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So, Series 6.
I'm of the opinion, and always have been, that Series 6 is one of the best - if not THE best - of all eight series. 6 and 7 are in fact tied for my favourites. I've "introduced" Knightmare to two people - my Belgian expat girlfriend and young boy cousin - and always started with Series 6, as I do feel it's the most "complete" in terms of series.
To start with, I've always considered Series 6 to be one of the scariest, from the very outset in the first quest with the genuinely creepy Dwarf Tunnel reintroductions and Treguard's frantic, almost worried commentary about the goings-on in the Dungeon, which creates a fear of genuine uncertainty. Gone is a limit on the Opposition's power throughout Level 1 (Holmgarth notwithstanding), Lord Fear gloating constantly, dipping his hand in the water to catch the Dungeoneers and the subtle hints of the extent of his armies - goblin horns, marching noises and horrors like Pookas and Stormgeists all give you the sense that nowhere is safe.
Scary highlights include "Two-nil, I think... nice one!", something which almost makes Treguard lose his cool, and a genuinely terrifying moment (which I still find it difficult to watch) where a Dungeoneer slowly traverses the Dwarf Tunnels while Skarkill's creepy, menacing voice can be clearly heard stalking the Dungeoneer, almost as if he'll be around the very next corner. Chilling.
Other things I like about this series:
- Gone are the old outdoor locations, replaced with more familiar ones. I like Holmgarth, I like Wolfenden, and I do like the forests, even if we have already seen them.
- Some of my favourite characters are in this series. Motley, Hordriss, Elita, Hands and Skarkill give good performances here - I do miss Brother Mace and Aesandre, but I like the new characters. Sidriss is a good addition, although I don't think she hits her peak until the next series. And I really shouldn't, but I absolutely love Ah Wok - he's a scream.
- Creatures. There have been hints of these since the skull ghosts of Series 1 but here we are given a load of new toys to play with, from a redesigned Pooka with more floating ability to the eerie, persistent Stormgeists and the whirring, clanking monstrosity of the Dreadnort, we start getting more a taste of the unknown arriving to hurry the Dungeoneers up - "you're wasting life force" being a bit redundant by now!
- Treguard, Pickle and Lord Fear all give great performances. Treguard at his best, Pickle with a lot less to do but doing what he does well, and Lord Fear, now fully ensconced as the baddie, gloating and with witty put-downs galore.
- Incidental music. I like it. It's used realy well and adds much more of a sense of danger, especially in its early strains too...!
- End of season. The emergency contact from Hordriss and the red dragon in flight is utterly terrifying the first time you see it!
If I had to pick a low point, it would be - unfortunately - the first half of Ben's quest. I love the ending - the TRICK or TREAT nailbiter, which led to a very uncomfortable school week waiting for the result; the mad dash across the Great Causeway; the confrontation with Lord Fear and him ending up in the pool, followed by a sprint back through to Knightmare Castle before his life force runs out! Brilliant! However, the first half seems a bit stilted, almost as if they are being helped through by the production team at points. I think it's a fair victory, but they were lucky at some points!
In any case, I really love Series 6. I could go on, but let's get some discussion going! Are you all as big a fan as I am, or am I just being far too fond? Do let me know, kthxbai?