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Main => The Library => Topic started by: Sir Edward on 2013-12-19, 16:40:44
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So I finally have gotten around to watching "Merlin", now that it's canceled (figures!). It ran for 5 seasons from 2008-2012. Each season was 13 episodes, so it won't take long to get through it.
I'm a little past the half-way mark in season 1. So far my impression is that it's a bit campy, and doesn't take itself too seriously. The visual effects are cheesy. And yet, the show does all of this in a way that gives it some charm, and makes it a fun family-oriented show.
The costuming is amusing. Most of the mail is obviously aluminum, and it looks like they used MRL (or something similar) as a source for a lot of their costuming and props.
The show has an interesting premise. It's using a young cast, telling stories of the Arthurian characters earlier in their lives, before most of the stories we know of them. It rewrites some of it to make the show structure work, while setting up for most of the main stories in the future. For instance, in the show, Uther is still alive, and is the king of Camelot. Arthur is being raised as his prince, with Morgana being Uther's ward. Uther has outlawed all use of magic, and puts magic-users to death when found, so Merlin has to keep his abilities secret. He's taken up a job as Arthur's servant, and gradually they're learning to like each other and work together, after completely disliking each other at first. Gwenivere is the blacksmith's daughter. They're all 20-somethings, not yet realizing their destinies.
It's an interesting take on the stories, which like I said gets cheesy and campy, in a fun sort of way. :)
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Helen and I watched the whole show as it aired. We really enjoyed it. Definitely campy, with a little bit of cheese sprinkled on top, but as you said, very charming.
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I couldnt get past the first couple of episodes
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i watched it then lost when it was coming on after like season 2 or 3. then never followed it again.
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I caught a few episodes...it was interesting, but not enough to pursue watching it.
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I hate that show.
"You change your name to nate the negative."
"I guess anything other than camelot isnt king arthur material for you"
That movie made so much build up for an all out war.
"But that courtyard stuff was cool"
I hate you.
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I'm past the half-way point in Merlin. I think I'm about 2/3 of the way through Season 3. I think it grows on you after a season or so.
As a kid (or a teen) I would have really loved this. :)
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I watched a bit a while back. But it....
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Finally finished it. The series gets better over time. Considering it starts out as a prequel, it tells a lot more of the Arthurian story than I was expecting. I actually really enjoyed it.
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cool.
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You know I was about to give that show a chance... Then I began to watch my favorite part in the entire King Arthur tale.
The sword in the stone. The part from merlin.
Wow....
Every version I had loved.
This one had te atmosphere, Arthur pulled it on his third try.
Merlin used goddamn magic to help him pull it.
.......that's it crossed the line!!!!
Forget Arthur growing up with uther!
Forget gwenevere being a made to moregana!
Forget merlin being the same age as Arthur!
It was the sword in the stone scene, Were Arthur needed Merlin's magic, Merlin's magic... Worked hold on a sec... Worked
On the holy sword Excalibur....
I'm eternally scarred.
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Ah, but that's not what happened, exactly. Merlin's magic stuck it in the stone, and he invented the story of it being only the true king that could draw the sword. So it was Merlin who had to release it. It was all a ruse to build up Arthur's confidence. So it's not that he "helped" Arthur draw the sword, but rather released it at just the right moment to make Arthur believe.
Yes, they changed the context a bit, but that was part of the whole point of the series.
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Look I'm fine with people liking this show, but I can admit it. The show is entertaining. Even if I think it crosses a line, it is still a pretty good show.
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I might have to give it another chance, then.
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I might have to give it another chance, then.
No William, don't fall down that pit. Only some return!
It seems it took Sir Edward long ago. But there was no pail and rope long enough to save him.
Lol
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You have to consider though that there is no definitive Arthurian source material. The different Arthurian legends don't even necessarily agree with each other (Arthur obtained Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake... or was it the Sword in the Stone... see what I mean?). So I don't really see a problem with the Merlin TV series taking liberties with creative license to create their own narrative. I watched the whole series as it aired, and thoroughly enjoyed its charm.
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You have to consider though that there is no definitive Arthurian source material. The different Arthurian legends don't even necessarily agree with each other (Arthur obtained Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake... or was it the Sword in the Stone... see what I mean?). So I don't really see a problem with the Merlin TV series taking liberties with creative license to create their own narrative. I watched the whole series as it aired, and thoroughly enjoyed its charm.
Stop using the no definitive story card Ian.
The sword in the stone was caliber, it broke someway or another then Arthur received Excalibur from the lady in the lake.
Lol I have no real argument to put forward.
I guess I really like the T.h. Version. Or le morte de Arthur.
Oh well. It's just a new perspective.
I'm just being biased.
