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Apr 03, 2018Documentary_Discussions rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A truly outstanding program that looks into the physical history of Richard III, using a modern-day body double to explore the impact that his scoliosis would have had on his martial abilities as a knight and a leader. The forensic archaeology is very interesting and telling, and great effort is made to bring this historical figure to life and try and understand him in the historical context in which he lived and died. There is a lot of material across many different subjects, even when not discussed directly by the narrator or contributors. Even more enjoyable is tracking the development of Dominic, the young man who served as the stand-in for Richard: Originally very shy, frail, and very embarrassed about his condition, he underwent extensive training as a squire would, had armorers fit him with a custom-made suit of plate armor, and took part in mock battles to evaluate what Richard may or may not have been capable of doing. The results are plain to see, and can serve as a valuable lesson to anyone who feels fenced in by limitations.