Merlin: BBC 1 - Saturday Nights

Last episode didn't do much for me. Pretty average story.

At one moment, Gaius reminded me of the movie version of Snape suddenly (yeah, pretty random, I know :eek:).

Arthur should have noticed the incantation before Nimue increased her volume until it was loud and clear. It was fairly quiet in there and she was standing close behind him. Even when you are concentrating at the task at hand it should be noticeable.

Also, why jump forward when you can dive back? Who cares if you fall on the girl, if your life is in danger? Especially one that has just startled you with suspicious chanting? Well, I guess because she came across as suspicious, you might prefer not to jump onto her, who is a possible danger.

Uther would have been better off not dropping the plant within reach of Arthur. Or maybe he could have pretended like he would throw it away and send it to Gaius in secret.

At the end Uther should have overheard the Morgana and Arthur conversation about the light guiding. Again, just like in the cave, he was close-by enough. But this time it could be argued that he was lost in thoughts.

The light that Merlin sort of send, was giving Merlin some sort of power boost for a while. Maybe because of the state he was in, his natural instinct and ability kicked in easier than if he was truly conscious of it and trying too hard. But it was only a light, so I can live with it.

The semi-death scene wasn't moving at all to me. Not just because all viewers know that this isn't the end of Merlin, but both of the characters did not seem that grief stricken.

Especially Gaius could have show a little more emotion (unless he is the kind of guy who gets emotional in private after some time has passed). I thought that Gwen could have gone over Merlin first (shake him up, touch him, etc., even if it is perhaps cliche) instead of going straight into Gaius' arms. It's as if they immediately accepted that Merlin was done for. Somehow, I thought it was a bit off. Merlin's recovery would've worked better if he was shown to be alive, but still too weak from the state of death that he was unable to move from the bed ridden position he was in, as example.

I wonder if Nimue is Arthur's mother. Or at least was the lover of Uther. The last much more likely.
 
I've forgotten where I got up to in the original thread, so I'll re-cap all episodes.

First - not bad. Interesting start.
Second - fantastic sword play. I miss the eyes.
Third - The eyes are back! The scriptwriters are taking liberties - "I'm the sorceror!" "Orly? Lulz."
Fourth - Yarr. Ye olde queste. Man vs. CGI annoyed me. Same with the last episode.

Tonights wasn't bad. The Man vs. CGI annyed me again (I'm putting it down to the actors not having battled imaginary things before), but the other swordplay sequences were fantastic. I'm finding it interesting how all the different characters from the legend are turning up, and how it's all put down to destiny.

Anyone know what happened to the very-nearly-obligatory Dragon Chat scenes? We had them in the first few episodes, but they've been strangely absent from the last two.
 
well in the fourth merlin was rather out of it - and he is the only one to talk to the dragon (infact if memory severs he is the only one who knows this as well). Not seen this weeks so can't comment - but I assume its partly because he never actually gets any answers from the dragon - so I think he has given up asking it for help
 
Resurrecting old 'Merlin' thread from Google cache - sorry only pages 2 and 4 found.

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Ursa major: I'm not sure TV could do what you want (in the sense that it's hard to see the powers-that-be commissioning it).
And Merlin was specifically commissioned to sit in the Dr Who slot, so we ought to be glad it's as restrained as it is.

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HareBrain: True enough. The frustrating thing is, that 20 years ago they might have done. Does anyone remember the 1991 Channel 4 version of Gawain and the Green Knight (written by David Rudkin, with Mark Warren among others)? Brilliant. And, as far as I can tell, never shown since. I still watch it every Christmas on a dodgy old VHS.

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Overead: never even heard of it (which makes sense I am only just over 20 years old )
it is sad that TV is not the quality it once was - even wildlife is now mostly armchair affairs -

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sloweye: if they run them alternately the will keep the viewing figures up all year round.

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Precision Grace: Haha, could it be that HB is trying out for the spot vacated by Victor Meldrew?
I caught the second half of Merlin and was annoyed at first, specially when Merlin called Arthur a 'prat' but then I thought - let's face it, today's kids need to relate to this and this is probably the only way. It was watchable enough I suppose but not sure if I'll make extra specially sure to see it next week.

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sloweye: yeah, if it was all thee's and hay nony nony the kids just wouldnt watch. i think it could shape up to be a good series with it humor.

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Overread: Well I have seen first episode and here are my complaints/ thoughts
1) costuming is a bit weak - it just looks a little too modern for the period - as too is the lack of beards in the cast

2) things (sets) look too clean and new - though I must say it does link into the CGI cleanness as well - so it makes an overall effect.

