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castaliaThank you to everyone who commented on my last locked entry. I appreciate all the support.
In order to distract myself from RL unpleasantness, I thought I'd talk a bit about one of the bright spots of fannish life - Merlin. I've been meaning to do a write-up on this series for some time now but I keep getting distracted by the shininess of the show itself, making icons, and looking for fic. Happily, a good half of my flist is now watching and squeeing over this show; as for the rest of you, where have you been? Come on in, the water's nice (and very, very slashy).
I've read quite a few Arthurian legend take-offs recently (and not all enjoyed), so I wasn't expecting to want another one so soon, let alone love it. But I do. They play very fast and loose with the legend, so don't watch expecting a traditional take on the story - or historical accuracy, for that matter. You've got a typically dark ages story set in a 12th century French castle that was restored in the 19th century, with all the characters wearing clothing that ranges from the 12th to the 16th century and occasionally using 21st century language. Wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff, indeed. This is the BBC Robin Hood, but better; here they really embrace the idea that this is fantasy, not history, and are more concerned with telling a good story than reconstructing any specific time period or version of the legend - and with all the magic and creatures, the rest seems to work just fine.
Here's the BBC's synopsis:
The mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began. A fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious peoples. A dangerous world in which magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.
When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur.
But guided by Uther's wise physician, Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets.
Starring Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen, Merlin is an imaginative and enthralling new twist on a legend that is as old as time.
Yes, that Anthony Head. Intrigued yet? Maybe some visual evidence might help...
So, first off we have Merlin, a bumbling young man with big eyes and bigger ears who has been sent to Camelot by his mother for being too much of a handful at home. He has natural talent with magic without knowing any spells or incantations, so she just doesn't know what to do with him in their little village. Merlin is a bit brash and headstrong, often getting into trouble either for speaking his mind too much for his station or acting before he thinks (and ending up in the stocks for it), but he means well and tends to make friends easily. Must be the eyes and the big smile.
Speaking of eyes, Merlin's glow whenever he does magic, especially the innate stuff for which he doesn't need spells. We're still learning the extent of Merlin's magical powers, but among the more interesting abilities is his talent for mucking about with time - so far he can slow it down, almost pausing events while he alters them, but in the future? Who knows. I'm guessing the whole playing with time thing will be a Big Important Plot Point someday.
The man his mother sent him to find is Gaius, the Court Physician. Upon meeting him, Merlin promptly saves his life and impresses him with his innate magical abilities. Gaius provides Merlin with a father figure, a place to live, and an education about magic. He has a book of magic spells and there is evidence that Gaius was once a student of magic, though he's very rusty by now. He dabbles in chemistry and other rudimentary scientific things as well, acting as a sort of adviser to King Uther.
Speaking of Uther, here's the other father figure in Camelot. Uther is a rather complicated guy, a sort of benevolent dictator. He rules Camelot with the proverbial iron fist and at first he seems like a ruthless baddie - his first scene in the pilot is executing a peasant for practicing magic, not any specific black magic, but just magic period. Magic is anathema in Camelot and even the merest suspicion of any form of sorcery wins you an express ticket straight to the chopping block (or pyre, depending on Uther's preference of mode-of-death this week). However, he does care about his kingdom, his son, and his ward, and will do pretty much anything to protect them even if it's harsh, unpopular, or morally shady. Definitely has a juicy backstory, which I won't spoil for you.
The next person Merlin meets is our dear Prince Arthur. Oh, Arthur. ♥ I seriously adore Arthur. Of all the characters, he's got the most changing to do in the first season, mostly because he starts off as, in Merlin's words, an utter "prat". Our dear crown prince is a privileged, arrogant frat boy type with a penchant for tormenting his servants.
So of course Merlin picks a fight with him before even knowing who he is and then, after a spell in jail and the stocks, does it again afterward. Arthur is more bemused than angry and can't help admitting "there's something about you, Merlin", then lets him go with only a few bruises this time.
However, circumstances keep bringing them together and eventually Merlin is made Arthur's servant (seriously, the scene where this happens is hilarious). This sets the stage for some of the most awesome scenes of HoYay! since the early days of Smallville.
