[commentary] Merlin
Sep. 3rd, 2009 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sinkwriterMy friend ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
accordingtomel is a big fan of this program, and wanted the people on her friends-list to watch it and let her know what we thought of it, whether or not we liked it. I've spent this past week watching the first twelve episodes (out of thirteen total, for the full season), mulling over these characters and their stories so that I might provide Mel with a decent answer.
Here within are some of my observations.
Merlin commentary: my initial thoughts
"Into every generation a Slayer is born..."
Oh wait, wrong show. Sorry about that.
;D
Let me try this again.
"In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name... Merlin."
These words begin every episode of the show, not unlike how that Slayer quote commenced many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There's something about starting a program that way, making such a declaration. It immediately lets the viewer know that this is a show about a hero, a brave warrior, and his or her complicated yet grand journey. It elevates the story to 'epic tale' status.
I love that.
As a girl I used to get swept up in tales of the Knights of the Round Table, of fairies and princesses, of magic and myth. I wanted to live in a castle and learn to swordfight and dance with a handsome prince. I wanted to sing in the forest and commune with nature and let down my long hair.
My rich imagination softened and subdued a bit with maturity, life experience and a dash of gleaned cynicism, but -- like wild animals cannot really be tamed -- it can always be stirred up again, given the right inspiration. *wink* After all, what fun is life if you can't let your imagination run free once in a while?
For me, such energy lay dormant for what felt like a very long time, until a former roommate convinced me to come with her to a Renaissance faire in Bristol (*ahem* Wisconsin, not England). Within a year, we were both working at that faire. I spent two glorious summers there, singing with a women's madrigal group called the Consorte Bella Donna. Yes, it was hot and sticky and exhausting -- especially wearing that many layers of skirts and chemise and corset and bodice; oh, the stories I could tell you about that! -- but it was also some of the most magnificent fun I have ever had. To spend the day singing love songs and stories about sailors; dancing around the fairgrounds; performing the silliest, most ridiculous street improv with my girls (our madrigal troupe); and flirting with gallant gentlemen who kissed our hands and attempted to woo us and addressed each of us as "my beautiful lady"... tell me, what is not to love about that?
It is this fun, young spirit, this sense of splendor and energy, which stirs within when I read wonderful novels like Harry Potter or when I see a program such as Merlin.
These epic stories -- of good and evil, of excessive power versus mercy, of truth and justice, chaos and balance, and most especially, of love and loyalty -- seduce me every time. That is one of the reasons I like this show.
(Yes, Mel, you read that right. I like this program. Seriously, how could I not?)
But Merlin is not a stodgy television show about knights and kingdoms to be protected. Its premise seems simple, yet manages to be more complex than that. Just like with Buffy, at its heart Merlin is about a young man who has powers he must learn to master, and a destiny he does not yet fully understand. It's about growing up and accepting responsibility and taking on challenges that most others could not handle. It's about keeping secrets and seeking people one can trust. It's about making tough choices and shouldering the biggest of burdens. It's about all the things that good shows tend to be about: love and loss and loyalty, and generally good people figuring things out as they go along.
What impresses me is that even though it seems like a cute little show, it continues to surprise me.
Just when I think that King Uther will prove to be a stereotypical tyrant, he finds it within himself to apologize to someone, or let his son know that he loves him, or that he's doing the best he can, even when he makes the most terrible, nasty decisions and is often blinded with fear and angry mistrust about the potential evils of magic. He may be overzealous about it, but we are reminded that he feels this way with good reason. History has taught him the ways in which people wield magic with cruelty. That's what keeps him from becoming a stereotype. Depth is written into the role, and portrayed well by Anthony Head. (Delightfully ironic casting choice, too, given that he used to be on another 'epic tale' show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)
His son Arthur could be written as a spoiled brat, but again, we are given more, through the writing and through Bradley James’s honorable portrayal of the young man. We are reminded with each episode that this is the character meant to one day become king. There are gorgeous glimpses of how he is different from his father, why he will make a great ruler, and how he is destined to build a grand Camelot that becomes the most epically wonderful place to live.
