Bingeing on Fringe

I was delightfully blown away by the fifth and final season of Fringe. While the initial seasons were mapped out like X-files, monster-of-the-week format, the final and shortest season is an exciting suspenseful serial. It is more of a treat for fans of the earlier 4 seasons like me. I couldn’t stop right after the first episode and couldn’t get enough, I went on a Fringe Binge.

For those of you who don’t know about Fringe, let me explain a little. In Fringe universe, much like the X-Files universe, unusual and unexplained things seem to happen in the US, and that’s why the FBI forms a division, the Fringe Science division to investigate all the things that go bump in the night. Instead of monsters, Fringe frequently deals with some technology or other that brings out the monsters in men.

FBI agent Olivia Dunham recruits Dr. Walter Bishop from a sanitarium. He was once this great scientist who now the world thinks is mad. But Walter doesn’t go willingly, and Olivia hunts down Peter Bishop, Walters’s estranged son to persuade him as well as to legally release him from the mental institution.

Walter is one kooky scientist who insists on working from his old lab in Harvard. There he mingles with anything from candy, LSD to human blood. He keeps a cow in the lab, which he has to regularly feed and clean up after. Basically, Walter is source of scientific inspiration as well as quirky comedy.

In the early seasons, the show follows the procedural drama format, but with every episode, a continuing mystery builds and deepens. For example, the large sinister conglomerate Massive Dynamic was founded by Walter’s science partner, William Bell, before he was institutionalized. Massive Dynamic has conducted many experiments on test subject in the name of science and is the source of many fringe incidents.

A major subplot is the parallel world in which Peter was rescued from. You see, Walter’s original son died some time ago, but Walter jumped into another universe, and inadvertently stole the other Peter back to his universe. Of course all this crossing into parallel universes has its repercussions; as a result the other world experiences singularities like a black hole vortex. Soon such singularities would be formed on this side as well. To counter the singularities, the other side developed ‘Amber’. When a location is ambered, everything turns yellow and has somehow frozen in time and space, and thus preventing the singularities from destroying the place.

Now, the other side knows what Walter did. In fact, Walternate, the other side’s Walter is Secretary of Defense and is launching a war against our world. Among the soldiers are shape shifters who can take the shape, form and voice of someone they just killed. And of course Walternate has a sinister end game.

The other side is quite interesting really. There must be a point in time where they diverged from our universe. Many things are different, the have obsoleted the use of paper, forced everyone to carry IDs and just have an incredibly technologically advanced law enforcement. They still have New York’s Twin Towers because Sept 11 never happened and their statue of Liberty is bronze instead of the green rust we have on ours. Lastly, they have airships!

Another subplot is the Cortexiphan drug experiments Walter and William Bell conducted on children a long time ago. Turns out, Olivia happens to be just one of those children. The catch is that Cortexiphan can give children special abilities, like telekinesis, telepathy, power absorption and all kinds of weird. Among other powers, Olivia had developed the ability to detect and see objects from the parallel universe and well as the ability to cross over.

The third and most intriguing subplot is that of the Observers. Observers are pale, bald men who wear a full grey suits, matching fedoras and carry suitcases around with them. They show up at defining moments in history, hence, they ‘observe’ history. But one such observer took history into his own hands and changed history forever. It resulted in the survival of Peter (from the other side), whom otherwise would have drowned in a lake. The observers would be the basis of a horrible war that takes place in Season 5.

I hope I have whet your appetite for what is no doubt a very good sci-fi series. They don’t make them like these anymore. Many of them now are about a post-apocalyptic world and depict people trying to survive, so it hardly gets too philosophical nor science-y. Five delicious worthwhile seasons. Bon Appétit.

Merlin

The story of Merlin and King Arthur has been told countless times, sometimes together sometimes apart. But I was drawn to this BBC produced television series, a fantasy reimagining of a classic legend, from the first season or series as they call it in the UK.

It is only after the finale aired that I realised great it really was. I initially liked it because of its youthfulness, humour and the magic. But the producers had more adult undertones for just an ordinary children's programme. Over five seasons, I noticed a solid story progression ticking off all the major milestones of Arthurian legend. It bears more likeness to a miniseries rather than an aimlessly wandering fantasy TV drama hoping for a season renewal with a great pilot but no end in sight.

