BBC's Merlin

[ailbhe]

My little sister and I grew up sharing a school bus ride with stars of Fair City and then later our teachers became newsreaders and the children of soap stars became teachers and so we were used to being one or two steps away from nationally famous people (Ireland, pop. 3 million ish).

So when my little sister said that her friend Katie (the bridesmaid who helped me find somewhere for Linnea to sleep after she was sick at the wedding) was in a series called Merlin, I didn't think much of it.

But actually, it looks like the BBC's Merlin is a biggish deal. Has anyone seen it? Is the woman playing Morgana good? I'm almost afraid to watch it in case I don't like it, because Katie is lovely, always has been, but I have no idea how good the show is. I'm fairly sure she can act, though.

Comments

[moonborn.livejournal.com]

It's certainly a bit of a classic, but I'm not sure about good. The dialogue's a bit stilted at points, for me. And Sam Neill does a credible job of looking like he thinks a brooding face is an excuse for acting, as the main character.

Morgana, as in Morgan le Fey? She shows she can act! But she is not in much of it, because the role is shared with Helena Bonham Carter.

[helenprev.livejournal.com]

No, that is a different version, which I think may have been on Channel 4 in the late 90s (we have the video) - the BBC version is on at the moment, serialised on a Sunday night and it is brand new and doesn't have Sam Neill or Helena Bonham Carter in it.

And I think Morgana in the BBC version is fantastic - in fact I looked her up after I saw her first to find out who she was, but obviously the name didn't mean a lot to me at that point. Fancy you knowing her! :-)

[moonborn.livejournal.com]

Cheers! I will have to watch out for it then.

[helenprev.livejournal.com]

Bother, I meant Saturday night, not Sunday! We've been watching it on iPlayer, hence the confusion!

[ailbhe]

Well, I don't, really, I have met her a few times, but apart from conspiring to do my little sister's 21st birthday bash with her I've hardly interacted much at all. I've heard a lot about her, though.

She was very nice to Emer and Linnea at the wedding and didn't mind Emer poking her from behind during the service.

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

Which part is she? Kate & I enoy it & watch it together each week. Holly & Andy aren't bothered. It is a bit "spot the star" but once you get over that & get to know the characters, it's a good romp. It's certainly better than Robin Hood that was on last year. The actor who plays Arthur is rather good looking too & of course, Anthony Stewart Head is goregous. I had to point out several times that the giant spiders in last week's episode were CGI & not real to prevent nightmares. I wouldn't let Kate watch it without one of us with her.

[megamole.livejournal.com]

Katie is Morgana, and I think she's yummy :)

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

She's very good looking :)

[livi-short.livejournal.com]

You can get an idea about her portrayal here http://www.bbc.co.uk/merlin/#/characters/heroes/morgana/

I'm enjoying the show, it is not the Arthur and Merlin that we know from legend but they have made a watchable show about them. It is a lot better than the reality shows that are filling the channels these days.

[cat63.livejournal.com]

I haven't decided yet whether it's a huge load of tosh or a huge fun load of tosh. It's not Oscar material certainly, but I think Morgana is one of the better lesser-known actors in it and her character is one of the good guys (she looks destined to end up with Arthur - Merlin's soppy for Guinevere in this one and the same age as Arthur, which gives some idea of how much it resembles the normal Arthurian stuff..)

[sierra-le-oli.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling that the BBC wants Merlin to fill the space of Doctor Who. I've watched two eps and am currently on the side of "huge load of tosh". Morgana, however, stood out for me as being very good.

[trizia.livejournal.com]

That was the plan, which is why it's BBC Wales.

[artela.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately her Irish "slips through" from time to time in what is otherwise an "English Rose Accent", but the series is great, and that's a fair size part she has in it!

[trizia.livejournal.com]

I like 'Merlin' though lots of people are complaining that it isn't accurate enough! Accurate?! It's a myth which has been changed and adapted for centuries - there isn't a definitive version of the story.

The actress playing Morgana is rather fab, and very lovely and I have a bit of a crush on her!

[(Anonymous)]

english rose accent!!! Don't really know what your watching, but it isn't Merlin. Morgana accent is horrid!! I love her acting, but the accent is confusing. A mixture of Irish, american, welsh and god only knows what else. It too painful to watch.