And Merlin is so adorable, with his dimpled smile and his mischievous eyes... with the skills of the mystical sorcerer he is learning to become, he charms me. I find myself rooting for him. I want him to grow up to become the wizened old man with the staff and the pointy Fantasia hat and the extraordinary magical powers, counseling and protecting his King Arthur. I want the world to be safe for him to practice his magic freely, without the danger of a kingdom-mandated death sentence. I want him to succeed. Again, his character comes wonderfully alive in the hands of the talented actor (Colin Morgan) who plays him.
What also charms me about this show is that it's genuinely funny. That's a huge plus for me. I love the wisecracks between Merlin and Arthur, the pointed looks Gaius gives Merlin when he knows Merlin is lying to him, and the winking jokes that remind the audience who Arthur and Merlin will become. All of that humor makes the characters so enchantingly likeable, I can't help but fall in love with each one of them. (Well, almost all of them. Sorry, Uther. You're a tough one.)
Here's a little taste, something that amused me in the pilot episode:
ARTHUR: I could take you apart with one blow.
MERLIN: I could take you apart with less than that.
ARTHUR: You sure? Here you go, big man. (throws him a mace) Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.
MERLIN: Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?
ARTHUR: (astonished and a little amused) You can't talk to me like that.
MERLIN: (smiling) Sorry. How long have you been training to be a prat... my Lord?
Heh. Love that.
In addition, it inspires me to go back and find the films and stories from which this show stems. Revisit all those exciting myths and magical mysteries about the famous days of chivalry and honor, those tales of Excalibur, Arthur and Lancelot, Merlin, the Lady in the Lake, the Knights of the Round Table, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Le Morte d’Arthur... on and on, reliving those wonderful legends about all these characters. So fun to read and watch. I love it when programs incite further research! *GRIN*
Most especially, I love the friendships. Over the history of television, most good shows worth watching present at least one remarkable friendship. Whether it's between two FBI partners (like Mulder and Scully on The X-Files), or a United States President and his Chief of Staff (Bartlet and Leo on The West Wing), a pair of journalists (Murphy and Frank on Murphy Brown), or in this case, a prince and his servant... it makes no difference, so long as it's written well. They can fight, they can disagree, they can drive each other insane, they can poke and tease and challenge each other, but at the heart of it, we can see a bond between the characters, a great trust and respect. On this show, we see such friendships lovingly presented between Merlin and Arthur, between Morgana and Gwen, and between Merlin and his mentor Gaius. We even see it between Uther and Gaius, a king and his trusted court physician and old friend. It's really lovely to watch. It adds so much heart to the program.
What all this adds up to is that this show is sweet and charming, and I like it very much. In fact, I have not yet watched the final episode of the season because I don't want it to end. I don't want to be stuck on a cliffhanger, worrying about these characters, hoping for more exciting adventures, waiting for a new season. Then again, I may not be able to resist. It has caught my attention, it has captured my interest.
Yes, Mel, I like Merlin. I look forward to seeing much more of this show, and talking about it with you in detail. Thanks for nudging me (and nudging me and nudging me, hehhh) to watch it. I'm very glad you did. ♥
accordingtomel is a big fan of this program, and wanted the people on her friends-list to watch it and let her know what we thought of it, whether or not we liked it. I've spent this past week watching the first twelve episodes (out of thirteen total, for the full season), mulling over these characters and their stories so that I might provide Mel with a decent answer.Here within are some of my observations.
Merlin commentary: my initial thoughts
"Into every generation a Slayer is born..."
Oh wait, wrong show. Sorry about that.
;D
Let me try this again.
"In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name... Merlin."