There are a few running themes in this series, among them are the chemistry between Merlin and Arthur, the elevation of Guinevere from servant girl to queen and associated unlikely fairy-tale romance, the prohibition of magic in Camelot, Morgana’s transition from nice to naughty and last but not least the whole magic-old religion-destiny enigma. But it's really the finale that shows you what Merlin is really about. Finale spoilers later.

True, Merlin follows a formula almost every episode. Something magical happens, Merlin sweeps in and saves the kingdom, despite the fact that his efforts go unrecognised. That is what makes it fun, and it meets the returning fans’ expectations. Merlin’s motivation? To fulfil his destiny as told by a great dragon, to be by Arthur’s side, fighting to uniting the kingdoms of Albion (old name for Britain) and returning magic to the land.

But first, a story arc summary of all the five seasons of Merlin

Season 1

Merlin, a young warlock is sent to Camelot under the charge of court physician, Gaius. Gaius becomes mentor to Merlin not only in medicine but also in witchcraft, as Gaius has dabbled with it in the past. Camelot is under the reign of King Uther Pendragon, a tyrant ruler who has outlawed magic and would execute anyone who has it or practises it, so Merlin practises it in secret.

Merlin meets a caged dragon who tells him that it’s his destiny to protect and serve the king’s son, Prince Arthur Pendragon. Merlin soon becomes Arthur’s personal man-servant who becomes a little too personal as we see the beginnings of a budding bromance.

The Lady Morgana is under Uther’s guardianship, and lo and behold her personal servant is the not too attractive Guinevere or Gwen for short. Lancelot arrives in Camelot and has the hots for Gwen. We find that the lady Morgana has the power of premonition through her dreams which Gaius tries to ‘treat’. Morgana showed signs of rebellion against the king’s punitive measures against magical persons. It was triggered when Uther tried to kill a small druid boy called Mordred.

The main magical villain this season is Nimueh, a high priestess of the Old Religion. The Old Religion is what they call all the magic we see on screen. Nimueh was involved in King Uther’s past which is related to Arthur’s birth itself. Merlin ultimately defeats Nimueh but the lives of Arthur and Gaius were put at risk.

The common consensus is that Uther is over zealous and irrational when it comes to magic. Sorcery is not evil but instead good or evil lies in the heart of the practitioner. Gaius believes that Merlin is the only one who return magic to Camelot.

Season 2

While Gwen reveals that she has feelings for both Lancelot and Arthur. The season’s main villain is Morgause, another high priestess of the Old Religion who has a serious grudge against Uther. Morgause approached Morgana, befriending her, and slowly turning her against the King. In the end Morgause kidnaps Morgana, leading Uther to launch a nationwide search.

Merlin releases the caged dragon, but it takes revenge on its former captors in Camelot. Merlin becomes a dragonlord, with the ability to summon, command and kill dragons in order to save Camelot. And finally Merlin falls in love for the first time, but she dies and becomes The Lady of the Lake.

Season 3

After a year of being missing, Morgana is now in league with Morgause and lays siege to Camelot. However Uther prevails in the battle but was duped into thinking that Morgana’s loyalties are still with him. She has fooled all but Merlin (and Gaius) so they are ever vigilant of her every move. Also Morgana learns that she is really the King’s illegitimate daughter, which would give her rights to the throne. And she conveys all of this to Morgause which she secretly sees from time to time.

At the end of the season, Morgana manages to overthrow King Uther with an army of immortal dead, locks him in the dungeon and takes the crown for herself with Morgause at her side. But her reign would be short lived as Arthur heads the knights and forms the legendary Round Table. Lancelot one of the few people who know of Merlin’s wizardry, becomes a knight under Arthur though he is not of noble blood. Arthur then retakes Camelot but Morgana and Morgause managed to flee.

Season 4

A year since the end of last season, Uther is ill and depressed about Morgana betrayal. Morgause dies leaving Morgana as the ultimate magical baddie. Arthur is governing Camelot on behalf of his father with the assistance and council of his maternal uncle, Agravaine. But unbeknownst to all, Agravaine is secretly colluding with Morgana.

After much magical plotting and scheming, Morgana manages to kill Uther. Prince Arthur becomes King but still takes advice from Agravaine.

Morgana learns a prophecy that Emrys is both her destiny and her doom. Emrys is the Merlin’s magical name that only a select few people like druids know, but not Morgana. So Morgana tries hard to discover and destroy this mysterious Emrys.

