merlin on NBC
POSTED BY: camphillpawhedonite1956
UPDATED: Thursday, June 25, 2009 00:50
VIEWED: 4465
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hey all did anybody catch the series merlin on nbc sunday? TONY HEAD was in it as the king arthurs dad hes sort of a baddy. let me know what you thought.
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I loved it. Apparently Michelle Ryan from bionic woman and doctor who is on it from what I heard. I only caught the last half but I liked it enough to want to see it next Sunday. Too bad it's so short it's only one season because it's already finished in British apparently...it's original and clever, a def 5 star series...
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It's a re-imagining, of course. But for the most part, it's a great series. Very well done. I saw the entire thing when it aired in the UK. At the time, it beat Robin Hood in the ratings. Looking forward to watching series 2.
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I thought it was kind of... ihh...
It's "oh-kay", but I'm not crazy about it.
Wasn't Arthur supposed to just be some shlub from nowheresville until he pulled Excalibur from the stone? I guess I never really followed the Arthurian legends and myths that closely, but I didn't realize Uther Pendragon was a king. I mean, *I* didn't vote for 'im!
Michelle Ryan - OH! - I loved her in Jekyll! I thought that looked like her, but it's been a while...
Mike
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
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There are varying stories about king arthur. Most say he was actually some roman soldier and his stories been mixed into the Camelot legend
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Quote:
Originally posted by invictus12:
I loved it. Apparently Michelle Ryan from bionic woman and doctor who is on it from what I heard. I only caught the last half but I liked it enough to want to see it next Sunday. Too bad it's so short it's only one season because it's already finished in British apparently...it's original and clever, a def 5 star series...
Yeah. Excellent series. We've had it for a couple of months in OZ. Watch it with the kids, even my mum watches it.
Fear not though about a short series. Second Season is already in production and talks are underway for another couple of seasons. It's been a ratings hit in most countries. Not sure why its coming to the US so late.
Be aware though, it's a "interpretation" of the arthurian legends, so you cant assume anything when watching it.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
I thought it was kind of... ihh...
It's "oh-kay", but I'm not crazy about it.
Wasn't Arthur supposed to just be some shlub from nowheresville until he pulled Excalibur from the stone? I guess I never really followed the Arthurian legends and myths that closely, but I didn't realize Uther Pendragon was a king. I mean, *I* didn't vote for 'im!
Michelle Ryan - OH! - I loved her in Jekyll! I thought that looked like her, but it's been a while...
Mike
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
I consider myself a bit of an Arthurian buff, though definately not a scholar on the subject. The most popular stories are those of Arthur being the son of Uther Pendragon who was the rightful king of England. He fell in love with a rival's wife (as explored in "Excalibur") and they had a child, Arthur. In order to protect the young child from the ensuing chaos, Merlin spirits him away to the backwoods to be raised by a family. Years pass and the ruling king (not Uther) dies with no heir. Merlin then sets the Sword Excalibur in the stone with the mandate that only the rightful king of England can pull it out (other versions have the Lady of the Lake giving him Excalibur and proclaiming him king). Arthur travels to London with his adopted family as squire to his "brother" Kay. When Kay's sword is broken, Arthur runs about looking for one to replace it, finds the sword in the stone and pulls it out. The rest is "history" or historical legend, or just legend, however you want to look at it.
So yes, by the looks of the series so far, it's a complete reimagining with Arthur as a teenager (or possibly in his early 20's) in Uther's court with Merlin being a bit younger (or so it seems). Merlin, of course, is always portrayed as being a LOT older than Arthur. I've got the second episode DVR'd. Missed the first episode apparently.
As to the mention of Arthur being a Roman soldier, I would highly recommend "King Arthur" with Clive Owen. Many people didn't like it, but I gave it a shot anyway. The version released on DVD (Director's cut, the only version I saw to be honest) is very good, IMHO. A great re-telling taken from that very perspective. I like the Arthur legend as it is, but didn't mind seeing a new take on it.
For another great take on the legend, I recommend the Pendragon Cycle books by Stephen Lawhead. He also just finish up a trilogy of the Robin Hood legend that is really fantastic.
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"It's okay! I'm a leaf on the wind!!!"
"What does that mean?!?!?!"
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Admittedly, most of my awareness of Arthurian legend comes from stuff like "Excalibur" and "Monty Python & The Holy Grail" (golden, that!), but I've caught a few historical programs here and there about it, and the new show doesn't seem to jibe with any of them.
For the record, I'm fine with taking liberties, but I find it more engrossing when a story hews closer to canon and STILL makes me pay attention by bringing out tiny details that you never heard before or didn't consider, but which fit and mesh perfectly with canon. And THAT, Merlin doesn't do very well at all.
I'll be watching, but I'm thinking I'd rather rent Excalibur or King Arthur and go from there...
Mike
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
... For the record, I'm fine with taking liberties, but I find it more engrossing when a story hews closer to canon and STILL makes me pay attention by bringing out tiny details that you never heard before or didn't consider, but which fit and mesh perfectly with canon. And THAT, Merlin doesn't do very well at all.
Roger that. I have not seen this at all so far, and unless I start hearing some pretty righteous buzz I don't think I'll be going out of my way to include it in my viewing schedule. I saw a Merlin promo the other night in which young Arthur is apparently using magicalistic powers to clean his room, and Merlin walks in on him. I don't know / can't remember what the exact dialogue is, but in my mind it's like this:
"Ar-THUR! What-did-I-tell-you about using magic to clean your room?!"
(broom, bucket, various other items come crashing to the floor)
"Clean?!...magic?!...room?!...Oh golly no, Mr. Merlin, sir! I was just polishing my halberd...!"
(hilarity ensues)
But thank goodness for MP and the HG - otherwise I'm not sure any more how peeps would hear about the Lady-of-the-Lake version of the legend. Folks these days are so leapt-up over sticking swords in stones and then pulling them back out again...
donttalkbackjustdrivethecarshutyourmouthiknowwhatyouaredontsaynothinkeepyourhandsonthewheeldontturnaroundthisisforreal
Still...what would Rorschach do?
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Ahnal nathrack othvas bethod dotneahl deenvay!
The laughing Chrisisall
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