Perfect Sense (2011)

Perfect Sense marks the lovely Eva Green's fourth consecutive independent film, giving me something three years ago I never would have thought possible... a love for independent films... well at least the ones she's in!  Much like the rather bizarre plot-lines of Franklyn, Cracks and Womb, Perfect Sense throws the viewer into a thought provoking scenario and forces them to witnesses how the main characters and humanity cope.

The film focuses on Michael (Ewan McGregor) and Susan (Eva Green), two similar selfish individuals who meet each other on the brink of a pandemic.  Susan is a scientist who is at the forefront of investigating a new strange disease that causes a person to incur a sudden fit of depression followed by the disappearance of their sense of smell, and the eventual loss of other senses.  Michael is a chef in the restaurant across the street from her apartment.  Their casual meeting will spark a relationship that will be tested by each other's past inability to cope with change and sudden personal devastation.  Can two people who've only known what it's like to care about themselves have a relationship in the mist of a worldwide pandemic that is slowly bringing the human race to extinction one sense at a time?

To put it lightly Perfect Sense is a pretty depressing film, as it chronicles the progressing handicapping of the human race in probably the worst way possible, one sense at a time.  In a way it shows how eventually mankind would adapt to losing their sense of smell, taste, hearing and how after riots and mass panic eventually life would carry on until the eventual last sense vanished and there was only darkness.  But if you want to look at the glass half full instead of empty Perfect Sense does kind of help to make you realize what is truly important in life, as it did for Michael and Susan, that is even through turmoil their relationship and love for one another helped them deal with their inevitable demise.

For me the shear subject matter of the film kept me interested, to say I was entertained is a bit of a stretch considering the plot of the film.  It keeps you guessing, where is this going?  How did this happen?  How is it all going to end?  After a while it's pretty easy to assume where's it's all going and it becomes more about the characters and the ultimate meaning of the film.  As a whole it's well written, it manages to shock a few times, and definitely leaves a lasting impression.  Both main characters put forth a good performance, Eva Green is great as always but not as impressive as she was in Cracks, still her piercing glaces and emotional raw talent once again made a film I normally wouldn't even have thought about watching worth it.  

But unlike Green's previous two films I felt Perfect Sense deserved a slightly higher rating, on the basis that everyone can in someway relate to this film, it will strike an emotional chord.  The trailer alone gives me chills.  Whereas her previous two independent outings where simply interesting in their own bizarre way, Perfect Sense sort of forces you to reflect on your own life, who and what is important.  Definitely worth checking out if your a fan of McGregor or Green, or into the rather depressing independent genre.

8/10

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Dark Shadows (2012)

Dark Shadows, a film I've been anxiously anticipating for at least two years finally makes it to theater screens today.  It's been a bumpy ride for a film that's been in the works for a long time, and since the first trailers appeared about a month ago, most fans have quickly discounted it, and everyone else has grown excited to see it.  In the end, I think it's the general fans that will be more pleased, and the general public who will be more disappointed.

If you're not familiar with the expansive history of the Dark Shadows series it was a daily half hour soap opera that ran on television from 1966-1971 and generated approximately 1,245 episodes.  It was not your normal soap opera but centered around the supernatural with the show's main star being a vampire.  For me it's best modern day comparison is something akin to The Vampire Diaries.  The show gained cult status and since it's run in the late 1960's has garnered two feature films and a couple attempts at reviving it for television audiences.  Needless to say the show is definitely an acquired taste, the budget was minimal, everything was usually shot live and only once so the show was notorious for cast slip-ups or technical issues, and the story-lines tended to drag at times, but this was all ultimately the intrigue of the series.

Not being alive during the show's original run I recently got into the series only a few years ago, a combination of ironically discovering the series through an episode of The King of Queens where it's briefly made fun of, and then discovering Tim Burton and Johnny Depp where planning on resurrecting the story for the big screen.  This got me interested to check it out, where so far I've made it through about seven volumes of the DVD set, which have been reviewed on this site and might be worth checking out if you're thinking of delving into the Dark Shadows expanse.

