Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 01:09:42 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Search:     Advanced search
we're back, baby
*
Home Help Search Login Register
f13.net  |  f13.net General Forums  |  General Discussion  |  TV  |  Topic: Merlin 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Pages: [1] Go Down Print
Author Topic: Merlin  (Read 7374 times)
photek
Terracotta Army
Posts: 618


on: September 21, 2008, 10:27:49 PM

Quote
Merlin - The Dragon's Call
BBC One - 20 September 2008

Merlin is a thrilling fantasy drama set to enchant family audiences in a brand new 13-part series on BBC One.
Every Saturday night audiences are destined to experience a series of magical adventures, as they follow the unlikely friendship of a would-be wizard (Merlin) and the future King (Prince Arthur).
The drama brings together a cast of acclaimed British actors (Richard Wilson as Gaius, Anthony Head as King Uther Pendragon) as well as exciting new faces.
Colin Morgan is the young wizard Merlin, Bradley James is the arrogant but brave Prince Arthur, rising star Angel Coulby is Guinevere and newcomer Katie McGrath is Morgana.
Multi-award-winning actor John Hurt has just been cast as the Voice of the Great Dragon. Enigmatic and powerful, he alone knows Merlin's true destiny.

It might be a bit family-oriented, but I liked this show. Maybe cause I'm a sucker for fantasy and love this particular fantasy setting. Anyone else ?

"I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away"
Oban
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4662


Reply #1 on: September 22, 2008, 04:56:24 AM

How did I miss this?

Palin 2012 : Let's go out with a bang!
Ironwood
Terracotta Army
Posts: 28240


Reply #2 on: September 22, 2008, 06:01:26 AM

Do you mean you missed the first episode or the whole production news ?

"Mr Soft Owl has Seen Some Shit." - Sun Tzu
Tebonas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 6365


Reply #3 on: September 22, 2008, 06:50:16 AM

Its one of those "Loosely based on <insert myth here>" things. But I liked it as soon as I got over that.
schild
Administrator
Posts: 60345


WWW
Reply #4 on: September 22, 2008, 07:14:11 AM



This is the only Merlin I recognize.
photek
Terracotta Army
Posts: 618


Reply #5 on: September 22, 2008, 07:18:40 AM

Its one of those "Loosely based on <insert myth here>" things. But I liked it as soon as I got over that.

I agree on this. However its nice to see some fantasy series rising up.

"I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away"
Slyfeind
Terracotta Army
Posts: 2037


Reply #6 on: September 22, 2008, 06:41:33 PM

/agree Schild. Sam Neill nailed that character, and that was a fun retelling of Merlin. I'm a bit wary of any BBC mythology treatment since Robin Hood. Yech!

"Role playing in an MMO is more like an open orchestra with no conductor, anyone of any skill level can walk in at any time, and everyone brings their own instrument and plays whatever song they want.  Then toss PvP into the mix and things REALLY get ugly!" -Count Nerfedalot
Reg
Terracotta Army
Posts: 5270


Reply #7 on: September 23, 2008, 05:07:53 AM

Why did nobody warn me that that horrible woman from Torchwood was going to be on it?  Is there some kind of actor shortage in the UK or something?
Mrbloodworth
Terracotta Army
Posts: 15148


Reply #8 on: September 23, 2008, 07:38:56 AM

Is this whole miniseries out yet?

Today's How-To: Scrambling a Thread to the Point of Incoherence in Only One Post with MrBloodworth . - schild
www.mrbloodworthproductions.com  www.amuletsbymerlin.com
Ironwood
Terracotta Army
Posts: 28240


Reply #9 on: September 28, 2008, 12:56:12 AM

Caught the second episode.

Um.

It's Smallville.  With a UK Stylee.


Avoid.

"Mr Soft Owl has Seen Some Shit." - Sun Tzu
FatuousTwat
Terracotta Army
Posts: 2223


Reply #10 on: September 28, 2008, 01:01:02 AM

YOU DON'T LIKE SMALLVILLE?!


Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
Ironwood
Terracotta Army
Posts: 28240


Reply #11 on: September 28, 2008, 01:07:06 AM

Actually, I have no idea what colour that green signifies, but I DO like Smallville.  A lot.  Past the first two seasons anyway, once they got away from Konstant Kryptonite.

