Merlin S5 | EchoMag: A Medieval Smallville (article w/ quotes from JCapps)
EchoMag: A Medieval Smallville (via 
magic-in-us)
"These two men love each other, their love deepens as the series progresses. They would go to the ends of the earth for each other," he said. "Viewers can watch the show on different levels. It's not a sexual love, but it is a love story. It's incredibly fulfilling."[click to read]A Medieval Smallville
Series explores friendship between King Arthur and Merlin
A friendship between two men is at the center of Merlin, a fantasy adventure series set in medieval times, but with a delicious twist.
Merlin, which airs on the SyFy network, offers a look at what the lives of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin were like as teenagers. Viewers witness the beginnings and development of their deep friendship.
"It's a fantastic friendship between two men," said Merlin co-creator and producer Johnny Capps during a telephone interview from his office in London.
"These two men love each other, their love deepens as the series progresses. They would go to the ends of the earth for each other," he said. "Viewers can watch the show on different levels. It's not a sexual love, but it is a love story. It's incredibly fulfilling."
Capps said that the series Smallville, about a young Clark Kent before he became Superman, was one of the influences for Merlin, which premiered in 2008 on BBC in the United Kingdom.
"Our original script was about the young Merlin, but it didn't quite click. So we put the young Merlin and the young Arthur together, even though the original legends weren't like that," Capps said.
Capp compared the young Merlin to the teenage Clark Kent in Smallville, who had to hide his powers before he grew up to be Superman. "The audience already knows how they're going to end up," he said. "Now viewers can learn how they got there."
The producer said viewers will enjoy the show's gay appeal. "It's a very sexy cast," he said. "The boys and girls are gorgeous. They appeal to all sexualities."
Capps also pointed to the parallels between Merlin having to hide his magic and gay youth who have to hide their sexuality.
"People want to categorize it as gay or straight, instead of letting it just be," Capps said.
The series was picked up by NBC for airing, then moved to sister network SyFy Channel.
Capps said he decided to end the series after 65 episodes produced over five seasons, and the two-part finale aired in the UK in December.
"It would have gone downhill if we continued," he said. "We talked about a five year plan, and we had an agreement with the actors. This is better rather than going on and on and flogging it to death. I have no regrets, because we ended it exactly as we wanted to."
The show continues to air in the U.S. through April, including marathons to be broadcast on April 4 and 5.
The series is also available on DVD, on iTunes or at www.syfy.com.
5 things to love about Merlin
Bromance: As series producer/creator Johnny Capp notes, the young Merlin and King Arthur may not be gay, but they love each other. These guys are soul mates. The banter between them is priceless. As they challenge and bait each other, they often come across like a couple starting and finishing each other's sentences.
The twinkle in their eyes, the knowing glances they exchange, are unmistakable. Who knows what these guys do during the commercial breaks?
Eye candy: Twenty-something actors Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur) are stunning. You'll swoon when they bat their dreamy bedroom eyes, and neither is hesitant about taking his shirt off on camera.
Magic: The tales, set in the days of yore, are filled with magic sequences. Merlin can make all kinds of exciting things happen with a flip of his hand. Think Bewitched, with a healthy dose of humor and sex appeal.
An epic sweep: Merlin tells stories that are larger than life, and the show's production design pulls you into the otherworldly universe that Merlin, Arthur and the fair lady Guinevere call home. It's set in a time when Knights in Shining Armor committed heroic acts of derring-do. When the knights held their meetings, they sat at a round table that was bigger than most dance floors. They occupied castles that could house entire towns. The cast is costumed in garb that's true to the period. It's as though Vogue travelled back in time for a medieval fashion shoot.
It's fun. With a nice mix of humor, adventure, magic tricks and a pretty cast, Merlin is just plain fun to watch.
I wonder whether JCapps' quotes are 100% accurate. Not to accuse the author of making things up but overall the article seems a bit... odd?
magic-in-us)
"These two men love each other, their love deepens as the series progresses. They would go to the ends of the earth for each other," he said. "Viewers can watch the show on different levels. It's not a sexual love, but it is a love story. It's incredibly fulfilling."[click to read]A Medieval Smallville
Series explores friendship between King Arthur and Merlin
A friendship between two men is at the center of Merlin, a fantasy adventure series set in medieval times, but with a delicious twist.
Merlin, which airs on the SyFy network, offers a look at what the lives of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin were like as teenagers. Viewers witness the beginnings and development of their deep friendship.
"It's a fantastic friendship between two men," said Merlin co-creator and producer Johnny Capps during a telephone interview from his office in London.
"These two men love each other, their love deepens as the series progresses. They would go to the ends of the earth for each other," he said. "Viewers can watch the show on different levels. It's not a sexual love, but it is a love story. It's incredibly fulfilling."
Capps said that the series Smallville, about a young Clark Kent before he became Superman, was one of the influences for Merlin, which premiered in 2008 on BBC in the United Kingdom.
"Our original script was about the young Merlin, but it didn't quite click. So we put the young Merlin and the young Arthur together, even though the original legends weren't like that," Capps said.
Capp compared the young Merlin to the teenage Clark Kent in Smallville, who had to hide his powers before he grew up to be Superman. "The audience already knows how they're going to end up," he said. "Now viewers can learn how they got there."
The producer said viewers will enjoy the show's gay appeal. "It's a very sexy cast," he said. "The boys and girls are gorgeous. They appeal to all sexualities."
Capps also pointed to the parallels between Merlin having to hide his magic and gay youth who have to hide their sexuality.
"People want to categorize it as gay or straight, instead of letting it just be," Capps said.
The series was picked up by NBC for airing, then moved to sister network SyFy Channel.
Capps said he decided to end the series after 65 episodes produced over five seasons, and the two-part finale aired in the UK in December.
"It would have gone downhill if we continued," he said. "We talked about a five year plan, and we had an agreement with the actors. This is better rather than going on and on and flogging it to death. I have no regrets, because we ended it exactly as we wanted to."
The show continues to air in the U.S. through April, including marathons to be broadcast on April 4 and 5.
The series is also available on DVD, on iTunes or at www.syfy.com.
5 things to love about Merlin
Bromance: As series producer/creator Johnny Capp notes, the young Merlin and King Arthur may not be gay, but they love each other. These guys are soul mates. The banter between them is priceless. As they challenge and bait each other, they often come across like a couple starting and finishing each other's sentences.
The twinkle in their eyes, the knowing glances they exchange, are unmistakable. Who knows what these guys do during the commercial breaks?
Eye candy: Twenty-something actors Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur) are stunning. You'll swoon when they bat their dreamy bedroom eyes, and neither is hesitant about taking his shirt off on camera.
Magic: The tales, set in the days of yore, are filled with magic sequences. Merlin can make all kinds of exciting things happen with a flip of his hand. Think Bewitched, with a healthy dose of humor and sex appeal.
An epic sweep: Merlin tells stories that are larger than life, and the show's production design pulls you into the otherworldly universe that Merlin, Arthur and the fair lady Guinevere call home. It's set in a time when Knights in Shining Armor committed heroic acts of derring-do. When the knights held their meetings, they sat at a round table that was bigger than most dance floors. They occupied castles that could house entire towns. The cast is costumed in garb that's true to the period. It's as though Vogue travelled back in time for a medieval fashion shoot.
It's fun. With a nice mix of humor, adventure, magic tricks and a pretty cast, Merlin is just plain fun to watch.
I wonder whether JCapps' quotes are 100% accurate. Not to accuse the author of making things up but overall the article seems a bit... odd?