Now I must say even though I'm not a hardcore fan of the series, I was a little weary of this new interpretation after the release of the first couple trailers which appeared to be more of a mockery of the series like so many TV to film adaptions have been in the past couple decades.  Surprisingly the comedy depicted in the trailers is about the extent of the comedy in the film, which is why I stated in the beginning that the general public might actually be the ones who come out of this disappointed.  For me Tim Burton and Johnny Depp did a very good job in sticking to the series and the characters while at the same time putting their own spin on it.  Unfortunately this might ultimately also be the film's box office downfall.

The film features Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, a man who is transformed into a vampire due to his denial to love the very beautiful and jealous Angelique (Eva Green) who he learns a little too late is a witch.  She kills his true love Josette, and curses him to live eternity in a coffin buried in the woods.  Almost 200 years later he's released and finds himself in the 1970's, where everything he once knew is gone or in shambles.  In his attempt to rebuild the Collins family he once again gains the attention of Angelique, still alive and still wanting him all to herself.  When Barnabas falls for Victoria Winters, the nanny of the youngest Collins child (David) and the spitting image of Josette, the jealous cycle begins all over again!

Dark Shadows is typical Burton style, which actually fits extremely well with this series, unfortunately the film plays it too safe which I think will ultimately alienate most viewers.  I could easily see Dark Shadows purists still being somewhat put off by the changes made, here Victoria Winters and Maggie Evans are essentially the same person, Carolyn Stoddard ends up having a secret I doubt she had in the series (I've yet to watch the entire series so I can't confirm this, but it does appear to be striking deviation), and some other inconsistent aspects.  Personally these didn't bother me as one must realize the difficulty it would be to accurately summarize the entire series into a 113 minute film, and still make it somewhat modern and relatable to a wider audience. Changes are going to have to be made and for me they did a wonderful job in still keeping true to the series.

Ultimately the general public (those not familiar with the series) or those old enough to remember it but haven't watched it since they were a kid probably will be disappointed as well, if they expected the trailers to reflect the tone of the film, because they don't.  Dark Shadows is much more akin to the style and flow of the series than the trailers ever lead on.  This is not a straight comedy, but more a of dark comedy, although there are campy elements, this is really a modern day version of the soap opera, and in a sense it plays out a lot like the old soap opera series even down to the script.  It's in this case that I can easily see someone who is not familiar with the series, or the characters quickly becoming bored, especially if they're expecting a lot of laughs or action.  While the film does have it's fair share, the trailers are a false representation of how much.

I was generally entertained, and I could see most people who don't have any preconceived ideas going in and being entertained as well.  The acting is really quite spot on with most of the characters, except for Jonny Lee Miller as Roger Collins.  Louis Edmonds, the original Roger Collins played the character so brilliantly in the series (in my opinion he was the best actor in the series) that Miller's interpretation just falls extremely flat for me.  Everyone else though hit their characters pretty spot on, with the exception of Eva Green as Angelique which I can't comment on as her character appears much later in the series so I'm not too familiar with her.  But Green being my favorite actress was definitely a plus to film for me, and not only looks delicious in that red party gown but plays the role of the villainess quite well.  This is a completely different vein of genre for her and she fits in perfectly.

Overall, I give Dark Shadows a solid passing grade, which is about the same grade I'd give what I've seen of the TV series.  The film takes itself a little less seriously than the series but still retains the same campy dark vein that made the series so enjoyable, without going over board, finding a balance somewhere between Burton's Sleepy Hollow and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in terms of camp. It should satisfy most general fans of the series like myself but probably alienate most everyone else, leading to a pretty mediocre box office display.  Unfortunately being released on the coat-tails of The Avengers is not going to help it out either. Maybe in twenty or thirty years it will be a cult classic just like the series.  Until then it's a respectable film interpretation of a once loved show that has since then drifted into somewhat obscurity, which on the bright side is better than most TV series to film adaptations usually are.

