Blood and magic: ‘Britannia’ is an unmissable blend of legend and history
A combination of period fiction and fantasy has become a genre in itself in recent years, but in 2026, we find ourselves in the midst of Game of Thrones spin-offs, with The Wheel of Time canceled, too The Vikings again Carnival Row it’s over. This makes it the perfect time to revisit Britanniaan under-the-radar gem making a timely debut on SBS On Demand.
Living in the wild, in the untamed lands of Britain in 43AD, Britannia a clash of historical legends and legendary battles and a dash of dark legend.
Britannia promises to hook you from the get-go, opening the act with a terrifying title sequence: “In 55BC, Julius Caesar invaded. Britannia wanting to exploit the island’s tin deposits. He came face to face with another legend: the druids. He headed home. Nine decades later, the Romans are back.”
When the Roman forces returned, they were, of course, under the command of a new commander, Aulus Plautius. A general as determined as he is cruel, Plautius will not hesitate to use violence, but he is strategic about it. He knows the best way to succeed where Caesar failed is not by direct victory, but by negotiation, and in the Druids, he sees the key to secrets far beyond that. Britannia.
When he arrived in Britain, the Romans found it already at war. Tensions between the Celtic kingdoms have left the country divided, as King Cantii and Queen Regni vie for supremacy. Their differences bleed into blood, as their families plan to strengthen or end the strong ties between their clans. The Roman invasion added fuel to the fire, as the Celts were suddenly forced to find new friends and sell their own in search of power and survival.
Outside of this drama is an unlikely pairing between the young Cantii, Cait (Eleanor Worthington-Cox), and the loner, Divis (Nikolaj Lie Kaas). Divis is a Druid, but his mystical visions lead him on a quest to prove that the Roman invasion is connected to a realm beyond that of humans.
Speaking of Druids, these terrifying mysterious creatures are said to have turned the Romans running for the hills 90 years earlier. In BritanniaDruids are thought to be more numerous than historical religious figures. Here, they are ruthless sorcerers, wielding weapons of foresight, conjuring demons, and manipulating their minds to strengthen their authority. The Druids were feared, revered and mysterious. They add a layer of supernatural intrigue Britanniawhich powers this fictional historical narrative.
Although it should be noted that there is a fictional emphasis on Britannia. Although the series takes place during a certain period of history, featuring a real person, Aulus Plautius, drama is prioritized over accuracy. Historical buffs may be reversed, but this is also what you get Britannia to shine, as it goes beyond the factual narrative to combine history and fiction.
Britannia offers an alternative to Vikings, Witchers, and dragons, inviting audiences to an unmissable, magical historical vision.
What does Britannia the most compelling talent of the series. Britannia is co-written by Jez and Tom Butterworth, the former of whom gained critical acclaim for his play, “The Ferryman”, a Tony Award-winning play that became the fastest-selling play in the history of the Royal Court Theater at its premiere. Butterworth is an expert at combining fiction with exaggerated characters and instilling the exaggeration into humanity. His writing pedigree includes everything from Oscar-nominated credits Ford v Ferrari in franchise epics like Indiana Jones as well as The Dial of Destiny and a James Bond film, The Spectre.
While watching Britanniait’s hard to ignore a familiar face. Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly, known for playing the tough-as-nails Beth Dutton, stars as Princess Kerra, a spirited warrior who longs to break free from her father, King Pellenor’s, restrictive bonds. Pellenor is played by no one else star Wars‘ The evil ruler, Ian McDiarmid, who is in serious competition with Zoe Wanamaker’s (Mr. Selfridge, Harry Potter) Regni Queen, Antedia.
Britannia’s most feared and ancient Druid, Vera, is played with subtlety and respect Pirates of the Caribbean Mackenzie Cook stars, and David Morrissey brings his ferocity The Walking Dead actor in Aulus Plautius. Everywhere you look Britanniayou will find a recognizable face, even if it is a three-part episode Morning Wars‘ Aaron Pierre, or a long series from David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter).
At first glance, it may seem so Britannia just plan to fill the void left Game of Thrones during its three-season run from 2018-2021. But by being patient with the show with its big set-up, it reveals something similar to Thrones, yet manages to find new and exciting territory.
Britannia it’s a melting pot of sorts. It combines violence, swords and shields, family drama, warring generations, unexpected comedy, and other supernatural worlds, and packs it into three months worth of fantasy drama. Britannia offers an alternative to Vikings, Witchers, and dragons, inviting audiences to an unmissable, magical vision of history.
Britannia now airing on SBS On Demand.