These words begin every episode of the show, not unlike how that Slayer quote commenced many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There's something about starting a program that way, making such a declaration. It immediately lets the viewer know that this is a show about a hero, a brave warrior, and his or her complicated yet grand journey. It elevates the story to 'epic tale' status.
I love that.
As a girl I used to get swept up in tales of the Knights of the Round Table, of fairies and princesses, of magic and myth. I wanted to live in a castle and learn to swordfight and dance with a handsome prince. I wanted to sing in the forest and commune with nature and let down my long hair.
My rich imagination softened and subdued a bit with maturity, life experience and a dash of gleaned cynicism, but -- like wild animals cannot really be tamed -- it can always be stirred up again, given the right inspiration. *wink* After all, what fun is life if you can't let your imagination run free once in a while?
For me, such energy lay dormant for what felt like a very long time, until a former roommate convinced me to come with her to a Renaissance faire in Bristol (*ahem* Wisconsin, not England). Within a year, we were both working at that faire. I spent two glorious summers there, singing with a women's madrigal group called the Consorte Bella Donna. Yes, it was hot and sticky and exhausting -- especially wearing that many layers of skirts and chemise and corset and bodice; oh, the stories I could tell you about that! -- but it was also some of the most magnificent fun I have ever had. To spend the day singing love songs and stories about sailors; dancing around the fairgrounds; performing the silliest, most ridiculous street improv with my girls (our madrigal troupe); and flirting with gallant gentlemen who kissed our hands and attempted to woo us and addressed each of us as "my beautiful lady"... tell me, what is not to love about that?
It is this fun, young spirit, this sense of splendor and energy, which stirs within when I read wonderful novels like Harry Potter or when I see a program such as Merlin.
These epic stories -- of good and evil, of excessive power versus mercy, of truth and justice, chaos and balance, and most especially, of love and loyalty -- seduce me every time. That is one of the reasons I like this show.
(Yes, Mel, you read that right. I like this program. Seriously, how could I not?)
But Merlin is not a stodgy television show about knights and kingdoms to be protected. Its premise seems simple, yet manages to be more complex than that. Just like with Buffy, at its heart Merlin is about a young man who has powers he must learn to master, and a destiny he does not yet fully understand. It's about growing up and accepting responsibility and taking on challenges that most others could not handle. It's about keeping secrets and seeking people one can trust. It's about making tough choices and shouldering the biggest of burdens. It's about all the things that good shows tend to be about: love and loss and loyalty, and generally good people figuring things out as they go along.
What impresses me is that even though it seems like a cute little show, it continues to surprise me.
Just when I think that King Uther will prove to be a stereotypical tyrant, he finds it within himself to apologize to someone, or let his son know that he loves him, or that he's doing the best he can, even when he makes the most terrible, nasty decisions and is often blinded with fear and angry mistrust about the potential evils of magic. He may be overzealous about it, but we are reminded that he feels this way with good reason. History has taught him the ways in which people wield magic with cruelty. That's what keeps him from becoming a stereotype. Depth is written into the role, and portrayed well by Anthony Head. (Delightfully ironic casting choice, too, given that he used to be on another 'epic tale' show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)
His son Arthur could be written as a spoiled brat, but again, we are given more, through the writing and through Bradley James’s honorable portrayal of the young man. We are reminded with each episode that this is the character meant to one day become king. There are gorgeous glimpses of how he is different from his father, why he will make a great ruler, and how he is destined to build a grand Camelot that becomes the most epically wonderful place to live.
And Merlin is so adorable, with his dimpled smile and his mischievous eyes... with the skills of the mystical sorcerer he is learning to become, he charms me. I find myself rooting for him. I want him to grow up to become the wizened old man with the staff and the pointy Fantasia hat and the extraordinary magical powers, counseling and protecting his King Arthur. I want the world to be safe for him to practice his magic freely, without the danger of a kingdom-mandated death sentence. I want him to succeed. Again, his character comes wonderfully alive in the hands of the talented actor (Colin Morgan) who plays him.
