Camelot: The
Complete First Season
(2011/Anchor Bay Blu-ray)
Picture: B
Sound: B+ Extras: B+ Episodes: B
Whether you first learned about the King Arthur mythos
through Sir Thomas Mallory’s Morte D'Arthur, T.H. White’s Once And
Future King, John Boorman’s feature film Excalibur, or even
Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland’s awesome graphic novel Camelot 3000, the
stories of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table permeate Western
culture. The aforementioned
interpretations exist as but a few of the dozens of takes on the legends, but
although minor details may differ, they mostly stick to certain well known
patterns. The love triangle of Arthur,
Guinevere, and Lancelot brings betrayal and tragedy. Merlin succumbs to the dark powers he harnesses
to aid Arthur. The sword Excalibur
stands as both a beacon of hope and a Medieval weapon of mass destruction.
Produced for the Starz channel with a BBC-like flair, Camelot:
The Complete First Season aims to challenge and change those
well-worn Arthurian legends. Many things
you think you know about the legends get turned on their collective ear. Enough still remains familiar to draw in the
longtime fan of the Arthurian legends. For
example, Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) must take the mantle of king at a young
age, and Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) still guides him. Arthur’s treacherous sister Morgan (Eva
Green) stands in his way, at once beguiling and deadly, and wonderfully played
by Ms. Green. And magic in this version
of the legends still has its terrible price.
Perhaps not so dramatic as Boorman’s “Dragon’s Breath” in the Excalibur
movie, but both Merlin and Morgan wield real supernatural power.
This juxtaposes well with the more traditional
Romano-British costumes and weaponry. You’ll find no gleaming plate armor in
this series, but rather a grittier mix of boiled leather and round wooden
shields. The breathtaking scenery of the
Irish countryside provides a nice backdrop, and the strategic use of CGI re-envisions
Camelot as a rundown keep perched on the edge of sheer cliff that overlooks the
sea. Arthur and Merlin take control of
this long-abandoned and burned out castle and make it the center of their plan
to bring order to a troubled land.
The series departs from the standard story in some very
interesting and surprising ways. The
love triangle changes, and this time Arthur is not the victim. Series creators Michael Hirst and Chris
Chibnall replace the Lancelot character with Leontes (Phillip Winchester), and
along with Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton), complete the triangle. The story of Excalibur, the famous “Sword in
the Stone” also veers radically from its expected path. Filled to the brim with passion (and a good deal
of sex and violence), Camelot challenges the expectations and experience
of viewers familiar with the Arthurian legends, while also providing a fresh
introduction to those who’ve managed to miss its pervasive presence in Western
culture.
Plentiful extras provide extra details on the characters
and cast, life on the set of the show, and background on the history that
underpins the series.
Although he warms to the role, Mr. Bower’s Arthur starts
as a bit of an unsympathetic, mewling teenager, ill-suited to the rigors of his
destiny. He grows into the
responsibility while giving in to his all too human passions. He does his best to espouse the noblest
sentiments of a good king--protecting the week, upholding justice, and
punishing the wicked. While showing
growth and strength, he remains very much a creation of Merlin, and Mr. Fiennes
subtly portrays a character you’re not so sure you can trust.
Camelot’s
unique blend of
the old and the new, and its sometimes bold re-imagining of the Arthurian
legends will surprise and entertain fans of fantasy and period adventure. Although not perfect, the solid production and
strong performances will leave fans anticipating the arrival of the second
season.
- Scott Pyle
