Merlin-Season 2 - Cult

salochin · 20-09-2009, 17:17

It was suggested by someone in the other thread that we should have a series 2 thread. Seems like a good idea. Hopefully you will agree with me-if not well this will die, and the other thread will be used, though its a lot to wade through

I loved the opener to series 2, much better than a lot of the first series. It was better paced, better acted and I thought a good entertaining episode.

JohnFlawbod · 20-09-2009, 17:30

Interestingly, in the cold light of day I agreed with some of the DS review but when I was actually watching the episode last night I came away thinking it was one of the best episodes so far: McKenzie Crook was great as were all the returning characters, they've certainly upped the "epic" look of the show which works...someone said it felt more like a finale than an opener which I have to agree with but that's no bad thing: second series are tough because you need to please returning viewers while hoping to attract new ones who missed out last year and for me, this episode had all the right elements...

...but if Uther doesn't work out that a stranger arriving In camelot doesn't spell trouble soon, I'll probably scream

Face Of Jack · 20-09-2009, 17:44

I agree - I loved it. OK - it stuck to the original old format TO START WITH, just to remind us how it was, but I've a feeling this series will progress as we go along for the next 12 weeks!

salochin · 20-09-2009, 18:11

i wouldn't want to make it out to be the best thing on tv, but for a bit of saturday night entertainment that doesnt take itsself seriously,can be watched by just about anyone without causing offence, and just gives a good 45 min or so of pure escapist nonesense - it ticks all he boxes. Looking forward to the next 12 episodes

SULLA · 20-09-2009, 18:15

What puzzles me is that if the Dragon is so clever and powerful, why can't he arrange his won escape

salochin · 20-09-2009, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SULLA

What puzzles me is that if the Dragon is so clever and powerful, why can't he arrange his won escape

thats a good point, i am sure it was explained in series 1, but I cant remember. Some magic or the other I expect.

The Dragon is the one bit that I am not keen on really, seems an easy way out sometimes. oh were are really in trouble now- letss go ask puff the magic dragon for an escape.

JohnFlawbod · 20-09-2009, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by salochin

thats a good point, i am sure it was explained in series 1, but I cant remember. Some magic or the other I expect.

The Dragon is the one bit that I am not keen on really, seems an easy way out sometimes. oh were are really in trouble now- letss go ask puff the magic dragon for an escape.

Agreed but sorry: any excuse to hear John Hurt speak lines is good enough for me

Oh and my usual moan: in the UK we have seasons of programming i.e. Autumn Season, Spring Season...we have SERIES of shows...so this Merlin SERIES 2

spaintv · 20-09-2009, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnFlawbod

Agreed but sorry: any excuse to hear John Hurt speak lines is good enough for me

Oh and my usual moan: in the UK we have seasons of programming i.e. Autumn Season, Spring Season...we have SERIES of shows...so this Merlin SERIES 2

http://digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1130682

To the OP, why didn't you check before opening up a new thread???!!!! My new thread was EVEN in the First page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LightningIguana · 20-09-2009, 19:10

I really enjoyed it, so much so that I actually watched the whole episode instead of multi-tasking. I like the darker overtones it had and the possible foreshadowing.

More please.

JohnFlawbod · 20-09-2009, 19:15

Any chance of this being merged with the SERIES thread oh ye omnipotent powers that be in DS land?

*marv* · 20-09-2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by SULLA

What puzzles me is that if the Dragon is so clever and powerful, why can't he arrange his won escape

Its just a walking talking flying, fire-breathing sonic screwdriver.
The problem is that uk writers don't bother trying to think of ways out of the situations they put themselves in so they have to make a get out clause. They make the stories so impossable at times that an easy get out clause like a dragon giving a lad a spell, or a screwdriver that can open doors, change software is the only way out.
Where as with americans if they end up in such a situation they make it a2 parter or they don't go far enough to require a magic item. Except the old gun battle then the good guy is on the floor and all of a sudden the gun jams or is empty.

Zoltan! · 20-09-2009, 21:42

I can't remember from the first series why Merlin said he would never visit the dragon again and its bugging me!
Help please?

Good opener BTW

salochin · 20-09-2009, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaintv

http://digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1130682

To the OP, why didn't you check before opening up a new thread???!!!! My new thread was EVEN in the First page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i did actually look for a series 2 thread before opening this one and did not see one. Thats probably stupidty on my part but also possibly because ds has been playing up and not displaying stuff recently.I went through about 5 pages looking.