One big fan of Merlin/Arthur is our friend, John Hurt the Dragon. Merlin meets him, imprisoned underneath the castle in a sort of underground cavern, and learns of his destiny - namely, to help Arthur stop being "an idiot" and become the bestest king ever who will unite the land of Albion.
Merlin is less than convinced.
However, he does embrace his destiny and it doesn't take them too long to become sort of friends, despite some hiccups along the way. After all, as John Hurt the Dragon says, "A half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole". Merlin/Arthur = destiny. Whole episodes are devoted to how much the boys are "two sides of the same coin", how much they grow to care for each other, etc. Don't bother to bring the slash goggles, b/c you won't need them.
Despite his frat boy tendencies, Arthur has a highly developed sense of duty. He never rebels because he doesn't want to be king, but takes his role as prince and leader of Uther's knights seriously. He's also incredibly charming, so the viewer isn't left wondering why Merlin or anyone else would be helping this kid become king. By the fourth episode, he's willing to go off on a suicidal quest to save Merlin's life. I almost never like the hero (I was always a sidekick fan) or the hero's journey trope, but I adore this one and I think the charm has a lot to do with it. And the bravery. And the soft, squishy center he hides under all that bravado. Oh, ♥.
*sigh*
Okay, I've rambled on enough about the boys. Now to the girls. In the main cast we only have two, but luckily they're both quite brilliant. First we have Gwen.
Short for Guinevere, of course. She's the blacksmith's daughter in this version and a maid/lady-in-waiting type for Lady Morgana. She's the first friend Merlin makes other than Gaius and remains his main confidant. Gwen is kind, loyal, and resourceful but a bit awkward around guys, often tripping over her tongue and babbling on a bit when she inadvertently says the wrong thing. So far the actress manages to make it endearing rather than annoying. As a blacksmith's daughter, she has a good working knowledge of armor and weapons and isn't afraid to fight. As for her role in the myth-arc, she and Arthur don't really have much interaction at all until the 10th episode, so really the relationships could go anywhere at this point. She seems to have a small crush on Merlin and an even bigger one for Lancelot when he shows up.
She also has a strong friendship with Morgana, so there's a good bit of female interaction going on throughout the show. It'll be interesting to see where they take Gwen's character in the future.
Next in the lineup: Morgana
Morgana is Uther's ward in this series, sort of the First Lady of Camelot. I like the change, not only because we get to avoid the Arthur/Morgana incest thing, but because it makes her more of a wild card as far as the myth goes. Neither is she Mordred's mother this time, which throws her future role into even more uncertainty. Morgana can be wise or immature depending on whether she's interacting with Uther or Arthur, which can be amusing. She and Arthur have a sort of love/hate relationship; they care about each other deeply but neither of them will admit it to the other. She speaks her mind to both of them, especially to Uther when she thinks he's being too much of a tyrant. He in turn seems to honestly care for her but his love is far from unconditional. This causes much angst because Morgana is a burgeoning seer - she has prophetic dreams and nightmares. As Uther's big blind spot is magic, she has to keep this a secret.
Isn't she gorgeous? I covet Morgana's hair.
Pretty much everyone loves Morgana. She's tough but soft-hearted and will do anything for a friend, especially Gwen. She's pretty handy with a sword, too. No idea where her story arc will lead her, but it should be interesting.
The other main recurring female is someone you'll remember from Arthurian legend - Nimueh. She's the main baddie here, a powerful sorceress who wants revenge on Uther and keeps trying to hurt Camelot and/or Arthur to get it. Much of the plot revolves around Merlin's efforts to thwart her without revealing his magical powers.
Seriously, the white people on this show are really pale. And have spooky eyes. A nice aspect of Merlin is its colorblind casting, however. In addition to Gwen and her father, you'll see POCs in roles ranging from courtiers to peasants, knights to servants. Racial issues do not exist in Camelot, only caste/class ones.
Another important figure from legend - Lancelot.
Everyone also loves Lancelot. Seriously, everyone (except Uther). His episode is one big love-fest and the actor is so charming that you can't help loving him, too.
Sadly, although the costumes and sets are wonderful, filming in France must've eaten up most of the budget, because the FX are utter crap. Most of the "monsters" and mythical creatures are more laughable than frightening. The dragon isn't bad, though. Ya gotta love John Hurt the Dragon.
