Melin: 1x01 and 1x02...

[fajrdrako]

Curious about what my friends were talking about, I watched the first two episodes of Merlin today.

What fun.

There's lots there to like, along with transparent stories and knee-deep clichés that you can see coming a mile away. I watched it with maaseru and maaboroshi, and we all laughed a lot, in a good way. The show has a lot of spirit - it's not smart or sophisticated, but doesn't need to be. Personable protagonists, a colourful situation, and two cute male leads who strike sparks off each other. It's to the show's credit that it needs no thought at all.Specifically:

1. Colin Morgan, who plays Merlin, looks good and has a gorgeous smile. I'd liked him when he played Jethro on the Doctor Who episode "Midnight" - helps that it was one of my favourites, and beautifully written. But what really won my heart was when I realized that, to my eyes, Morgan looks rather like Peter Wingfield - a very much younger Peter Wingfield.
   
   
2. People have been telling me the show is slashy. They're right.
   
   
3. Bradley James isn't bad either, as contrast and complement to Morgan.
   
   
4. Most of the women in the show can't act. Or perhaps it's just that in the first two episodes, they don't need to. Eve Myles can act - we've seen her do it. In fact, her scenes were among the strongest.
   
   
5. I rather like Arthur's coronet, but his coat is really stunning.
   
   
6. Even so, it's Merlin's clothes I particularly love. His haircut is rather too Vulcan, but that's traditional.
   
   
7. There were a lot of echoes of various superhero stories, and I was joking that the Clark Kent-like Merlin was the Last Son of Camelot. But there were also traces of Jane Grey, or any student at the Xavier Academy, hiding his mutant talents for fear of persecution. I like the theme of talented people needing to hide their talents.
   
   Every time someone used the word 'destiny' (I didn't count, but it was often) I thought of Lex Luthor in Smallville.
   
   
8. I wonder at the games they're playing with the traditional story - or if it's just stirring things up for the sake of it. Will Gwen end up marrying Arthur?
   
   
9. The dragon is extremely cute.
   
   
10. I liked Will Mellor, who played Valiant. He managed to remind me of both Gerard Butler and James Purefoy, which is quite a trick.
    
    
11. It's a shame to see Anthony Head in such an unsympathetic role. I hope he mellows. Funny to see Eve Myles as a villain, too.

Can someone point me to the slashfic? I know it must be out there already.

Comments

[megaloo13.livejournal.com]

*cough*merlinxarthur*cough*

As for particular recs, there are some great ones over here (http://delicious.com/moonklutz/bundle:merlin), particularly anything by janne_d or thisissirius.

Some fans have decided that The Dragon is actually The Slash Dragon, because he can't get enough of talking cryptically about Merlin and Arthur's destiny together. :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

merlinxarthur - great!

I like janne_d's writing, so that's a plus. Thanks for the links!

The Dragon is actually The Slash Dragon, because he can't get enough of talking cryptically about Merlin and Arthur's destiny together. :D

I approve. That is an excellent use of dragonhood and dragonlike powers.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Thank you kindly.

The Dragon is very definitely the biggest matchmaker ever.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Thank you kindly.

Just being honest. Call them as I see them. And thank you.

The Dragon is very definitely the biggest matchmaker ever.

Wonderful! I love a dragon with priorities.

[nightanddaze.livejournal.com]

I liked Will Mellor, who played Valiant. He managed to remind me of both Gerard Butler and James Purefoy, which is quite a trick.

Gerard Butler!! I spent that whole episode going, "Who the hell do you LOOK LIKE?" And it's him! Now I can rest easy.

Also, yes to the Lex Luthor thing. I've not watched much SV, but even I know the "Friendship of Legend" bit.

But, I still draw little hearts around it, because it is so pretty and fluff and funny. It does get better as the episodes go, though, so you have something to look forward to!

As for fic, probably this (http://delicious.com/tag/merlin%2Farthur) is best. There are comms, but as the fandom is new, its legs are kind of shaky and going the rec way is the most reliable. Also, there's (http://nightanddaze.livejournal.com/92313.html#cutid1) me (http://nightanddaze.livejournal.com/94168.html#cutid1).

Super glad to see another person interested!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I spent that whole episode going, "Who the hell do you LOOK LIKE?" And it's him! Now I can rest easy.

Happy to have set your mind at rest. Yes, it's a certain rather attractive type.

it is so pretty and fluff and funny. It does get better as the episodes go, though, so you have something to look forward to!

Good! I'd say there is nothing really wrong with it now, except that it is so light it practically floats in the air. Which is not a bad thing. Most of what I watch is kind of heavy - this is a nice change.

