ATLANTIS Better Off Lost

Article first published as ATLANTIS Review on Seat42F.

BBC America will soon begin airing the British series ATLANTIS. Similar to Merlin and other fantasy shows, the story is about a young man who is searching for his lost father and ends up in the mysteries land of Atlantis, which is apparently where he’s from. It’s an hour-long drama full of magic, mythical creatures, mystery, and possibly some time travel.

The man’s name is Jason (Jack Donnelly, House of Anubis), and he is in the present day at the start. A trip down in a submarine that breaks apart sends him to the titular city somehow. Jason doesn’t know anything about his origins until The Oracle (Juliet Stevenson, White Heat) tells him. He is confused and curious, but also a hero, and so acts heroically, adapting to his surroundings and immediately willing to risk his life for the new friends he makes, roommates Pythagoras (Robert Emms, War Horse) and Hercules (Mark Addy, Game of Thrones).

Atlantis is ruled by King Minos (Alexander Siddig, Star Trek: Deep Space 9), a cruel man who Jason is told not to reveal himself to. Every year, Minos has his subjects draw markers and an unlucky handful are sacrificed to the dreaded Minotaur. One of Jason’s new pals is chosen, and that’s where the story of the pilot, “The Earth Bull,” takes off. Oh, and of course Minos has a daughter, Ariadne (Aiysha Hart, Honour), who is smitten with Jason.

What this means is a lot of the initial installment is set up, then things move really fast and there’s still time to stick in a story-of-the-week. Viewers will not be worried that serious harm will befall Jason because it doesn’t seem like the type of show to take such a huge chance, so the stakes are relatively low, making the danger muted, and not too scary for kids.

My first impression of ATLANTIS is that it’s cheesy. Like its peer Merlin, it takes familiar character names and twists the story for “modern sensibilities.” But it’s all fluff, nothing heavy or complex, with characters easy to pigeonhole. Hercules is grumpy, but we know he’s a good guy. Minos doesn’t seem so bad at times, but he’s definitely the villain. I really wish Jason was a bit dark, but he’s not, the epitome of the good guy, and even with his father’s disappearance, pretty boring.. It’s all very obvious.

Now, this kind of thing has worked well for the BBC before, so it’s understandable why they would want to do it again, and indeed, a second series has already been ordered, ahead of its U.S. airing. That’s because there is a sense of adventure and whimsy, something audiences can connect to, and I think hearing some of the names of legendary literature may even give the premise a false sense of gravitas. Sadly, the depth of story does not rise up to such a level.

One thing that is confusing about “The Earth Bull” is whether Jason has traveled in time and/or space. The technology in Atlantis is definitely that of ancient times, but The Oracle and the Minotaur make it seem other-worldly, not just in our past. And Jason tells Pythagoras he will be well remembered, but given the unrealistic elements, this civilization could very well be somewhere else, and this may not be the famous Pythagoras, despite his love of tinkering with triangles, since that Pythagoras didn’t live in Atlantis. So I guess we’re supposed to assume this is past Earth, and Atlantis and its magic co-exist with ancient Greece?

I suspect I’m overthinking this. ATLANTIS is clearly meant to be just an action-adventure show, not concerned with being historically accurate or telling a ‘real’ tale. It exists in its own separate universe, with rules that will become clear as the show plays out. It’s not highbrow or intellectual, but it is mildly entertaining and comfortable.

The special effects are pretty decent, at least as good as Merlin or Primeval, though not cinema-quality. That’s important, since there are creatures as well as people interacting. I assume the CGI will continue to get better with each subsequent year.

ATLANTIS premieres Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on BBC America.

Game of Thrones proclaims "You Win or You Die"

     Things are coming to a head in HBO's Game of Thrones, as the various forces who want control of the Seven Kingdoms begin to act on their desires. In the latest episode, "You Win or You Die," those plans begin to unfold. Even though Viserys (Harry Lloyd) is dead, his sister, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), decides she wants to sit on the Iron Throne. After a failed poisoning attempt ordered by King Robert (Mark Addy) on Daenerys, her husband, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), pledges to win it for her and their unborn baby. As Robert passes away, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) makes a play to control the throne, exposing Robert's "son" Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) as a product of an incestuous affair, not the rightful heir. Queen Cersei (Lena Headey) has Joffrey rule, though, and a betrayal by Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) makes Ned the loser. For now.

     This wonderful fantasy series is made more so each week, as tension mounts, and dangers scale up their threat level. The political battles are merely one side of the coin, though they have been front and center, and highly addictive. Ned is clearly in the right, but while he at first appears to have the upper hand, especially after gathering all the intelligence that the last Hand of the King had before his murder, he is still left out in the cold because he doesn't play the loyalty games. Ned is straightforward and honest. Others are not. It's why Ned is not succeeding in ousting the Lannisters, and it's why the hero now finds himself outmatched by the villains. Which makes the story only more interesting.

     It truly is a good versus evil battle. While some of the players in Game of Thrones do operate in a shade of gray zone, like Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), or at least, their loyalties are still unknown, the main group of Lannisters and the Starks are truly assigned a right and wrong. It makes things a little easier on the viewers, as the story is complicated enough without not knowing who to root for. In this case, simpler is better. And it feels good to have the hostility out in the open now, instead of behind closed doors.

     Besides the Lannisters, though, Daenerys thinks she has a claim to the throne. And maybe she's right. Her father was king, after all, until he was overthrown by Robert and others, long before the series begins. Because Daenerys is so far outside of the machinations of the other main characters, she isn't assigned an appropriate label yet. But considering the ruthlessness of the people she is embracing, and the almost saintly goodness of Ned, she will likely by the intruder, not the defender.

