview said is the case for the whole series. Ruby also mentioned she did not find one instance where the script mentioned female. Something she liked and Thaddea Graham explained that was not the only important thing but being represented in a good light is always a good thing.
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Thaddea also said she was allowed to use her Irish accent in the show, and she mentioned how awesome that would’ve been for her to see someone like her on TV growing up. These are all important steps for the actors, and they are happy with the show they made together.
The Letter for the King will be released on 20 March 2020, only on Netflix, starring Amir Wilson as Tiuri, Gijs Blom as Prince Viridian, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis as Lavinia, Nathanael Saleh as Piak, Thaddea Graham as Iona, Islam Bouakkaz as Arman, Jonah Lees as Jussipo, Jack Barton as Foldo, Emilie Cocquerel as Queen Alianor, Jakob Oftebro as Crown Prince Iridium and Yorick van Wageningen as King Favian.
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