Thanks for the links and thanks for the suggestions - I'm going over to look at your stuff now.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

Most of the women in the show can't act. Or perhaps it's just that in the first two episodes, they don't need to.
The women's role improves as the series goes on, in particular Morgana, which gives the actresses more to get their teeth into (thank goodness! It was one of my personal gripes with the show!). The same can be said for all the actors, though, as the series moves away from the formulaic plot line and moves towards the wider story-arc.

Every time someone used the word 'destiny' (I didn't count, but it was often) I thought of Lex Luthor in Smallville.
Hee. I was the same! There are some similarities with SV (the producers have openly admitted that they used the basic premise of legendary figures growing up, and I suspect they saw the popularity of Clex and they're purposely using Merlin/Arthur to appeal to a fandom base. They were certainly ready for the slashers at London Expo *g*) But it's definitely it's own show.

Bradley James isn't bad either, as contrast and complement to Morgan.
I wasn't too impressed with Bradley, but he's almost my favourite now O_o I really like his portrayal of the arrogant, prattish prince. I think Merlin/Athur (Colin/James) make a really good team. They have chemistry.

I wonder at the games they're playing with the traditional story - or if it's just stirring things up for the sake of it.
They're doing it for the sake of it - I think TPTB have said they purposely wanted to shake the story up, as legends are made for re-telling/reinterpretation and that's what's exciting. The producer (Johnny Capps) and the story editor (Polly Buckle) seem to be huge geeks over the mythology though, so I didn't think they'd mess around too much!

Will Gwen end up marrying Arthur?
The producers have said they've mapped out the story they want to tell, which ideally would take 5 series. Given that the UK series are shorter than American/Canadian shows, I suspect they won't get that far in time, unless they take huge leaps in time. I think I'd like to see the inklings though (or even Morgana/Arthur!)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Nice icon!

The same can be said for all the actors, though, as the series moves away from the formulaic plot line and moves towards the wider story-arc.

There's a story arc? Oh, good! That will have to add more substance.

There are some similarities with SV

Which I am not unhappy to see, since they seem to have picked up on the good aspects of Smallville and not the bad.

and they're purposely using Merlin/Arthur to appeal to a fandom base

Oh, good choice. Go for it, guys!

I think Merlin/Athur (Colin/James) make a really good team. They have chemistry.

Agreed.

We'll see where they go. I don't mean this as any insult to the show, but it seems to me that they have kept their artistic intentions light and simple and so have completely succeeded in what they're doing - and they know exactly what it is. This is impressive.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

There's a story arc? Oh, good! That will have to add more substance.

I see a similarity with Buffy (and to an extent SV), where the show started of with a villain of the week and through these episodes we're introduced to their personalities, strengths and weaknesses, relationships and attitudes, before moving on with the bigger story (Buffy growing up, Clark becoming Superman, Arthur becoming King Arthur). I think this series so far is still very much setting up and we've only getting hints of what's to come, but I feel that they're moving towards the 'proper story' and I think they're doing it well. It is getting more substance and becoming more complex.

I don't mean this as any insult to the show, but it seems to me that they have kept their artistic intentions light and simple and so have completely succeeded in what they're doing - and they know exactly what it is.

Agreed. It's a light entertainment, Saturday Night, family show, something that fills the Doctor Who slot before the National Lottery :) It does what it says on the tin.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the bigger story

Nice thought. Going from the particular to the overview is the way we grow up, too - the world expands around us from "what happens to us" to "what happens". And heroes have central roles in "what happens".

It is getting more substance and becoming more complex.

Glad to hear it.

It's a light entertainment, Saturday Night, family show

We don't get a lot of that, though I suppose most people turn to comedy for that. I like shows with substance, which is one of the reasons I love Doctor Who so much - it's fluff with a deep and complex core.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

We don't get a lot of that

I'm not sure, but I think the BBC's Royal Charter states that it has to provide creative content from all genres, which appeal to broad audiences as well as the niche and minority (although not necessarily at the same time!)...so I think they pretty much have to making these kind of shows (luckily for us!) :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Whatever the mandate, it's a good thing! The make some good television.

[luthien.livejournal.com]

I just started watching a couple of weeks ago and have just finished getting all caught up. I agree with you about the first few episodes, but things get darker and grittier and twistier as things go along. I was much more impressed with the last couple of episodes than I was with the first few.

