Labyrinth

The feeling I am currently experiencing is this awful mix of rage and disappointment - pretty much how I feel whenever I think seriously about politics and the general state of the world.

This feeling is also the reason I will not be reading George R R Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series which has been adapted into HBO's Game of Thrones. Why? Because I don't want to be annoyed at characterisation, messing with plot or subplot, and, especially, the casting of my favourite characters.

Labyrinth has fulfilled on all three points, I am incredibly annoyed. The book isn't even the best novel in the world but the mini-series has messed with fundamental points that gradually build throughout the just over three hours...its irritating is all.

What is also irritating is that I cannot tell you what has been changed without spoiling either the book or the series. But I will do my best to review the adaptation, though it is probably going to assume prior knowledge at some points - but don't despair if you want to read my review of the book please click here.

Labyrinth is an epic tale of love and treachery that spans across eight hundred years, set in both the 13th and 21st centuries. It focuses on the lives of nobility in Carcassonne in 1209 during the Crusade against the Cathars and this historical events influence on the modern period. Most importantly it concerns the quest for the mysterious 'Grail', or everlasting life.

The 21st century aspect to the story focuses on an Englishwoman who has come to Carcassonne in 2012 to recieve an inheritance from an unknown relative. This is all told a LOT better in the book, namely because the TV producers/writers/editors mashed in the inheritance by showing Alice to be forgetful, and also completely changed how two fo the main characters met, Alice and Will, which I thought was quite lovely.

In 1209 we have Alaïs du Mas, the daughter of the advisor to the Viscount of Carcassonne. She is married to Guilhem, a chevalier, and is a generally well loved human being. Except she has a cheating husband, whose chosen beau is her vindictive sister Oriane. Each has a part to play in the quest for the Grail, some in the role of protector while others are seeking to gain everlasting life for their own.

The casting of the 13th century characters was actually okay, I put most of the blame on the poor writing and rushed method that what fell out of their mouths was trite and mundane. I really enjoyed watching Draco Malfoy, sorry Tom Felton, play the good guy as Viscount Trencavel, a man who wants to keep his city fair and free for all inhabitants no matter their religious choices. Katie McGrath just seemed to channel Morgana in her portrayal of Oriane, a scheming and evil woman who will stop at nothing in her quest for the Grail. Lady Sybil, okay Jessica Brown Findlay, was...well her portrayal of Alaïs was pretty similar to Sybil. Strong and family driven, but always so breathy.

Now Emun Elliot, the man I blame for me even reading Labyrinth, was a bit disappointing - but again I blame the writing. As Guilhem he had to be a conflicted bastard who really loves his wife but is weak willed, and he mostly managed it. He has a very pretty face so that saved a lot of his performance.

What I cannot forgive in the historical section of this adaptation is the casting of a 23 year old in the role of an 11 year old....BOYS CHANGE LOTS. I don't know if it was just to save casting a grown up for when Sahje got older, no one seemed to get much older despite the book requiring about a 15 year lapse in time. Matthew Beard is a good actor but he seemed pushed into being a teenager and then a grown man...it really didn't work. I loved little Sahje in the book and was looking forward to seeing a mischevious young actor getting to run around and admire Alaïs.

In 2012 we have Alice Tanner, a woman who has come from England to recieve an inheritance but takes some time out to help her friend at an archaeological dig. What Alice cannot know is her discovery at this dig will trigger the past to come back to life through modern events through a strange cult and the continuing quest for the Grail.

In terms of the 21st century casting...again I can't complain about the acting too bitterly, the problem is mostly with the writing. Alice Tanner is our heroine and Vanessa Kirby does a good job portraying her, not quite what I imagined but also not too annoying. I disliked what the writers did with the character, they made her into this slightly pathetic creature when she really isn't.

John Hurt was good but he lacked the surrounding characters, evidently trimmed from the programme to save on time and money, to bounce off of and be able to slowly reveal his true identity.

Who I loved in the modern time zone was Sebastian Stan....maybe that comes down to me loving him anyway but still, he does the best job out of everyone no matter what his Marvel connections are. He portrays Will, an American who is stuck in this complex world of hidden religion and missing Grails because of his relationship with a slightly psychotic Frenchwoman...don't ask its something I can't explain properly without spoiling everything.

As you may have noticed so far I have a huge dislike of the writing of this show. It was far too syrupy and overly dramatic, I often wanted to slap their faces with fish. I saw an interview with Kate Mosse who said she chose television to adapt it because of seeing Pillars of the Earth, a program that had many episodes and is an equally fat book. And yet Labyrinth got only two...very odd and annoying. I feel strongly that had they had the time (say six hours) they could have improved so much.

I will end this poorly executed review on a positive note however. The method of swapping time lines was incredibly well done. The streams were cleverly combined using landscapes or visions that Alice has, and you never felt jolted from one era to the next. If only the rest of the program had been so well executed I would have been absorbed rather than frustrated for the three and a bit hours I spent watching the damn thing.