New Merlin on BBC
- Thread starter Starkers
- Start date
this week's was good i thought. lots of Morgana... 
NBC has an option on the second season. It's still a sweetheart deal -- a pittance for the series, which winds up being almost pure profit for them with commercial ad revenues.
I think the BBC learned their lesson when they fucked up the negotiations for the first season of Doctor Who. American networks are willing to bite, but they're not willing to pay for an import (finished, and over which they have no creative control) what they pay for a domestic show (which is produced and aired at virtually the same time, so the network can and does demand changes to the series to make it more palatable to audiences).
I saw an episode of Seventh Heave once, and I even saw an entire episode of Walker Texas Ranger once because I was sick and couldn't find the remote, but "some" American's palates could do with a good stretch.
I was wondering about Christianity for no reason whatsoever the other day while watching the last episode, because for al their talk about the old religion, they never talk about the new religion, when it is eventually Arthur's job to go look for the Holy Grail.
I when ever has there been anything but decency attached to a group of people on a mission from God?
I was wondering about Christianity for no reason whatsoever the other day while watching the last episode, because for al their talk about the old religion, they never talk about the new religion, when it is eventually Arthur's job to go look for the Holy Grail.
I when ever has there been anything but decency attached to a group of people on a mission from God?
Good episode, and it was nice to see Morgana get stuff to sink her teeth into, also some nice forshadowing for Merlin re the dragon. Man the kid playing Mordred looks creepy!
Only a couple of minor quibbles. Firstly they didn't seem to have a real handle on reegade bloke. Was he playing Morgana as he said, or something more genuine? He could have given her up but I guess he might have hoped she's spring him.
And on the subject of her prison break...did neither of the other gaurds not mention their last memory being of Morgana bringing them drink before they lost consiousness?!
For some reason I think I will be looking forward to next week's
Only a couple of minor quibbles. Firstly they didn't seem to have a real handle on reegade bloke. Was he playing Morgana as he said, or something more genuine? He could have given her up but I guess he might have hoped she's spring him.
And on the subject of her prison break...did neither of the other gaurds not mention their last memory being of Morgana bringing them drink before they lost consiousness?!
For some reason I think I will be looking forward to next week's
I was surprised too when I first started watching Merlin, that there's absolutely no mention of budding Christian conflicts with the old Pagan religions. I figured it was a family youth show and they just didn't want to get into that. However, if the series continues in years and Arthur becomes king and the characters grow older, they'll have to acknowledge it in some way. Imagine who could be a cool traveling guest Monk that shares some words of wisdom or has magical conflicts?
I "read" Uther as Christian, that his war to cleanse Camelot of magic, whether by intent or chance, is also a war to cleanse Camelot of the native Celtic religions of Albion. Gaius himself is a sign of that; he has a Roman name, and the Romans were, at the time they abandoned Britain, Christianized.
You run into trouble in trying to equate anything in Merlin to the legends, and it's absolutely futile to try and match Merlin to the historical record of fifth and sixth-century Britain. Arthur is to the Welsh a Celtic hero, to the English (such as Geoffrey of Monmouth) he was a Christian hero. The two Arthurs aren't compatible.
In Arthur's time, the war for Christianity had largely been won in Britain. The Celtic religions still existed, they were centuries past thriving, but their numbers were dwindling, and though the Saxons brought their Germanic religions to the island, Britain would be re-Christianized for good in the seventh century.
I think you can read the characters of Merlin as Christian without any difficulty. Historically, it's what they would be -- Catholic, perhaps with some leanings toward the Pelagian or Arian heresies.
We are getting the war on the old religions. It's not named as such. But that's what Uther's war against magic is. It's a war on the pagan beliefs.
