Atlantis (BBC)

So, who watched the first episode? I thought it was a little bit clunky at the start, but got better towards the end.

I don't think it airs in the States until Nov. 23rd, but it's about Atlantis and features MARK FUCKIN' ADDY as Hercules, so I'm in. Based on the impression I got from the trailer's tone and visuals, it reminds me a bit of that Sinbad series that aired on Sky1 and Syfy. Supposing it's any good, hopefully it won't die the same quick death. <_<

edited 1st Oct '13 8:19:40 AM by dreamshell

I would compare it more with Merlin in tone and design...hopefully without the shortcoming of this series, but this waits to be seen.

This guy? I don't see him as Heracles.

Yep, I was totally surprised too when the character introduced himself....one of the more creative decisions for sure.

What do you think Heracles looks like? If you are picturing Kevin Sorbo or that attempt at ruining all mythology forever that Disney came up with you are doing it wrong.

Thanks to God of War, my dark and edgy Hercules is also Kevin Sorbo.

Well, he's an ancient legend, so I fall back to the ancients: Bid beard, big arms and a really muscular stomach- a rectangular frame rather than a diamond◊. Then again, Hercules is meant to be the beefy contrast to the more lithe ideal like depictions of Hermes or Apollo and he's meant to be a huge party animal and his strength is somewhat supernatural so of all of the ancient heroes, he's the one I can imagine having a gut and wide stature.

So Mark Addy is a perfect fit then?

It's a smart fit for sure...if they had picked a muscular guy, everyone just would have compared him (and the show) to Sorbo. This way it distinguishes itself more.

I'm sure I'll change my mind once it airs on BBC AMERICA

edited 3rd Oct '13 8:00:53 AM by GethKnight

Having just seen the second episode (I only found out about the series the night before), I wasn't really expecting much. While it's probably inevitable that the characters will probably develop into the iconic characters of Myth that we are familiar with, I'll note here that often people were named from the myths; a notable example being Heracles of Macedon, son of Alexander the Great, and it was not just limited to members of the nobility as there are clay fragments of pottery that have writing on from potters who happen to share the same name as the myth that have been found in places all over Greece. While the Hercules in the show doesn't appear to be THE Heracles from the myths (Perhaps his father named him after the hero?), I personally found more issue over that Jason was wearing Trousers, an item of clothing that no self-respecting Greek Male of the era would have worn, as it was associated with the Persians and was viewed as an effeminate piece of clothing.

I think you may be looking at this show from the wrong perspective.

This actually is supposed to be the real Hercules...the show plays with the myths, it is not trying to do a historical correct (as much as myths even can be historical correct) account. Also, Jason can wear whatever he wants since he grew up in our world...it is in a way more logical that he would wear pants, since a man from this time would feel very uncomfortable without them (fridge logic, as I said, this is not about historical accuracy).

Haven't seen the show and won't be able to until it comes to the US but have remarks been made about his pants? Because either, as ned it would be associated with thesupposedly effenminate Persians (Who, notwithstanding 300 were anything but) or the barbaric northerners.

Where exactly has this show strived for any kind of historical verisimilitude? It's called Atlantis, it featured a minotaur and promises to feature other mythological creatures... there's even time travel. The wrong trousers though, that's beyond the pail?

Wait, so Jason is a Fish out of Temporal Water? This is sounding pretty cool...

More parallel universe travel than time travel. The protagonist, Jason, goes down in a midget submarine looking for the place where is father disappeared years ago, gets sucked into a glowing portal underwater and wakes up naked on the shore of what turns out to be Atlantis. He stole his clothes when he arrived, so clearly trousers are ordinary Atlantean wear.

As well as Mark Addy as Hercules, we've got a nerdy Pythagoras and Alexander Siddig as King Minos. Oh, and there's a two-headed lizard and apparently the city watch use lionesses to hunt down nocturnal miscreants. :)

edited 11th Oct '13 12:21:13 AM by AndrewGPaul

Though he seems to be oddly okay with that...if not for the first episode, I wouldn't even notice that he is not from Atlantis.

Julian Bashir as King Minos? My reasons to check this out keep growing.

edited 11th Oct '13 6:39:00 AM by dreamshell

On the trousers, keep in mind that since Atlantis is a fantasy culture they don't have to dress like Greeks, Romans or anyone else really.

Nobody has evah done Hercules as a comic Yorkshireman before.

Yea Atlantis!

So is the show good or not?

Eh...I'm leaning to giving up on it...it is like Merlin, but without any substance, direction or really compelling characters....

That episode was repulsive.