Merlin (BBC version) Spoilers abound

[jenks]

King Arthur? That movie puts this cheese to shame.

[g.o.d]

King Arthur? That movie puts this cheese to shame.

yeah, that's it

[Cronus]

Like everyone said, the similar references are to be expected as they are deriving from the same mythology - that being said, both take particular twists on the original concepts of Morgana/Morgain and other aspects of the legends.

Merlin is an okay family entertainment show. If I had kids I'd rather them watch something like that than Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor

[Pitry]

I watched about 15 minutes of it, and I'll never go back to find out. I wish the BBC would stop trying to punch above their weight, what they come up with is just embarrassing, Robin Hood was bad but this is something else...

It's actually getting better beginning episode 3 or so... worth having another look.

(although, that said, I'd loev for the conflict in one episode to not revolve around magic. Sigh.)

[lunarleviathan]

Being British myself, I just don't get who recent British fantasy and sci-fi shows are appealing too. The standard is complete garbage. I've seen better live action kids TV during the 90s than shows like Merlin, Robbin Hood, Primeval, etc.

I understand that it actually finds a market upon export to the US though. Probably largely because of the success the new Dr. Who and Torchwood. Which are both of the same poor standard as far as I'm concerned.

It truly boggles my mind that this stuff isn't on at 4pm in the afternoon or Saturday mornings.

I really wish someone in the UK would make a serious fantasy or sci-fi drama. Sick of this kiddy crap...

[sinfuldraconis]

Does anyone know if this has been sent to American television yet on BBCAmerica?

[neiana]

It is on schedule for a spring timeslot on NBC, here in the states.

I watched the first few episodes. I'll put forth that it at least is more appealing, generally speaking, than the ridiculous Legend of the Seeker. All the same, I will continue to watch both until it comes to the point where my time is too important and I have to make choices.

[P-90_177]

Being British myself, I just don't get who recent British fantasy and sci-fi shows are appealing too. The standard is complete garbage. I've seen better live action kids TV during the 90s than shows like Merlin, Robbin Hood, Primeval, etc.

I understand that it actually finds a market upon export to the US though. Probably largely because of the success the new Dr. Who and Torchwood. Which are both of the same poor standard as far as I'm concerned.

It truly boggles my mind that this stuff isn't on at 4pm in the afternoon or Saturday mornings.

I really wish someone in the UK would make a serious fantasy or sci-fi drama. Sick of this kiddy crap...

well that's quite simple. All of them are designed for famalies. In fact they are considered '3rd generation' shows. Meaning that they can be watched my kids, their parents and their grandparents. And it is perfect for that. I still can't get into merlin. The sets are good though and anthony heads acting is excellent as always. I'd probably watch the show just for him. But at the same time I did see one before where Arthur and the knights had to go into combat and that did look a bit crappy. All in all these shows serve their purpose and they are pretty entertaining. I just wish they stuck to their legends a little more. Like robin hood went a bit off the rails after the first episode. But I enjoyed that too. And certainly primeval I think is an excellent show.

[Madeleine]

It's a very different version from any other Arthurian story, with Arthur being a pampered princeling brought up by his own father. I suppose that's part of the beauty of the legend: because it *is* a legend it can be taken anywhere you want it to go.

In the new version at least there is proper magic to it. Not like the abomination that was First Knight. The castle that they found to film the exterior scenes is quite stunning, and truly worthy of being Camelot. Merlin, Arthur, Morgana and Guinevere are all personable; Uther is a bit of a cliche but Tony Head makes a good show of it. I doubt that this series could ever replace my beloved Penguin book by Roger Lancelyn Green - the one with the pictures done as papercuts - in my affections, but it's no disgrace to either the BBC or the legend of Arthur.

As a "generation" show it works jolly well. Mr W and I can sit and enjoy it with the sprogs, and there are so few programmes about that suit all four of us, that this one is very welcome.

[sinfuldraconis]

It is on schedule for a spring timeslot on NBC, here in the states.

I watched the first few episodes. I'll put forth that it at least is more appealing, generally speaking, than the ridiculous Legend of the Seeker. All the same, I will continue to watch both until it comes to the point where my time is too important and I have to make choices.

Oh, it's that Merlin? Excellent, I had been planning on watching that as well. I didn't realize they were the same.

I actually like Legend of the Seeker. LOL It's about the only thing that's on TV on Saturdays here as well, so that doesn't hurt.

[Acolyte Of Bli'l'ab]

Being British myself, I just don't get who recent British fantasy and sci-fi shows are appealing too. The standard is complete garbage. I've seen better live action kids TV during the 90s than shows like Merlin, Robbin Hood, Primeval, etc.

I understand that it actually finds a market upon export to the US though. Probably largely because of the success the new Dr. Who and Torchwood. Which are both of the same poor standard as far as I'm concerned.

It truly boggles my mind that this stuff isn't on at 4pm in the afternoon or Saturday mornings.

You're not alone. I completely agree, especially with the standards being poor. Merlin definitly reminds me of the same goofy cheese as robin hood/dr who/torchwood/primeval ect.

As for kids tv, I guess ill stick with reruns of Knightmare

I really wish someone in the UK would make a serious fantasy or sci-fi drama. Sick of this kiddy crap...

I'm making a show called Mist Forging, but its certainly not aimed at commercial audiences. But if you want something with hard science, lovecraftian horror and a 40kish style - you might like this. If you're interested, ill happily PM the concept work iv done for it over to you.