Camelot! Not just a model. Having a real castle to film in really makes the whole thing look good. Seriously, the production values (apart from the CGI) aren't bad at all. They have solid sets, outdoor panoramas, and exquisite colors to work with. Even the servants get bright colors to wear and Morgana in particular is always clothed in deep jewel tones and rich fabrics.
Pretty, pretty show. The music is also pretty good; though a big heavy-handed at times, there are some truly lovely melodies and the theme music is very nice. Very orchestral and epic sounding. I'm looking forward to a soundtrack release, or at least crossing my fingers that they'll put one out.
So honestly, what are you waiting for? If you don't have a DL source, let me know and I'll start uploading. Or you can wait until NBC starts airing it, as they've bought the rights. Next Saturday is the last episode of the season, so 13 episodes won't take you long to devour.
In order to distract myself from RL unpleasantness, I thought I'd talk a bit about one of the bright spots of fannish life - Merlin. I've been meaning to do a write-up on this series for some time now but I keep getting distracted by the shininess of the show itself, making icons, and looking for fic. Happily, a good half of my flist is now watching and squeeing over this show; as for the rest of you, where have you been? Come on in, the water's nice (and very, very slashy).
I've read quite a few Arthurian legend take-offs recently (and not all enjoyed), so I wasn't expecting to want another one so soon, let alone love it. But I do. They play very fast and loose with the legend, so don't watch expecting a traditional take on the story - or historical accuracy, for that matter. You've got a typically dark ages story set in a 12th century French castle that was restored in the 19th century, with all the characters wearing clothing that ranges from the 12th to the 16th century and occasionally using 21st century language. Wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff, indeed. This is the BBC Robin Hood, but better; here they really embrace the idea that this is fantasy, not history, and are more concerned with telling a good story than reconstructing any specific time period or version of the legend - and with all the magic and creatures, the rest seems to work just fine.
Here's the BBC's synopsis:
The mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began. A fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious peoples. A dangerous world in which magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.
When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur.
But guided by Uther's wise physician, Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets.
Starring Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen, Merlin is an imaginative and enthralling new twist on a legend that is as old as time.
Yes, that Anthony Head. Intrigued yet? Maybe some visual evidence might help...
So, first off we have Merlin, a bumbling young man with big eyes and bigger ears who has been sent to Camelot by his mother for being too much of a handful at home. He has natural talent with magic without knowing any spells or incantations, so she just doesn't know what to do with him in their little village. Merlin is a bit brash and headstrong, often getting into trouble either for speaking his mind too much for his station or acting before he thinks (and ending up in the stocks for it), but he means well and tends to make friends easily. Must be the eyes and the big smile.
Speaking of eyes, Merlin's glow whenever he does magic, especially the innate stuff for which he doesn't need spells. We're still learning the extent of Merlin's magical powers, but among the more interesting abilities is his talent for mucking about with time - so far he can slow it down, almost pausing events while he alters them, but in the future? Who knows. I'm guessing the whole playing with time thing will be a Big Important Plot Point someday.
The man his mother sent him to find is Gaius, the Court Physician. Upon meeting him, Merlin promptly saves his life and impresses him with his innate magical abilities. Gaius provides Merlin with a father figure, a place to live, and an education about magic. He has a book of magic spells and there is evidence that Gaius was once a student of magic, though he's very rusty by now. He dabbles in chemistry and other rudimentary scientific things as well, acting as a sort of adviser to King Uther.
Speaking of Uther, here's the other father figure in Camelot. Uther is a rather complicated guy, a sort of benevolent dictator. He rules Camelot with the proverbial iron fist and at first he seems like a ruthless baddie - his first scene in the pilot is executing a peasant for practicing magic, not any specific black magic, but just magic period. Magic is anathema in Camelot and even the merest suspicion of any form of sorcery wins you an express ticket straight to the chopping block (or pyre, depending on Uther's preference of mode-of-death this week). However, he does care about his kingdom, his son, and his ward, and will do pretty much anything to protect them even if it's harsh, unpopular, or morally shady. Definitely has a juicy backstory, which I won't spoil for you.