However, I don't need to see it done by the beeb while simultaneously shitting on the Arthur legend.

It was awful.

"Mr Soft Owl has Seen Some Shit." - Sun Tzu
FatuousTwat
Terracotta Army
Posts: 2223


Reply #12 on: September 28, 2008, 01:28:36 AM

It is the same tone as the normal green, I just prefer it.

I think I gave up on Smallville when it was still pretty new.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2008, 01:35:27 AM by FatuousTwat »

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
Tebonas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 6365


Reply #13 on: September 28, 2008, 01:31:17 AM

When you say like Smallville, do you mean decent action interrupted by inane soap opera acting and plots that curls your toes?
Reg
Terracotta Army
Posts: 5270


Reply #14 on: September 28, 2008, 04:14:34 AM

The shitting all over Arthurian legend is what bothers me about it most.  Aside from character names there is nothing remotely Arthurian about it.
Ironwood
Terracotta Army
Posts: 28240


Reply #15 on: September 28, 2008, 05:02:15 AM

When you say like Smallville, do you mean decent action interrupted by inane soap opera acting and plots that curls your toes?

Yes.  Don't judge me.

"Mr Soft Owl has Seen Some Shit." - Sun Tzu
Lucas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3298

Further proof that Italians have suspect taste in games.


Reply #16 on: December 11, 2008, 04:17:44 AM

I've been watching this for a while and I think it's a very good show, all things considered.

- some special effects are just horrible, VERY low budget;

- Dialogues, in general, are fine; if you are a fantasy fan (literature or gaming) you willl notice some inconsistencies, though, both with dialogues and situations.

- Some show themes are repetitive, for example Gaius (court physician) always warning Merlin about the use of magic, Arthur behaviour toward Merlin (sometimes it looks like they are "resetting" the friendship feeling between them at the beginning of each episode) and Uther Pendragon choices: ok, it's probably not easy to be the king (I still have to take a shot at that), but he often looks schizophrenic in his decision making process :P.
----

But what really shines through the episodes is the acting, if you look beyond some bad lines writers might give them. The cast is really great, IMO: the two best are Anthony Head (Uther Pendragon) and the ABSOLUTELY STUNNING BEAUTY Katie McGrath (Morgana).  The acting has a very "theatrical", "staged" feeling to it, but it's understandable because of the setting.

Regarding the atmosphere, it's no George R.R. Martin or anything like that: in the UK, it airs around 7pm, and some episodes aired even earlier than that, but I also think it is not childish show at all.

Just a few days ago, Anthony Head confirmed that a second season is almost certain, given the good ratings (average of almost 6.5 million viewers, and it's great for that timeslot compared to the potential pool of viewers in the UK).

It will air on NBC in February.

" He's so impatient, it's like watching a teenager fuck a glorious older woman." - Ironwood on J.J. Abrams
Ironwood
Terracotta Army
Posts: 28240


Reply #17 on: December 11, 2008, 08:34:50 AM

Really ?  Did it get better after the first four episodes ?

"Mr Soft Owl has Seen Some Shit." - Sun Tzu
Lucas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3298

Further proof that Italians have suspect taste in games.


Reply #18 on: December 11, 2008, 10:52:10 AM

Really ?  Did it get better after the first four episodes ?


Hmm, if you haven't enjoyed the first four episodes I'm not sure you will like the following ones.

Some of them are average , but others are very good (especially (n.6, 7, 8, 10 and 12, season finale will air this saturday). Like I said, while the focus must stay on the sexual relationship between Arthur and Merlin, when the authors give more space to Morgana and Uther (the former does next to nothing in those first four episodes) the show is definitely better.

Forty minutes of enjoyable television, in other words, far better, just to mention one, than that HUGE CRAPPY MESS "Heroes" has become lately :P

" He's so impatient, it's like watching a teenager fuck a glorious older woman." - Ironwood on J.J. Abrams
Mrbloodworth
Terracotta Army
Posts: 15148


Reply #19 on: December 12, 2008, 10:39:16 AM

I have been watching this with some friend, however they complain about the "lore", i have been watching it as a fun take on the setting, however they cant just let it go. As if the world really needed the Merlin story told AGAIN.

