Welcome back to another Summer Special edition of Read Before Watching. Today I’m taking a look at a couple of series that are debuting on NBC this week.
Merlin – US Premiere June 21st at 8:00PM
Starring: Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon, Angel Coulby as Guinevere, Katie McGrath as Morgana and John Hurt as the voice of the The Great Dragon
Synopsis: Merlin is a new drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend for a new audience. The mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began; a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious people; a dangerous world in which magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon. When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies including the heir to Uther’s crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur. But guided by Uther’s wise physician Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot’s mystical secrets. As he does so he discovers that his destiny and that of the kingdom’s young leader in waiting, Arthur, are inextricably linked.
Joe’s Take: Yes, it’s terribly vogue right now, be it in books, film or television, to depict well-known heroes in their younger, formative years. Don’t let that deter you from watching Merlin. All the basics of Arthurian legend are here with a couple of twists here and there. King Uther has banned magic in the kingdom and anyone caught using it is put to death. Makes things slightly tricky for Merlin as he is prone to instinctively react with his innate magical abilities. Guinevere is Morgana’s servant and, at least so far, can’t stand the arrogant Arthur. The narrator and guiding force to Merlin is the Great Dragon, imprisoned beneath Uther’s castle and longing for freedom. The writing tends towards the light side and, of course, the language and concerns of the younger characters are very contemporary. Supported by acting heavy-weights Anthony Head and Richard Wilson (John Hurt provides voicework, thus does not interact with any of the cast, save for Colin Morgan) the younger cast gets to ramp up their own performances. The first two episodes both air on Sunday to make sure to block out two hours. All thirteen first season episodes aired last Fall in Britain to great acclaim and a second batch of thirteen is already well in to production. Look for familiar guest stars including a former member of the Heroes cast in a well-known role.
Bottom line, yea or nay: Joe says yes, definitely.
The Philanthropist – Premieres June 24th at 10:00PM
Starring: James Purefoy as Teddy Rist, Jesse L. Martin as Philip Maidstone, Neve Campbell as Olivia Maidstone and Michael Kenneth Williams as Dax
Synopsis: The Philanthropist is an eight-part drama that follows the heroic adventures of Teddy Rist, billionaire playboy-turned-vigilante philanthropist. Teddy loves money, women and power, but following a severe flood in a Nigerian town, he is haunted by the memory of a young boy he rescued. Teddy is spontaneous and impulsive and quickly decides to channel his passion, power and money into helping those in need. The danger and risk to his life is the only way Teddy can feel genuinely alive and he’ll do anything in order to achieve his goals and keep the adrenaline pumping; putting his business head and money-making skills to good use through bargaining with the self-righteous, making deals with drug barons, and trading with the nefarious. But these actions are not just about helping others — Teddy is purging his soul to help exorcise the inner demons that have been festering ever since his young son died and he lost everything he truly loved.
Joe’s Take: Not just any show can competently take over the time-slot occupied by ER for a decade and a half, but The Philanthropist certainly has the quality to do so. With only one hour for the premiere I wondered how the whole premise would be properly set-up without being overly talky or lacking action, but the writer uses a clever, believable hook. Essentially, the story is told in flashbacks as Rist tells things to a barmaid over a few drinks. This works surprisingly well and provides a transitional device that cuts out any useless padding. James Purefoy is a very good actor and he is capable of letting you know how much the loss of his son has affected Teddy Rist without making the show dark. The rest of the cast mostly act as supporting roles in this first episode, but you won’t mind. The show is about Teddy Rist after all. The show also has a distinctly different look due to being filmed in South Africa, Mozambique and Prague. The locations, tight script and exceptional acting elevate this well above the usual redemption-premise fare. You’ll be glad you stayed up late for this one.
Bottom line, yea or nay? Joe says two yeses up!
