Is BBC-America's "Merlin" a Gateway to Desanctification?
@mythociate (21437)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 23, 2012 8:58pm CST
You remember the story of 'The Sword in the Stone,' in which Merlin--an old man--met stable-boy Arthur and taught him to be king when he discovered that destiny?
Well now BBC-America took and destroyed that whole storyline, and replaced it with one in which Arthur starts out as a crown prince who takes Merlin on as his mere-servant/-'stable boy' ... when they're BOTH twenty-somethings!
Gone is the respect-for-his-elders that Arthur is supposed to learn from the elderly Merlin! Gone is ... many other things ...
... I was urged not to watch any further when a character named 'Lancelot' appeared, for fear that--developing a mental callous for the changing of 'how characters' names match their purposes in a story'--
I might more-easily accept the changing of how other characters' names (like Jesus) match their purposes in a story (instead of 'showing us that our sins are forgiven,' maybe He showed us more 'how to forgive others' sins'? ... uh-oh, looks like 'the damage is done' 
)
)2 people like this
6 responses
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
24 Jun 12
It's a RE-TELLING. People tend to change things when they're retelling a story to change it up. Otherwise, we've totally heard it before and it's boring.
And I LOVE Merlin! Been watching it for four seasons, and I completely adore the show. I like the changes made in the structure of the story, and Arthur is actually evolving from being a spoiled prince to someone much more nobel in character. Ya'know... the original Arthurian legends weren't exactly something I could enjoy. There was the whole deal of Arthur sleeping with his sister and conceiving Mordred who brought about his ultimate downfall...1 person likes this
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
24 Jun 12
His sister?!? Oh yes, that's much more acceptable than my scenerio. 
Peace.
I love the world!! 
Peace.
I love the world!! 1 person likes this
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
24 Jun 12
That's in the original Arthurian lore. Didn't say I thought it was tasteful. 
In the Merlin show, Mordred is a 9-10 year old child already, so I'm assuming that this little tidbit from the original story doesn't happen.
In the Merlin show, Mordred is a 9-10 year old child already, so I'm assuming that this little tidbit from the original story doesn't happen.@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
24 Jun 12
Oh, I wasn't arguing your point, allyoftherain. Just leveling mine.
1 person likes this
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
24 Jun 12
Gee whiz. Movies and TV that change history. Next thing you know the Grimm Brothers will be monster hunters and Lincoln will be a vampire killer.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Jun 12
Too late, Abraham Lincoln WAS a vampire-killer ("History will only remember me as President." 
) Snow White ran away with The Huntsman. And the animated fairy-tale princess fell through the evil queen's cauldron into a pond in Queens and found her live-action Prince Charming!
) Snow White ran away with The Huntsman. And the animated fairy-tale princess fell through the evil queen's cauldron into a pond in Queens and found her live-action Prince Charming! 
@celticeagle (159452)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Jun 12
The SyFy channel on cable also has a Merlin show on. They are about the 'twenty something age' too. In this one Merlin is very young and there is an older wizard that is teaching him. Morgann is in this one also and Gwenivere. I like the show even though it doesn't follow the storyline. Usually this really upsets me. As far as the Jesus thing goes I think I would rather think that he is teaching us to forgive others sins. Not sure where you were going with that but that would be my take on it.
@celticeagle (159452)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Jun 12
I wondered if that was the case. The older guy is Merlin's teacher so I don't know what else you would call him. Merline does magic all the time and the other guy helps him sometimes too. And Merlin turns into that old version of himself to hide his identification. Good show! I wish it would hurry up and come back on.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
24 Jun 12
SyFy is running the same show. That's why most of the actors appear to be British.
@hvedra (1619)
•
27 Jun 12
There are lots of retellings and adaptations of the Arthurian legends and some are better than others.
I liked the Mists of Avalon book but the TV adaptation was cringeworthy.
I don't like the BBC one at all, like a bad Amateur Dramatics mangling. The one that Channel4 did, Camelot, was better - still OTT but at least flirted with the legend.
Things can be adapted and still be brilliant (Sherlock springs to mind) but if you haven't got a good writer then it soon shows.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
16 Jul 12
Most dramas are just that: amateur dramatics (a la STAR TREK). That's why "reality" TV is so popular: because--even though the reality is probably 'scripted'--you can pretty-much count on the feelings being real.
1 person likes this
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
24 Jun 12
Hello mythociate
Do you think that this television show, with the Merlin and Author being near in age, is trying to suggest that they may be lovers and that the sword motif is, er, pointing to, their relationship? They do seem to have a fascination with handling the sword.
Peace.
I love the world!!
1 person likes this
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
24 Jun 12
... why do you have to go there? 
1 person likes this
@psychoartist (756)
• United States
24 Jun 12
i read something on a scottish facebook link the other day mythociate, which stated that historical research has proven that arthur and guinevere and company were actually scots...i knew that this myth has been flying around forever and that in edinburgh they have the site arthur's seat, but this report seems more conclusive and forensic...do you believe that arthur was a scot...and do you like any of the arthur literature or movies...i liked an arthur movie i saw in the 90's with sean connery as arthur called the first knight...the arthurian legend is indeed fascinating, and the thing is from what i have read there is just enough historical evidence and fact to suggest that he might have been real...
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Jun 12
Arthur wasn't a Scot, he was from Camelot; It rhymes, so true it must be! And Merlin was from Atlantis (no, scratch that ... his parents were from Atlantis ... or something like that. or not. I don't remember, it was from THE PENDRAGON CYCLE, 3 books by Steven Lawhead, I think).
Was that the 'First Knight' with Richard Gere or with Heath Ledger (as Lancelot, in the Richard Gere one anyway)?
