So this Merlin series...

[angharad_gam]

I've been watching it with mediaevalist brain suspended (well in so far as it ever can be suspended - it usually just lurks in the back of my head muttering snarky comments about knit fabrics and mixed period armour). At first I thought it was just a bit too teenagey, but it seems to have stepped away from that in later episodes. However, I can't help but wonder about the direction it's taking with some of the Matter of Britain. More specifically, with the relationship between Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere, which is one of the grand themes of the Arthurian legend, and one of my favourite bits (especially after its treatment by Guy Gavriel Kay in the Fionavar Tapestry).

So in this version Guinevere is a servant and seems to be falling in love with Merlin (although she did cast eyes after Lancelot in the single episode in which he appeared). Are they just going to replace Merlin with Arthur in the triangle? Given that they've set her up as a servant it seems very unlikely that she would switch from Merlin to Arthur. Will there be another Guinevere? Or are they just going to skip the whole thing on the basis that it is something that happens well into the future? I mean, if they wanted a love interest for Merlin, what's wrong with Viviane/Niniane/Nimue (the woman who leads to his downfall/imprisonment)?

In other news, I have managed to get my hands on a Roger Zelazny book I haven't read yet (Eye of Cat). Mmmmmm....Roger Zelazny.....

Comments

[reverancepavane.livejournal.com]

[angharad-gam.livejournal.com]

Yes, I knew about the Lancelot being invented by the French thing. Bedivere is also credited with the Lancelot role, being one of the earliest knights associated with Arthur. He remains notable as the knight who sticks by Arthur's side after the battle of Camlann and returns Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake (most people assume Excalibur is the sword Arthur pulls from the stone, but it is not). Somehow I bet the traditional conception of Mordred will not be featuring in this new series.
I read quite a lot of Arthurian stories when I was in Year 12 as I took it as the theme for my literature journal. But just lately I have found it hard to interest myself in any other versions of the story. Maybe I have Arthurian burnout! But the best historical Arthur/Merlin IMNSHO is Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave (and sequels).

[angharad-gam.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Lord of Light is mine....