No love for Merlin?

[Greg Cox]

I don't want it to be as dark as BSG, but I would like the characters to progress to the more traditional representations we know. Grown ups with problems!

No offense, but that would be a different show . . . and kind of missing the point. This isn't supposed to be a just another old-fashioned, grown-up version of Camelot. It's "Teen Merlin."

That's the whole idea.

Insisting that it be a serious, traditional, historically accurate retelling of the legends is like insisting that, say, MONK be an intense, dramatic look at the challenges faced by individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder . . . .

They're having fun with the mythos--just like HERCULES and XENA used to.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I'm surprised Merlin made it to NBC anyway. Sunday nights used to be something special, but a fantasy family show seems out of place now in network primetime. With low numbers, maybe they would move it to Sci-Fi or such?

I've heard from some credible sources that NBC paid an absurdly low amount to broadcast the series. They didn't need blockbuster ratings for it, because it wasn't much of an expense for them, and it gave them something they could use to plug a hole in the schedule, which they did. (NBC had been intending to use Merlin in winter/spring 2010.) I don't know if NBC will pick up the second season, but I know that we'll more likely than not see it on some network on this side of the pond.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I admit that the primary reason I didn't watch this show was because it was on a broadcast network. Saw the first episode, thought it was decent, and then figured that this show was destined to be canceled and stopped watching after a couple of episodes because I didn't want to get too hooked on it. Sad, but true.

After having pretty much every non-cable show I've liked canceled after a few episodes or not renewed for a second season, I just don't trust broadcast networks anymore, unfortunately...

 

[wamdue]

I admit that the primary reason I didn't watch this show was because it was on a broadcast network. Saw the first episode, thought it was decent, and then figured that this show was destined to be canceled and stopped watching after a couple of episodes because I didn't want to get too hooked on it. Sad, but true.

but doesnt that make it a self fulfilling prophecy, if NBC did axe Merlin.

meanwhile even if NBC did axe it, the rest of the world likes it just fine, and S2 & beyond will continue on BBC One, and I would not rule out BBC Am airing it if NBC dropped it.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I admit that the primary reason I didn't watch this show was because it was on a broadcast network. Saw the first episode, thought it was decent, and then figured that this show was destined to be canceled and stopped watching after a couple of episodes because I didn't want to get too hooked on it. Sad, but true.

but doesnt that make it a self fulfilling prophecy, if NBC did axe Merlin.

I've just been burned too many times by broadcast networks over the years (too many to list right now).

meanwhile even if NBC did axe it, the rest of the world likes it just fine, and S2 & beyond will continue on BBC One, and I would not rule out BBC Am airing it if NBC dropped it.

Actually, that would be great for me.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I admit that the primary reason I didn't watch this show was because it was on a broadcast network. Saw the first episode, thought it was decent, and then figured that this show was destined to be canceled and stopped watching after a couple of episodes because I didn't want to get too hooked on it. Sad, but true.

but doesnt that make it a self fulfilling prophecy, if NBC did axe Merlin.

I've just been burned too many times by broadcast networks over the years (too many to list right now).

Still it's a daft attitude to have, I mean if everyone has that attitude then no one will watch and it will be cancelled, not because it wasn't a good show, or not because there wasn't an audience, but because no one watched because it might be cancelled, and so it was because no one watched.
There are many shows I loved that were cancelled, doesn't mean I stop giving new shows a shot.

 

[C.E. Evans]

but doesnt that make it a self fulfilling prophecy, if NBC did axe Merlin.

I've just been burned too many times by broadcast networks over the years (too many to list right now).

Still it's a daft attitude to have...

Sez you. Walk a mile in my shoes before you can start making claims about my attitude.

...I mean if everyone has that attitude then no one will watch and it will be cancelled, not because it wasn't a good show, or not because there wasn't an audience, but because no one watched because it might be cancelled, and so it was because no one watched.
There are many shows I loved that were cancelled, doesn't mean I stop giving new shows a shot.

I'm not you. I'm tired of shows I like getting the axe. It's happened way too many times for me, so I do indeed no longer bother. Yes, I have been driven away from broadcast television because of that.

That doesn't mean I won't try an episode or two because if I like a show enough, I'll either see it on DVD or through other means, but definitely not on regular TV...

 

[Deckerd]

Insisting that it be a serious, traditional, historically accurate retelling of the legends

I've said it before but I'll say it again. Quoi?

I presume when all of you say this you mean that whatever era they place it in, it should look the part and not make too many date bloopers.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I've just been burned too many times by broadcast networks over the years (too many to list right now).

Still it's a daft attitude to have...

Sez you. Walk a mile in my shoes before you can start making claims about my attitude.

