Fairies and Mermaids on TV
- Thread starter JD
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Route 66 had a mermaid episode. It was discussed in the Martin Milner RIP thread in the TV/Media forum of Trekbbs a few months back.
Out of curiosity, JD, what quality of depictions of fairies/mermaids on the different mediums are you attempting to discern? I ask because it seems to me that depictions of fairies/fae/fair folk/elves (and so on) tends to vary just as wildly in all the formats they're presented in (sometimes even within the same sources).
As for Merpeople, I actually find some of the most interesting portrayals aren't meant to be mermen/maids as such (as in the classical mythology) but still present the concept (of a civilization of sapient marine lifeforms) in a novel way. Stargate SG:1 had merpeople as aliens. Similarly the Aquatic Xindi from Enterprise (about the only interesting branch to me).
Then there's Discovery/Animal Planet's special on mermaids, presented as a mockumentary, which depicted them as if they were actual creatures that evolved alongside us (and that actually had some thinking it was real), similar to their one about dragons. The science is somewhat dubious, but I'm not sure that's relevant to your research.
As for Merpeople, I actually find some of the most interesting portrayals aren't meant to be mermen/maids as such (as in the classical mythology) but still present the concept (of a civilization of sapient marine lifeforms) in a novel way. Stargate SG:1 had merpeople as aliens. Similarly the Aquatic Xindi from Enterprise (about the only interesting branch to me).
Then there's Discovery/Animal Planet's special on mermaids, presented as a mockumentary, which depicted them as if they were actual creatures that evolved alongside us (and that actually had some thinking it was real), similar to their one about dragons. The science is somewhat dubious, but I'm not sure that's relevant to your research.
There needs to be a new word for that Discovery channel thing on mermaids. "Mockumentary" implies a humorous take. What they did was much more of a hoax-umentary. If you didn't catch the very small disclaimers (and weren't a skeptic to begin with) it looked like a legit production.
I only watched the first Mermaids special on Discover, but I did get a kick out of it.
I mentioned H2O back at the beginning of the thread. I'm a little over half way through the first season, and I've been enjoying it. The mermaid stuff was only half of why I started watching it. Two of the three original mermaids (they made some cast changes in the second season) are Claire Holt and Phoebe Tonkin from The Originals. I'm a huge fan of The Originals, and those two actresses, so when I saw they were in
I was mainly interested in things like the cultures and abilities.
^ Sorry. Must have missed that.
Phoebe Tonkin as a mermaid? I must check that out.
It was weird hearing Holt and Tonkin talking with their normal, Australian accents when I first started H2O, especially when I was watching The Originals the same day.
I'm kind kind of surprised the only mermaid we've ever gotten on Supernatural was the little girl's imaginary friend earlier this season. You'd think killer mermaids would be right up their alley.
I'm kind kind of surprised the only mermaid we've ever gotten on Supernatural was the little girl's imaginary friend earlier this season. You'd think killer mermaids would be right up their alley.
Not to mention Tinker Bell and her whole series of spinoff movies. Although those might not be considered serious enough treatment.
Fred Saberhagen's "Swords" series features mermaids. One book goes into them in some depth (sorry). But they are not natural beings and as such don't have a society — and they're treated as outcasts from human society. Basically they fall victim to an inherited curse, like werewolves. As such, I'm not sure this depiction is what the OP is looking for. The author even brings up the Mermaid Problem, but doesn't provide much resolution.
Some more "non-serious stuff", The Little Mermaid tv series. Just putting it out there.
^ Yes. So did I. I even had a few VHS tapes. Good memories...
Not TV related, but I'm guessing you've had a look at Katherine Briggs' A Dictionary of Fairies? It has a number of fae stories in addtion to normal entries, and it also has passages on Mermaids/Mermen and other similar entities in it.
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I think Fantasia had mermaids, but I haven't actually seen it yet.
And I do. Thanks for the tip.
It's on Amazon UK for around £30 ($45) for a very basic new paperback. Hardbacks and illustrated covers go up to ridiculous amounts.
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