3) like I said - CGI is a little too clean

4) Dragon was uninspiring - CGI not bad, but at little weak - but it was his voice that detracted - a good voice, but not a dragons voice I felt.

5) still trying to work out if I like Merlin or not - I think he is well cast for the young fool at times - and I think I would like him better if he did not look so clean looking all the time - just too clean in features, hair and cloths (barring his white - er brown - nightshirt

6) a few parts were rather info dumping weak - also I found it odd how merlin had a built in satnav for the castle - I mean just how did he know where everyone was living?

In the end the first episode had some lacking to my eyes, though I think there is enough to build on in the series so I will see a few more before a final verdict is cast. Certainly there is some quality actors in this - I hope they get a bit more time to shine. What I think is clear is that this is a one or two series planned feature - the writers/director don't assume a second series, which is why I think things are moving so fast. Seeing Giles from Buffy I was reminded that that series had a slower start to it (I would say infact its start was the strongest season) that just made you feel like it was going to keep going.

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Lenny: Just started watching it (ah, the wonder of the iPlayer! ), and the first thing to strike me is how terrible King Uther's dialogue is at the very start. Eugh.

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Overread: yah for such an actor he really did get the weakest starting line!
which reminds me his young ward - now I don't think they need perfect english, but I am afraid that America (and american english) were just not around them - jars a bit to have Giles speaking his part with a strong english against her more american accent!

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Lenny: Just passed that, and I agree, it jars horribly. Though she does well to keep it in check most of the time.

Just a quick thought about Merlin - do his eyes always turn amber whem he does soemthing, or do they go different colours depending on what he does?

Anyway, ten minutes in now - no-one told me Eve Myles was in it! I'd have watched it at half seven if someone had told me Eve Myles was in it.

EDIT: Can't hear any Welsh in Ms. Myles' speaking. Young ward, take note.

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Overread: think its mostly Amber - though I did not watch them that close

intersetingly it was very easy for him to get into the dragon pit - though I suppose it was one of those cases where only a madman would want to see the dragon


oh and does anyone else think that the castle does not look British?

oh drat now you know what is in the pit -- well you were bound to work it out ( the title helped )

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Ursa major: I thought the castle looked French (it is, it's north of Paris), but guessed that it must be in central or eastern Europe, simply because that's where a lot of series are filmed nowadays.

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Overread: I thought they were filmed in Cardiff and 5 feet from the BBC HQ (former)
and yes a French Castle was what I was thinking - too arty and fancy - that said they do have better towers than we tended to.

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Ursa major: I posted a link to the castle's article on Wiki earlier in the thread, if you're interested in seeing more of it (and finding out why it looks the way it does).

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Overread: Thanks Ursa - that it is more of a Palace than a Castle makes its grandeur more meaningful - though with all the CGI they could have made a dark, broody - retangle/square affair with battlements and blazing torches.

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Antubis:
Originally Posted by Lenny

Anyway, not a bad first episode. I agree with people above that it's definitely not a historical drama, which is a bit of a shame because I like my Arthur/Merlin/Camelot mythology as much as the next man (then again, that can't really be called "historical drama" either!), but it is definitely an interesting take on it all.
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I agree with that

I sort of liked it, but it will take some time for me to adjust. It isn't the traditional Arthur and Merlin drama/tragedy story. So far, it's just loosely based on the mythology, which is actually not that bad, because that makes it less easy to predict what kind of plot it will follow.

I was taken a bit aback by the young actors. It was a bit like watching the medieval and refined versions of Draco and Harry Potter. I hope that the tone of the series will not become too juvenile. But it is okay, so far.

I was pleasantly surprised by Guinevere. I might actually like Guinevere for once, now that she isn't depicted as a dainty, angelic looking damsel in distress. On the other hand, I have to adjust to that. As others have mentioned, I am happy to see that they don't overuse the CGI.

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nj1: I'm going to reserve judgement fro the time being as I like to watch a few episodes first, Akthough I will say that expecting anything more than 'clean' on early primetime BBC1 would be a mistake.

Did everyone else get to watch MERLIN: THE LEGEND, shown on BBC2 (possibly just BBC2 Wales) straight after the BBC1 show? Basically it was a documentary on the myth of Merlin and was very interesting especially if your into the background

BBC iPlayer - Merlin the Legend

folow the link to watch!

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Perpetual Man: Sorry for being late with the posting, but had a really hectic weekend, and all that...

