In a couple of recent posts I have criticised recent TV ‘historical’ dramas such as ‘Black Sails’ and ‘Banished’, and just as I was about to give up hope of ever seeing a good old ‘swords and sandals’ epic again, along comes ‘Tut’ !
So far I’ve only watched Part 1, and it’s not great, but it’s entertaining, and although I don’t claim to be an expert on ancient Egypt, this production seems to have recreated a somewhat believable ‘Land of the Pharaohs‘ and has mostly stuck to the very sketchy history of that part of the world nearly three and a half thousand years ago.
OK, so I know that Tutankhamun’s short life has now been turned into a historical melodrama, but at least, the Mitanni don’t mumble, Pharaoh and his followers don’t ‘effing’ swear all the time and, just for a change, the sunlight of the Moroccan locations allow you to see all the action. Of course there is plenty of ‘action’ of a different kind on show. However, sex amongst the sarcophagi has, so far, been avoided.
I’m not sure if Horemheb was a black man, I suppose he could have been a Nubian or the like, but as played by the British actor Nonso Anozie, he comes across as a pretty imposing figure of a general who became the last Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty.
Now, I have never been a great fan of Ben (“call me Sir“) Kingsley, but I must say that he is perfect in the part of the slightly ‘camp’ Grand Vizier, the Kohl eyed Ay. I wonder if this arrogant ars actor gave orders to the other actors on the set, and demanded that they respond with a smart salute and an …
… “Aye Aye Sir !” … 😉
bigjohn 