The next person Merlin meets is our dear Prince Arthur. Oh, Arthur. ♥ I seriously adore Arthur. Of all the characters, he's got the most changing to do in the first season, mostly because he starts off as, in Merlin's words, an utter "prat". Our dear crown prince is a privileged, arrogant frat boy type with a penchant for tormenting his servants.
So of course Merlin picks a fight with him before even knowing who he is and then, after a spell in jail and the stocks, does it again afterward. Arthur is more bemused than angry and can't help admitting "there's something about you, Merlin", then lets him go with only a few bruises this time.
However, circumstances keep bringing them together and eventually Merlin is made Arthur's servant (seriously, the scene where this happens is hilarious). This sets the stage for some of the most awesome scenes of HoYay! since the early days of Smallville.
One big fan of Merlin/Arthur is our friend, John Hurt the Dragon. Merlin meets him, imprisoned underneath the castle in a sort of underground cavern, and learns of his destiny - namely, to help Arthur stop being "an idiot" and become the bestest king ever who will unite the land of Albion.
Merlin is less than convinced.
However, he does embrace his destiny and it doesn't take them too long to become sort of friends, despite some hiccups along the way. After all, as John Hurt the Dragon says, "A half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole". Merlin/Arthur = destiny. Whole episodes are devoted to how much the boys are "two sides of the same coin", how much they grow to care for each other, etc. Don't bother to bring the slash goggles, b/c you won't need them.
Despite his frat boy tendencies, Arthur has a highly developed sense of duty. He never rebels because he doesn't want to be king, but takes his role as prince and leader of Uther's knights seriously. He's also incredibly charming, so the viewer isn't left wondering why Merlin or anyone else would be helping this kid become king. By the fourth episode, he's willing to go off on a suicidal quest to save Merlin's life. I almost never like the hero (I was always a sidekick fan) or the hero's journey trope, but I adore this one and I think the charm has a lot to do with it. And the bravery. And the soft, squishy center he hides under all that bravado. Oh, ♥.
*sigh*
Okay, I've rambled on enough about the boys. Now to the girls. In the main cast we only have two, but luckily they're both quite brilliant. First we have Gwen.
Short for Guinevere, of course. She's the blacksmith's daughter in this version and a maid/lady-in-waiting type for Lady Morgana. She's the first friend Merlin makes other than Gaius and remains his main confidant. Gwen is kind, loyal, and resourceful but a bit awkward around guys, often tripping over her tongue and babbling on a bit when she inadvertently says the wrong thing. So far the actress manages to make it endearing rather than annoying. As a blacksmith's daughter, she has a good working knowledge of armor and weapons and isn't afraid to fight. As for her role in the myth-arc, she and Arthur don't really have much interaction at all until the 10th episode, so really the relationships could go anywhere at this point. She seems to have a small crush on Merlin and an even bigger one for Lancelot when he shows up.
She also has a strong friendship with Morgana, so there's a good bit of female interaction going on throughout the show. It'll be interesting to see where they take Gwen's character in the future.
Next in the lineup: Morgana
Morgana is Uther's ward in this series, sort of the First Lady of Camelot. I like the change, not only because we get to avoid the Arthur/Morgana incest thing, but because it makes her more of a wild card as far as the myth goes. Neither is she Mordred's mother this time, which throws her future role into even more uncertainty. Morgana can be wise or immature depending on whether she's interacting with Uther or Arthur, which can be amusing. She and Arthur have a sort of love/hate relationship; they care about each other deeply but neither of them will admit it to the other. She speaks her mind to both of them, especially to Uther when she thinks he's being too much of a tyrant. He in turn seems to honestly care for her but his love is far from unconditional. This causes much angst because Morgana is a burgeoning seer - she has prophetic dreams and nightmares. As Uther's big blind spot is magic, she has to keep this a secret.
Isn't she gorgeous? I covet Morgana's hair.
Pretty much everyone loves Morgana. She's tough but soft-hearted and will do anything for a friend, especially Gwen. She's pretty handy with a sword, too. No idea where her story arc will lead her, but it should be interesting.
The other main recurring female is someone you'll remember from Arthurian legend - Nimueh. She's the main baddie here, a powerful sorceress who wants revenge on Uther and keeps trying to hurt Camelot and/or Arthur to get it. Much of the plot revolves around Merlin's efforts to thwart her without revealing his magical powers.
