‘Knightfall’ Season 2, Episode 6 ‘Blood Drenched Stone’ Recap: Invasion

Knightfall happens unexpectedly. After a brief encounter with the French Prince, our Templar Heroes return to their temple safely. However, troubling accusations greet their arrival. A spineless Pope loyal to the French notifies them of such allegations. Divided, the Knights Templar now face two choices: surrender to the untrustworthy French or fight for their lives.

On Monday night’s episode of Knightfall, King Philip (Ed Stoppard), William De Nogaret (Julian Ovenden), and Gawain (Pádraic Delaney) launch an attack on the Templars’ Chartres Temple. As some Templars, led by Grandmaster Jacques De Molay (Matthew Marsh) surrender, Landry (Tom Cullen) and Tancrede (Simon Merrells) lead the Temple’s defense. Meanwhile, Princess Isabella (Genevieve Gaunt) puts evil plans against Queen Margaret (Clementine Nicholson) into motion.

Treacherous Princess

History

Surprised by Princess Isabella’s presence, Queen Margaret notices the banquet the Princess prepared for them. Isabella insists that she wishes to celebrate their sisterhood. With that said, Margaret indulges herself in the meal as well as the wine. Unexpectedly, Isabella’s Knights show up. Once more, she wishes to have sex with the four of them, to which Margaret agrees. However, Margaret found it difficult to stand. Isabella drugged the wine she drank, rendering her unconscious. As Margaret’s maid came inside the room, she finds her naked, sleeping on her bed while Isabella’s Knights got dressed. Satisfied with her Knights’ report, Isabella sends them away to England. However, the Knights become victims of Isabella’s betrayal as she has the King’s Guard assassinate them on their way out of the city.

The Temple Siege

History

Pope Clement (Stephen Fewell) enters the Chartres Temple to announce the French’s accusations against the Templars. Outraged, the Templars negate everything that the Pope announces. Charges of blasphemy of religious symbols, engaging in unnatural acts, as well as worship of a silver idol,  faced the Templars. Because of the division among what to do, Grandmaster De Molay decides to have every Templar choose their fate.

Some Templars, including the Grandmaster, surrender to the French. Seeing this, King Philip decides to begin their attack. With their numbers diminished because of the initial withdrawal from battle, the Templars found it hard to stand their ground. The French archers have the advantage of shooting without the risk of engaging in combat, killing a few Templars in the process. Also, their newest explosive damages the gate badly, causing great fear among the Templars’ security.

Still, the Templars did not go down without a fight. Kelton (Daniel Campbell) manages to hit the French’s explosives with a flaming arrow, decimating their supply. Also, Landry, Tancrede, Vasant (Joseph Ollman), Kelton, and another Templar manages to set fire to the French’s siege tower before they could use it. However, this daring stunt came at a price. Kelton becomes witness to the torture the French made Grandmaster De Molay go through. Unfortunately, they manage to squeeze the location of the temple’s secret passage from Kelton.

Father and Child

History

As Gawain and the French troops breach the temple, Landry rushes to bring Anne (Claire Cooper), Grecia (Louise Bond), and Eve into a secret chamber. Outside the temple walls, Prince Louis (Tom Forbes) finally meets King Philip after his encounter with Landry. He reports that he killed Landry and Queen Joan’s child, despite this being false. He perhaps wishes to learn the truth about Queen Joan’s death from his father himself, since he helps King Philip incapacitate Landry as they breached the temple gate.

The Fall of Chartres Temple

History

The Templars stood their ground, fighting valiantly despite the overwhelming French force. They had little time to organize themselves as Gawain made it past Berenger (Peter O’Meara), killing him to gain access to the gate controls. Vasant and Rhone (Dean Ridge) fight the French side-by-side, passing swords as they fended off for themselves. Tancrede clears a path for himself, eliminating each soldier who attacks him despite being armed with nothing but his shield. It was unlikely for the Templars to win and they could have died defending themselves. However, when King Philip held his sword against Landry’s throat, the Templars dishearteningly surrendered. Out of options and fearing for their remaining leader’s life, the Templars throw away their swords in dismay.

‘Knightfall’ Season 2, Episode 6 ‘Blood Drenched Stone’ Final Verdict

The episode presents the tragic reality of how the Royalty and the Church have much power. The French had control over the Church in this situation since the Pope is a former Archbishop of a French diocese. A King with a strong, personal vendetta against a Templar is considered a handicap match in terms of power, but luckily, Philip is no match for Landry’s swordsmanship. Hopefully, the Templars of other temples would come to their rescue and liberate the Chartres temple of the vile Frenchmen. As much as it feels like it is too early to end a show this good, it looks like the plot is taking this direction. The Grandmaster himself is incapacitated, and there is no word of Talus’ (Mark Hamill) return. He is their only hope.

Knightfall continues Monday, May 5th with ‘Death Awaits’ at 10/9c on History.