britmike-1

I know that Terry Goodkind is a good author and his books are popular but there must have been little control over what is finally put on the screen. Any series that needs an opening shot of a blond in a leather bondage suit to keep itself going is short on good material. (Episode 1 of 2009.) There was so little action in this episode. Capture, torture, explanation of why it wrong to abuse power, give me a break the guy in prison licks her leather boots, good wins out over evil, evil is still around. If you want to see what real evil looks like on screen try Julian Glover, Christopher Plummer, or Anthony Hopkins. When evil is truly on the screen, it is so chilling. Not in this case. Jessica Marsias was especially unconvincing as the whatever she was supposed to be. Do yourself a favor and read the book. Anyone's imagination will be better than this version.

The Arthur legend has led to some great movies and stories. This retelling of the story doesn't work. Not good mythology or good narrative. The script could have been pared down considerably. If Arthur is Celtic make the girl a red-head, not a Swedish blond. If Merlin is Welsh, he would have come from Noth Wales, not Swansea. What an accent. Merlin would have been more believable if he had used his beautiful spoken English. What are the Greek Gorgons doing in England, they belong in Greece. How did the sword get away from the Lady of the Lake? Try T.H. White's Once and Future King or try Geoffrey of Monmouth for better versions of this story. There is enough material in the Arthur legend without the Greek improvements. The Disney cartoon based on White was a much better story than this version.