Merlin Season 3: Feelings about lack of direction of series

[Dave]

Episode 3.06

Merlin learns that Elena's nanny is a pixie. But who is she working for? And what do they have to gain from this marriage?

I've realised that I've been a little negative about Merlin recently. I want to apologise. I do like the series, but I can't get over the fact that really, "Uther Must Die!" That, and the fact that just as you think the story has moved on a pace and that characters have developed, we get the reset button, and it is back to Morgana back inside in the castle being evil, Merlin being stupid and clumsy, and Arthur being arrogant. Then we get things like this above, "And what do they have to gain from this marriage?" Arthur is a Prince. Marrying a Prince comes with quite a number of advantages.

 

[Overread]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Dave I don't think you're the only one - though I'm not so hooked on the whole "Uther Must Die" part I do feel that this series is starting to feel a little like a lot of episodes from 1 and 2 that didn't get in are being slipped in now. Esp in the early episodes right after the siege where aside from Morganna not appearing it felt just like it was before the castle got torn apart (by both dragon and army).

I do feel that they don't want to lose Uther because he's a strong actor and key character, but I do feel that "something" has to change in the story. Morganna being evil just isn't being played out enough (she appears to spend months just seething alone in the castle whilst doing nothing) and by season 3 we should really have one or two new main characters appearing - one or two knights from the army standing out a little more to the viewer. We are still only just limping on from the "merlin asks the dragon to solve it" line.

 

[Alexa]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Did you see ep. 6 already ?

 

[Dave]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

No, I just read the BBC promotional blurb.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

I've realised that I've been a little negative about Merlin recently. I want to apologise. I do like the series, but I can't get over the fact that really, "Uther Must Die!" That, and the fact that just as you think the story has moved on a pace and that characters have developed, we get the reset button, and it is back to Morgana back inside in the castle being evil, Merlin being stupid and clumsy, and Arthur being arrogant. Then we get things like this above, "And what do they have to gain from this marriage?" Arthur is a Prince. Marrying a Prince comes with quite a number of advantages.

Dave: Worry not about doing the series down too much. I've stopped watching it, apart from the occasional skip through when someones recorded it. I find the all the plot lines are complete nonsense.

For a kingdom that has a downer on magic it seems there's no lack of it about. Why though, does it all seem to be concentrated on changing appearance and subterfuge as opposed to just directing a magic lightning bolt through the heart.

I could start a list of other things but ....

 

[HareBrain]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Why though, does it all seem to be concentrated on changing appearance and subterfuge as opposed to just directing a magic lightning bolt through the heart.

Isn't that what magic was largely about, in stories influenced by the Celtic tradition? "Glamour" and all that. I doubt the idea of the lightning bolt as a magic spell was around much before combat-oriented fantasy wargame rules were drawn up.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

HB:

What about all those Norse gods. They weren't averse to the occasional 'thwack' with the old trident.

However, the series has already had such uses of power in the past from a magic staff as I recall. So the concept isn't banned.

They also seem fairly able to throw people around at will and cause buildings to fall torches to flare up and all manner of lethal happenstance. Except it seems, where their use would result in the instant death of their main enemy.

 

[Dave]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

It is just too cosy. Anthony Head is a great actor, but knowing that he isn't going to die means that everyone else is safe too. Since this is essentially "The Young Adventures of..." we known that Arthur and Merlin are safe. The best action/adventure shows mirror real life - people are mortal, they die unexpectedly. That was one of the reasons Firefly was realistic because they dared to kill major characters. If a new evil Wizard came to Camelot tomorrow with a Staff of Lightening Bolts, I would know that he wouldn't kill anyone important, (apart from the guard who has died twice already) certainly none of the regular cast, and hence, the whole tension/apprehension is gone.

 

[Overread]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Hmm? The only character to die in Firefly was Wash and that was in the film Serenity - the rest of the cast remained quite alive from episode to episode. However I agree that Firefly had that air that no character was invincible and that further things were dynamic - the characters grew and changed through even the short part of the first season that we got to see (River being one of the major changers, but we also saw changes in Wash, Jayne and Simon and I'm betting we would have seen a lot more changes in Book and the others in latter series if we had got the change to get them).
Thus far changes in Camalot have been very reserved - Merlin and Arthur are almost the same if you ignore the first episode where Arthur does act very differently. We are getting character changes but its slow and when you have a large number of series independent episodes thrown in (eg the goblin and the new knight which could be first or second series episodes) it waters things down far too much

Now if you want something that dared to kill main characters I think you have to look at Farthing Wood for something that really didn't hold back.

