Merlin, season 4 pick-up

[katikat]

I don't follow the show religiously - mostly, I ffwd through everything but the Arthur&Merlin scenes - but it still made me kinda happy:

Ben Stephenson, the BBC's controller of drama commissioning, said: "Merlin continues to perform outstandingly well against X Factor and offers audiences an alternative treat on Saturday nights.

"I'm pleased to confirm that the magical world of Camelot will be returning next year for a fourth series of this fresh and modern retelling of a classic British legend."

(...)

The new 10-part series will start filming in March. The BBC said the drama has enjoyed huge international success, selling to 180 countries. Link

Thank you for the heads-up, ckll!

Though, honestly, why only 10 eps? Until now, it's always been 13, right? It can't be the ratings. Hm... Oh, well. I do hope that Arthur will finally, FINALLY find out about Merlin's powers!

I read somewhere that the makers of Merlin got their inspiration for the series from Smallville. I like both shows, so, more power to them. And I do find similarities in my likes/dislikes considering these two shows. But also opposites.

In SV, I loved Clark and Lex and I disliked Lana with passion - but I knew that Lex would end up being Clark's nemesis, so watching their friendship crumple was like watching a train wreck. In Merlin, I love Merlin and Arthur and dislike Gwen because I know where it's headed, that Gwen will betray Arthur and partner betrayal is a big no-no in my book - but I know that Merlin and Arthur will stay friends, the best of friends, that their friendship will become the stuff of legends unlike Clark and Lex's. And that kinda makes up for that. In SV, I had to cling to the SV mythology because I knew that sooner or later, Lex and Clark would end up hating each other - in Merlin, I can pretty much disregard the show's mythology because I know that Merlin will stay at Arthur's side, that he will be the one person that will never betray him. And that's kinda cool.

ETA: According to Spoiler TV, it looks like S4 won't air until spring 2012 because of the rescheduling of Dr. Who - maybe that's the reason for a shorter season?

Comments

[pandarus]

No idea if this is why, but the Beeb have just taken a massive cut in their funding courtesy of the new government; I'd imagine there's a lot of belt-tightening going on when it comes to scripted dramas, particularly ones which involve filming on fancy locations.

[katikat]

Aha! Good to know that it's not the show, but the network. 6 mil. viewers is good for BBC? I don't know, I understand the US ratings only.

[pandarus]

Well, ratings aren't quite so much the issue, or at least - it's a different paradigm, because it's publicly funded. There isn't the frenzied need to woo advertisers, because the Beeb doesn't sell advertising space. I mean, obviously ratings matter, but not in the same way that they do in the States, I think - there's a bit more inclination to give shows a bit of a chance. And indeed because the Beeb has numerous channels now, they can put less mainstreamy bums-on-seats things on the minor channels to see if it finds its audience, and then promote them to BBC1 if it looks like it's going to be pulling in the crowds. There isn't quite the same dog-eat-dog approach to television, I think - although I may be looking at it all through rose-tinted lenses.

[katikat]

BTW, I'm listening to your Student Prince podfic right now. I'm on part 7, I think. I so hope that Edwin will turn out to be a bad guy, that would be awesome. But poor Merlin, I felt so sorry for him when he admitted to Morgana that he was in "like" with Arthur :(

[pandarus]

Aww, yay! I do &hearts everyone in that story. Bless 'em. Poor wee Merlin. And poor Arthur too. And, God, Lance, I wanted to SHAKE him for doing Gwen's head in so! And I have such a soft spot for Gawain and for Morgause...basically, yeah, I &hearts them all to pieces.

::smishes them::

Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!