I completely understand what you meant. It's actually why I like British shows. They can get name actors because the show works around their schedule filming what might be episode 9 first and then episode 4 second and so on. It also means they have to have a plan in mind before the start of the season, unlike American shows that just make it up a few episodes at a time.
Merlin renewed for fourth season; but....
- Thread starter 23skidoo
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^Yeah, I think it gives our actors much more chance to spread their wings and do a lot of different roles. Plus the varying sizes of series means it's not a matter of being stuck doing 1 series year in year out.
I wish there was more of a middle ground between our two systems though. I guess US Cable TV is closest to a middle ground.
I wish there was more of a middle ground between our two systems though. I guess US Cable TV is closest to a middle ground.
The cliffhanger excuse is a good one. It's really something more practical, though. They started filming Doctor Who later than usual, they're currently only in the second filming block for the sixth season (and that's carrying on until mid-November), and they would be cutting things very tight in having all thirteen episodes in the can by the time a June season finale rolled around. Putting in the split gives the production some breathing room.
I agree if its not broke don't fix it. Ratings and audiences were finding both series in the UK. Now everything is going to get effed up!
Merlin is a conundrum of a little show. The first half of a season is always the same old and fairly kiddie and crappy, then the second half of the series is dark, brooding, heavy, and in high gear. I can't believe they are being shortened to 10 eps when I've been wishing for more two part or supersized tv movie type episodes. Perhaps a two hour special movie event to tide folks over would be nice.
Otherwise, I think this move is going to hurt both shows. If viewers don't like the tract DW is taking, fans will complain, and the short attention span youth they've been chasing for Merlin will forget all about it and move on to something else.
Another reason this is kind of bad, won't the new Starz Camelot and Game of Thrones be out now in Merlin's place? Sure, take a bye week while your competition revs up! Dumbass move. Why not be really daring and show Merlin in the autum on BBC America. You know, the channel that shows American movies with British people in them. (Seriously is that their new slogan?)
Merlin is a conundrum of a little show. The first half of a season is always the same old and fairly kiddie and crappy, then the second half of the series is dark, brooding, heavy, and in high gear. I can't believe they are being shortened to 10 eps when I've been wishing for more two part or supersized tv movie type episodes. Perhaps a two hour special movie event to tide folks over would be nice.
Otherwise, I think this move is going to hurt both shows. If viewers don't like the tract DW is taking, fans will complain, and the short attention span youth they've been chasing for Merlin will forget all about it and move on to something else.
Another reason this is kind of bad, won't the new Starz Camelot and Game of Thrones be out now in Merlin's place? Sure, take a bye week while your competition revs up! Dumbass move. Why not be really daring and show Merlin in the autum on BBC America. You know, the channel that shows American movies with British people in them. (Seriously is that their new slogan?)
^Camelot and Game of Thrones aren't really competition to Merlin. Both are adult shows where as Merlin is a family show. What's daring about showing Merlin in the US before the UK? They miss out on their main audience and get complained at for being too commercial. I can't say I'm really that bothered by this it's not like it's really all that unusual. Though I am wondering if they're going to use this break to get their super powers show in to production as well.
That's the main thing, and it is only a year later I guess. One of the advantages of getting older is that time really does seem to fly by with increasing speed with each passing year!
^I doubt it'll be a full year late, I'd guess it'd be Winter/Spring 2011 rather than Summer/Autumn
Camelot and Thrones are indeed adult geared shows. But Season 3 of Merlin has already jumped a year. If they intend Season 4 to jump again, won't that be 2 years? The kids will be grown up then! It will be time to be serious, dark, and mature- and hey, your audience has grown up in that time anyway. I really think this is going to be a bad move for both shows. Yes BBCA is commercial and a joke, but splitting DW just for a cliffhanger payoff stretch is commercial too. Can't somebody just make a show in the right number of eps at the right time just for the sake of the show anymore?
I enjoy Merlin, but I won't really miss it. I have a similar problem with Smallville in the early seasons. It doesn't move forward.
It would have been a very interesting series if Uther had been killed in season two and Arthur and Merlin had to go on the road...having the sword placed in the stone for Arthur to reclaim when the time came that he could return to Camelot.
It would have been a very interesting series if Uther had been killed in season two and Arthur and Merlin had to go on the road...having the sword placed in the stone for Arthur to reclaim when the time came that he could return to Camelot.
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