Camelot is what I wish Merlin could have been
Wow, I am really glad that I caught frantic_allonsy 's post about the new Starz show because I enjoyed the show immensely. There are so many things that I like about this rendition of the Arthurian legends that it requires a list and a LOT of screencaps.
The casting on this show is brilliant. First, there is Morgan, Morgan Pendragon. Eva Green's role is everything that I wished for Morgana. Powerful, ambitious, calculating, and *righteous*. I love that she is no pantomime villain, that her hatred of Uther and Ygraine stems from a real place of pain and betrayal, and that it is she, not Arthur, who first articulates a desire to unite Britain. And gets to sleep with James Purefoy in order to do so. Green brings some serious gravitas to Morgan, and I love it.
While Joseph Fiennes would not have been my first choice for Merlin, his look and demeanor fit the character very well. frantic_allonsy wasn't sure about the shaved head thing, but I actually really dig it. It fits with his slightly barbaric bearing, and it sets him apart, not only from the likes of Arthur and Kay, but from everyone else in the world, too. Because in the end, Merlin is not of this world. And those trademark Fiennes eyes perfectly reflect the danger and chaos he sees in the future.
And Jamie Campbell Bower may be the most twinkish version of Arthur I've seen in a while, but I was pleasantly surprised by him. He does charming and wide-eyed innocence *very* well, and he gives off good kingliness vibes. In short, he's like a more talented Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
I'm king? AWESOME. Are there girls?
As for the slash, there is no delicious Merlin/Arthur longing or "I can take you apart with one blow" type of rom-com dialogue, but there IS Arthur/Kay. And oh is it wonderful. It helps that Peter Mooney is so gorgeous it hurts. You don't want to know how many screencaps I've titled "Kay so pretty [insert number]."
Kay: I know where you bring your girls.
Arthur on Kay's (not so ex-) girlfriend: We got carried away. Twice!
Arthur: We can't let a woman come between us, can we, brother?
Kay: You're used to the world falling at your feet the moment you smile.
Arthur: I need Kay. I want him with me.
Arthur and Kay "exploring" Camelot.
I also find it really interesting that the show essentially casts Merlin as the devil and Kay as the angel in the scene about burying the dead. I think it's safe to say that there will be some angsty rifts between Arthur and Kay in the future.
Apparently, Joseph Fiennes has compared his character to Donald Rumsfeld, and while that name makes me throw up in my mouth a little, I think the comparison is apt. His Merlin is more of a wartime consigliere who happens to be able to see the future rather than a mystic fortuneteller. His ruthlessness is brought to the forefront here, and I like it.
Arthur: So Uther gave me to you.
Merlin: You were my payment.
*shivers*
Finally, one WTF screencap.
Leontes the Horribly Coiffed.
The production value on the series looks fairly high and so far, the writing's been pretty good. Even without the unearthly prettiness of Kay and the adorableness of Arthur/Kay, I would gleefully watch this every week. I have a few small qualms with the show, like the fact that some of the nudity had no point (see Rome for using your actors' bodies to the best narrative advantage) and the cheesiness of the Arthur/Guinevere From Here to Eternity beach make-out scene. But yeah, I think it's safe to say that my fannish squee is back. :D
The casting on this show is brilliant. First, there is Morgan, Morgan Pendragon. Eva Green's role is everything that I wished for Morgana. Powerful, ambitious, calculating, and *righteous*. I love that she is no pantomime villain, that her hatred of Uther and Ygraine stems from a real place of pain and betrayal, and that it is she, not Arthur, who first articulates a desire to unite Britain. And gets to sleep with James Purefoy in order to do so. Green brings some serious gravitas to Morgan, and I love it.
While Joseph Fiennes would not have been my first choice for Merlin, his look and demeanor fit the character very well. frantic_allonsy wasn't sure about the shaved head thing, but I actually really dig it. It fits with his slightly barbaric bearing, and it sets him apart, not only from the likes of Arthur and Kay, but from everyone else in the world, too. Because in the end, Merlin is not of this world. And those trademark Fiennes eyes perfectly reflect the danger and chaos he sees in the future.
And Jamie Campbell Bower may be the most twinkish version of Arthur I've seen in a while, but I was pleasantly surprised by him. He does charming and wide-eyed innocence *very* well, and he gives off good kingliness vibes. In short, he's like a more talented Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
I'm king? AWESOME. Are there girls?
As for the slash, there is no delicious Merlin/Arthur longing or "I can take you apart with one blow" type of rom-com dialogue, but there IS Arthur/Kay. And oh is it wonderful. It helps that Peter Mooney is so gorgeous it hurts. You don't want to know how many screencaps I've titled "Kay so pretty [insert number]."
Kay: I know where you bring your girls.
Arthur on Kay's (not so ex-) girlfriend: We got carried away. Twice!
Arthur: We can't let a woman come between us, can we, brother?
Kay: You're used to the world falling at your feet the moment you smile.
Arthur: I need Kay. I want him with me.
Arthur and Kay "exploring" Camelot.
I also find it really interesting that the show essentially casts Merlin as the devil and Kay as the angel in the scene about burying the dead. I think it's safe to say that there will be some angsty rifts between Arthur and Kay in the future.
Apparently, Joseph Fiennes has compared his character to Donald Rumsfeld, and while that name makes me throw up in my mouth a little, I think the comparison is apt. His Merlin is more of a wartime consigliere who happens to be able to see the future rather than a mystic fortuneteller. His ruthlessness is brought to the forefront here, and I like it.
Arthur: So Uther gave me to you.
Merlin: You were my payment.
*shivers*
Finally, one WTF screencap.
Leontes the Horribly Coiffed.
The production value on the series looks fairly high and so far, the writing's been pretty good. Even without the unearthly prettiness of Kay and the adorableness of Arthur/Kay, I would gleefully watch this every week. I have a few small qualms with the show, like the fact that some of the nudity had no point (see Rome for using your actors' bodies to the best narrative advantage) and the cheesiness of the Arthur/Guinevere From Here to Eternity beach make-out scene. But yeah, I think it's safe to say that my fannish squee is back. :D