Merlin series three

[karen9]

At last! Merlin Three finally arrived last week. How’s this for progress? – airmail in the 21^st century took a whole fortnight less (2 ½ months) than a 19^th century ship from the UK to South Africa! 

 So I had a marathon Merlin-watching weekend. 

 First thoughts – I enjoyed it, there was lots of excitement, action, friendship and magic. But there were several episodes which I thought weak, e.g. Goblin’s Gold, The Changeling, Love in the Time of Dragons.  The first two are comic episodes, but they weren’t that amusing. These three episodes had the creatures, which I thought were poor, especially the pixie woman. 

 My favourite episode on the first viewing was the Eye of the Phoenix. This plays like a traditional Arthurian legend – the arbitrary quest, the Perilous Lands and the Fisher King were all familiar. 

 I like Gwaine (surely that should be Gawain?). He’s an honourable rogue and a welcome addition to the cast. I enjoyed every episode with him in. I’m also pleased that Sir Leon had a bigger part to play and that the series ends with the core group of knights together. 

 I thought they made Arthur’s character and his relationship with Merlin regress, e.g. when Arthur wipes Merlin’s face with a rag and empties a bucket of water over him, uses Merlin as a battering ram in arms practice, and mocks Merlin’s fighting style with his friends. 

 Arthur and Gwen’s relationship seemed to be up and down and all over the place. 

 I found myself getting irritated with Morgana and Morgause’s constant “evil” smirks and looks. More subtle acting is needed to show their evil. 

 All in all, there are many episodes which I will happily watch several times over.

(How annoying, I wanted to add a image, but  LJ can't find my Scrapbook!)

Comments

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad the third series of Merlin finally arrived and you were able to have such an enjoyable marathon! :-) I'll, uh, have to come back and read your thoughts at some later date because I'm still only partway through series two... *g*

[karen9.livejournal.com]

So you're not so keen if you're only partway through series two?

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

No, no. It's not that at all. I just haven't had time. I started going through the series two episodes I had taped, but then had to put them on hold when other things came up. I'm hoping to get back on track soon.