I koved it, hokey language etc and all.

I've been a fan (if that is the right word) of the Arthurian myths and legends for most of my life, I've read studied (legitimatly) for years, and when you look book over the years the Arthurian legends have been adapted and translated to suit their times again and again.

Thomas Mallory's Le Morte D'Arthur updated the old legends, setting Arthur in the middle ages, the popular appearance of knights and chivalry; while Tennyson turn it into an epic romance with his poem The Idylls of the King. It's pretty funny to think that back in Victorian times you could have people looking in horror at Tennyson's tale and saying that this is nothing like it should be!

Of course very similar people would have been decrying the wonderful children's tale A Once and Future King when T H White produced it in the 1950's....

The Arthurian legends are4 something that have become reinterpreted every few generations, taking the themes and characters and representing them for a modern audience - and this is what the new series has done. Of course it is nothing like what has gone before, but then neither have any of the previous Arthurian works. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley) is as different from White as he is from Mallory, yet they all have a linking heart, introduing people to a fresh sense of magic and wonder, the basis for the story of Arthur and Merlin.

Of course there is nothing in the series that has any historical value - but then what does? It might be enough to make younger viewers pick up a few books and find out though!!

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TK-421: Good news for those of us on this side of the pond. NBC has the rights and the series will start in January 2009. In Canada, it will be shown on CTV.

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SpaceShip:
Originally Posted by Antubis

I wonder why the dragon is chained. I would have asked, if only out of curiosity. The dragon would have been better with less human eyes and more reptile ones, to give more of a dragon image. But hey, it's fantasy. And it might scare kids.
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Wouldn't you think that the dragon could burn through the chain with it's fiery breath? Or have they dampened it somehow? Perhaps we'd better wait and see, eh?[/quote]

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sloweye:
Originally Posted by TK-421

Good news for those of us on this side of the pond. NBC has the rights and the series will start in January 2009. In Canada, it will be shown on CTV.
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thats cool, i have rellies in canada who will love that news.

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purple kathryn: I think pratt is an old english word for arse actually

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sloweye: Prat - Entry reviswouldn'thumoursat naved for OED Online - EnglishAmericanEnglishEnglishAmericanwhelmsomethinginterestinglyrectangleWorAlthoughprime-timefollowdhuntlegitimately appeal liintroducingst - Oxford English DictioCanadaPrattEnglishPratnary

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Overread: Stop Stop Stop!
just re-watched this with a friend and she worked out what it is!
its not Arther - its not Merlin - its not even historical --- its DnD!
Pure and simple its DnD with a DM, plot hooks, hints and more

thinking like that I can enjoy it a little more - its also more amusing.

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sloweye: Perfect description

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Talysia: I must admit, I enjoyed the first episode more than I thought I would. I'd agree with most of the comments about the historical side of it, so I'll keep watching for a while and see how it goes.

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chopper: overread has it spot on, i think. i watched it last night - loved the Norman-style helmets.....taking it seriously would be a mistake, but as a piece of Saturday-night fantasy it ain't too bad really. if it entices the young'uns to look at the source materials, it'll have done its job well.

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sloweye: Spot on Chopper, my point exactly. It like taking Dr.Who or Buffy the vampire seriously. 'Fantasy' gives some slack on facts.....thats the point of it. my last couple of Christmases passed without giant spiders or flying titanics but i cant blame Russel.t.davis for that (.......or can i?

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Urlik: I'm enjoying the series, but as a fantasy with characters whose names coincidentally are the same as those in Arthurian legend.

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sloweye: Only just had the chance to watch todays ep'.
Thought it was great, will meller played a blinder. Lots of sword play and still not over doing the c.g.i. which is a plus. really enjoying it so far.

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Wow, you scared me for a moment Dave. I was just asking myself who had had the time to type so much. :D

This is the first time for me when I can see a version of Arthur and Merlin young. I agree there are moments when the script is weak, but if you just want to relax at the end of the week, the episodes are not so bad. The music helps a lot.

At least BBC offers something more refreshing then tons of explosions and crimes. I believe those who work at Hollywood nowadays forgot to offer us something to dream about, something to make kids hope for a better life.

The fifth episode was not bad at all.
 
Lenny said:
Tonights wasn't bad. The Man vs. CGI annyed me again (I'm putting it down to the actors not having battled imaginary things before), but the other swordplay sequences were fantastic. I'm finding it interesting how all the different characters from the legend are turning up, and how it's all put down to destiny.

