For a long time, TV shows have pushed progressive narratives, often sidelining alternatives with traditional or faith-based approaches. Many of these attempts either fizzled out before they could even start or just didn’t manage to make a significant impact.
However, that’s not the case with Jeremy Boreing’s fantasy series, “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin.” This series, grounded in Christianity, is based on Stephen R. Lawhead’s stories that explore the origins of Merlin and the Arthurian legends.
Since its launch on DailyWire+ in January, the series has gained significant popularity, becoming the top-ranking fantasy series across the U.K., Ireland, Spain, and Portugal, particularly after it was made available on Prime Video internationally. It then entered the U.S. Prime scene on September 1 and has continued to grow in viewership.
Recently, Boreing spoke with Christopher Rufo and Jonathan Keeperman on their podcast “Rufo and Lomez,” addressing why conservative voices often struggle in the entertainment space and how “Pendragon” has managed to break this trend.
Keeperman praised Boreing, stating, “You’ve done the impossible,” referencing the high-quality production, acting, and writing that he has brought to life within a conservative framework.
“Moreover, it’s not just a political show. It’s simply good storytelling,” he added, curious about the behind-the-scenes process that brought this project to fruition.
Boreing humorously responded, “The hard way, of course.”
He pointed out that creating something ambitious like “The Pendragon Cycle” involves considerable risk. He acknowledged the key players involved, including the Daily Wire, executive producer Dallas Sonnier, and “the cast and crew” who took on the challenges of turning the idea into reality.
He went on to commend the actors, calling them “the greatest ensemble of relatively unknown actors maybe ever assembled.” Boreing expressed pride in the cast, noting the risks they took associating with a project they initially worried might lean too political. Fortunately, that concern proved unfounded, as the aim was truly to create genuine entertainment and art.
Boreing reflected on how conservatives generally lag in the entertainment sphere. “There’s a belief that audiences only want a political message, which is simply not true,” he mentioned. “Our audience enjoys engaging with entertainment as much as anyone else.”
The challenge, according to him, is that conservative audiences lack exposure to what constitutes “good art with conservative values” since such representations are quite rare.
This situation leads to what he terms “want to want to’s”—films that nobody genuinely wishes to see but feel compelled to support, causing many conservatives to gravitate toward mainstream shows that often embody progressive themes.
Boreing finds this deeply troubling. He cited “Will and Grace” as a potent example of how television can shape an entire generation’s views on issues like homosexuality, proving that genuine entertainment has considerable power. “Will and Grace” achieved this by immersing its audience in the lives of its characters rather than foregrounding political messages, a method he aims to replicate with “Pendragon.”
For more insights about the series, check out the episode linked above.