At season’s end, Morgana conspires with a warlord and the mole Agravaine to conquer Camelot castle and installs her as Queen for the second time. The Sword in the Stone scene is re-enacted and with that, Arthur confidently leads the guerrilla attack on their sieged castle. Arthur reclaims Camelot, and takes Guinevere to be his queen in the grandest ceremony Camelot has ever seen.

Season 5

An unspecified number of years have passed by since end of last season. During that time, Camelot experienced its golden age. The defeated Morgana however faced imprisonment with a baby dragon at the hands of some foreign king. But she rose to power eventually, becoming a dark queen herself.

The once druid boy, Mordred showed up early in the season, but now as Arthur’s saviour and ally. He soon joins the other knights at his famed Round Table. But Merlin receives a prophecy that Arthur will die at the hands of Mordred after an underhanded betrayal, so Merlin remains distrustful of Mordred throughout.

There is a subplot where Morgana captured Gwen and psyched her into an extreme case of Stockholm syndrome, forcing Gwen to be her double agent. But that problem was resolved with Merlin’s help.

But then, as it was foretold, Mordred turned against Arthur when his childhood crush, a druid girl was sentenced to death by Arthur. Mordred went running to Morgana and revealed secrets about Merlin and Camelot. They soon joined forces and launched an attack on Camelot with the aid of Saxon kingdoms.

Finale Spoiler and Review

For what may have begun as a children’s series certainly has a very dark ending. As each season passes, villains become unyielding in their viciousness, and the consequences of actions become graver. But in the end, there is no happily ever after ending, but left us with a James Dean ending, a star struck down in his prime. I guess that makes the best legends, when the young die, they live forever.

I thought Merlin was about magic. How Merlin discovered his powers, but after the he became dragon lord, the magic was same old same old. I hardly even mentioned any magical story arcs in my summary of the seasons above because it was pretty much inconsequential. How about a long drawn out war between two magical adversaries, Merlin and Morgana. No, Morgana didn’t even know who Merlin really was until near the series end. Others thought it was the forbidden love between the African servant and King. But their marriage was over and done with in Season 4. And, if Merlin is the really about King Arthur, they would name the series Arthur, wouldn’t they?

The finale sets the story straight. Like most prophecies in Merlin, they usually come true. Merlin kills Morgana as foretold. Mordred did hurt Arthur in the final battle at Camlann. But he didn’t die straight away, Merlin was to take him to Avalon where a possible cure may be found. All this runs according to standard Arthurian legend.

The final episode wasn’t epic like it’s penultimate one. It was a very intimate duologue between Merlin and Arthur on his way to Avalon, during which Merlin finally reveals himself as a sorcerer, practising outlawed magic right under his nose. Arthur felt betrayed but ultimately sees the hidden hand of Merlin throughout the years. They arrived at Avalon, but it was too late Arthur had passed on. The dragon then told Merlin “This is not the end. Arthur will rise again when Albion needs him most.” Where was that unified Kingdom of Albion the dragon promised? Are the magical peoples truly been liberated at the time of Arthurs passing? No.

And then we see the last scene of Merlin in modern times. Old and haggard but very much alive. Thousands of years later, still waiting to serve Arthur during his second coming. So that’s what’s Merlin’s about. It is the story of destiny, friendship, loyalty and unending love – not the romantic but the ‘bromantic’ kind. In one episode alone, we see Arthur having to come to terms with Merlin’s years of ‘betrayal’ and Merlin coming to terms (or not if you see it the other way) with Arthurs death, a destiny unfulfilled.

The Adventures of Merlin to me represents one of the best fantasy story arcs on TV ever. And no other series can ever have a finale so tragic, so predetermined and so afflictive as the story of Merlin and Arthur. A fitting end to a truly magical series.

What Men Want: NTV7 Series Review

What Men Want. No, I didn’t tune in to watch it, just by chance. At first I thought it was a faux reality drama, you know a drama written with the setting of a reality show. Maybe it’s because they don’t behave like most Malaysian, I thought they were all acting. It really seemed that way.

How wrong I was, there was too much talking at the camera, side characters and weird plots lines. And they keep on showing peoples’ reaction to the camera. Too weird it’s real life! But done in the MTV reality stylized fashion ala ‘The Hills’ or ‘Laguna Beach’.

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