Anyone know what happened to the very-nearly-obligatory Dragon Chat scenes? We had them in the first few episodes, but they've been strangely absent from the last two.
Click to expand...
Yeah, man vs. CGI didn't work. It does sound like it would make a good Discovery Channel series "Man vs. CGI" ;)

I also agree that the swordplay is well done; it looks believable and it was fast paced. I wasn't impressed with the Griffin fight. Neither the knights or the Griffin made much of it. It is probably difficult to choreograph a fight with something that doesn't exist. And it might be hurting their budget if they made it more complicated.

I also wondered when Merlin would try to get something out of the dragon again. But maybe Merlin only tries that when it comes to Arthur. Maybe he thinks that the dragon can or will only help if it has something to do with Arthur? In the previous episode he did not get the chance to go to the dragon and in this episode, Lancelot was the one with problems. In the episode preview it seems that the dragon will make a appearance. Maybe Merlin will meet up with him again?

I thought the epi was fine, whenever there wasn't a Griffin fight. Better than the last one, at least.

I was a bit amused to see that Lancelot actually heard Merlin. Maybe the writers have read my post here about characters not hearing those close-by?

But this time, I thought it would have been believable if he did not hear Merlin. I am sure Lancelot was preoccupied with thoughts about the Griffin and trying to keep his cool in the face of danger. Also, he was passing by Merlin on full speed. I think a galloping (if it did a gallop ;)) horse makes noise and with his helmet and chainmail on, I would have thought that he did not hear Merlin well enough to hear and remember two of the words of the chanted spell.

It might have been better if Lancelot noticed his lance turning glow-in-the-dark and coming to the possible conclusion that when Merlin shouted something inaudible, his lance started to catch "fire". Then again, if I had seen my lance like that, I would have probably lost my concentration, maybe even dropped my lance and get killed by the Griffin.
 
Lancelot had the ocasion to stay with Merlin a few days and he was not stupid. Plus, Arthur mentionned when he released him that sorcery could be necessary to fight Griffin.
 
I think he might have certainly overheard things - and put two and two together when charging - also his honour is such that I think he would have kept charging for that alone - burning lance or not.

I also liked how he did not become a new character in the series - walking away (or rather riding away) at the end I thought was a good bit by the writers and means we do get to have some of the old stories hold true still
 
I'm sure Lancelot will be back soon.

I must confess I didn't like Arthur in the first episodes. I cahnged my mind in the last two episodes. Instead, his father, hmm. I don't like him at all. He was better in Buffy.
 
About the Lancelot hearing Merlin thing (yeah, I sometimes like to ponder the small things of fiction and pick at them ;)), I don't mean to say that it wasn't possible that Lancelot heard Merlin, just that I thought it would have been believable (acceptable, if that's a better word) in this situation, imo, if he didn't hear Merlin, or not well enough. Well, enough about Lancelot's hearing for now :p

It was a good move to have Lancelot ride off, to have a fresh start and work to get to his goal. It fits with his honest personality and it was different from what I expected; I thought Arthur would talk his father into having Lancelot serve him in some way.

Uther might stir up some trouble later in the series, when he learns of Merlin's powers. I also wonder what kind of role Morgana will play.

And it seems that Gwen might be holding a torch for Lancelot. Maybe they plan to have those two end up together, instead of Gwen x Merlin. Merlin hasn't shown romantic interest in Gwen so far. It might change though.
 
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*looks shamed*
I missed a week:eek:, still, i enjoyed last weeks. I think its great people are starting to notice Merlin's 'talent, the more people the better, it should make for a grander season closer.

This week:), at last we start to see some Gyus past, and his part in this starting to unfold. And what a brilliant bad guy:eek:. cant wait or the next Ep.:D
 
The best episode so far, in my opinion.

We already knew Gaius was a sorcerer. Remember that he gave his book to Merlin when he realized he had a real gift.

It was interesting to see Gaius talking to the dragon. I would like to see more of the dragon conversations in the next episodes.
 
Alexa said:
I don't like the actor's performance.
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I think he gets some horrible cheesy lines at times - made cheesy just because there is so little time to fit things in.
Its clear to me though that - sadly - the lead actor (Merlin) is just not up to standard (to my eye) with so many others in the cast - Arthur, Uther and Merlins mentor are all far better quality actors I feel.
 
I concur, Overread. I think Anthony Head's doing a good job as Uther, and Arthur's pretty good as well. Not overly fond of Merlin or Gwen.
 
I think Uther is being written a little too much in the sit-com dad mold.
he always knows best, especially when he is wrong
 
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