Ep 1. The Dream

The Legend of Prince Valiant is an American animated television series based on the Prince Valiant comic strip, which was created by Harold R. Foster. The series premiered on The Family Channel on September 3, 1991, and went on to run for a total of 65 episodes over two seasons. The show follows the adventures of Prince Valiant, the young heir to the throne of Thule, as he trains to become a knight and protect his kingdom from the forces of evil.

Season 1 episode 1, titled "The Dream," begins with an introduction to the world of Thule. A booming voiceover proclaims, "Legend has it that in the land of Thule, there lived a king who was blessed by the gods." We see the king, a wise and majestic figure, presiding over a grand court, attended by his trusted advisors and the knights of his realm. In the midst of this celebration, a young boy bursts through the crowd and approaches the throne. This is Prince Valiant, who has come to ask his father, the king, to send him away to become a knight.

The king is hesitant, but Valiant is insistent. "I want to become a knight, like you," he declares. The king sighs, but finally relents. "Very well," he says. "You may go and train with the knights of Thule. But remember, you have a duty to your people. They are counting on you to protect them."

With that, Valiant is sent away to begin his training. The rest of the episode is a series of training montages, as Valiant learns the ways of the knight. He practices swordplay, jousting, and horseback riding, all under the watchful eye of Sir Gawain, the greatest knight of Thule and Valiant's mentor.

But despite his training, Valiant still struggles with doubts and fears. He is haunted by a dream he had, in which he is confronted by a shadowy figure that seems to represent all of his fears and doubts. In the dream, the figure tells Valiant that he is not worthy of being a knight, and that he will fail in his duty to protect his people.

Valiant shares his fears with Gawain, who counsels him to trust in his training and his own inner strength. "Remember," he says. "You are not just a prince. You are a knight of Thule. You carry the weight of our kingdom on your shoulders."

The episode reaches its climax with a tournament, in which the knights of Thule compete against each other to demonstrate their skills. Valiant performs admirably, but he is still plagued by doubt. In the final round, he faces off against a tough opponent, a veteran knight named Sir Lionel.

The two knights charge at each other, and the crowd roars with excitement. As they clash, Valiant glimpses the shadowy figure from his dream once more. But this time, he confronts it head-on. "I am a knight of Thule!" he shouts. "And I will not fail my people!"

With that, Valiant triumphs over Sir Lionel and wins the tournament. The rest of the knights cheer him on, and even Sir Gawain congratulates him. "Well done, my boy," he says. "You have proven yourself a true knight of Thule."

The episode ends with Valiant returning to the court of Thule, where he is greeted as a hero. He stands before his father, who looks on with pride. "I am proud of you, my son," the king says. "You have proven that you are worthy of the title 'Prince Valiant.'"

Overall, "The Dream" sets the stage for what promises to be an epic adventure. The show's writers do a good job of establishing the world of Thule and introducing the characters, while also giving us a taste of the action and drama that is to come. Prince Valiant is a likable and relatable protagonist, and it's easy to root for him as he struggles to become the best knight he can be. If you're a fan of medieval fantasy or epic adventure stories, "The Legend of Prince Valiant" is definitely worth checking out.