Merlin Season 2 in the US - Page 3

Temis the Vorta · April 9 2010, 05:25 AM

I don't think anything could have made Merlin work on NBC. It's in a genre that's a tough sell on network TV and programs that don't directly target either kids or adults are a tough fit on American TV anyway.

JD · April 9 2010, 03:21 PM

Plus it's British, and sadly that probably scared some people away.

Snaploud · April 10 2010, 06:04 AM

One of the problems (other than unsympathetic characters) is that this incarnation goes completely off the deep end when it comes to re-interpreting the Merlin and Arthur characters. Merlin is special because he is old, wise, and knowledgeable, so they made their Merlin young, unwise, and ignorant. Arthur is special because he grew up poor and understands how to treat people well, so they made their Arthur a spoiled rich kid who doesn't know who to treat people.

I realize that there isn't any one way to tell the Camelot story, but this interpretation is a bit of a stretch for even the most forgiving of audiences.

KB24 · April 11 2010, 02:37 AM

AT first I didnt' like the first couple eps of Merlin because of the changes you mention. But once they get into their season and quit with the creature of the week simplistic storylines, they actually do character episodes and explain why the people are the way they are and how they change into the legends of which we know. Their take is juvenielle, yes, and msot of the forums online are al screaming little girls who don't know Mordred from Adam, but I like the series, mature conflict eps that are akin to the issues of the myths.

MeanJoePhaser · April 11 2010, 03:53 AM

Needs more talking dragon.

Everytime there's a problem, they should go talk to the dragon.

Also, vampires.

Hyperspace05 · April 11 2010, 07:55 AM

Geez, this show is just bad... Extremely bad. I caught the season opener on SyFy, and I just had to turn it off after 40 minutes. Ugh.

Simplistic characters, bizarre Merlin reinterpretation... Nope, I won't watch this again.

KB24 · April 12 2010, 04:02 AM

The first few episodes of season 2 are kind of bad. For some reason instead of continuing with all the strides made in season one, the producers decided to reset some character development for some supposedly big and special guest star funny episodes. It didn't really work. The last 3 of the season are far better!

Snaploud · April 12 2010, 04:26 AM

KB24 wrote:

The first few episodes of season 2 are kind of bad. For some reason instead of continuing with all the strides made in season one, the producers decided to reset some character development for some supposedly big and special guest star funny episodes. It didn't really work. The last 3 of the season are far better!

Good to know. I'm watching via SyFy. I find it amusing how quickly the writers had Merlin go from 'I'll never let you leave your cage' to 'I promise to set you free' when it comes to the dragon.

KB24 · April 12 2010, 11:51 PM

I like the Dragon and John Hurt's mix of mocap and vocal performance, but I think they played the creature and his use wrong from the start. Merlin can't periodically just happen to have an awesome agnry and wise Dragon to chat with at any time! I would rather the entire dragon storyline have been done over several two part episodes. I think there should be more of a reccurring cast as well, just to keep the court at Camelot a little heavy. Imagine if some of the storylines in Season 1 were going on at the same time! When you look at some of the serious latter season 2 storylines, you wonder the same thing. The show can be witty and for a youthful audience, but still be really serious, dark, and gritty. I would much rather they arc over more episodes instead of these early funny filler eps.

KB24 · July 4 2010, 05:39 AM

Wow took me awhile to find this thread! Did everyone quit watching on SyFy? I used mt DVR.

Anyhoo here's my review of Season 2

http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogsp...-season-2.html

Greg Cox · July 4 2010, 03:59 PM

I've been enjoying the show, especially now that Morganna is slowing turning to the dark side . . . .

Here's hoping SyFy airs Season Three.

UncleRogi · July 4 2010, 05:03 PM

I advise that one DOESN'T watch this. Apparently the writers haven't done their research well.

'Nuff said

Allyn Gibson · July 4 2010, 05:24 PM

UncleRogi wrote:

I advise that one DOESN'T watch this. Apparently the writers haven't done their research well.

Depends on what a person wants out of Merlin, UncleRogi. If the viewer wants something with some fidelity to, say, Sir Thomas Malory, Merlin is going to be a head-scratching experience; trying to correlate Merlin's names and relationships to Malory will give one a mental aneurysm. There's no Arthurian "canon" in the sense of Star Trek or Star Wars. There are wildly divergent tales, some put more emphasis on Celtic mythology, some are drawn more upon Christian mythology. Some are more historical, some are completely ahistorical. Merlin isn't trying to be the definitive, authoritative retelling of the Matter of Britain; it's just trying to be an entertaining show for a family audience. In that regard, I think it succeeds.

Greg Cox · July 4 2010, 06:02 PM

UncleRogi wrote:

I advise that one DOESN'T watch this. Apparently the writers haven't done their research well.

'Nuff said

I doubt that it's a matter of sloppy research. They just looked at the raw material, then did their own thing--which is what people have been doing with the Arthurian mythos for centuries now.

It's all just myth and folklore anyway. There are no true, definitive facts to adhere to. I mean, it's not like Boorman's EXCALIBUR, the Broadway musical version of CAMELOT, Disney's SWORD IN THE STONE, and Monty Python are all scrupulously faithful to each other. Heck, the whole Lancelot/Guenevere thing was made up out of whole cloth centuries after the fact.

