Merlin: BBC 1 - Saturday Nights

I think that the stories are either too short or then they need serious help with the story-telling. Where's the continuity? They say that the Merlin has a destiny, but they really need to press on the pedal if they want to go on with this story.

I mean at the moment, the Merlin stories feel as if they have come from an anthology, as there's no real sense of great drama. There's no rising tension towards end of the season. Do they have a story-editor, who has a clear idea on how this story should be told? If this would be a book, then I would have pointed on the bridging errors between the chapters.

Merlin has a great potential for a long waited 'fantasy series' in the prime-time television. I hope that the producers get their ideas together under a one vision. They need to put more deepness in the characters. Not just use them as puppets.
 
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So we older people have to grit our teeth and bare with continuity problems? At the moment Merlin is equivalent to Star Trek Next Generation. It isn't that much better. Well, I guess it goes in meantime, while I wait the BSG to return to us the last half.
 
Pretty much, i have seen allot worse in the continuity stakes in shows that have been running longer. i really do think,as far a merlin goes, the BBC have hit on a winner for the age group its aimed at. the kids around my way are always going on about the new doctor who series coming up and i have hardly heard a whisper this time. so it cant be all bad.:)
 
Think Buffy - it didn't really properly get going until the 2-3 season. With these types of serials, the producers tend to wait to see if there is mileage in them before they invest time and and energy in developing characters and complicated plots spanning several episodes, otherwise, there is no point if second series will not get commissioned.

I must admit, in spite of myself I get drawn in and watch every episode, even if it is sometimes on the bbc iplayer. And, unlike most, I really like the actor that plays Merlin. The fact that he is slightly off sits well with the fact that the character of Merlin is so different to everyone. It highlights his specialness in a way. Well, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it :)
 
I would assume that the BBC would want this to run and run**, so it would be foolish of them to hurry things too much.



** - How many seasons has Smallville been running? (More than any vaguely recent adult Superman series, I'd bet.)
 
PG I think you need to go back and watch Buffy again. Both season one and two writing, acting and producing is far superior to Merlin. They don't even stand on same line together.
 
Hmm. I think the acting in Merlin is generally good, particularly Arthur and Gaius. It's a shame that the title character isn't as good though.
 
I think they would do a little bit better by giving the characters a bit of room to breath. They should focus to tell a longer story then a magic-user of the week, because it's getting a bit boring by now. We are over the halfway point now and the end of the season is rapidly coming nearer. How many times we are going to see that great Western Dragon saying "Get on with it!"
 
I think the chap who plays Merlin is rather good actually, it's nice to see him portrayed as a gangly youth uncertain of his powers, his place in life etc. The BBC hasn't got an endless pot of money so I think it looks pretty good despite this. It makes me want to watch it every week, so it's doing it's job for me!
 
Agreed - I did feel that this episode has been the best so far!
Merlin is finally starting to get a stronger character and is starting to catch up with many of the rest of the cast.

Must say the clips from next weeks are interesting - the dragon appears to be starting to play a more active role (which is good - mystical adviser was starting to wear a little thin - though I am curious as to why he has not tried for a closer friendship with merlin - I mean its one way to get someone to blast the chain off you!
 
I often wonder who feeds the dragon and if Uther has his own reasons for keeping the dragon alive - perhaps this one was known to be able to see into the future and thus Uther keeps him alive for an advantage
 
I thought it was a dreadful transposition of 21st century attitudes into the not very dark, dark ages.

We also had the wise old figure (the dragon in this instance), saying you shouldn't/should do something but not telling Merlin why.

But then, it is a kids show, so fair enough.
 
i get the impression that it was only the dragons in the kingdom that he had slain, and he kept the last one as an example to others who might bring magic back to his land. it would be nice to see an episode that explains the dragons 'real' part in it. we have seen that Gyus is on speaking terms with him, just would be interesting episode i think (full of flash backs) :D
 
I thought it was a dreadful transposition of 21st century attitudes into the not very dark, dark ages.
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Its DnD based round the tales of Arthur - keep telling yourself that and it becomes more enjoyable ;)

And yes the dragon being very bossy is rather a pain - though this time he did do more than in the past - he did hint and lead merlin to the conclusion that the boy would be a threat. Thinking about it if merlin is to be the destined one then it would be no good if he had no brains on his shoulders to work things out and had to get the answers from a fortune teller - -also if merlin were not smart enough on his own time would change - ergo the answers he would get from the dragon might lead down the wrong path
 
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