8/10

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The Green Tip For The Day #47

 

Green Tip: Sexy = Attitude, long legs, high heels and fancy furniture.

This has been your Green tip for the day!
I think that chair is on fire...

The Green Tip for the Day is in no way associated with Eva Green. It's simply an excuse to post a lovely picture of Miss Green and a sometimes humorous tip or phrase which plays on Green's last name and the "green" movement or is just a cool little saying in general.

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Camelot (2011) - Episode 1.8

"Igraine"

It's been a few weeks since I last graced Common Sense Movie Reviews with another "gripping" episode review of Camelot.  Yes, that was indeed dripping with sarcasm.  Seriously though Camelot's average, to below average start has finally taken a toll on me as I struggle to drum up much enthusiasm to not only watch the show but spend another hour reviewing it!  But with three episodes left and the complete impracticability of Starz bothering to bring this back for another season (though stranger things have happened) I'll finish what I've started, but make it brief.

With Morgan having gained the ability to take the form of Igraine (Arthur's biological mother, and her step mother) she kidnaps her and takes her place as the Camelot entourage begin their journey home following the feast and "false" attack on Castle Pendragon in the prior episode.  With Morgan's insider information on Arthur and Guinevere's affair she sets out to crumble Arthur's reign by turning his men against him, starting by informing Leontes of the little fling on the beach the day of their wedding.  Along the way Igraine (Morgan) is also able to break through Merlin's emotional wall and temporarily exploit him.
 

The only thing worse than a mediocre episode of Camelot is an episode that's also "Greenless".  The only excellent constant in the series is the performance of Eva Green, who simply stands out as a veteran among everyone else in the series.  With no Eva and an episode devoted entirely to a character whose seen maybe a combined ten minutes of screen time the entire season it's almost as if the series has given up hope of even trying.  Claire Forlani (Igraine) does a decent job in her first real starring role in the series playing both the captured Queen and Morgan in disguise.  But to devote an entire episode to a up-till-now minor character seems a bit lofty, especially when the only other supporting character in the story is Merlin, who has proved to be a major disappointment.  Like all the other episodes Igraine has it's moments but with no Eva Green and the lead of the episode going to Merlin and Igraine it's probably my second least favorite of the series, second to the horribly corny Merlin episode Lady of the Lake.

6/10

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Womb (2010)

Being a fan of French femme fatale Eva Green isn't always easy when many of her latest film projects have been independently released in other countries and take forever to make their way to the United States.  Much like Cracks (which still hasn't been released in the United States, but luckily is available DVD & Blu-ray in the UK) Womb is another example of a film I've read about for over a year and only recently been able to get my hands on.  If you've thought Green's choice of roles in the past have been rather eccentric and bizarre, Womb is in an entirely different galaxy!  It's an incredibly simplistic film with an incredibly controversial subject matter and leaves a hefty impression on the viewer when it's over.

Womb takes place in a small seaside village where a young girl named Rebecca meets an odd and outspoken boy named Thomas.  The two seem to hit it off quite well and not only become good friends but form a childhood romance.  One day Rebecca tells Tommy she's leaving, her mother has taken a job in Japan and they're moving tomorrow.  Tommy promises to see her off the next day but never shows up.  Twelve years later Rebecca (Eva Green) returns to the small village in search for Tommy (Dr. Who's Matt Smith), who is still as off kilter as ever.  The two seem to pick up exactly where they left off twelve years ago seemingly very much in love, until tragedy strikes and Tommy's hit by a car and killed.

Love stricken, shell shocked, and feeling responsible for his death, Rebecca decides to bring Tommy back through the process of cloning but this is not Arnold Schwarzenegger The 6th Day type cloning, Rebecca must give birth to Tommy's clone and raise him from an infant.  Now playing the role of Tommy's mother, Rebecca watches as the young boy she loved as a child grows into the young man she loved and lost not long ago.  A young man that only knows her as his mother, thus creates some rather uncomfortable moments as Rebecca is seemingly torn between her past relationship with the real Tommy and this copy that's essentially her son.

