Summary
Season 2 catapults itself as a far superior installment to the first season; it enjoys the wealth of world-building already laid out before us.
This review of Amazon’s The Legend of El Cid season 2 does not contain spoilers.
I have to say, I am slightly surprised that The Legend of El Cid made it for a second season. The first installment was not a disaster by any stretch of the imagination; in fact, it was a satisfactory representation of a legend. But there are so many series like this now that take historical accounts as a place for gruesome entertainment that I thought the Amazon would struggle to compete. There’s clearly a market for this genre; it’s addictive. It works.
Season 2 of The Legend of El Cid leaves plenty of wounds to be ripped open. With the brothers (Garcia, Alfonso, and Sancho) all taking their mantles as kings of Castile, Leon, and Galicia, respectively, there’s plenty of tension and disputes to be ironed out on the battlefield. Season 2 brings potential; this is a war brought on by a fractured family, dysfunctionally vying for the ultimate power, recklessly straying away from logic. A father’s death can do plenty of damage.
But then, of course, you have Ruy, who is desperate to be a Knight and to have his own land and property. He dreams of a world where he can have Jimena all to himself, their love becoming a conundrum in shaky events. There’s an underlying storyline of “finding purpose.” Ruy is desperate to find his footing, which means ensuring he bravely, yet smartly picks the right moves in this ensuing war.
In true Game of Thrones fashion, the Amazon series attempts to shock the audience with plenty of complex betrayals, gruesome set pieces, and the occasional sex scene. However, we are so desensitized to that approach that we feel it is the norm. But, season 2 catapults itself as a far superior installment to the first season; it enjoys the wealth of world-building already laid out before us, leaving the audience to scratch their heads, wondering which brother king will come out on top.
At five chapters, The Legend of El Cid does plenty to fill the time. Some audiences would probably beg for more, but it’s hardly a necessity. Sometimes less is more, and the series relies on the sensational drama rather than spread thin over 12 chapters. Audiences will be enthralled with more battlefields and thrilled that the production team has improved the costumes and sets. There’s no doubt whatsoever that the budget has increased.
And season 2 does not shy away; it has confidence in longevity, hinting at a continuation. Let’s hope this continues.
