camelot vs merlin
- Thread starter timothy
- Start date
Here's a piece of my Versus comments from my Merlin Season 3 review:
http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com/2011/04/merlin-season-3.html
Although it isn’t quite fair to properly compare three episodes worth of one to three seasons worth of the other, I’d be remiss if I didn’t counter Merlin and the new Starz adaptation Camelot. As of now, I much prefer the fantastical lessons and youth of Merlin to the historical sex of Camelot. While I may end up watching all of Camelot eventually, Merlin has the better angle on how it wants to use magic in its telling, and the men here are much more likeable. Jamie Campbell Bower and Joseph Fiennes are just too bland and completely insipid. However, Camelot has much more epic music, realistically 5th century locations and sets, and better handled ladies in Eva Green and Claire Forlani. I’ve been waiting for so long for the juvenile Merlin to get real and grow up, but Camelot is a little too far off the deep and dark nudity end. It’s so strange now that there is a wealth of medieval material in film and television on both sides of the pond, and yet there still isn’t an Arthurian tale with which I am 100% happy. Merlin is a fantasy, Camelot is historical, but where is the ‘historical fantasy’ Lord of the Rings medium? Maybe somebody else will come along next year with something heavier than Merlin- but hey Camelot, lighten up.
Then again, HBO’s Game of Thrones looks to be firing on all cylinders straight out of the gate. Somehow, this new fantasy series led by Sean Bean and Mark Addy can handle not your mama’s fantasy dark whilst still being traditionally gripping. Thrones looks good, mixing designs that are realistically old with some exotic fantasy colors, and again the cast is both likeable and naughty all around. Is it just because these A Song of Ice and Fire books have been adapted carefully with author George R.R. Martin that sets Thrones off and running on the right style, tone, and production? It’s taken Merlin a long time to find where it needs to be, and Camelot is already sputtering. Kinky and nudity isn’t used to replace good storytelling in Game of Thrones, and fantasy oriented families may very well be able to handle both Merlin for the pups and Thrones once the babes are put to bed.
http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com/2011/04/merlin-season-3.html
Although it isn’t quite fair to properly compare three episodes worth of one to three seasons worth of the other, I’d be remiss if I didn’t counter Merlin and the new Starz adaptation Camelot. As of now, I much prefer the fantastical lessons and youth of Merlin to the historical sex of Camelot. While I may end up watching all of Camelot eventually, Merlin has the better angle on how it wants to use magic in its telling, and the men here are much more likeable. Jamie Campbell Bower and Joseph Fiennes are just too bland and completely insipid. However, Camelot has much more epic music, realistically 5th century locations and sets, and better handled ladies in Eva Green and Claire Forlani. I’ve been waiting for so long for the juvenile Merlin to get real and grow up, but Camelot is a little too far off the deep and dark nudity end. It’s so strange now that there is a wealth of medieval material in film and television on both sides of the pond, and yet there still isn’t an Arthurian tale with which I am 100% happy. Merlin is a fantasy, Camelot is historical, but where is the ‘historical fantasy’ Lord of the Rings medium? Maybe somebody else will come along next year with something heavier than Merlin- but hey Camelot, lighten up.
Then again, HBO’s Game of Thrones looks to be firing on all cylinders straight out of the gate. Somehow, this new fantasy series led by Sean Bean and Mark Addy can handle not your mama’s fantasy dark whilst still being traditionally gripping. Thrones looks good, mixing designs that are realistically old with some exotic fantasy colors, and again the cast is both likeable and naughty all around. Is it just because these A Song of Ice and Fire books have been adapted carefully with author George R.R. Martin that sets Thrones off and running on the right style, tone, and production? It’s taken Merlin a long time to find where it needs to be, and Camelot is already sputtering. Kinky and nudity isn’t used to replace good storytelling in Game of Thrones, and fantasy oriented families may very well be able to handle both Merlin for the pups and Thrones once the babes are put to bed.
Oook. So the consensus is pretty strong that Camelot is a misfire? How did they manage to frak that up? I was envisioning The Tudors, but without any pressure to be even slightly historically accurate.
I guess it's time to boot it off the ole Netflix list. Game of Thrones says, of course.
Yet another show that doesn't get the trick of making "unlikable" protagonists likable, huh? The Borgias is having the same problem. The writers of Dexter, Breaking Bad and The Sopranos should give seminars.
I thought Camelot was quite good until I saw Game of Thrones, and Game of Thrones ain't all that really either.
