The legend of King Arthur became the prototype for several projects at once, among which there are both those trying to restore the historical authenticity of the prototype of the ruler, and others in which knights fight magic and dragons. The very idea of Camelot, the round table, the knights of Arthur is a potentially profitable scenario that can be written with a certain freedom, which is often used by the creators of the next project. However, against the backdrop of failed attempts to describe the semi-mythical personality, there is one unreasonably forgotten series, which can be called a kind of stencil of the modern vision of the political and military system, taking into account the already known legend of the knights of King Arthur. This is a Camelot.
Idea of creation
Michael Hurst in an interview said that his project should be a new milestone in the development of the legend of King Arthur and his knights. Instead of the bored cliché of the "radiant ruler," the viewer was faced with the approximate reality of the Middle Ages, in which there was a place not only for exploits, but also for unsanitary conditions, plague, hunger, poverty. The idea to reflect the real state of affairs was to bring popularity to the series, since the pilot series of the project, released on February 25, 2011, received high ratings. However, after 2 months and upon the completion of the show of the first season, the creators said that there would be no continuation.
Plot of the project
The basis of the story of "Camelot" is not so much the reign of Arthur, as his path to the throne. In the beginning, the father of the future king Uther Pendragon dies, and the country falls into chaos of civil strife. Arthur is young and inexperienced, hardly part of the army is subordinate to him, while his half-sister Morgan has secured support and is ready for the war for the throne. The wizard Merlin helps the heir to the throne to take the throne in Camelot and warns him of the threat hanging over Avalon. Despite the simplicity of the plot, the project became a kind of concession to the original legend in favor of the so-called "dark fantasy." The story unfolds in a country anticipating an early civil war, full of hungry peasants and the arbitrariness of landlords. Arthur did not inherit a prosperous power, but was forced to build it, first having withstood the confrontation with Morgana.
How is the project different from analogues?
Actors of the series "Camelot" managed to convey the peculiar specifics of the Middle Ages. Heroes are tough, charismatic. Some kind of naivety and idealism of Arthur does not seem simulated or false. Of particular note is Morgan, played by Eva Green. The image was solid, thoughtful. The girl is controlled not by revenge (according to one version, Uther is her father), but by ambition and the hope of ascending the throne. For this, she is ready to literally bombard Camelot with the corpses of both her subordinates and Arthur's soldiers. The entourage of the series is gloomy, in many respects this is its hallmark. The project is saturated with vices, among which there is power lust, cruelty, vulgarity, even sadism. However, given the fact that the heroes are in a world where it is these qualities that are considered a hallmark of the nobility, the heroes look natural.
Cast
Actors of the series "Camelot" is a distinctive feature of the idea, which has become boring to the viewer. In many ways, it is the game of characters and dialogs that make the project memorable and interesting. The composition itself includes both debutants and professionals (Eva Green, James Purefoy). The classic galaxy of heroes remained unchanged, with the exception of the absence of Mordred, the illegitimate son of Arthur, and a slightly more extensive disclosure of the characters of the Camelot Knights. The plot focuses on the confrontation between Morgana and Arthur. Minor heroes, such as Lot and Guinevere, are also lively. The environment of the protagonists does not seem stereotyped or cliched.
Arthur Pendragon
The role of the protagonist went to Jamie Campbell Bauer, which was a real surprise for critics. The hero of the actor is a carefree young man who nonetheless puts the needs of the people above his own, noting the need to combat tyranny and usurpation of the throne. Arthur is naive, innocent and gullible, which is often used by narrative antagonists. The actors and roles of the series "Camelot" are selected with the expectation of entertainment and interest for the public, so the naivety of the bastard actually does not catch the eye and looks harmoniously against the background of the general gloom of the situation.
Morgana
The role was played by Eva Green. The character is as if created for the actress. Morgana is ruthless, cruel and unprincipled, personifying the old idea of a simple people about the nobility. She voluntarily shared the bed with the usurper for the sake of the situation after Uther's death. Actors of the series "Camelot" approached the disclosure of the essence of images with all care, but Green was able not only to play, but to live as a character. Directly, the actress herself noted that she agreed to the shooting due to the specifics of the heroine.
Lot
James Purefoy played the role of usurper of the throne of England - Lot. He is cunning, unprincipled, like Morgan, but at the same time completely devoid of ideas about the honor of a knight. Despite a certain cliche in the image of an antagonist, the hero came out multifaceted and interesting. The charisma of the villain and the simplicity of the hero was added to the classic confrontation between the liberator and the usurper, which is why it became much more interesting to follow the development of events.
Merlin
The role of the wizard went to Joseph Fiennes. Cinema saw Merlin in the image of an old man, a teenager, but in this case, the actor managed to present not only the mentor of the young prince, but also a cunning player in the struggle for power, who, carefully disguised, leads his protege to the throne. The image was memorable and perfectly complemented the overall picture.
Reason for failure
Despite the fact that the 1st season of the series “Camelot” received praise from critics, the project will not continue. The creator said that the idea was lost on the background of larger innovations, including the Game of Thrones. However, the series with a modest budget showed an amazing quality of costumes, scenery and, most importantly, the actors' games. Characters, their background and game remain the hallmark of the project. Actors of the series "Camelot" demonstrated the underside of the nobility of the Middle Ages, which ensured the recognition of Hirst's work among fans.
The limited budget and the low pace of storytelling left the project far behind in the ranking, comparing performance with competitors in the genre. Perhaps the reason for this state of affairs was the “hackneyed” setting of England under King Arthur, but the 2nd season of the series “Camelot” remained exclusively on paper.