Camelot

[watervole]

I just watched the first episode of Camelot and I'm impressed.  It's high on the sex and nudity (which doesn't bother me, but isn't a major selling point either), but I'm also seeing some interesting character development and possibly ways of developing the storyline in the future.

A character died whom I would rather have seen live as I think they could have had an interesting impact on the series, but you can't win them all.

I think I'm going to like this show as much as I like 'Merlin', but for different reasons.  The character of Merlin in 'Camelot' is deeper and darker and very much aware of his own potential for evil.  One can already see that he may come under pressure to do things that could push him close to the edge.  I think magic is dangerous for him morally - which makes one ask what is the source of magical power in this particular universe.

Both shows are looking at what makes a good king, but being an adult show, I'm hoping that 'Camelot' may be able to explore the complexities of this a little more.  I'm hoping it won't let me down on this angle.

Comments

[the-gardener.livejournal.com]

I watched part of it, and thought it was mostly rubbish.

I would have liked it to be an adult drama, but I think that in this case "adult" means frequent glimpses of T&A and much simulated bonking.

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

I didn't bother with Camelot because frankly my feeling was "Oh gods, another re-hash of the Arthurian myth, get over it and find something new...!"

Now if you want some *good* drama (albeit with some gratuitous T&A) take a look at Game of Thrones. The first part of the first series is just coming to an end, but it should be repeated in very short order if the usual pattern is followed.

In it there;s a richly imagined world with lots of groups vying for power and double-dealing, back-stabbing, machinations etc and the excellent Sean Bean as Lord Stark trying to deal fairly in the midst of all this.

I'd heartily recommend it.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I don't have Sky. Give me a yell if it comes to a free channel.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

I thought Joe F (very tasty) as Merlin made a spirited attempt to circumvent a poor script and I was really sad to see that Mr. Pertwee (long a favourite of mine) wasn't going to be a series regular but as for Arthur, oh dear me, no. Not in a million years. At least Bradley James in Merlin (which I also have reservations about, but will cintinue to watch) looks as though he might make a king eventually. I don't think Camelot will draw me out of the office for regular Saturday night viewing.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Merlin is definitely the strongest character. I don't think Arthur was well cast.

Loved Leonidas, but fear he is not long for this world...

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

With a name like Leonidas he sounds to have slipped mythological time-streams.

[steverogerson.livejournal.com]

I just watched the opening episodes. I thought a significant point was when they came upon the dead bodies and Kay wanted to bury them, and significantly so did Arthur but Merlin convinced him otherwise. Later, in an apparently unrelated moment, Merlin tells him to stand by what he believes in (I can't remember the exact words). What will be interesting will be to see whether Arthur heeds Merlin's words and thus becomes stronger than Merlin or whether he continues to let Merlin control him.