This is just the latest variant . . . .

captcalhoun · July 4 2010, 06:41 PM

UncleRogi wrote:

I advise that one DOESN'T watch this. Apparently the writers haven't done their research well.

'Nuff said

April 9 2010, 05:25 AM	#31
Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Location: Tatoinne	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US I don't think anything could have made Merlin work on NBC. It's in a genre that's a tough sell on network TV and programs that don't directly target either kids or adults are a tough fit on American TV anyway.

April 9 2010, 03:21 PM	#32
JD Admiral Location: Arizona, USA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US Plus it's British, and sadly that probably scared some people away. __________________ Over the course of many encounters and many years, I have successfully developed a standard operating procedure for dealing with big, nasty monsters. Run away. Me and Monty Python. Harry Dresden - Blood Rites (The Dresden Files #6)

April 10 2010, 06:04 AM	#33
Snaploud Admiral Location: Massachusetts, USA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US One of the problems (other than unsympathetic characters) is that this incarnation goes completely off the deep end when it comes to re-interpreting the Merlin and Arthur characters. Merlin is special because he is old, wise, and knowledgeable, so they made their Merlin young, unwise, and ignorant. Arthur is special because he grew up poor and understands how to treat people well, so they made their Arthur a spoiled rich kid who doesn't know who to treat people. I realize that there isn't any one way to tell the Camelot story, but this interpretation is a bit of a stretch for even the most forgiving of audiences.

April 11 2010, 02:37 AM	#34
KB24 Fleet Captain Location: NJ, USA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US AT first I didnt' like the first couple eps of Merlin because of the changes you mention. But once they get into their season and quit with the creature of the week simplistic storylines, they actually do character episodes and explain why the people are the way they are and how they change into the legends of which we know. Their take is juvenielle, yes, and msot of the forums online are al screaming little girls who don't know Mordred from Adam, but I like the series, mature conflict eps that are akin to the issues of the myths. __________________ FATE and FANGS: Tales from the Vampire Family Kindle Available Now! http://vampfam.blogspot.com I Think, Therefore I Review- Criticism, Conjecture, Rants http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com

April 11 2010, 03:53 AM	#35
MeanJoePhaser Admiral Location: Missile Command	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US Needs more talking dragon. Everytime there's a problem, they should go talk to the dragon. Also, vampires.

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April 11 2010, 07:55 AM	#36
Hyperspace05 Commodore	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US Geez, this show is just bad... Extremely bad. I caught the season opener on SyFy, and I just had to turn it off after 40 minutes. Ugh. Simplistic characters, bizarre Merlin reinterpretation... Nope, I won't watch this again.

April 12 2010, 04:02 AM	#37
KB24 Fleet Captain Location: NJ, USA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US The first few episodes of season 2 are kind of bad. For some reason instead of continuing with all the strides made in season one, the producers decided to reset some character development for some supposedly big and special guest star funny episodes. It didn't really work. The last 3 of the season are far better! __________________ FATE and FANGS: Tales from the Vampire Family Kindle Available Now! http://vampfam.blogspot.com I Think, Therefore I Review- Criticism, Conjecture, Rants http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com

April 12 2010, 11:51 PM	#39
KB24 Fleet Captain Location: NJ, USA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US I like the Dragon and John Hurt's mix of mocap and vocal performance, but I think they played the creature and his use wrong from the start. Merlin can't periodically just happen to have an awesome agnry and wise Dragon to chat with at any time! I would rather the entire dragon storyline have been done over several two part episodes. I think there should be more of a reccurring cast as well, just to keep the court at Camelot a little heavy. Imagine if some of the storylines in Season 1 were going on at the same time! When you look at some of the serious latter season 2 storylines, you wonder the same thing. The show can be witty and for a youthful audience, but still be really serious, dark, and gritty. I would much rather they arc over more episodes instead of these early funny filler eps. __________________ FATE and FANGS: Tales from the Vampire Family Kindle Available Now! http://vampfam.blogspot.com I Think, Therefore I Review- Criticism, Conjecture, Rants http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com

July 4 2010, 05:39 AM	#40
KB24 Fleet Captain Location: NJ, USA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US Wow took me awhile to find this thread! Did everyone quit watching on SyFy? I used mt DVR. Anyhoo here's my review of Season 2 http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogsp...-season-2.html __________________ FATE and FANGS: Tales from the Vampire Family Kindle Available Now! http://vampfam.blogspot.com I Think, Therefore I Review- Criticism, Conjecture, Rants http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com

July 4 2010, 03:59 PM	#41
Greg Cox Vice Admiral Location: Oxford, PA	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US I've been enjoying the show, especially now that Morganna is slowing turning to the dark side . . . . Here's hoping SyFy airs Season Three. __________________ www.gregcox-author.com

July 4 2010, 05:03 PM	#42
UncleRogi Commander Location: Hanover NH, the catspaw of Atoning Unifex	Re: Merlin Season 2 in the US I advise that one DOESN'T watch this. Apparently the writers haven't done their research well. 'Nuff said __________________ *Damn The Romans!--Leto II, God Emperor, to His Memories (Frank Herbert) You're not the Devil, and I'm no angel; we are simply two minds in contention. Do what you must, but not with him* [Uncle Rogi]--Atoning Unifex to newborn Fury (Julian May)