Seriously, the white people on this show are really pale. And have spooky eyes. A nice aspect of Merlin is its colorblind casting, however. In addition to Gwen and her father, you'll see POCs in roles ranging from courtiers to peasants, knights to servants. Racial issues do not exist in Camelot, only caste/class ones.
Another important figure from legend - Lancelot.
Everyone also loves Lancelot. Seriously, everyone (except Uther). His episode is one big love-fest and the actor is so charming that you can't help loving him, too.
Sadly, although the costumes and sets are wonderful, filming in France must've eaten up most of the budget, because the FX are utter crap. Most of the "monsters" and mythical creatures are more laughable than frightening. The dragon isn't bad, though. Ya gotta love John Hurt the Dragon.
Camelot! Not just a model. Having a real castle to film in really makes the whole thing look good. Seriously, the production values (apart from the CGI) aren't bad at all. They have solid sets, outdoor panoramas, and exquisite colors to work with. Even the servants get bright colors to wear and Morgana in particular is always clothed in deep jewel tones and rich fabrics.
Pretty, pretty show. The music is also pretty good; though a big heavy-handed at times, there are some truly lovely melodies and the theme music is very nice. Very orchestral and epic sounding. I'm looking forward to a soundtrack release, or at least crossing my fingers that they'll put one out.
So honestly, what are you waiting for? If you don't have a DL source, let me know and I'll start uploading. Or you can wait until NBC starts airing it, as they've bought the rights. Next Saturday is the last episode of the season, so 13 episodes won't take you long to devour.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-07 10:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:31 am (UTC)And after that preview, next week cannot come fast enough. OMG.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:43 am (UTC)I want to know if they'll resolve the stuff that happens in the teaser or if they'll give us a cliffhanger ending. I'm thinking Merlin's ability to play with time might help, unless it's all a ruse constructed by Nimueh.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:53 am (UTC)I saw part of an interview with Katie McGrath (sp?) who plays Morgana in which she said that it is definitely a cliff-hanger episode, which is one of the reasons the cast is so eager to return for a second season.
ETA: Also, any fic recommendations you have would be lovely. &hearts
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 01:32 am (UTC)Oh dear, the wait until they can resolve that cliffhanger will kill me. I'm having a hard enough time waiting a week in between episodes. :(
As for fic, I started here (http://greensilver.livejournal.com/505167.html) with recs provided by
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 01:46 am (UTC)Thank you for the fic link! I know what I'll be doing tonight. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 02:54 am (UTC)Happy reading! If you come across anything else interesting, don't hesitate to drop me a link :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 02:41 am (UTC)Two words: Richard Armitage
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 02:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-07 11:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 12:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 01:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 02:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 02:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 02:56 am (UTC)Rising from the grave with information...
Date: 2008-12-13 06:33 am (UTC)Re: Rising from the grave with information...
Date: 2008-12-13 03:17 pm (UTC)How are things?
Re: Rising from the grave with information...
Date: 2008-12-22 03:28 am (UTC)Other than that, things have been good, bad, and indifferent. Much like yourself, as I read! Thank goodness for shinies like Merlin, that distract from things like layoffs, job hunting, debt, stress, blah, blah, blah. Every field I'm qualified in is cutting back severely or instituting hiring freezes? Awesome, gimme more fannish crack. sigh. Even the frustrating fannish things, like running out of good fic or my Merlin ep source disappearing on me or people making the same complaints about changes to the source legends after every single episode are less annoying than... pretty much everything else. Heh. Except the cancellation of Pushing Daisies. That's a tragedy no matter what the basis for comparison.
So how are you? Any good news on the job hunt and/or PhD front? Would it help if I sacrifice something to a fish-god? ;)
Re: Rising from the grave with information...
Date: 2009-01-26 02:47 am (UTC)Oh dear, sorry to hear the job front is as annoying for you as it is for me. I'm definitely tempted to start making sacrifices to Poseidon if I have to. I have a phone interview on Wednesday for a PhD, so we'll see how that goes. Other than that no other promising leads just yet. You? Did you find anything or are you still hunting?
Btw, I'll be uploading Merlin eps so let me know if you need anything specific! I wouldn't want you to miss out on any of the fannish crack.