What also charms me about this show is that it's genuinely funny. That's a huge plus for me. I love the wisecracks between Merlin and Arthur, the pointed looks Gaius gives Merlin when he knows Merlin is lying to him, and the winking jokes that remind the audience who Arthur and Merlin will become. All of that humor makes the characters so enchantingly likeable, I can't help but fall in love with each one of them. (Well, almost all of them. Sorry, Uther. You're a tough one.)
Here's a little taste, something that amused me in the pilot episode:
ARTHUR: I could take you apart with one blow.
MERLIN: I could take you apart with less than that.
ARTHUR: You sure? Here you go, big man. (throws him a mace) Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.
MERLIN: Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?
ARTHUR: (astonished and a little amused) You can't talk to me like that.
MERLIN: (smiling) Sorry. How long have you been training to be a prat... my Lord?
Heh. Love that.
In addition, it inspires me to go back and find the films and stories from which this show stems. Revisit all those exciting myths and magical mysteries about the famous days of chivalry and honor, those tales of Excalibur, Arthur and Lancelot, Merlin, the Lady in the Lake, the Knights of the Round Table, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Le Morte d’Arthur... on and on, reliving those wonderful legends about all these characters. So fun to read and watch. I love it when programs incite further research! *GRIN*
Most especially, I love the friendships. Over the history of television, most good shows worth watching present at least one remarkable friendship. Whether it's between two FBI partners (like Mulder and Scully on The X-Files), or a United States President and his Chief of Staff (Bartlet and Leo on The West Wing), a pair of journalists (Murphy and Frank on Murphy Brown), or in this case, a prince and his servant... it makes no difference, so long as it's written well. They can fight, they can disagree, they can drive each other insane, they can poke and tease and challenge each other, but at the heart of it, we can see a bond between the characters, a great trust and respect. On this show, we see such friendships lovingly presented between Merlin and Arthur, between Morgana and Gwen, and between Merlin and his mentor Gaius. We even see it between Uther and Gaius, a king and his trusted court physician and old friend. It's really lovely to watch. It adds so much heart to the program.
What all this adds up to is that this show is sweet and charming, and I like it very much. In fact, I have not yet watched the final episode of the season because I don't want it to end. I don't want to be stuck on a cliffhanger, worrying about these characters, hoping for more exciting adventures, waiting for a new season. Then again, I may not be able to resist. It has caught my attention, it has captured my interest.
Yes, Mel, I like Merlin. I look forward to seeing much more of this show, and talking about it with you in detail. Thanks for nudging me (and nudging me and nudging me, hehhh) to watch it. I'm very glad you did. ♥
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-09-17 04:26 pm (UTC)*waves to you*
*sends you hugs*
You met Anthony Head? That is fantastic. Was he lovely? :) I imagine him being a very nice, gracious man, with good humor.
(And yes, I often want to hit Uthur. LOL. Funny how far we've come from Giles, eh? LOL.)
I just think it's such a fun show. Lately, I've been feeling much more stressed than usual, a bit twitchy, so I've taken to ending my evenings by watching an episode of Merlin. I like the banter between characters, I like Colin's mischievous smile, I like the stories (whether they're accurate to the original legends or not), and it just lightens my mood. A good thing.
How fun that your brother is involved in medieval festivals. It's been at least a couple of years since I've gone to a Ren faire, but I have such fond memories and often crave dressing up in my old billowy skirts and twirling about in the fields at the faire. *GRIN*
(and I will reply to the 5 things posts, because there's so much I'm nodding at. just things are messy)
No worries whatsoever, Kat. I just read your latest post -- it sounds like you've got plenty on your mind. Wow, that poor young girl. What she's been through is terrible, and you and your family are so kind to protect and help her. I'll think positive thoughts for all of you to be safe and healthy.
xoxoo