I agree with you Allyn, that Merlin is set in an anti magic and thus Christian environment, but the producers aren't actually going to go our and say that until way down the line I think if ever. If anything I like that the series goes out of its way to put magic notions right by saying that not all magic is bad. They are going for the happy medium, which in this case I like because they do it well with some heart behind it. Now, the 'Holiday Tree' that you collect presents under and open on December 25 on Farmville, that's another story! ;0)
I still haven't watched this ep, trying to reward myself when I finish my Christmas sewing. Arghhhhh
I still haven't watched this ep, trying to reward myself when I finish my Christmas sewing. Arghhhhh
It took me till 3 a.m. but I got my episode in! Very intriguing seeds sown here! Again, though, this makes me wonder why Merlin isn't a truly serial show, rather then largely episodic. They could have had this Morgana sneaking to the Druids like the early ep running throughout the season. This hint of unhealthy romance with Alvarr should have gone on a lot longer, too. Oh, Morgana is so magical and we've only see what two examples of it? We should have been seeing it all along.
It's so lopsided anymore that we can't have both girls feature prominently in the same episode. It would have been nicer to have Gwen suspect with Morgana's magic all season while also dealing with her budding feelings. Merlin should have gotten a look at the crystal earlier in the season and been conflicted all season. I liked this episode very much, but I also see a lot more of what I like that should have been fully developed all series long.
Anyone else think Merlin saw a doppleganger dragon in the crystal? He'll need to free out Dragon in order to stop the bad one?
It's so lopsided anymore that we can't have both girls feature prominently in the same episode. It would have been nicer to have Gwen suspect with Morgana's magic all season while also dealing with her budding feelings. Merlin should have gotten a look at the crystal earlier in the season and been conflicted all season. I liked this episode very much, but I also see a lot more of what I like that should have been fully developed all series long.
Anyone else think Merlin saw a doppleganger dragon in the crystal? He'll need to free out Dragon in order to stop the bad one?
it ends next saturday.
No break, episode 13 is on the 19th, looks like it's early though, 5:45.
yep there is one more episode after tonights
DRAMA: Merlin
On: BBC 1
Date: Saturday 19th December 2009 (starting in 7 days)
Time: 17:45 to 18:35 (50 minutes long)
The Last Dragonlord. Series 2, episode 13.
Fantasy drama. The Great Dragon is finally free. Full of rage, he attacks Camelot with pitiless intensity. The castle is crumbling and Arthur's men cannot hold out much longer but only a Dragonlord can kill a dragon and Uther wiped them all out years ago. Or did he? Gaius admits one such man could still be alive and in hiding. The last Dragonlord is the key to Merlin's own past as well as the future of Camelot, but will Arthur and Merlin find Balinor in time to save the kingdom?
(Editor's Choice, Stereo, Last In Series, Widescreen, Subtitles, Audio Described, 2008, 3 Star).
On: BBC 1
Date: Saturday 19th December 2009 (starting in 7 days)
Time: 17:45 to 18:35 (50 minutes long)
The Last Dragonlord. Series 2, episode 13.
Fantasy drama. The Great Dragon is finally free. Full of rage, he attacks Camelot with pitiless intensity. The castle is crumbling and Arthur's men cannot hold out much longer but only a Dragonlord can kill a dragon and Uther wiped them all out years ago. Or did he? Gaius admits one such man could still be alive and in hiding. The last Dragonlord is the key to Merlin's own past as well as the future of Camelot, but will Arthur and Merlin find Balinor in time to save the kingdom?
(Editor's Choice, Stereo, Last In Series, Widescreen, Subtitles, Audio Described, 2008, 3 Star).
Was there something different about Morgana in this week's episode? I don't know what it was but something looks subtly different.
And is it me, or is the Dragon looking more expressive, and a little bit more like John Hurt nowadays?
And is it me, or is the Dragon looking more expressive, and a little bit more like John Hurt nowadays?
Actually I guess I should put that in spoiler code...
Well
no she's not, Morgause took her to save her so I doubt she's gone.
^
I find it unlikely that Morgana would return and be Uther's ward again as if nothing ever happened. For one, she knows Merlin poisoned her. For another she knows that at least Merlin (if not everyone else) knows that Morgause cares for her. And Morgause is Uther's sworn enemy.
I find it unlikely that Morgana would return and be Uther's ward again as if nothing ever happened. For one, she knows Merlin poisoned her. For another she knows that at least Merlin (if not everyone else) knows that Morgause cares for her. And Morgause is Uther's sworn enemy.
Well there's been plenty of talk of her being in a very dark place by the end of this series and the places they're ready to take her next series.
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