At face value Womb is usually a film I'd stray away as it meets all the stereotypical criteria of an artsy independent film that I usually cringe at.  Very little dialogue, lots of quiet gaps and a large focus on scenery shots.  But this one worked for me for two reasons, Eva Green and an incredibly bizarre and unique plot that keeps you interested.  I don't know what the goal of the writer and director were with Womb, but the film made me question the motives of the main character more so than the actual idea of cloning, as I thought film turned out to be a grand example of why cloning an individual would be a horrible idea (not even taking into consideration the moral and spiritual arguments).  

Did Rebecca hope to be reunited with a lover or simply want to give Tommy a second chance at a life she felt responsible for being cut so short?  So many scenes will sway you in both directions and the rather awkward ending (awkward to watch) will probably still ultimately leave you wondering.  To me Womb really is more a film about a woman's inability to cope with a loss which leads her to clone her boyfriend in an attempt to hold onto a relationship she had recently regained after twelve years of separation.  That kind of sounds romantic until the film progresses into a territory that almost borders, if not crosses, the line into incest.  

Another aspect I found a little confusing was the passage of time throughout the film, as Rebecca never seems to physically age.  Is Tommy growing up in a matter of a year or is he developing at the rate of a normal human being?  The passage of time was never referred to, and I found it odd that Tommy seemed to age quickly, at least compared to how little Rebecca aged, yet he never question this, nor did the few friends he had that seemed to come and go.  

Overall, as with Cracks I was quite pleased with the overall experience of Womb.  It's a unique film that stays with you days after you've watched it.  Eva Green gives a grand performance as a emotionally tortured character, similar in the sense as her Cracks character but also very different in that Rebecca is quite reserved in her emotional corrosion, while Green's Cracks character was very outspoken and energetic and her crash and burn much more disastrous and dramatic.  For best performance I still have to stick with Cracks, still two very similar characters in terms of their issues yet complete opposites in terms of their expressions of those issues and how it all eventually blows up.    In end in, Womb is a difficult film to rate (which it also shares in common with Cracks), so until I have the opportunity to watch it again I'm going with my gut.

7/10

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Camelot (2011) - Episode 1.7

"The Long Night"

Last week I mentioned I'd like to see the series revert back to a singular episodic storyline instead of the continuous trend of triple parted adventures that continuously divert the three main characters from interacting, and never seems to succeed much in progressing whatever the plot of the series is.  Well my wish was granted with The Long Night, bringing all the characters together and finally beginning to put Morgan's plan of attack into action.  Hey, it only took over half the season to get here!

Morgan (Eva Green) has invited her half brother Arthur and his entire Camelot entourage out to castle Pendragon for a feast to celebrate their blessed alliance.  But in all actuality Morgan has invited them all to find out their weaknesses, find out what makes them tick and use it to exploit her way to the throne.  She has an elaborate scheme setup which involves a fake sneak attack on the castle, a scouting party sent out and one of her men even returns wounded from an attack by a non-existent army.  Arthur's clan buys into Morgan's game and begins to play into her every move.  She secretly watches them as they interact with one another in what they believe to be their last few hours before a possible slaughter.  It's her goal to use the information she gains to cause the group to turn on one another as she plans to take the place of Arthur's biological mother (her step-mother), Queen Igraine, whose image she has recently acquired the power to morph into.

Keeping this review short, because overall The Long Night is no better or worse than most of the prior episodes, I was glad to finally see some progress made on what appears to be the main storyline of Season 1 which is Morgan's attempted conquest of Camelot.  As always Eva Green stands out in the crowd while the performances of everyone else simply seem to blend together.  This wasn't a memorable episode, but then again the series hasn't been memorable to much degree either.  But if your a fan of Eva Green each episode continues to provide a weekly amount of viable entertainment and a reason to keep watching because of her alone.

