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I thought the last episode of Merlin was pretty good. I have to say, that show has turned out to be better than I'd expected. I'd hoped for something a bit better than that bloody awful Robin Hood (I watched about five minutes of that before I switched off) - and the earlier episodes, although a bit weak in places, were good enough to keep me watching.
But over the last few weeks it's turned into something a bit more than passable. Sure, there are bits of dialogue that are a bit cringeworthy (Merlin to Arthur - "You're a prat"), but the character development has been strong, with the relationship between Arthur and Uther being particularly well handled and played by both actors. In fact, that's been rather a high point of the show. I've also liked the way that Morgana is evolving - in the legend, she's a "baddie", but in the show, she's one of the good-guys, although her dissatisfaction with the way Uther does things has been beginning to show over the last few weeks; and last week, she was so pissed at him as to be prepared to betray him.
The production itself reminds me a bit of the way that period has traditionally been portrayed in old Hollywood movies. The costumes and locations aren't particularly authentic-looking (although I'm not an expert), but they look good! And I suppose the makers felt they could take a few more liberties with a legend than with historical fact. Not that that's stopped the makers of The Tudors, mind you!
Anyway, I'm glad a second series has been commissioned. Merlin has really helped to pass 13 of the Doctor Who-less weeks in the run up to the Christmas special!
But over the last few weeks it's turned into something a bit more than passable. Sure, there are bits of dialogue that are a bit cringeworthy (Merlin to Arthur - "You're a prat"), but the character development has been strong, with the relationship between Arthur and Uther being particularly well handled and played by both actors. In fact, that's been rather a high point of the show. I've also liked the way that Morgana is evolving - in the legend, she's a "baddie", but in the show, she's one of the good-guys, although her dissatisfaction with the way Uther does things has been beginning to show over the last few weeks; and last week, she was so pissed at him as to be prepared to betray him.
The production itself reminds me a bit of the way that period has traditionally been portrayed in old Hollywood movies. The costumes and locations aren't particularly authentic-looking (although I'm not an expert), but they look good! And I suppose the makers felt they could take a few more liberties with a legend than with historical fact. Not that that's stopped the makers of The Tudors, mind you!
Anyway, I'm glad a second series has been commissioned. Merlin has really helped to pass 13 of the Doctor Who-less weeks in the run up to the Christmas special!