Today's How-To: Scrambling a Thread to the Point of Incoherence in Only One Post with MrBloodworth . - schild
www.mrbloodworthproductions.com  www.amuletsbymerlin.com
apocrypha
Terracotta Army
Posts: 6711

Planes? Shit, I'm terrified to get in my car now!


Reply #20 on: December 12, 2008, 11:07:13 PM

My gf occasionally watches this cos she thinks Anthony Steward Head is hot. It's shit. Depressingly so, but standard fare for BBC weekend afternoons.

"Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism" - Rosa Luxemburg, 1915.
Reg
Terracotta Army
Posts: 5270


Reply #21 on: December 13, 2008, 02:58:08 AM

I have been watching this with some friend, however they complain about the "lore", i have been watching it as a fun take on the setting, however they cant just let it go. As if the world really needed the Merlin story told AGAIN.
It's hard to let go of the "lore" from a legend as old and familiar as that. Last year's new Flash Gordon series had the same problem and it didn't take nearly as many liberties with the legend as they have been in Merlin.

As far "the world needed the Merlin story told AGAIN" goes I think you might be overestimating that - in the video genre at least. This is the first King Arthur based television series that I can think of. There have been a few movies, there was the animated "Sword in the Stone" Disney feature and none of them were particularly faithful to the legend.  A ton of fantasy books have been written about it. It seems like every newbie fantasy writer wants his own variation of the legend but those aren't exactly designed to appeal to a mainstream audience.

I'd bet that the mainstream isn't really aware of much outside of what they saw in the Disney cartoon when they were kids. They know that Merlin is supposed to be an old man in a wizard hat and not much else. If they have really good memories they might remember that Morgan LeFay was supposed to be a bad guy. The people that actually notice all of the other violations of the legend are just fantasy nerds and it really doesn't make a lot of difference to the success of the show if you offend those guys.

Anyway, it's not a horrible show. I won't shed any tears if it gets canceled though.
Xuri
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1199

몇살이세욬ㅋ 몇살이 몇살 몇살이세욬ㅋ!!!!!1!


WWW
Reply #22 on: December 13, 2008, 03:31:35 AM

Did anyone actually watch the Flash Gordon series? I tried, but I found the production quality of it so shite that I nearly chewed my keyboard in half.

-= Ho Eyo He Hum =-
Reg
Terracotta Army
Posts: 5270


Reply #23 on: December 13, 2008, 05:01:05 AM

Hah, I actually got to like it after a while. I think I was the only one though.
Slyfeind
Terracotta Army
Posts: 2037


Reply #24 on: December 15, 2008, 01:35:44 PM

Hah, I actually got to like it after a while. I think I was the only one though.

Probably.  why so serious?

The new Flash Gordon confused me. The one episode I saw, they were all on Earth except for a blonde Ming who was the head of an intergalactic corporation, and everybody was going to a wedding. I was like "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!?!?!" and ran screaming from the room.

"Role playing in an MMO is more like an open orchestra with no conductor, anyone of any skill level can walk in at any time, and everyone brings their own instrument and plays whatever song they want.  Then toss PvP into the mix and things REALLY get ugly!" -Count Nerfedalot
Lucas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3298

Further proof that Italians have suspect taste in games.


Reply #25 on: December 15, 2008, 02:28:51 PM

On the below average season finale:


" He's so impatient, it's like watching a teenager fuck a glorious older woman." - Ironwood on J.J. Abrams
ffc
Terracotta Army
Posts: 608


Reply #26 on: June 26, 2009, 12:21:45 AM

I just found this on Hulu and watched the first episode.  I liked it and watched the second right after.  If Hulu had a third, I'd be watching it right now.  I am not sure yet whether I should be ashamed.
Pages: [1] Go Up Print 
f13.net  |  f13.net General Forums  |  General Discussion  |  TV  |  Topic: Merlin  
Jump to:  

Powered by SMF 1.1.10 | SMF © 2006-2009, Simple Machines LLC