BS: Merlin - or not?

Subject: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Penny S.
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 01:38 PM

Did anyone see the BBC's new, expensive, much advertised, travesty of Merlin goes to Camelot High? With all the relationships rewritten, and ages out of kilter, and Arthur as the leader of the jocks, and Morgan as the queen bee? Or queen to be, as she does not appear to be Arthur's sister. And a mixed race court in a fanciful Albion with Alpine mountains and a very nice French chateau with a huge cave beneath it.

Silly thing is, if they'd gone for the right period, the could have honourably had a mixed race court from all over the Roman Empire.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Cats
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 02:08 PM

Apart from the names there wasn't very much to do with the stories of Merlin and Arthur. After all, didn't Merlin whisk Arthur away for safety from Tintagel on the night he was born? No, the programme would have us think that Merlin didn't put in an appearance until Arthur was well into his 20's. A good story, Harry Potter meets history meets a BBC producer with an eye for a Sunday night tale to attract teenage viewing figures. So, how do I now teach my students the Arthur stories without being told I'm wrong!!

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: skipy
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 02:15 PM

Edward Bishop decided to put the Merlin in the Mosquito, wise man, 7718 built! Queen of the skies!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 02:15 PM

There are already so many 'tales of Arthur' that the real story such as it is is almost a greater mystery than whatever the reality is. Good time to teach critical viewing/listening of media.

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Bainbo
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:21 PM

I'm still waiting to see any magic. Telekinesis is all I've seen.

I've always thought that that old magic must have come from a deep understanding of nature, of the earth amd its elements. And it must have involved years of study.

This Merlin has one party trick - and he doesn't even understand how that happens. It's more X-Men than Harry Potter.

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 05:50 PM

And if you believe the story that Merlin was from Carmarthen, I suppose my fellow townspeople and I should take offence that we're referred to as a village. Village my aunt Gweni! Carmarthen was the capital of the Demetae when the Romans were around; oldest town in Wales, us! Village indeed. sheesh.

Generally unimpressed by the whole programme. Smallville goes medieval.

sian
a few miles down the road from Merlin's Hill

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Megan L
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 06:05 PM

Now now everyone knows the real Arthur was a Gododdinwarlord from just ootside Edinburgh.

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 06:18 PM

It's a jolly tale and I did like the slight nod towards the T E White book 'The Once and Future King' - although T E White and anyone else associated with the book would be rolling in their respective graves if they could see this new adaptation...

I keep wanting to put words into Arthur's mouth, a la the Lord of the Rings spoofs that were on the 'net....


'New serf in the castle today... I'm still the prettiest'.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 06:30 PM

Megan L: Merlin and Arthur were Canadians.

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: maeve
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 08:48 PM

Peace-

Beuyo, I can see tha ain greetin skelp fra here! Just you wait: the lass in Orkney will wallop ye richt weel.

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Megan L
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 03:48 AM

onywan wid think a wis violent the way you twa behave.:(   Canadiand were they ah that would account for them talking funny.

*ducks and hobbles for the safety of under the table

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: GRex
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 04:24 AM

Apart from all it's other faults, I thought that Merlin was badly miscast.

          GRex

Subject: RE: BS: Merlin - or not?
From: Stu
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 06:27 AM

Excalibur directed by John Boorman is easily the best of the adaptions of the legend, even though it is deeply inaccurate historically it captures the mood brilliantly and Nicol Williamson's Merlin is peerless.