As for fic, I've only read one but it's by an old friend from many fandoms ago and is the reason why I decided to bite the bullet and watch the show at all: Two Short Interludes in the Nature of Possession (http://stealingpennies.livejournal.com/3283.html) by stealingpennies. It's very true to the characters and also includes bonus plot. ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

but things get darker and grittier and twistier as things go along. I was much more impressed with the last couple of episodes than I was with the first few.

Oh, good! I look forward to that.

Thanks for the story link!

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :-)

You aren't the first person to notice the Peter Wingfield similarity either - I know I've seen that mentioned elsewhere.

I loved Eve Myles in the first episode. I think it was the bit with her singing that really convinced me the show was going to be worth watching every week - it was just so atmospheric and the music was gorgeous.

It's a shame to see Anthony Head in such an unsympathetic role. I hope he mellows

I don't think "mellows" is the right word, but he does get some very good stuff later. I'm not always unsympathetic to his views either. He is set up as an antagonist a lot, but not as necessarily wrong (except about magic).

The show also gets markedly less fluffy later on. A couple of the most recent ones have been much darker in tone.

Slash and other fic: merlinxarthur, merlinslash and merlinfic. There is also a newsletter at bbc_merlin_news and thisissirius and I have set up merlin_flashfic.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You aren't the first person to notice the Peter Wingfield similarity either - I know I've seen that mentioned elsewhere.

For those of us who are Wingfield obsessives, this is a Very Good Thing.

I think it was the bit with her singing that really convinced me the show was going to be worth watching every week - it was just so atmospheric and the music was gorgeous.

I agree! Those were good scenes. Made me think of George R.R. Martin, which is quite a complement to the show, as he does 'set pieces' remarkably well.

he does get some very good stuff later.

Good! It looked in the first two episodes as if he was so busy being rigid authority - and being wrong - that we weren't going to see much humanity in him.

The show also gets markedly less fluffy later on. A couple of the most recent ones have been much darker in tone.

I think I will like that. Thanks for the links! I'll explore them.

[kathyh]

It is loads of fun isn't it. Very glad you enjoyed it. I hadn't spotted the resemblance between Colin Morgan and Peter Wingfield but now you mention it I can see what you mean.

It's a shame to see Anthony Head in such an unsympathetic role. I hope he mellows.

I wouldn't say he mellows but you do get to see that he has reasons for his actions. They may not be reasons that you would necessarily always agree with but it's nice to know that the reasons are there.

As others have said the show is getting progressively darker and the last few episodes have been really rather good.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I hadn't spotted the resemblance between Colin Morgan and Peter Wingfield but now you mention it I can see what you mean.

Another nice icon there.

Sometimes the expressions and facial mannerisms that Morgan uses are quite like Wingfield's. I like that, of course.

I wouldn't say he mellows but you do get to see that he has reasons for his actions.

Good!

the last few episodes have been really rather good.

Yay! Looking forward to it.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Interesting to see this review.

I've been meaning to try it; I then saw a trailer and some bits and was very apprehensive. The ASH content is likely to win the battle eventually.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Interesting to see this review.

Happy to be of service!

I then saw a trailer and some bits and was very apprehensive.

I had not intended to watch it. Medieval stuff tends to horrify me because it's usually so off base - either silly like The Knight's Tale or violent and depressing. Or just not credible or convincing, like Clive Owen's King Arthur.

But the comments from my flist made me curious, and it was obvious that people were enjoying it on a level I hadn't expected.

So I watched, and was glad I did. I plan to watch more.

I found ASH somewhat disappointing - not that he himself wasn't wonderful as always, but I found his Uther Pendragon cold and off-putting and one-dimensional. Not ASH's fault, the script. I'm told he improves, at least in complexity.

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

But what really won my heart was when I realized that, to my eyes, Morgan looks rather like Peter Wingfield - a very much younger Peter Wingfield.

It's not only me then:-)

Arthur, Uther and Morgana all improve as the show goes on, I think.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's not only me then:-)

No. It's a type. Morgan's features aren't quite as pronounced, but the general structure and type of looks are similar, and many of the expressions and mannerisms. I wonder if they're from the same part of Wales.

Arthur, Uther and Morgana all improve as the show goes on, I think.

Excellent!

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

Yes, especially when Merlin narrows his eyes.

I checked Morgan on imdb and it says Northern Ireland. Strange.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ah well - I was guessing it was a Celtic heritage, which it may be. But of course, anyone can look like anyone.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

Yay! You liked it!

And wait till you get to Episode 10. It blows the rest of the season out of the water :D.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You liked it!

I did. We watched episode 3 today.

wait till you get to Episode 10. It blows the rest of the season out of the water :D

Good! I look forward to it.