So did anyone else watch Merlin?

[thismaz]

And did anyone else think that Arthur was Robin of Sherwood's Guy of Gisbourne reincarnated?



I enjoyed it, although I didn't really expect to. It is pitched slap bang in the middle of high romance, complete with a fairytale castle, so we are not even approaching historical realism here.

The script is a nice mix of classic and modern, which only jarred occasionally, but if I could come to terms with the recent Robin and his Sheriff referencing rock lyrics, I won't have any trouble here.

Anthony Head plays a smooth Uther Pendragon and Bradley James as Arthur is a spoilt bully who has always been cock of his walk. In fact none of the characters are the way they have traditionally been considered (at least by me *g*). Guinevere as Morgana's maid servant, for example, conjures images of Ann Boleyn in my head, considering her future. At the moment though, she appears to be an ordinary girl with the beginnings of a crush on Merlin.

Okay, Merlin... Like the rest of the cast, he's pretty enough, although Arthur and Morgana are the ones with classic TV prettiness. I found the smallville style "look of concentration" on his face as he moved things with his mind a bit annoying, but hey, I'll get past that too, I'm sure. He has an attractively cajoling manner with his mentor, Gaius, the court physician and yes, reminded me of Clark Kent in a few other ways.

Hmmm, now I say that, I realise that that is an important reference - the idea that the characters are not yet what they will become - Guinevere is a servant, Arthur a bully, Morgana believes in justice, objects to capital punishment and appears to have no interest in magic, Merlin has a natural gift, but no knowledge.

The landscape is pretty and in the tradition of high romance, we haven't yet seen it rainy and miserable.

And the dragon... The dragon in a very traditional dragon, both in the legendary and the CGI sense. He reminded me of the movie Dragonslayer.



So, lots of references and homages to earlier stuff, but also a different take on the legend. I enjoyed it. How about you?

Comments

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Yes I enjoyed it - although I completely suspended my disbelief to do so! LOL! The castle was so clean and where were the rush floors?? *g*

As a fairy tale is was quite sweet and none of the characters jarred for me like they did in Robin Hood (which I could barely get through the first episode of and never watched again).

My 17 year old thought it was good fun too.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Suspension of disbelief, definitely essential. *g*

The castle was so clean
Wasn't it just? Those almost sparklingly white walls.

Personally, I enjoyed Robin Hood, but it had to be approached in a spirit of appreciation for the ridiculous. I can totally understand why you might not get into it. I remember my own fury when walking out of the cinema after watching Kevin Costner's Robin Hood. I was all "How dare they suborn my folk heroes like that?" It was months before I could appreciate it as a remake of the Errol Flynn version. *g*

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

I thoroughly enjoyed it, though part of that was undoubtedly that I didn't expect to. I never took to Robin Hood so approached it with some trepidation, but it was unfounded. It's considerably better.

It well and truly skews Arthurian legend, but that didn't trouble me at all. It is, after all, legend with a tiny sprinkling of historical fact, so I reckon it's fair game.

The Beeb wisely included a lot of Doctor Who and Torchwood alumni, plus Santiago Cabrera from Heroes and Michelle Ryan from Bionic Woman and, of couse, ASH. It never hurts to appeal to the existing cult fans out there. I'm almost waiting for JM to turn up. *g*

I'm looking forward to the second ep, and if it can keep up the standard of pretty sets, pretty boys, good CGI and plotline with plenty of room for development, I reckon the BBC is on to a winner. I've already joined three comms, including the inevitable slashfic one. LOL!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I did get into Robin Hood, but it required a particular mind frame to do so. You had to approach it, knowing it was playing games. *g*
Heee, Spike in tights (or Captain John in tights) now there's a scary thought.
I haven't joined the comms yet. Let me know if they start generating good fic, yeah?

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

Heee, Spike in tights (or Captain John in tights) now there's a scary thought.

Bloody terrifying! He's got no bum to hold 'em up. *g*

I haven't joined the comms yet. Let me know if they start generating good fic, yeah?

Will do. I really don't think it'll be long; Suki's brain is already whirling with possibilities. *g* These days, the creators of new shows seem to be well aware that there's a big slash audience out there, as well as a hetter one, and are happy to play to it.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Yeah, I'd noticed that too. There seem to be so many more slashy references. *thinks* Although that could just be me, seeing them. *g*

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

It was ok. Not as good fun as Robin Hood because it lacks the whimsical humour. They seem to be just presenting the story, not presenting the story whilst having hysterics behind their sleeves. But that may change of course. I think I might like the idea of the youngsters having to change to reach their final roles - having to earn their destinies. But it is still very early days.

I didn't like ASH though, I thought he came across as just petty and mean, not either properly menacing or having sensible reasons for what he was doing. But I'm certainly going to watch it next week.

But I am worried, does the fact they are putting it out in that slot mean we don't get any more Robin Hood? I thought there was going to be a third season.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

It was different from Robin Hood. RH is intelligently ridiculous, this is more mainstream. *thinks* It's like RH is trying to take you back to the middle ages and make you feel at home by taking some of the 21st century scenery back too. Merlin is trying to create a 21st century version of the stories and ballads told in the middle ages. *g*

I didn't see Uther as petty. I was a bit surprised by how smooth he was. He struck me as a harsh ruler, who is still carrying his past with him in a huge sack on his back. I saw his actions as motivated by a history that the young people never lived through, so don't understand.

No more Robing Hood? I do hope not. *goes to look at how many episodes there are in Arthur and calculate the weeks left to Christmas*

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

It's ok, they are filming Series 3 as we speak and apparently it will air in 2009 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/robinhood/about/news.shtml).

I guess everything is shifting around a bit because there won't be a proper Doctor Who next year so they need to fill the Saturday slot with other things.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. I am so annoyed that I missed the last episode of season 2, so never saw the whole show down in Jerusalem.
*goes to rent that last disc*
Damn, I have to wait until November for it to be available. Oh well, at least that's still this year.