Either way, I am sorry if I have upset you, i certainly did not mean to. If you want to merge the threads or delete this (if thats [oissible) then thats fine by me

DavetheScot · 20-09-2009, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoltan!

I can't remember from the first series why Merlin said he would never visit the dragon again and its bugging me!
Help please?

Good opener BTW

The dragon revealed that its motives in helping Merlin were selfish; it wanted Arthur on the throne because this was apparently going to lead to its freedom. If Merlin's request for help didn't serve its ends, it wasn't interested.

doughnut8 · 21-09-2009, 00:10

To me the show failed to progess and I shall not watch it again unless Michelle Ryan is in it.

Sir_Jasper · 21-09-2009, 07:25

Enjoyed it, but thought it may have been better as a 2 parter, this then would have allowed for Cedric to really get his feet under the Arthur table and could have caused more havoc as the big bad, considering he was meant to be this all powerful Warlock it was not really conveyed all that well.

alias alias · 22-09-2009, 05:03

It was mostly good, but it did feel like they hit the Reset button. very new viewer friendly.

spaintv · 22-09-2009, 05:19

Finally got riund to watch this. Whilst enjoyable, it did feel like they did hit the Reset button - with Arthur and Merlin, and even with the Dragon! I suspect this was done to try and attract new viewers. One thing, the long promo at the end of the episode showed scenes from the rest of the season ahead, not just next week - talk about spoilers!!!!!

Dan Mac · 22-09-2009, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaintv

Finally got riund to watch this. Whilst enjoyable, it did feel like they did hit the Reset button - with Arthur and Merlin, and even with the Dragon! I suspect this was done to try and attract new viewers. One thing, the long promo at the end of the episode showed scenes from the rest of the season ahead, not just next week - talk about spoilers!!!!!

Haha, am i the only one who shouts "lalalalala.." while covering my eyes as i fumble for the sky+ to stop before i see what is gonna happen next week?

I abhor this technique every show seems to use nowadays. I'm gonna watch it anyway, i don't need some prejudgement about if it looks like it will be a good one or not. Give over will ya!

gadfly · 22-09-2009, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningIguana

I really enjoyed it, so much so that I actually watched the whole episode instead of multi-tasking. I like the darker overtones it had and the possible foreshadowing.

More please.

I agree with this. I take it for what it is - a kid's show - so I don't expect anything too deep and meaningful, or even that original, considering it was the opener for a new season.

I also agree with lots of views here that this felt a bit like a reset, but that's thing with premieres ... they have to establish a lot of information very quickly, to refresh old viewers and welcome the new. Sure, it can come off a little clunky and contrived, but it has to be done. It's the same with just about every other multi-season TV series out there. The only one I can instantly recall which simply doesn't bother but just gets on with the story is Lost.

IvanIV · 22-09-2009, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by salochin

thats a good point, i am sure it was explained in series 1, but I cant remember. Some magic or the other I expect.

The Dragon is the one bit that I am not keen on really, seems an easy way out sometimes. oh were are really in trouble now- letss go ask puff the magic dragon for an escape.

That's a typical deus ex machina approach. Doctor Who uses it all the time. I don't mind the dragon as far as they don't use it all the time and let Merlin & Gaius work their own magic. BTW is the 2nd series shot in HD? So far I only saw it in SD...

JAS84 · 22-09-2009, 11:41

It wasn't shown on BBC HD....

salochin · 22-09-2009, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Mac

Haha, am i the only one who shouts "lalalalala.." while covering my eyes as i fumble for the sky+ to stop before i see what is gonna happen next week?

I abhor this technique every show seems to use nowadays. I'm gonna watch it anyway, i don't need some prejudgement about if it looks like it will be a good one or not. Give over will ya!

at least they dont do what BSG did, show clips in the opening credits of that episode- i used to hate that, always closed my eyes

_SpeedRacer_ · 23-09-2009, 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAS84

It wasn't shown on BBC HD....

It wasn't filmed in HD

Dan Apache · 23-09-2009, 12:57

This was my first time seeing this show and I really enjoyed it. I'm a massive Smallville fan so after reading how Merlin was apparently inspired by Smallville I guess I should have checked it out sooner! I don't dislike any of the characters yet - a good sign - and I really enjoyed many of the performances, particularly Richard Wilson (I'm a big fan of secondary characters who act as father figures, eg. John Schneider in Smallville).

