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On Television |
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"CAMELOT" |
 Jamie Campbell Bower is King Arthur, and Eva Green is Morgan in “Camelot.” |
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on Friday, April 1, on the Starz cable network. |
A much darker version of
King Arthur & His Court
of TheColumnists.com
Already on the map with it’s hit “Spartacus” franchise, Starz is not resting on its laurels. Instead the network is again delving back into history to a time sometimes steeped in mysticism with characters like the legendary King Arthur and magical Merlin.
Sex, violence, nudity, brutality, death, chaos. sorcery, treachery and love. That about sums up what you will see in this 10-part drama about the life of Britain’s legendary King Arthur. [Starz has aired the first episode already as a sneak preview and the episode is also available online at Starz.]
But make no mistake, this “Camelot” is not like the smiling, happy singing and dancing Broadway musical version, nor is it like numerous film and TV versions. This is a raw, gritty “Camelot,” which takes us to the very beginning with a young Arthur first taking his crown.
The story begins with King Uther’s daughter Morgan (Eva Green), home after being banished to a convent for more than a decade, fighting with her father and blaming her stepmother for her mother’s death and her banishment. Morgan’s revenge: poisoning dad and kicking her stepmother out of the castle. Then she forges an alliance (sealed with a tryst in bed) with her father’s enemy, King Lot. Her plan is to rule the kingdom with Lot.
Enter Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) who doesn’t
like what she is up to. It’s time, he decides, to bring
the rightful ruler to the throne.
And that ruler is Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower), a young man
who has been living on a farm with the family he thought was
his own until Merlin tells him it’s not so. Turns out he
is the son of Uther, conceived in a tryst with another king’s
wife (Claire Forlani). It takes some convincing, but Arthur decides
to go with Merlin to Camelot to claim his rightful throne. Easier
said than done, especially when Arthur has to confront his haughty
half-sister Morgan, who has just learned of his existence and
is less than happy with the news.
All of this spells trouble for Arthur, who as yet has no knights--or a round table -- to help him. He faces an uphill battle, as he has to restore Camelot, a ruin of a castle, unite his people, forge alliances and keep his cunning half-sister at bay.
“Camelot” is a wonderful series, one that I found much more watchable and entertaining than the popular “Spartacus” retellings. Filmed on location in Ireland, the scenery is beautiful. The costumes are beautiful. And the acting is excellent, especially from the three leads–Fiennes, Green and Bower. Kudos to all involved, including the producers and writers.
I can’t wait to see the rest of the series!
©2011 by Donna J.
Plesh. The photo is courtesy of Starz. This column first posted
March 28, 2011.
You
can comment on this column online via our TALKBACK page. Please address your e-mail message
to either "The Editors" or Donna J. Plesh at Syndpack@aol.com
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