 

[Mouse]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Farthing Wood traumatised me!!

I think Arthur's changed... But maybe Merlin (the show) is aimed at younger people anyway.

 

[Overread]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Thing is aside from merlin himself everything else just feels more mature - it strikes me a little like the writers are working to an ideal formula and also writing to try and keep the show open for all ages (which in modern translation means very light on the old brain and thinking department). Hence this lack of direction we have 3 seasons in

 

[Dave]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Firefly wasn't a good example. I felt that when Wash died it was open season on anyone, but that was in Serenity. A better example would be Spooks or even Star Trek: TNG.

I'm going to split off this discussion to a Season 3 discussion since it isn't on this episode.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Dave: Whilst not wishing to criticise one so powerful, I think the new title would benefit from an inkling about which/what/who/when season three.

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/529143-season-3-feelings-about-lack-of-direction-of.html

 

[Pyan]

Re: 3.06: The Changeling

Dave: Worry not about doing the series down too much. I've stopped watching it, apart from the occasional skip through when someones recorded it. I find the all the plot lines are complete nonsense...

So have I - and for the same reasons. The guard that could have identified Morgana, left injured and unguarded in Gaius' chambers, the giant scorpions that had Merlin cornered, yet seemed to jump yards backward every time the camera cut away, the continous anachronistic niggles about the castle, the props and the language, the complete subversion of the story of the old and wise Merlin guiding the young Arthur...it looks to me as if they couldn't decide whether to make it a serious story about the early days of Arthur, or a childrens serial for CBBC...

 

[HareBrain]

I really hope they weren't intending to make a serious story about the early days of Arthur, because they've failed in craptacular fashion if so. The characterisation of Arthur is one of the worst things about it. He's already past adolescence, so his personality is largely already set, and I can't see any way in which he can credibly change enough to become the great king of legend. Contrast with Nigel Terry's performance in Excalibur, where even as a sometimes foolish young man, his character showed clear glimpses of the King he would become. I can't imagine anyone following the Arthur of Merlin for any reason other than his birth, or because they were paid to. He might be good-looking, but he is a charisma-free zone.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Not been watching this series. I saw most of the first two, though.

Just chipping in to agree regarding Farthing Wood. A kids show, but one quite willing to axe main characters. Other series could learn from that. [If I were writing Dr Who, Amy Pond would get murdered next series, but it'll never happen].

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Amy Pond fulfils her eye candy role very well. At least she isn't screaming her head of every time something happens like others have done - However we digress.

On a last note - Yeah right, like that will ever happen where I'm concerned.

On a last note, the redeeming feature of the program has to be the fine quality of the acting.

 

[Overread]

Out of interest is Merlin the series written by a single main writer or subwritten by a lot of varying writers per few episodes - if it the case of the latter it might well explain the distinct lack of a main story since there isn't anyone in the main hotsteat directing the series with an overarching goal and plot (as say you got with something like Babalon 5).

The thing that annoys me its that its had 2 full seasons and is well into the 3rd so these "teething" problems should have already been set in stone with the first season - and yet we are still teething well into season three. I wonder if it will last enough to get a fourth season?

 

[Ursa major]

I suspect the commissioning of a fourth series will depend on the viewing figures.

According to Wiki, the UK numbers are as follows:

S1: 1st episode, 7.15 million; last episode, 6.27 million; average 6.32 million
S2: 1st episode, 5.77 million; last episode, 6.64 million; average 5.99 million
S3: 1st episode, 6.49 million; last episode, .....n/a; .......average, .....n/a.

 

[FeedMeTV]

While I do agree that Merlin has the potential to be so much better than it is I also think that it is important to remember that it is essentially a children's program that appeals to adults. I don't mind the childish aspects as I can imagine that kids would find it funny and it makes a nice change from other more serious programs I watch but I accept of course that just because it's a kids program it doesn't give it a licence to ignore continuity and development etc. Doctor Who is an obvious comparison as they have very similar target audiences but the plot generally ticks along at a brisk pace in Who unlike Merlin's rather stagnant progress.

I do agree that progress is slow but I enjoy the characters and the program too much to be too critical of it and I really hope viewing figures don't drop so that it can continue.