The effects of the writers' strike still linger (as well as the possible impending SAG strike). More foreign shows are being licensed by American companies. For example, NBC has purchased the fantasy BBC series Merlin which has just been greenlit for a second season.I haven't seen Merlin yet (it hasn't yet been broadcast in the States), so I can't comment on its quality. It's shown in a lot of different countries and has been renewed, so how bad can it be? Plus it has Anthony Stewart Head in it, who can even save shows like Little Britain from mediocrity.
Given the fact that British dramatic seasons are slightly shorter than their American counterparts (13 episodes as opposed to 22), I do wonder what they'll fill the other half-season with. Despite the shortened season, I have faith in the show's quality. BBC productions with American backing have produced big hits. For good examples, see Rome or Extras.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-16-2008 @ 12:13PM
kyle said...
it's a very mediocre show, nowhere near the quality of rome or extras. poor acting, cliched stories, and truly awful special effects.
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12-16-2008 @ 12:25PM
Tony said...
Wow. This show makes Knight Rider look like Oscar-winning material. What an embarrassment to British programming.
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12-16-2008 @ 12:29PM
mdisloki said...
I was randomly selected to watch the pilot and answer a bunch of question a few months ago while I was at Universal Studios in Florida. Both my girlfriend and I loved the show. We liked it so much that when we returned from vacation we did some looking around and found the next 2 episodes online, which were as good as the pilot. I agree that the show is not Rome quality, but Rome was shown on HBO and this will be a regular NBC show. I think it will do very well, because there aren't really any networks shows like it.
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12-16-2008 @ 12:34PM
Paul said...
I wish you'd all bloody stop striking.
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12-17-2008 @ 8:00AM
Joseph said...
I doubt you are Brittish. None of my Brit friends would have arranged their words the way you did.
They also would condone striking since the majority of country is Labour, and strongly disprove of the american trend of screwing workers. Even if it means taking a personal sacrifice. Not to mention the strikes BARELY effect them as it does us.
Buying these licenses is likely a move to position hollywood to with hold demands of unions as they can run original content while leaving hollywood unemployed as the union issues aren't transatlantic, in order to get the opposition to fold.
They aren't as ignorant, narrow-minded, or weak as we are when it comes to standing up to the forces looking to take advantage of the masses.
12-16-2008 @ 3:27PM
Edward said...
Let's hope NBC takes better care of it than it has with Crusoe, although it will be hard to see where it is slotted since there will be only 10 hours of shows. Please less of Biggest Loser and Deal or No Deal...
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12-16-2008 @ 3:49PM
George said...
Merlin is intended for an entirely different market than Rome or Extras, so it shouldn't be judged in those terms. It's closer to Robin Hood in overall tone -- so no, it isn't intended for Mensa members, but it's harmless fun (and, thanks to its pseudo-historical setting, devoid of product placement). And anyone who thinks the effects are of a lower standard than US shows hasn't *really* been watching US shows. Heroes, for instance, has some cringeworthy effects. Ali Larter's acting, in particular, is some of the worst CGI I've ever seen.
What I'm wondering is whether NBC intends to actually air Merlin on NBC, or on one of its other properties. It's better suited to Sci-Fi, where at least they'll have some idea how to market it. That said, they'll need to trim an additional two-to-four minutes per episode to meet US running time specs.
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12-16-2008 @ 4:20PM
kip said...
This show rocks. It is very fun and the plot line is very much in line with that of "The Seeker" over on the WB. It's not "The Wire" or "Californication" or "Brotherhood" but it is well done.
Re: short season: We're going to see a lot more of the shorter season model going forward on Network TV and probably all TV. It's cheaper and forces the plot to move in direct strokes , check out the seventh season of BBC's Spooks(MI-5 in the US). With this being said I wish the Biggest Loser would pick up on this as well and condense down their 2 hours of show to 30 minutes like I do on my Tivo every week.
Fire up the bitorrent client to grab the first 8 eps. It's worth seeing.
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12-16-2008 @ 5:14PM
Dan Owen said...
The show isn't too bad. In fact, around episode 5 it hits a good run of episodes. The problem is, people compare it to shows that are designed to be much more complex and aimed at adults. The BBC have positioned this as family-friendly stuff (akin to Doctor Who or Robin Hood in its vibe), and that kind of programming has a cultural history in the UK. Things are different in the US. People expecting something like the Sam Neill Merlin series on NBC, with British actors in all the roles, will be disappointed. Those who like BBC America and are fond of Who or Hood, they'll get it. The cleavages of Katie McGrath and Michelle Ryan make it worthwhile, anyway.