Good stuff!

20-09-2009, 17:17	#1
salochin Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brighton UK Services: NTL Broadband Posts: 735	Merlin-Season 2 It was suggested by someone in the other thread that we should have a series 2 thread. Seems like a good idea. Hopefully you will agree with me-if not well this will die, and the other thread will be used, though its a lot to wade through I loved the opener to series 2, much better than a lot of the first series. It was better paced, better acted and I thought a good entertaining episode.

20-09-2009, 17:30	#2
JohnFlawbod Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: City of London Services: Freeview Posts: 2,225	Interestingly, in the cold light of day I agreed with some of the DS review but when I was actually watching the episode last night I came away thinking it was one of the best episodes so far: McKenzie Crook was great as were all the returning characters, they've certainly upped the "epic" look of the show which works...someone said it felt more like a finale than an opener which I have to agree with but that's no bad thing: second series are tough because you need to please returning viewers while hoping to attract new ones who missed out last year and for me, this episode had all the right elements... ...but if Uther doesn't work out that a stranger arriving In camelot doesn't spell trouble soon, I'll probably scream

20-09-2009, 17:44	#3
Face Of Jack Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: N. Yorkshire Services: TalkTalk Posts: 1,770	I agree - I loved it. OK - it stuck to the original old format TO START WITH, just to remind us how it was, but I've a feeling this series will progress as we go along for the next 12 weeks!

20-09-2009, 18:11	#4
salochin Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brighton UK Services: NTL Broadband Posts: 735	i wouldn't want to make it out to be the best thing on tv, but for a bit of saturday night entertainment that doesnt take itsself seriously,can be watched by just about anyone without causing offence, and just gives a good 45 min or so of pure escapist nonesense - it ticks all he boxes. Looking forward to the next 12 episodes

20-09-2009, 18:15	#5
SULLA Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Black Country Services: with a smilie Posts: 52,491	What puzzles me is that if the Dragon is so clever and powerful, why can't he arrange his won escape

20-09-2009, 19:10	#9
LightningIguana Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Services: VM Posts: 5,758	I really enjoyed it, so much so that I actually watched the whole episode instead of multi-tasking. I like the darker overtones it had and the possible foreshadowing. More please.

20-09-2009, 19:15	#10
JohnFlawbod Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: City of London Services: Freeview Posts: 2,225	Any chance of this being merged with the SERIES thread oh ye omnipotent powers that be in DS land?

20-09-2009, 21:42	#12
Zoltan! Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 119	I can't remember from the first series why Merlin said he would never visit the dragon again and its bugging me! Help please? Good opener BTW

21-09-2009, 00:10	#15
doughnut8 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,007	To me the show failed to progess and I shall not watch it again unless Michelle Ryan is in it.

21-09-2009, 07:25	#16
Sir_Jasper Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 251	Enjoyed it, but thought it may have been better as a 2 parter, this then would have allowed for Cedric to really get his feet under the Arthur table and could have caused more havoc as the big bad, considering he was meant to be this all powerful Warlock it was not really conveyed all that well.

22-09-2009, 05:03	#17
alias alias Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yorkshire Services: Firefox PSN ♂ Posts: 2,498 Blog Entries: 1	It was mostly good, but it did feel like they hit the Reset button. very new viewer friendly.

22-09-2009, 05:19	#18
spaintv Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gibraltar (UK Territory) EU Services: UK / Spain / Gibraltar / SKY Posts: 1,764	Finally got riund to watch this. Whilst enjoyable, it did feel like they did hit the Reset button - with Arthur and Merlin, and even with the Dragon! I suspect this was done to try and attract new viewers. One thing, the long promo at the end of the episode showed scenes from the rest of the season ahead, not just next week - talk about spoilers!!!!!

22-09-2009, 11:41	#22
JAS84 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 2,246	It wasn't shown on BBC HD....

23-09-2009, 12:57	#25
Dan Apache Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Stockport, England Services: Sky, BT Broadband Posts: 93	This was my first time seeing this show and I really enjoyed it. I'm a massive Smallville fan so after reading how Merlin was apparently inspired by Smallville I guess I should have checked it out sooner! I don't dislike any of the characters yet - a good sign - and I really enjoyed many of the performances, particularly Richard Wilson (I'm a big fan of secondary characters who act as father figures, eg. John Schneider in Smallville). Good stuff!