7/10

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Camelot (2011) - Episode 1.6

"Three Journeys"

If you're still watching Camelot by now you're either a enthusiastic fan, have accepted the show for what it is (or isn't), or in my case stuck around because of the appeal of a certain actor or actress.  As an overall series Camelot has failed to really impress me but it's not a horrible show by any means, obviously my expectations of what the series was going to be like were a little misinterpreted.  I understand not every show is going to have a stellar start, even Seinfeld (the greatest sitcom ever) was pretty bland the first season. Camelot continues to show promise but whether or not it can live up to that promise is still the million dollar question.

As Arthur's reign begins to settle in, it's time to begin transforming Camelot into a suitable and habitable castle, removing the plant growth that has lined the inside walls, rebuilding the rooms and marking King's ruling boundaries throughout the land with large banners emblazoned with the emblem of the King.  Merlin assembles Arthur's most trusted men in a mission to travel back to Arthur's home and bring back his father's collection of books to start building Camelot's library (not sure why he needed to take Camelot's three best warriors to do it), for Merlin knows the power of knowledge and what castle would be complete without a library?  Along the way the other men question Merlin's hesitance to use his magic which leads him to once again test whether or not he can control his powers without them controlling him.

Meanwhile Arthur accompanies Guinevere after she receives news of her father being close to death, with the countryside having turned into a playground for raiders and thieves Arthur puts his past with Guinevere behind him to insure her safety.  Speaking of safety Arthur is still unaware of his half sister's uprising against him, Morgan (Eva Green) is slowing building a strong following with those who feel they're being neglected by the King.  Everything seems to be going well for Morgan as she skillfully and fairly begins hearing and settling personal disputes among the commoners, but she's thrown a curve-ball when a woman shows up with a charge of murder against her adviser (the nun) Sybil.  With the woman demanding Sybil be put to death, Morgan must arrive at a decision that will be seen as fair among people without putting her closest confidant to death.

After one of the series best episodes last week Camelot takes a bit of a step back in Three Journeys, it's clear the writers are trying to build some much needed character development with Merlin's continual struggle in accepting his abilities and the requited love between Arthur and Guinevere but the only true success continues to be the series most elusive character, Morgan.  With this role Eva Green has proven she can make something out of a lot of nothing.  The character of Morgan is easily the most dynamic and charismatic in the series but the writers have essentially left her locked up in her castle for the past four episodes, even with no interaction between the other main characters, a still rather elusive storyline which hasn't progressed much, Morgan excels in becoming the series most entertaining character.

While the other characters are growing on me I'm still confused by the rather erratic Merlin, and still trying to accept Bower as a legitimate Arthur.  Their character development is definitely improving, and while the Merlin and Arthur stories this episode were overly simplistic and ultimately uneventful in the grand scheme of the series they were executed well enough that I at least didn't find myself bored.  Though I'd like to see some more central based story-lines instead of weekly separate stories centering around the three main characters, it would help the episode flow more smoothly without the constant jumping back and forth.  Overall, Camelot remains consistent in it's own way, good or bad, for the sake of the series I hope they keep Morgan around if this turns into multiple seasons, at this point she's still the only thing keeping me interested.

7.5/10

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Camelot (2011) - Episode 1.5

"Justice"

Up to this point Camelot has seemingly been on a one way train to nowhere, quite stale, stiff and mired in it's own muck of cardboard characters and standard story-lines.  But Episode 5 (Justice) might possibly be the spark that's lights the catalyst and turns Camelot into something worth watching again.

With Merlin hidden away in the depths of Camelot, sulking over his encounter with Excalibur in the previous episode Arthur finds himself in a position to finally make some decisions for himself and possibly grow as a King.  While making his way back to Camelot with his party he stumbles upon a man about to be hanged for murder, in the nick of time Arthur saves his life and demands that all parties involved convene at Camelot that a proper hearing might be provided for the accused and the true reason behind the attack might be revealed.  The result is Arthur being made aware of some despicable acts that are being encouraged among his kingdom and an opportunity for him to begin to act as King.