...I mean if everyone has that attitude then no one will watch and it will be cancelled, not because it wasn't a good show, or not because there wasn't an audience, but because no one watched because it might be cancelled, and so it was because no one watched.
There are many shows I loved that were cancelled, doesn't mean I stop giving new shows a shot.

I'm not you. I'm tired of shows I like getting the axe. It's happened way too many times for me, so I do indeed no longer bother. Yes, I have been driven away from broadcast television because of that.

That doesn't mean I won't try an episode or two because if I like a show enough, I'll either see it on DVD or through other means, but definitely not on regular TV...

But as Wamdue says then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy, enough people say "I'm not watching it because it might get cancelled" then it's going to get cancelled because no one is watching.

Not judging you personally, and I know a lot of people are doing the same thing. Which is why it kinda bugs me because it means shows I like are more likely to get canned.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Insisting that it be a serious, traditional, historically accurate retelling of the legends

I've said it before but I'll say it again. Quoi?

I presume when all of you say this you mean that whatever era they place it in, it should look the part and not make too many date bloopers.

I think Greg was arguing that the historically accurate thing isn't a good argument because it was never meant to be that kind of show, and insisting it should be is like arguing comedy should be serious.

 

[Deckerd]

And I'm arguing is that 'historically accurate' and 'Arthurian legend' are mutually exclusive.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

And I'm arguing is that 'historically accurate' and 'Arthurian legend' are mutually exclusive.

Apples and oranges, from the way I'm reading it. He's arguing the type of show doesn't need to be accurate. You're arguing for Arthurian legend there is no accurate in the first place.

And from where I'm sitting both are correct. It's a fluffy, family entertainment show, why would it have to be accurate? Do we expect Doctor Who to get the science right?
Arthur and Merlin, like Robin Hood has no real basis in history, or what it does have is fragmented and sometimes contradictory, so how can you be accurate about it? Even going from the stories you can't be accurate because they contradict each other too.

 

[Greg Cox]

And I'm arguing is that 'historically accurate' and 'Arthurian legend' are mutually exclusive.

Apples and oranges, from the way I'm reading it. He's arguing the type of show doesn't need to be accurate. You're arguing for Arthurian legend there is no accurate in the first place.

Both of which are right.

Don't get me wrong. If someone wants to do a serious, historical Arthurian epic set in post-Roman Britain, more power to them. I have fond memories of David Drake's THE DRAGON LORD, not to mention Parke Godwin's Arthurian novels.

But the Arthurian legends are flexible enough to all sorts of approaches--from Broadway musicals to R-rated blood and thunder. And, traditionally, most of them take place in some sort of vaguely medieval age of chivalry anyway.

MERLIN is a teen-friendly version with cool monsters and magic. It's HARRY POTTER meets SMALLVILLE meets CAMELOT.

Works for me.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

And I'm arguing is that 'historically accurate' and 'Arthurian legend' are mutually exclusive.

Apples and oranges, from the way I'm reading it. He's arguing the type of show doesn't need to be accurate. You're arguing for Arthurian legend there is no accurate in the first place.

Both of which are right.

Don't get me wrong. If someone wants to do a serious, historical Arthurian epic set in post-Roman Britain, more power to them. I have fond memories of David Drake's THE DRAGON LORD, not to mention Parke Godwin's Arthurian novels.

But the Arthurian legends are flexible enough to all sorts of approaches--from Broadway musicals to R-rated blood and thunder. And, traditionally, most of them take place in some sort of vaguely medieval age of chivalry anyway.

MERLIN is a teen-friendly version with cool monsters and magic. It's HARRY POTTER meets SMALLVILLE meets CAMELOT.

Works for me.

I agree. It's not like this retelling is going to erase previous retellings of the legend, it's still there for serious studies of mythology and legend to look in to if they should wish.
Light and fluffy entertainment works for me.

 

[Deckerd]

Then we're all agreed? Whose round is it?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Then we're all agreed? Whose round is it?

You'll probably find someone who doesn't but we three are...
OH and not the sick man's... but my vote goes for your round.

 

[Deckerd]

Sure you're not from Yorkshire?

 

[ITL]

Sure you're not from Yorkshire?

Bob's from Hull, so he's from Yorkshire no matter what them bloody county boundaries say. Same goes for people in Cleveland. Whether thay like it or not.



ITL, Slowly went off Merlin and didn't finish watching the first series.

 

[Deckerd]

That'll explain it being my round then.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Sure you're not from Yorkshire?

Bob's from Hull, so he's from Yorkshire no matter what them bloody county boundaries say. Same goes for people in Cleveland. Whether thay like it or not.



ITL, Slowly went off Merlin and didn't finish watching the first series.

Actually Hull's back to being in the East Riding of Yorkshire, they kinda disbanded the county of Humberside about 10 years ago...

Deckerd, 'ave a not been saying eyup enough?