'Atlantis' - Overnight ratings ep 6 & consolidated ratings ep 5

[gealach_ros]

X-Factor started at 8pm, Atlantis started at 8.15pm, right after Strictly Come Dancing.

DigitalSpy: 'Strictly Come Dancing' leads Saturday ratings with 9m
Strictly Come Dancing ratings hit a series high last night (November 2). The BBC One dance competition continued its successful 11th series with 10m viewers and a 44% audience share, peaking at

Comments

[sallyna_smile]

I think that's pretty much the established ratings we can expect... more or less. Not too bad, but definitely not up to their expectations.

[gealach_ros]

I'm pretty sure the ratings are not up to their expectations at all. I'm also convinced they wouldn't have renewed the show if they'd had a 'plan B' for 2014.

[sallyna_smile]

Yeah, I read your comment in the other post and I totally agree about the whole lacking of a plan B: it does make a lot of sense.
Do you by any chance remember about Robin Hood's ratings? Do you think they can be compared to these?

[gealach_ros]

The thing is: their plan (or rather lack of plan B) could've worked. Or at least worked better. If the J's had taken any of the slightly more critical Merlin reviews more serious (did they even read any reviews???), maybe they could've learned a lesson or two about what to do better and what people actually liked about the show.

IMO the J's never fully understood what made Merlin so succesfull and LOVED. Fandom and the general audience put up with the show's weaknesses for so long because they made us love the characters during the first (two) series. Basically no one loved the show because of fart jokes, troll sex, CGI shenanigans (something the J's still think makes an awesome show) or the show turning ~darker~ every year. We loved the show because we loved the characters. Even those they managed to butcher with OTT behaviour in later series. And let's not even speak of the Merlin cast. They were all amazing (they still are, obviously). OR BRADLEY'S AND COLIN'S HOT-LIKE-BURNING-LET'S-JUST-EYE-FUCK-24/7 CHEMISTRY ON AND OFF SCREEN

[sallyna_smile]

That.exactly.it

[reverie_indigo]

So this whole "dark" thing - S5 was only superficially dark (other than the finale), with Morgana just being more 2D crazy

[issy5209]

You're right, seems to me that they're coasting along on the lazy writing that was so often apparent in Merlin
I wouldn't be surprised if the whole Jason's from the 21st century thing was something they've gone back and added in a la Gwen and her enchanted bracelet in 4.09. 'Cause that worked really well for them! Pythagorus actually doing some maths would mean somebody would have to think it up first! Way to hard

[ella_rose88]

The huge reason I like and continued to watch Merlin was because despite how the female characters were written I liked Gwen. Angel is an amazing actress and deserved great story-lines. For me, the friendship between Arthur and Merlin wasn't the pulling force to watch the show,rather it was the characters and the different relationships and the twists on the legend that fascinated me. It's annoying that people say that all fans watched it solely for A&M when it's not true. A few may have, but that doesn't represent the whole viewing audience.

[issy5209]

It's annoying that people say that all fans watched it solely for A&M when it's not true. A few may have, but that doesn't represent the whole viewing audience
I certainly agree, it certainly doesn't represent the entire viewing audience, (and nor did I watch it solely for Merlin and Arthur either). However I think that the showrunners think it does.

The point I was making was, as far as I understood, Capps and Murphy went back and added in the scenes with the bracelet after filming, and then it was never brought up again. It was an important plot point that was dropped and promptly forgotten for the rest of the series. When questioned about it at the SDCC both Capps and Murphy said it wasn't important.

Seems to me something similar may have occurred here with Jason being from the 21st century thing *shrugs* its just a guess.

[reverie_indigo]

I think saying "a few may have" watched the show for A&M is a bit of an understatement. I respect and am happy that different people enjoyed different aspects of the show, but most people enjoyed it for A&M - because that's what the show was about

[marvelpku]

"There was nowhere for her to go because her role paralleled Merlin's. "
Very true. And because this show is called MERLIN, and no matter how part of the audience deny it, the show revolves around the relationship between Arthur and Merlin, that's no where for Gwen's character to go. To make Arthur a good king & man is Merlin's destiny, that leaves almost no room for anyone else to have very meaningful stories around Arthur. Given that, to remove Lancelot is a bad choice. I always think the set-up of Gwen and her union with Arthur from different classes/background is a duplicate of Merlin and Arthur's relationship. The producers also didn't have the ability to integrate all the characters in a more structured way. In this circumstancs, no matter who take the Gwen role, it is kindly failed by the writing and direction of her story at the first beginning.

[theskyinstead]

This exactly! We'd seen Merlin as the counter-balance to Arthur from the very first show, so there wasn't a lot of room for another epic relationship with Arthur. I thought the Arwen chemistry improved a lot towards the end of the show, but unfortunately the writers/producers made the story lines increasingly ridiculous and syrupy sweet. They could have made the relationship a lot more poignant if they'd left Lancelot in and allowed that very interesting dynamic to play out - and it would have given Gwen much more of a meaty role.

[marvelpku]

Gwen and Lancelot story is very important to the whole Arthurlian legend, and to Arthur, Gwen and Lancelot's characters. Characters are complicated. But in this show, they remove the complexity of human character to be more family friendly, I suppose. Therefore, it leaves the character very flat, superfiicial and the story not consistent from season to season.
About chemistry thing, Bradley and Colin's chemistry it the ONE that every producer would dream of. But I don't think the producers have the ability to fully utilize this greatest asset in this show.

[tiffymoo]

yes I kinda agree! I love Merthur but it is not my favorite ship nor part of the show. Honestly, I feel like the J's pushed Merthur too much, and it was too jarring at times. They used them as a marketing strategy. Casual watchers will literally only remember Merlin as that show with the two guys who love each other. Although that is a big idea, there are many other big ideas. I certainly didn't watch it for Merthur solely, and I was even sometimes annoyed with them. Don't get me wrong though, I like them but yeah...

[ella_rose88]

Oh I agree with that as well. I felt that their moments become so much about their banter and less about developing their friendship. Like with the last episode, I really felt that Merlin should have told Arthur earlier, or better Arthur figure it out himself.

People say that the show was called Merlin and about Merlin and Arthur and while they were important, the other characters and ships were important too and I felt that they really had trouble balancing all the characters which makes me sad. There was a lot of potential.

[oriane_34w4]

We've got some viewing figures about Robin Hood here : http://robin-des-bois.hypnoweb.net/serie/fiche-technique/audiences-royaume-uni.123.691/