January 13, 2025: Bring Back Knightmare

One of the fun things about being married to a European is that you learn about elements of nerd culture you never knew existed. My husband first introduced me to the British show Knightmare many years ago, back when we were having a moment of television nostalgia. Airing from 1987 to 1994, Knightmare was a game show made for kids in which one brave adventurer navigated a dungeon full of monsters, pitfalls, and riddles with the help of their friends. The twist? Each adventurer must don the Helmet of Justice, which limits their vision to just around their feet. Their friends had stay behind in the castle, watching the adventurer via CCTV and instructing them where to go, what to do, and how to answer.

 

This odd set-up was the product of budget constraints and technological limitation. Rather than spending huge amounts of money on elaborate sets, props, and puppetry, Knightmare's dungeon was achieved through the use of blue screen. This allowed the production team to create new rooms that could have multiple doors, crumbling floors, narrow paths, and any number of monsters. The Helmet of Justice forced the adventurer to rely on outside instruction and (presumably) allowed for a more immersive experience. When the other children viewed their friend, they saw the same finished result that TV audiences saw on their screens at home. This had the unintended effect of making home viewers feel like part of the team – when my husband and I watch old episodes on YouTube, we often catch ourselves shouting out what the adventurer should be doing when their friends have a freeze moment, argue about what should be done next, or give conflicting instructions to the adventurer. (It happened many times. Many, many times.)

 

Knightmare has become a cult classic in the years since its cancellation, but I can't stop thinking about the possibilities. Green screens and CGI have come a long way since Knightmare's time, and it seems like a no-brainer to bring back a similar game for TV or streaming. What's not to love about a live-action, dungeon-delving adventure in which contestants defeat enemies with trivia answers, bypass monsters with cheese, and do battle with evil wizards by spelling out words? (These things actually happened. Yes, really.) You could even combine it with elements of The Crystal Maze or Double Dare to add a bit more physicality to the proceedings. What's not to love? It sounds far more exciting than any of the game shows on TV today.

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