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;)
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watery tarts....
i actually like the roman type version vs saxons of the stories
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I think in most of the original stories, the sword in the stone actually was not Excalibur. ;)
The Arthurian legends are similar to the Robin Hood legends, in that most of the original romances were not connected, except by the main character (Arthur, Robin Hood). Many of the supporting characters may only have been in one or two stories each, and often not together.
In the case of the Arthurian legends, most of the modern versions of it are based (to varying degrees) on Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" (The Death of Arthur), a late 15th century compilation, since that's one of the largest attempts to consolidate it into a coherent story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Morte_d%27Arthur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Morte_d%27Arthur)
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I think in most of the original stories, the sword in the stone actually was not Excalibur. ;)
The Arthurian legends are similar to the Robin Hood legends, in that most of the original romances were not connected, except by the main character (Arthur, Robin Hood). Many of the supporting characters may only have been in one or two stories each, and often not together.
In the case of the Arthurian legends, most of the modern versions of it are based (to varying degrees) on Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" (The Death of Arthur), a late 15th century compilation, since that's one of the largest attempts to consolidate it into a coherent story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Morte_d%27Arthur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Morte_d%27Arthur)
Ha I pulled the not Excaliber card. Get it! Pulled!
Anyway, I think the oldest known tale involving Arthur and his knights is actually Gawain the green. Which I think is over 200 years older than le morte d Arthur.
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Technically all of the stories predate Le Morte d'Arthur by quite some time. Malory was compiling stories that had existed for centuries, most of which were in an oral tradition long before being written down. Because of this, we don't know how old any of them truly are.
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I think my favorite Arthurian version to date is Cornwell's The Warlord Chronicles, set in 5th C Britain, as it is with Sir Wolf. Cornwell has such a grasp on language that his descriptions literally blossom in the mind's eye but it isn't just what you see; you can almost hear the slam of the shield wall, smell the grunting of the unwashed masses of pushing, reaching men, the clash and rattle of swords, axes and spears on shield rims and shield bosses and helms, taste the desperation as this one or that one lifts his arm for one great blow...and then you hear it. Thunder, in the distance as the hooves of 50 mounted warriors come charging out of the mists, swords glinting in the sunlight, bellowing in challenge...Arthur has arrived.
Of course, he does it way better...the characters are all pretty realistic for the most part, the story is the one we're all familiar with, just in a different period in time and without all of the shiny pageantry that is Malory's and de Troyes' Camelot. In fact, there is no Camelot, and Arthur is not the King. Intrigued yet?
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Technically all of the stories predate Le Morte d'Arthur by quite some time. Malory was compiling stories that had existed for centuries, most of which were in an oral tradition long before being written down. Because of this, we don't know how old any of them truly are.
This. Malory was published as an Arthurian Anthology.
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I actually have a theory on the myth of Excalibur.
Alright as you all know titanium when mixed with iron is the strongest metal.
Well you also know that many times Cornwall is associated with the Arthurian legends. And merlin did give uther the sword.
Well titanium was discovered at cornwall.
Say merlin was a smith, yet also very book smart.
Merlin finds this metal, does his stuff and finds it is even stronger than there finest Iron.
Someone important finds them and asks for a sword to conquer there enemy's. Excalibur is born!
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i often wonder if its a iron vs bronze age definition or something there abouts.
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I actually have a theory on the myth of Excalibur.
Alright as you all know titanium when mixed with iron is the strongest metal.
Well you also know that many times Cornwall is associated with the Arthurian legends. And merlin did give uther the sword.
Well titanium was discovered at cornwall.
Say merlin was a smith, yet also very book smart.
Merlin finds this metal, does his stuff and finds it is even stronger than there finest Iron.
Someone important finds them and asks for a sword to conquer there enemy's. Excalibur is born!
Here is a quote and link to a randomly Googled Iron forging forum.
http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/1598-titanium/] [url]http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/1598-titanium/ (http://[url)[/url]
Ti makes low grade knives and swords (read the article on it over at swordforum.com) a good high carbon steel will out preform it for that use---*unless* you need something extremely resistant to corrosion or with low magnetic signature that will still have some sort of edge on it---like a dive knife.
Ti absorbs O2 while being forged and will become quite brittle after a while so you forge it as fast as possible. (especially in thin sections)
Apparently it results in a brittle blade which is not very good and would not allow the flex a properly tempered steel blade gets you. :-\
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So steel is the greatest.
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For offering the right flexibility and hardness to take and hold an edge, yes! :)
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The flexibility and durability required to cut through armored soft targets suggests that, at least for now, steel is the best medium for crafting such a tool. Previous iterations of course did not have access to the quality of steel we do today due to modern manufacturing techniques.
Edit: got ninja'd by Sir Brian lol
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I'm always gettin ninja'd