There's something about you, Merlin...
Sep. 22nd, 2008 12:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lonelybritWell that was a ridiculously sunny weekend, everyone was looking very uneasily at the sky when it continued to stay suspiciously blue and cloud-free. Seriously, uninterrupted sunshine just isn't normal...
Anway, I finally saw Hellboy II: The Golden Army. It was nicely done and very very pretty with all its elves and trolls and goblins in their eerie majesty. And we did giggle at how regardless of age and species, love will reduce all of us at one point or another to commiserating with each other whilst downing the beer and singing along, badly, to epic love songs. Ah, life.
On TV I watched the second ep of Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Good but depressing on an epic scale since we know how it's all going to end *sniffle* I cheered myself up by moving on to the first ep of Merlin, aka Merlin & Arthur: The Teenage Years.
Ah Merlin. Apparently from the same people responsible for Hex, something I've never watched but heard about by reputation. Still, so far it seems harmlessly good fun nonsense. It's the kind of show where extras wear shamelessly billow-y clocks, and the question 'Where can I find the court physician?' will not prompt a security check but instead a helpfully pointed direction from the guards and a nice clear sign of 'COURT PHYSICIAN' complete with pointy arrow adorning the wall just in case.
To be perfectly honest, the only reason I gave this a go was Eve Myles. I'd seen the press release about the young lad cast as Merlin and although I'd watched him closely as Jethro in Doctor Who, I hadn't seen anything that got me wildly excited about the prospect of him leading his own show. Eve Myles on the other hand is Eve Myles, in the same way as I'd endure Bonelickers for Burn Gorman, I was prepared to brave the Beeb's latest offering for our dear Gwen Cooper.
So. Eve. Not enough of her really, but what she did she did nicely, particularly in that final song show-down.
Will I be tuning in next week? Probably. Because although I wasn't expecting it, the show does seem to have got itself a good lead. Merlin was distinctly likeable and held his own against folks like Anthony Head and Richard Wilson. I'm not at all convinced by their Gwenivere just yet, and it's too early to say much about Morgana, but Arthur too is very nicely cast. So for once the two main leads could potentially be up to the task - huzzah!
I'll also be astoundingly astonished if slash-fic is not generated by this show. Merlin and Arthur hate each other - and we all know how that always goes, even if we didn't have centuries worth of legend telling us anyway. And 'Gwen' and Morgana too are surely prime slash fodder.
Personally it's not something I'll be particularly interested in reading just yet as the boys particularly just look too young. Which actually is why I did enjoy this first ep. Anyone who has had any experience of trying to live with the older teenage males will have recognised Merlin and Arthur as they posture and snark their way around the castle. Only a teenager could put the infinite amount of dubious scorn in Merlin's "Riiiight" when informed that Arthur would be the once and future king who unites the land of Albion. ("No way, no. They must mean a different Arthur - this one's an idiot!")
Which is not to say this show doesn't have its faults. Dear god but it does. But its saving grace is that it seems to have a cast who are enjoying themselves and also don't seem to be trying to take this too seriously. The two young male leads are teenagers and so have a natural scorn of all adult life, which actually is perfect for this whole daft setup. And Anthony Stewart Head is also king of how to deliver the killer punchline - in this case giving the ep its purpose and effortlessly stealing the show with Uther's proud proclamation that Merlin shall be Arthur's manservant.
It's a good start. It will need to do a bit more next week to keep me interested, but at this moment in time I'm hopeful that the cast will be able to deliver.
Anway, I finally saw Hellboy II: The Golden Army. It was nicely done and very very pretty with all its elves and trolls and goblins in their eerie majesty. And we did giggle at how regardless of age and species, love will reduce all of us at one point or another to commiserating with each other whilst downing the beer and singing along, badly, to epic love songs. Ah, life.
On TV I watched the second ep of Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Good but depressing on an epic scale since we know how it's all going to end *sniffle* I cheered myself up by moving on to the first ep of Merlin, aka Merlin & Arthur: The Teenage Years.
