Anybody watching the new Camelot series on Starz? It’s three episodes in now, and I have to say it’s better than what I was expecting. It’s not too cheesy, the acting is good (particularly by Eva Green as Morgan), and it’s trying to be more naturalistic than fanciful (though it still has magic).
There are some twists on convention, some good, some meh. I like that Arthur’s adopted brother Kay is shown as a supportive mentor and ally - a true big brother, instead of the resentful and jealous douche that he often is. Merlin is shown to be kind of a dick and a manipulator. More Karl Rove than Gandalf, and he (to this point) refuses to do magic. I don’t think I like the twist on the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot triangle, though (if that’s what they’re doing). The knight isn’t even named Lancelot, so maybe this is just some kind of preamble.
As I said before, I think Eva Green is the standout so far as Morgan. She has a smoldering intensity to her that’s really working. She dominates every scene she’s in.
Joesph Fiennes as Merlin is pretty good too, but his character isn’t very Merlin-y. Maybe that will change.
All in all, it’s not too bad a show so far. Plenty of Starz level sex and nudity too (though, as with Spartacus, maybe a little too much man ass).
I watched the first one and liked it but mostly because JAMES PUREFOY!!! Then I looked on IMDB and saw they are only using him for two episodes so my interest quickly diminished after that.
Arthur is such a whining, self-absorbed kid. They’ve taken a really interesting direction with the character. I’ve watched two episodes, and Arthur has been almost inhumanely repellant, to the point where I’m starting to dislike the actor, whom I’m sure is a stand-up guy outside of this role.
I’ve seen two episodes, and it’s OK. I totally agree about Eva Green – she’s an example of perfect casting. She’s just totally owning that role. I think I like the direction they’re going with Merlin, although I wish they had just cast Chris Meloni if they were going to cast his exact twin. I think I like the new twist on the Lancelot/Arthur/Guinevere triangle, although that might be because I thought Lancelot (or whatever his name was) was gay. Hell, he still might be for all we know.
I, too, will miss Marc Anthony, aka King Lot. Seems like a bad decision to me to kill off such a presence two episodes in, but maybe we’ll get lucky and Morgan will resurrect him or something.
I’ll keep watching, but I don’t expect to love it the way I do with Spartacus. (Then again, I didn’t expect to love that series after the first two episodes either!)
i have seen the last episode and although it’s a bit better than the former ridiculous ones, it’s still one big yawn. not exciting, not interesting, nothing. the writers should take a look at the Borgias or game of thrones. camelot is a flop. and yes, the actor playing the king has no charisma and will never have.
I like it well enough, except that the whole cast are better actors and more attractive than the kid playing Arthur… besides his too widely set eyes, he looks like the middle boy from Hanson. Oh well, at least the rest of the cast is nice to look at and listen to.
Eva Green is a wonderful actress, so how come I’ve never seen her in anything but the forgettable Kingdom of Heaven? And speaking of actresses, how cool is it that the one who plays Guenevere played Morgan as a child in Mists of Avalon?
Does anyone know if this show is based on any particular version of the king Arthur legends (or a novel about him)? There are several variations and I haven’t been able to pinpoint it.
Oh, and a dumber question…is Leontes supposed to be Lancelot?
As far as I know, Leontes is a newly created character. Every version I’ve read has Guinevere as Arthur’s wife, with no previous marriage. Lancelot doesn’t appear until after they are married. The plot change just further contributes to making Arthur into an angsty teen.
Its interesting how when I first started watching I really hated the choice for Arhur, but I think he is growing on me, not sure why. I think it is because he didn’t seem very kingly, but now it is clear he is learning how to be king. I am still not 100% sold, but I am accepting of him in the role.
I very much like the show, I must admit. I too am curious if the Leontes storyline is a replcement for the Lancelot one or if it is apart and we will stil get to see Lancelot. I suspect he wil show up later, because in fact that is how he appears in the histories. He is a knight from France who comes to England based on Arthur’s reputation.
I haven’t seen it yet, but just looking at the promotional info on the Starz website, as far as the female cast is concerned, it looks like a dream come true!
He’s a lot better in the latest episode,as they gave him something to do other then moon over Guinevere or wait around for Merlin to tell him what to do. Hopefully future plots will involve him doing more king stuff.
But I like the series in general, especially Merlin as a bi-polar Karl Rove.
So far I haven’t found it very engrossing. Actually, it’s been kind of boring. (I keep hoping for something like Rome, which captured my attention much quicker and more effectively.)
It’s not as good as Rome, Spartacus, Game of Thrones or even Pillars of the earth. The female eye candy is nice, but unless they ramp up the raunch quite a bit it is not going to make up for the boring story. Killing James Purefoy in the second episode = huge mistake.
I think the last couple of episodes have been kind of mixed. Some things are good - I liked the whole trial thing - but other things have just been weird. I agree that the kid playing Arthur doesn’t seem to project much power. The guy playing Leontes is better. Hell, the guy playing Kay is better.
They made Morgan the daughter of Uther and his first wife? That’s a huge departure from the traditional story, in which she’s the daughter of Ygerne and her first husband. Don’t you lose the whole thing about Uther visiting Igraine wearing Gorlois’s armor and Morgaine being the only one to realize he’s an imposter?
It annoyedme when one of the characters spoke of their country as “England.” The R-Bs would not have a concept of England as a country or a people. They would have only spoken of Britain or, at the most South Britain (as opposed to Caledonia or Albania on the north).
Waitaminit, Claire Forlani is English? She sure fooled me in Mallrats. (And yes I’m of the generation that has never missed a Kevin Smith movie, not even the bad ones.)
I’ve recently started watching Camelot, Game of Thrones and The Borgias, and they are kind of running together in my head.
So far I like Game of Thrones best. Both Camelot and The Borgias seem a bit more soap opera than quality drama, and The Borgias script seems particularly pedantic.
I will keep watching Camelot. It’s not bad, which makes it great compared to most of what’s available on TV.
FYI, I think Rome was one of the best shows ever, and I’m a pretty big fan of Spartacus too.
so my interest quickly diminished after that.