Meanwhile Morgan continues to plot her takeover of Arthur's throne, but comes to the realization through the wisdom of her new house guest, the nun named Sybil who raised her for many years, that she has to think further ahead.  What Morgan needs to do first is gather the people on her side, prove to them that she cares and feels their pain, make them believe that her brother, Arthur, has no time for them.  If she can get the people on her side, it will make claiming the crown that much easier to obtain and retain, and Sybil is willing to do anything to assist Morgan in doing that.

After the rather choppy and misconstrued Lady of the Lake, followed by a one week hiatus I must say I wasn't too eager to sit down and watch another episode of a series that simply didn't appear to be moving in any direction.  But at the official half way point of the season Camelot has proven it has something to offer.  Not only do we finally move beyond the clouded veil of mystery surrounding Morgan as she begins to enact a realistic form of attack, but Arthur appears to be growing a pair and stepping into the role of King.  Justice also avails the series to finally spice up things a bit by throwing in some action, which has been sorely lacking, and a few surprises such as Sybil's plan to unite the people to Morgan and even the reason behind murder Arthur was preceding over.  All in all Justice is an extreme improvement over the prior episode and undoubtedly the best episode of the series thus far, hopefully this signals the series is finally beginning to rev things up and that the remainder of the season will be fast paced and exciting.

8/10

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Camelot (2011) - Episode 1.4

 "Lady of the Lake"

As we begin to approach the halfway mark of the first season of Camelot we begin to see a glimmer of Arthurian charm with the inclusion of the Lady of the Lake tale and the acquisition of Excalibur.  But with the first season already nearing the middle-age mark is it all too little too late?  Is there anything left in Camelot that's salvageable for those who have been thoroughly disappointed from the start?  And with no noticeable improvement from episode to episode is Camelot simply going nowhere fast?

As with the prior episodes, Lady of the Lake is broken down into three separate sections that focuses on the three main characters, Arthur, Merlin and Morgan.  The morning after the wedding of Guinevere to Leontes offers no solace for the love sick King, in an attempt to quell his jealously he begins the training process of his army lead by the outspoken warrior Leontes and Arthur's brother had recruited in the prior episode.  It's upon this exercise that Arthur realizes he needs a real sword, a sword made for a King.  Merlin sets off to obtain a sword from a man named Caliburn, who has been spoken of as one of the greatest sword makers in Britain.

Meanwhile Morgan is planning a visit to Camelot to meet and congratulate the newly married Guinevere, obviously a move with an ulterior motive as it's presumable Morgan is aware of Arthur's feelings for her following the conclusion of Episode 3 (Guinevere) when Morgan performed a spell that allowed her to see through Arthur's eyes, and possibly sense his thoughts.  But Morgan's recent dabbling in dark sorcery has continued to take a toll on her and she's forced to turn back, only to discover a familiar face from her past has come to visit her, a person whose arrival is in such good timing that they might save Morgan from enclosing death.

Merlin's story-line puts an interesting twist on the Lady of the Lake lore and Arthur's acquisition of Excalibur, two well known portions of Arthurian legend which oddly enough in this story Arthur has absolutely no part in!  Without spoiling anything, essentially Merlin's determination to acquire this sword entices his previously subdued use of sorcery which ends up having nothing but horrible consequences for those around him.

As the series progresses I'm beginning to find myself in the position of many viewers as I struggle to discern exactly what the point of this series really is.  So far Camelot appears to resemble a varied cliff notes version of the Arthurian story, all the major characters and events chronicled but done in such a flippant and mundane manner that the audience is having trouble identifying and caring about the characters.  Adding to the problem there simply does not appear to be a cohesive plot, aside from Morgan seeking the crown, that binds the series together to give you a reason to want to keep watching.