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12-16-2008 @ 7:32PM
Lenny said...
I have to respectfully disagree. I sat down to watch it with my kids who are all huge fans of Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures and we were all bored to death no further than 10 minutes in. We stuck it out for the entire episode, but it just never hooked us. All of us agreed that even The Sarah Jane Adventures was far, far more entertaining.
12-16-2008 @ 11:56PM
ryan said...
I would compare Merlin with Smallville... taking a common story back to when the characters were all young. Like Smallville Merlin doesn't take itself too seriously and has soap opera-ish plots and dialogue. Merlin can't use his magical powers in public, like Clark Kent, which constrains the series from requiring a high special effects budget.
It's fluff. But enjoyable fluff, if you can tolerate the cornyness.
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12-17-2008 @ 7:51AM
Joseph said...
I agree.
Smallville, Veronica Mars, Buffy type of show. It's camp and intended for a teenage audience. Keeping the intended audience in mind it is a great show with incredible room to develop.
The sad thing is, it is A LOT like Veronica Mars, and will likely be taken off air WAYYYYYY before its time, especially in this climate.
I enjoy it. It has awesome character development, and is based on a story that has more than proven the test of time.
12-18-2008 @ 2:59AM
Kate said...
I've really been enjoying the show. It's just good fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. Although I'm not sure where it fits on NBC. It'd probably do a lot better on a network like the CW or the Sci Fi channel. A couple of people here have said they couldn't get through the first episode, and I must agree that one drags a bit. But around episode 4 or so, the show and actors seemed to really get their bearings and settle into the characters and story. It's really quite good I think.
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12-27-2008 @ 1:17PM
Alice said...
I have to agree with Kate. It is more Sci-Fi channel material, it would stand a better chance there for longevity. It is good family fun, we have been enjoying it on Saturday nights. It is good to see Anthony Stewart Head back on television, even if he does play Uther Pendragon.
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1-02-2009 @ 10:14PM
Brazilman said...
I don´t like american films because the stories and actors are stupid.
I´m a big fan of Merlin´s story.
What a fantastic series. Congratulations to the producers and BBC to pick up the idea. It couldn’t have been better.
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1-03-2009 @ 11:08PM
Carl said...
Well said about it being a superhero/ (buffy,smallville, seeker ect) and for that type of show it is well done. You can see all 13 episodes of the season at ninjavideo.com.
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1-16-2009 @ 8:34PM
blue jay said...
Yes, it is very much like the Smallville theme of going back to when the main characters were younger. Also Like Smallville, adding a twist to a familiar story. On Smallville, the twist is everyone knows each other before Metropolis. On Merlin, the twist is that Merlin is about the same age as Arthur.
Also like Smallville, it's a show targeted towards a younger audience. So I don't expect it to be a serious drama. I enjoy it for what it is, I don't criticize it for not being exactly what I want from a show about the Merlin and Arthur legend.
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1-20-2009 @ 4:06PM
Tom said...
The fir two people who made comments on this merlin would not know talent if it bit them in the, well you know!! It was well done. It will be great to bring out the second season.
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1-28-2009 @ 3:16PM
Pam said...
I agree that this show is VERY cliche, a little "too" childish, and is somewhat lacking in "great" special effects. The story plot was very repetitive and got me bored five episodes into the series.
**DESPITE** these very harsh criticisms, the show is nevertheless VERY funny and has great actors. Despite its "episodic" nature, Merlin, in my opinion, was meant to be somewhat "episodic" and was meant to show adventures during the course of Merlin's young life and feature separate adventures in each episodes. This show should be treated "episodically" like CIS or Charmed, to name a few.
Overall, I think this show is a fun show to watch, but DO watch out for some repetitiveness and cheesy materials.
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2-18-2009 @ 12:55PM
Caladhiel said...
I agree with some of the other comments. It's corny, but it's fun corny, and as the season progresses some of the episodes even start making a bid to become some darn good television. As a longtime Arthurian geek, I was pretty wary of it to start with because of the inaccuracies, but I ended up enjoying it a lot (enough to start a forum about it, lol) and my kids love it unreservedly. :)
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