BBC to make Merlin TV series

[Zander]

And here's a link: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/08122006/344/merlin-set-magical-bbc-tv-debut.html

 

[horacethegrey]

Man, the BBC sure are on a roll with all the genre stuff they put on the telly (absolutely love Doctor Who, dunno about Robin Hood, haven't seen an episode as of yet).

I certainly hope this series adopts a semi serious tone like that of LOTR. I don't want a cheesy fantasy that constantly gives a wink at the audience. And I certainly hope this show doesn't become like the Merlin miniseries starring Sam Neill (which I liked BTW, but even I can see how silly it got at times). This is bloody Arthurian Myth, and it deserves a series that will command the viewers attention.

 

[delericho]

It apparently deals with the exploits of a young Merlin, and focusses on the magic aspect (where Doctor Who is sci-fi, and Robin Hood is more historical (a bit)).

Personally, I think I would have preferred a straightforward retelling of the Arthurian mythos, but that's just me. Besides, the BBC are doing well just now, so I'm more than willing to wait and see what they've got for us.

 

[Zander]

...absolutely love Doctor Who, dunno about Robin Hood, haven't seen an episode as of yet.

You haven't missed much IMO. Torchwood, on the other hand, is pretty good - maybe even better than Who.

I certainly hope this series adopts a semi serious tone like that of LOTR. I don't want a cheesy fantasy that constantly gives a wink at the audience. And I certainly hope this show doesn't become like the Merlin miniseries starring Sam Neill (which I liked BTW, but even I can see how silly it got at times). This is bloody Arthurian Myth, and it deserves a series that will command the viewers attention.

FWIW, I agree.

 

[Brakkart]

This could either be really good (Doctor Who, the more recent episodes of Robin Hood) or really bad (the first few episodes of Robin Hood). A serious tone would be good. Also either way, this means that BBC1 is going to have a sci-fi/fantasy show on at 7pm primetime on Saturday nights 39 weeks of the year (3 series of 13 episodes each... so far!).

 

[horacethegrey]

You haven't missed much IMO. Torchwood, on the other hand, is pretty good - maybe even better than Who.

Meh, Torchwood isn't that good in my opinion. The first two eps weren't good, while the episode with the Cyberwoman was so so. Really, the only episode that really impressed me was the third. So far, the series hasn't lived up to it's promise and hasn't wowed me iin any way so as to convince me in tuning in. Maybe I'll go back to it one day, but it's not high in my priorities now.

 

[Morrus]

Intereting until I saw this:

The new Saturday night drama will focus on the mighty wizard as a young man.

Then I lost interest. Young Indiana Jones. Robin Hood as a 12 year old (yeah, yeah, I exaggerate).

 

[delericho]

Also either way, this means that BBC1 is going to have a sci-fi/fantasy show on at 7pm primetime on Saturday nights 39 weeks of the year (3 series of 13 episodes each... so far!).

They're also doing a second Doctor Who spin off ("The Sarah Jane Adventures"), which would take them to 52 weeks.

Rather than the fantasy/sci-fi angle, though, I think they've just finally realised that there is a market for some good family viewing on a Saturday night, as opposed to the usual rubbish they've been inflicting on us for years.

 

[Umbran]

Then I lost interest. Young Indiana Jones. Robin Hood as a 12 year old (yeah, yeah, I exaggerate).

Well, note that with some versions of Merlin, what counts as "young man" is a bit ambiguous. All that "reverse aging" stuff that modern authors use could become interestingly tangled...

 

[Ferret]

I'm liking the way that the BBC is going! But a serious tone would go down well with me.