While it was nice to finally see a little fantasy thrown into the series, and I actually found the writer's twist on Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake interesting, nothing in the series appears to be gelling and for a season that's only ten episodes long I'm beginning to lose hope that the series is going to get much better.  When the story isn't formulaic and chopped up it's just plain confusing, the plot-line of Morgan continues to make me scratch my head and wonder what's going on?  For a series that hasn't proven itself in any fashion continuously leaving the audience in the dark about a main character isn't the brightest move, as the mystery isn't going to hold viewers who would have otherwise given up on the show.  Overall, Camelot has seemingly become stagnant, with only six episodes remaining in the season it's hard to imagine the series improving much unless once the writers have cracked out their cliff note story-lines centering around the typical Arthurian legend they'll be able to bring something fresh to the table, but so far nothing has clicked.

6/10

 Episode 5 Review

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Camelot (2011) - Episode 1.3

 "Guinevere"

Moving away from the introductory episodes of Starz new series Camelot may further disappoint some who were looking for a series that rivaled Spartacus in terms of sex and violence, as Episode 3 entitled Guinevere focuses more on improving the story than displaying blood, guts and flesh.

Guinevere focuses obviously on the character of Guinevere and the awkward situation which revealed itself in Episode 2 (The Sword and the Crown), where Arthur discovers she is to be married to one of his trusted men, Leontes.  When Guinevere's village is pillaged she and her family travel to Camelot to seek refuge, it appears the marriage between herself and Leontes will have to be put on hold, that is until Merlin suggests they have the ceremony at Camelot.  Merlin is aware of Arthur's love for Guinevere but wants nothing to stand in his way of the challenges that soon await him, the quicker Guinevere is married the better, for everyone.  Arthur tries to persuade her to not go through with the marriage, which leads to a brief "fling" on the beach, but even though it's clear Guinevere has a real love for Arthur he still ends up becoming the odd man out.

Meanwhile Morgan is continuing her sinister plans to become ultimate ruler of Britain, but those plans still seem to be rather clouded, and she appears to be suffering some of the effects of her practice of dark magic.  She invites Arthur to her castle that they might get to know one another, and Merlin tags along out of protection for the King. Everything seems to be rather normal until Morgan drugs Merlin and chains him a bed post, not in a kinky way but more in an attempt to prove her worthiness as a sorceress and tempt Merlin to use his powers to free himself.  Obviously her invitation had some ulterior motives, those are ever so slightly revealed at the episodes conclusion.

In terms of acting and the overall quality of the story (not the episode as a whole), Guinevere is easily the most balanced of the first three episodes thus far, which can be a good and bad thing.  Balanced in the terms that no one performance stands out as great or horrible, and with the absence of any action the story is given an undivided attention and a fuller amount of detail.  But it's certain that this episode is only going to fuel the fire of those who claim the series is dull and uneventful, those who would like to see all discernible boundaries removed as in Starz Spartacus.  Personally, I like the restraint the writers are taking in this series, I've never found overwhelming amounts of violence a nudity anything but a unnecessary replacement for a story that's incredibly lacking.  Granted this episode is not brilliant but it shows some improvement in the categories that make a good series, overall character performances and more attention to detail.  

With that said there are still some areas of the episode which slightly annoyed me due to it's predictability to the norm.  First of all Arthur's quick acceptance of his step sister's invitation, especially after Episode 2 The Sword and the Crown ended with her essentially telling him she wasn't going to give up until she had what she wanted.  Then this episode she invites him to dinner as an "ally" and Arthur doesn't stop to think it's a trap?  Obviously Merlin is weary, which is why he joins him but even he gets sloppy and allows himself to be drugged.  

The other predictable moment is Guinevere going through with the wedding even though it's obvious she doesn't love Leontes and is quite smitten with Arthur.  I understand this is all simply a diversion to extend the plot and revisit this at a later time but it's too cookie cutter for my tastes and it would have been nice to have seen a new spin thrown into the mix.  Why couldn't Guinevere not marry Leontes due to her love for Arthur?  Arthur is the King for crying out loud, if Leontes was the King and Arthur a servant her resistance would have made a little more sense, but Guinevere marrying Leontes solely because it's the man her mother liked doesn't fly for me in this situation, because it' all simply done to be able to milk the situation more throughout the series.

7/10

Review of Episode 4

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