Ah Merlin. Apparently from the same people responsible for Hex, something I've never watched but heard about by reputation. Still, so far it seems harmlessly good fun nonsense. It's the kind of show where extras wear shamelessly billow-y clocks, and the question 'Where can I find the court physician?' will not prompt a security check but instead a helpfully pointed direction from the guards and a nice clear sign of 'COURT PHYSICIAN' complete with pointy arrow adorning the wall just in case.
To be perfectly honest, the only reason I gave this a go was Eve Myles. I'd seen the press release about the young lad cast as Merlin and although I'd watched him closely as Jethro in Doctor Who, I hadn't seen anything that got me wildly excited about the prospect of him leading his own show. Eve Myles on the other hand is Eve Myles, in the same way as I'd endure Bonelickers for Burn Gorman, I was prepared to brave the Beeb's latest offering for our dear Gwen Cooper.
So. Eve. Not enough of her really, but what she did she did nicely, particularly in that final song show-down.
Will I be tuning in next week? Probably. Because although I wasn't expecting it, the show does seem to have got itself a good lead. Merlin was distinctly likeable and held his own against folks like Anthony Head and Richard Wilson. I'm not at all convinced by their Gwenivere just yet, and it's too early to say much about Morgana, but Arthur too is very nicely cast. So for once the two main leads could potentially be up to the task - huzzah!
I'll also be astoundingly astonished if slash-fic is not generated by this show. Merlin and Arthur hate each other - and we all know how that always goes, even if we didn't have centuries worth of legend telling us anyway. And 'Gwen' and Morgana too are surely prime slash fodder.
Personally it's not something I'll be particularly interested in reading just yet as the boys particularly just look too young. Which actually is why I did enjoy this first ep. Anyone who has had any experience of trying to live with the older teenage males will have recognised Merlin and Arthur as they posture and snark their way around the castle. Only a teenager could put the infinite amount of dubious scorn in Merlin's "Riiiight" when informed that Arthur would be the once and future king who unites the land of Albion. ("No way, no. They must mean a different Arthur - this one's an idiot!")
Which is not to say this show doesn't have its faults. Dear god but it does. But its saving grace is that it seems to have a cast who are enjoying themselves and also don't seem to be trying to take this too seriously. The two young male leads are teenagers and so have a natural scorn of all adult life, which actually is perfect for this whole daft setup. And Anthony Stewart Head is also king of how to deliver the killer punchline - in this case giving the ep its purpose and effortlessly stealing the show with Uther's proud proclamation that Merlin shall be Arthur's manservant.
It's a good start. It will need to do a bit more next week to keep me interested, but at this moment in time I'm hopeful that the cast will be able to deliver.
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no subject
Date: 2008-09-22 12:12 am (UTC)Hey honey. I managed to snag a couple of hours online tonight, having been MIA for a month or so. I couldn't resist your Merlin post. I'm hoping for good things from the show.
The Merlin/Arthur slash is pretty much a given *g*, but more interestingly, the Uther & Arthur daddy!issues practically jumped off the screen at me. Arthur growing up without his mum, his agonized "Father" when Uther proclaimed Merlin should be his manservant, and the teaser from next week's show - was it "Make me proud, Arthur" or something like that?
Daddy angst - I can see it ANYWHERE
I have to say, I saw a lot of our Angel/Robin Hood thingy in this, and it made me very happy. Also, I loved the singing spell that Eve cast. VERY nice piece of music, and so well done by the show.
I enjoyed it very much, and I'm hoping for a little more daddy angst next week, which I fully expect ASH will deliver. *g*
no subject
Date: 2008-09-22 12:26 am (UTC)Hehe, I did actually think of you when I saw the trailer for next week and that 'Make me proud' line. Glad you know you were around for it! Yes it does look like they might be going to pull in some daddy!angst, which should be good stuff when the father in question is ASH. And we can't hate him because he obviously does care - his 'You saved my boy' was definitely heartfelt if utterly wrong in terms of speech :)
Ahhh, the Angel/Robin Hood... One day when our heads are in the right place we may have to try and return to this, there is much fun to be had there.
The song was very very nice, and both singer and actress put real venom into it by the end which was fantastic to watch :)
Anyway yes, next week looks promising, certainly if ASH is given the daddy!angst card to play with we're in for some good stuff!