TV Review: Eva Green, Joseph Fiennes Anchor Escapist ‘Camelot’

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CHICAGO – Starz Channel’s “Camelot” is an attempt to cash in on the same success that the network found with “Spartacus” and it almost works to provide a similar level of Friday night escapism, mostly delivering just that with an adult version of Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table. Most people excited to tune in a Starz version of “Camelot” won’t be disappointed by this unique take on the legend, even if it’s not quite as much guilty pleasure fun as “Spartacus.”

HollywoodChicago.com TV Rating: 3.5/5.0
TV Rating: 3.5/5.0

In some respects, it’s admirable that “Camelot” seems to be shooting for something more intellectually satisfying that “Spartacus” and yet the show does still open with a naked Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) fornicating with a gorgeous naked blonde in the woods, so you won’t mistake this for “Masterpiece Theatre” any time soon. This retelling features a young Arthur who has no idea that he’s about to be King.

Camelot
Camelot
Photo credit: Starz

The story goes that Merlin (a scenery-chewing Joseph Fiennes) swept Uther’s son Arthur away when he was a baby and had him raised as an average peasant so that the King’s enemies would not know of his existence. In the opening scene, the witch Morgan (Eva Green of “Casino Royale”), Uther’s daughter, poisons her father and assumes that she will now be Queen given the lack of a male heir. Merlin rushes off, finds Arthur, and the battle for power begins.

Camelot
Camelot
Photo credit: Starz

Don’t expect fire-breathing dragons or grand displays of chivalry in this version of “Camelot.” It’s more about heaving bosoms, whether they be in moments of passion or merely chest-thumping to reveal the biggest alpha male of the group. While most of the young cast and supporting ensemble play with typical displays of testosterone, Green and Fiennes get to have some fun as the real puppet masters of the piece. Green has a mesmerizing mix of cunning and sexuality that makes her a perfectly-cast villainess while Fiennes recognizes that this twisted take on Merlin should be played over-the-top. He’s the best thing about the show by being the most memorable.

Bower isn’t quite convincing as the boy who would be King but it is worth noting that tonight’s two-hour premiere features him more as the former than the latter and so his lack of charisma feels appropriate to the plot. Still, even as Arthur is trying to prove his value as future King, one wonders if this wide-eyed actor was the right choice for the part. Only time will tell.

What really matters is that I expect most people who tune in to the two-hour premiere to give “Camelot” that time. The premiere is surprisingly heavy on conversations about power and light on action — more “Tudors” than “Spartacus” — but it never gets dull enough to lose audience interest, usually due to something done by Fiennes or Green or just some typical sex-and-violence titillation.

I honestly like what Starz has done with their license to create R-rated content. Not everything needs to be “Treme” or “Mad Men.” Sometimes adults just want escapism too after a long week of work. The network has carved their own niche by creating B-TV for adults. And I mean that as compliment. “Spartacus” was fun and “Camelot” seems like it could eventually be just as enjoyable of a guilty pleasure. I’m excited to see what the network unveils next.

“Camelot” stars Jamie Campbell Bower, Tamsin Egerton, Claire Forlani, Eva Green, James Purefoy, and Joseph Fiennes. It premieres on Starz at 9pm CST on April 1st, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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