Summary
- Gundleus in The Winter King is reminiscent of Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones – both villains take pleasure in their violent actions.
- Gundleus’ actions in the show include staking Derfel, murdering a baby, killing Queen Norwena, and assaulting Nimue.
- Just like Ramsay, viewers will have to wait for Gundleus’ comeuppance, but it will be worth it if the show stays true to the books.
This article contains discussion of sexual assault.
This article contains major spoilers for The Winter King season 1 episodes 1-4!In the vile Gundleus, The Winter King has its very own take on one Game of Thrones hall of fame villains. Adapting the first novel in Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles novel trilogy, The Winter King takes a more grounded approach to the King Arthur legend. Given the number of reinventions the tale has undergone, it makes a certain amount of sense for MGM+’s show to find out what happens when Arthur is given a Game of Thrones-inspired makeover.
Winter King had its own “Red Wedding” massacre in only the second episode and the story likewise focuses on who will sit on the throne, while a shadowy force (White Walkers in Game of Thrones and the Saxons in The Winter King) threatens to sweep across the land. Winter King at least has fewer characters and locations for audiences to track, and like early Game of Thrones seasons, is taking a more slow-burn approach with occasional bursts of extreme violence.
Gundleus Is Winter King’s Take On Ramsay Bolton
In keeping with the Game of Thrones comparisons, Gundleus (Simon Merrells) is making an early bid to be the show’s take on Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon). In a show where there was fierce competition for who was the absolute worst villain, Ramsay rose very close to the top. What made Ramsay stand out wasn’t just the killings, torture and sexual assaults he committed, it was the giddy glee that he took from them. Whereas the likes of The Lannisters or even The Night King had goals or some kind of logic behind the violence they inflicted, Ramsay often did it just for the fun.
The first few episodes of The Winter King have done a steady job of painting Gundleus as utterly irredeemable. It’s revealed he was the one who staked Derfel (Stuart Campbell) in the so-called “death pit” when he was young, and after swearing a vow to protect baby Mordred to the dying King Uther (Eddie Marsan), he soon breaks his vow with abandon. During the Avalon raid, he murders a baby he believes to be Mordred, kills Uther’s widow Queen Norwena (Grace Ackary) and sexually assaults the priestess Nimue (Ellie James).
Not only was this attack an attempt to rob Nimue of her powers – as her connection to the Gods is said to be dependent on her celibacy – but also as revenge for an earlier insult she gave him. Gundleus made a bid for the throne of Dumnonia with this act, but it was only due to the intervention of Arthur that he failed. Unfortunately, Arthur believes Gundleus would be useful in securing peace with other kingdoms, and refuses to let Nimue or anyone else kill him in revenge.
Like Ramsay, Gundleus’ Comeuppance Will Be Worth The Wait
Gundleus has shown no remorse over his actions, and like Ramsay, seems to take a certain pleasure in the pain he inflicts. While viewers will no doubt be frustrated he’s got plot armor for the moment if season 1 follows The Winter King book, his comeuppance will be worth the wait. Assuming the series is true to Cornwell’s text, Nimue will eventually capture Gundleus and torture him to death in such a brutal manner that in the next novel, Derfel believes “all of Britain” must have heard his screams. Game of Thrones fans had to wait four seasons for Ramsay’s end, but Gundleus’ moment will hopefully come much sooner.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