The last Camelot was REALLY interesting in it's contrasts. The villain is helping people, the protagonists, ends up murdering and taking power by force. And you can't help but feel that he is the one doing the right thing. Now THIS is what I have been looking to see.
Also, I am really glad Merlin isn't just a cold blooded killer. He looked extremely cold blooded in the last episode.
Also, I am really glad Merlin isn't just a cold blooded killer. He looked extremely cold blooded in the last episode.
That wasn't guilt.
Maybe a little.
But 90 percent of what you saw was payback for using too much magic.
Justice?
It just seemed like one bunch of thugs laying into another bunch of thugs.
Back then, I doubt rape was a crime.
How the hell did this village live just a over a days ride from Castle Pendragon?
Maybe a little.
But 90 percent of what you saw was payback for using too much magic.
Justice?
It just seemed like one bunch of thugs laying into another bunch of thugs.
Back then, I doubt rape was a crime.
How the hell did this village live just a over a days ride from Castle Pendragon?
The village might have been closer to Camelot which had been abandoned since the Romans left, but Morgan was making the ride from Camelot to Pendragon in just over a day, which would make that village at most 2 days ride from Pendragon, which was where until a few weeks ago the army stood and law was dealt from by the King.
Everything so far is almost built on top of one another.
Everything so far is almost built on top of one another.
I haven't been watching Camelot anymore, but I must say, even you folks who kind of like it and comment on it make it look like it is all over the place from episode to episode. All these kinks about how much nudity, how dark it should be, or how much magic should be used should all have been ironed out before hand.
there have been good things and there have been bad things on camelot allso it is still new show. I will stay with it till the end of season one and see how it ends.
That is what I did with merlin I am glad I did cause that show is the bomb. and this season ended fantasticly and I am eagerly awaiting season 4. wish I had HBO otherwise I would have titled this thread merlin vs camelot vs game of thrones but I don't so I will have to wait till next years br release. I love high fantasy, as much as I do star trek and star wars.
That is what I did with merlin I am glad I did cause that show is the bomb. and this season ended fantasticly and I am eagerly awaiting season 4. wish I had HBO otherwise I would have titled this thread merlin vs camelot vs game of thrones but I don't so I will have to wait till next years br release. I love high fantasy, as much as I do star trek and star wars.
Wasn't quite as good, but this show has improved. They are showing us Merlin's limits (something the show Merlin has not done) and they are TRYING to deal with interesting moral issues.
This show has potential.... If only they got the casting right.
it seems that it is more than limits, merlin doesnt want to lose control and have the power control him..[episode 8]. he must find the balance
Does anyone really think Camelot will be renewed for a second season, or will they try to play it off as a miniseries? I ended up at its imdb page a few days ago, and the newreel links were still dating back to the first few weeks and episodes. Of course, you can't judge by the crazy imdb forums but the newsdesk is legitimate sources, blogs, and media and they are barely talking about Camelot. That is a seriously bad sign.
By contrast, the Merlin newsreel is filled with folks actually going to the set in France and getting to talk to crew members or getting spoilers from the cast. Daily set reports from Merlin and month old debut episode feeds for Camelot? Proof in the pudding.
I think if they do have a second season, it is going to have to be seriously retooled. Move it up a few years and get a new dang Arthur!
but the newsdesk is legitimate sources, blogs, and media and they are barely talking about Camelot. That is a seriously bad sign. By contrast, the Merlin newsreel is filled with folks actually going to the set in France and getting to talk to crew members or getting spoilers from the cast. Daily set reports from Merlin and month old debut episode feeds for Camelot? Proof in the pudding.
I think if they do have a second season, it is going to have to be seriously retooled. Move it up a few years and get a new dang Arthur!
Does anyone really think Camelot will be renewed for a second season, or will they try to play it off as a miniseries? I ended up at its imdb page a few days ago, and the newreel links were still dating back to the first few weeks and episodes. Of course, you can't judge by the crazy imdb forums
By contrast, the Merlin newsreel is filled with folks actually going to the set in France and getting to talk to crew members or getting spoilers from the cast. Daily set reports from Merlin and month old debut episode feeds for Camelot? Proof in the pudding.
I think if they do have a second season, it is going to have to be seriously retooled. Move it up a few years and get a new dang Arthur!
There is some interview with the Arthur actor saying he is almost certain that he will be coming back fro a season 2. But this series certainly did not capture the media's attention.
The thing about premium channels is that canceling shows mid story is very dangerous for them - those viewers can cancel their subscriptions. They will probably try to wrap things up before cancellation.