It currently stands as Hungary’s most expensive television show of all time, with the kind of production value rarely seen outside of major Hollywood blockbuster fare. And with a truly international cast and an impressive commitment to authenticity, it’s easy to see why Rise of the Raven broke viewership records upon its initial release.
Taking place in 15th century Europe in the lead-up to the infamous siege of Belgrade in 1456, it tells the true story of the famed warrior Janos (John) Hunyadi, the Hungarian general who pushed back against the might of the Ottoman empire as they sought to conquer large swathes of Eastern Europe.
In a story that spans decades, we trace Hunyadi's rise to power, his personal sacrifices and the weight of expectation that comes with being one of the royal court's most trusted military minds.
Whilst at first glance the Game of Thrones parallels may seem obvious, Rise of the Raven proves to be a far different beast - a dramatic retelling of a lesser-known chapter of European history that’s somehow never been adapted for the small screen before. And whilst it does have its fair share of kings and queens, scheming and “sexposition”; there isn’t a single dragon in sight.
More importantly, this isn’t just another dusty old history lesson. The story moves at an impressive pace, as we trace the central characters across countries, cultures and long passages of time throughout the show's 10 episodes. As years pass, enemies rise and fall, and children are born into an increasingly volatile world. The shadow of war hangs over the events of the show as a constant reminder of what’s at stake for the Kingdom of Hungary and its dwindling allies.
Boasting an ensemble cast that includes Hunyadi’s first flame Mara (Franciska Törőcsik), who soon becomes entangled with a common enemy, and his eventual wife, Elizabeth (Vivien Rujder), who is just as well-versed in the art of battle as her husband. A key standout is Mara’s father and vassal to the king, George Brankovic, played by veteran Croatian character actor Rade Serbedzija, whose unmistakable face will be immediately recognisable to those familiar with classics like Snatch and Eyes Wide Shut.
But the true narrative thrust of the series pivots around the central character of Hunyadi, as played by Romanian actor Gellért L. Kádár. Cast in a similar mould to the likes of Maximus from Gladiator or William Wallace from Braveheart, Hunyadi is the kind of gruff, noble warrior who understands that true resistance requires constant sacrifice.
That sacrifice comes in the form of some impressively mounted battle sequences, all of which are rendered in bloody, brutal detail. There’s also some good old-fashioned political manoeuvring and palace intrigue, which not only serve to up the stakes for the characters but also provide the story with some extra dramatic weight, for the fact these events all happened.
Adding to this authenticity is the series' unique approach to its dialogue, with the likes of Hungarian, German, Turkish, Italian, Serbian, Czech all being spoken at some point throughout the show, sometimes within the span of a single episode.
There are twists and turns, betrayals and backstabbing - essentially all the elements we’ve come to expect from these types of sprawling spectacles, except in the case of Rise of the Raven, it’s perhaps even more compelling because we know this isn’t a work of pure fantasy, it's real-life drama.
Rise of the Raven is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
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Rise of the Raven