     Which begs the question, might the Lannisters and Starks have to join forces against her? Or might Ned be able to team up with her? Thus far, Daenerys only approves of harm done to those who deserve it, as punishment, much like Ned. With a lack of decent candidates to sit on the Iron Throne, might Ned be convinced to support her campaign? It would certainly be an unexpected twist. The truth is, Daenerys is a wild card, and when Drogo and his army do arrive at the mainland, anything may happen.

     The other threat, this one casting a shadow over everything, even though they have not been seen on screen since the opening moments of the series, are deadly creatures that lurk behind The Wall. This week, the danger feels more real, as Benjen's (Joseph Mawle) horse returns without him. Nephew Jon Snow (Kit Harington) would like to look for his uncle, but is kept on the other side by his duties to the Night Watch, of which he is now a full fledged member. Lucky for Snow fans, he has been assigned as a steward, and will not be venturing into unknown territory anytime soon, as the rangers do. It means Benjen's disappearance won't quickly be solved, but does allow an interesting, noble character to survive until he can actually be useful.

     Game of Thrones continues Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To buy the Game of Thrones books on which the show is based, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Game of Thrones - "You Win or You Die" on Blogcritics.

Game of Thrones tells us "Winter Is Coming"

     Last night, HBO premiered the first episode of its adaptation of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Called Game of Thrones, the tale centers on a power struggle for control of the Seven Kingdoms. Various characters and factions engage in covert and overt rebellion, each trying to win the Iron Throne. Among the contenders are the current king and his protectors, the queen's brother, and an army supporting the disposed prince, who wishes to reclaim his hertiage. The series will follow the various factions until one ends up in power.

     It may be a bit daunting to jump into HBO's Game of Thrones, with its very large cast of characters and varying allegiances. Yet, the first episode takes things slow enough that it is fairly simple to identify the varying players, even if their names and tribes escape. As such, please forgive, and feel free to correct in the comments, should mistakes be found, though care will be taken to try to avoid any. Should the effort to watch be made, the potential for reward is great, if the premiere, "Winter Is Coming", is representative of the high quality and extremely entertaining story that will unfold.

     The episode opens with a deadly attack by very creepy creatures. Be warned, this scene should not be watched just before falling asleep. An entire band of men is killed, save for one lone survivor, who rushes back to Winterfell, the land controlled by Lord Eddard 'Ned' Stark (Sean Bean). The babbling, frightened man's story sounds unrealistic, so according to law, Stark executes him for deserting his group. In attendance to watch the beheading are Stark's children, including ten year old Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright).

     Venturing into the woods, Stark finds the body of a great wolf, with five cubs crawling upon it. The cubs are given to his five children, and a later discovered runt goes to the illegitimate son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington). It's a valid metaphor, of the children Stark claims and the one he doesn't. Stark cares for them all, but Snow's place is a little bit lower than the others.

     No sooner, does Stark return to his home, than he receives word that his king, Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), is coming to visit. Only one goal could spur the ruler to come all the way up north, and that is that he wants Ned to return to the capital as his right hand man. Ned is reluctant, and his wife, Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) begs him not to accept. But when Ned discovers that the previous holder of the position, a beloved mentor of his, has been murdered, he feels it his duty to protect the king, also a friend. Plus, Stark's daughter will marry Baratheon's son, bonding their families

     The murder and backstabbing are easy enough to follow. There's a king, and others want to take control of the kingdom. Thus far, Stark is presented as a fair, noble man, and so it is likely viewers will root for Baratheon to retain the throne, at least as long as he is still in Stark's good graces. As Stark is set up to be the central character of the series, it is also possible that something will happen, either through betrayal or death, where Stark may sit on the throne instead. Either way, lots of good sword fights and medieval glee will surely abound.

     Perhaps the biggest exterior threat to King Baratheon is Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd), an exiled prince, who feels he deserves to gain power back. To do so, he marries off his sister, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), against her will, to a ruffian with an army, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa). Drogo is the warlord of the Dothraki people, who will now assist Viserys with his quest.

     Viserys comes across as a slimy wretch, seeing his sister, whom he claims to care about, as a tool or good that can be bartered. In fact, Viserys tells her he would let '40,000 men and their horses' have intercourse with her if that would get him back on the throne. So, obviously, do not root for Viserys. He's evil.

     There is also an interior threat to the King, in the form of his wife, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and her brother, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Cersei and Jaime are sleeping together, and when caught by young Bran, Jaime pushes him off a tower. It's a shocking cliffhanger, and one that firmly cements the Lannisters as villains, too.

     Well, at least Cersei and Jaime are bad guys. They have another brother, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), who, while rude, seems to take pleasures of the flesh far more seriously than political power. Jaime supports this, perhaps because it provides him one less threat to worry about. Tyrion is clearly present for comic relief, welcome with all of the other dark events surrounding.

     Other reviewers more familiar with the book series have stated that nothing much happens in the first hour, and its mostly an introduction to some of the many, many characters. But it's possible to disagree. Not about the introduction, of course, as that certainly happens, but about nothing happening. True, there are no large scale battles, but that doesn't mean things don't flow. Ned's consideration of the job being asked of him, as well as Jaime and Viserys lying the foundation for their own attempts at a power grab, are not nothing. It may not be fast paced, but there is more than enough intrigue to keep attention, and learning who people are is an important first step before undertaking such a large, sweeping drama.

     Game of Thrones airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as TV Review: Game of Thrones - "Winter Is Coming" on Blogcritics.