[Coutelier]

Anything is better than that King Arthur movie... perhaps if they hadn't claimed it to be the 'true story' of King Arthur and then filled it with more inaccuracies than a historian can shake his pen at I would have found it more bearable.

As for BBC's Merlin... I always imagined Merlin to be much older than Arthur. Still, I'll wait and see how the story progresses.

The best Arthur movie, as everyone knows, was 'Merlin and the Sword' You know if you take all the D's out of Edward Woodwards name he'd be called Ewar Woowar.

[crazymitchell]

I really enjoy this show. Its one of only a few shows that I watch with my family

[Reefgirl]

Being British myself, I just don't get who recent British fantasy and sci-fi shows are appealing too. The standard is complete garbage. I've seen better live action kids TV during the 90s than shows like Merlin, Robbin Hood, Primeval, etc.

I understand that it actually finds a market upon export to the US though. Probably largely because of the success the new Dr. Who and Torchwood. Which are both of the same poor standard as far as I'm concerned.

It truly boggles my mind that this stuff isn't on at 4pm in the afternoon or Saturday mornings.

I really wish someone in the UK would make a serious fantasy or sci-fi drama. Sick of this kiddy crap...

Well don't watch it then. Even Robin Hood is better than the substandard shows that are imported from the US, for kids and adults, you can't honestly say that Atlantis and BSG are better than Dr Who and Torchwood?

I really enjoy this show. Its one of only a few shows that I watch with my family

Me too, some of it is a bit far fetched like how light the castle is, even at night, how clean every one is (apart from Merlin after being pelted with rotten tomatoes) and how everyone is treated as an equal, but I can forgive the historical lapses for fifty minutes of watchable telly.

Robin of Sherwood was a lot better in it's plots and action and it's portrayal of mythology and the soundtrack just rocked.

[jenks]

Well don't watch it then. Even Robin Hood is better than the substandard shows that are imported from the US, for kids and adults, you can't honestly say that Atlantis and BSG are better than Dr Who and Torchwood?

Atlantis and BSG are in a league above Dr Who and Torchwood, I don't even know how anyone could compare the two seriously. As for Robin Hood, words can't even describe how bad it is, as a Briton, I feel embarrassed of it by association. How the BBC or anyone can consider that quality entertainment is beyond me. The BBC series that can compete with it's American counterparts in terms of quality is Spooks.

[Reefgirl]

Atlantis and BSG are in a league above Dr Who and Torchwood, I don't even know how anyone could compare the two seriously.

Are we watching the same shows??

[Madeleine]

Atlantis and BSG are in a league above Dr Who and Torchwood, I don't even know how anyone could compare the two seriously.

Don't you? quality is subjective, of course, but surely the fact that DW wins Hugos and stuff should give you an inkling of how people manage to compare the two. (And frequently, to find the SG shows lacking.)

But as to Merlin, it's not supposed to be intellectual, or earth-shattering, or the next epoch in the history of television. It's supposed to be good FAMILY entertainment, for a UK audience (that will perhaps sell overseas and nice if it does) but ultimately all that will matter is whether the UK family after-supper audience bites.

[Reefgirl]

Don't you? quality is objective, of course, but surely the fact that DW wins Hugos and stuff should give you an inkling of how people manage to compare the two. (And frequently, to find the SG shows lacking.)

But as to Merlin, it's not supposed to be intellectual, or earth-shattering, or the next epoch in the history of television. It's supposed to be good FAMILY entertainment, for a UK audience (that will perhaps sell overseas and nice if it does)but ultimately all that will matter is whether the UK family after-supper audience bites.

Or the pre/post Strictly watchers who can't be bothered to switch off the telly

Another unofficial Green for you Mads

[jenks]

Don't you? quality is objective, of course,

You mean subjective?

but surely the fact that DW wins Hugos and stuff should give you an inkling of how people manage to compare the two. (And frequently, to find the SG shows lacking.)

Never heard of them. Dr Who is a children's TV show, a successful one no doubt, but that's still all it is. I don't see how you can compare such a cheap and tacky show like that to the likes of Stargate or BSG, it's a joke by comparison, one of those 'it's so bad it's good' type shows.

But as to Merlin, it's not supposed to be intellectual, or earth-shattering, or the next epoch in the history of television. It's supposed to be good FAMILY entertainment, for a UK audience (that will perhaps sell overseas and nice if it does)but ultimately all that will matter is whether the UK family after-supper audience bites.

By that logic reality shows are the very peak of TV viewing.

[Madeleine]

You mean subjective?

Yes indeed

Never heard of them.

Probably because Atlantis and SG1 don't tend to win them - though I'm pretty sure BSG has been nominated more than once. But they're pretty much the Oscars of the SF world.

Dr Who is a children's TV show, a successful one no doubt, but that's still all it is. I don't see how you can compare such a cheap and tacky show to the likes of Stargate or BSG, it's a joke by comparison, one of those 'it's so bad it's good' type shows.

I compare them by, well, comparing them. I don't see how anyone can not see how comparing can be done

By that logic reality shows are the very peak of TV viewing.

Eh? What? who's talking about reality shows or peaks? Can we talk about Merlin please? It's supposed to be fun, and magical, and suitable for family viewing, and it'll either succeed or fail on each of those points, but it's not really anything like a reality show

If you don't like it, though, fine