Cursed is the newest Netflix series which brings to life a different take on the Arthurian legend. This is based off the same young adult novel of the same name by Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler. The story is told through the eyes of a young Fey women who is destined to become the Lady of the Lake, known as Nimue. Other legendary characters involved in this tale include Arthur, Merlin, Uther Pendragon, Morgana and Gawain.
Katherine Langford takes on the central character of Nimue, while Devon Terrell is the mercenary Arthur. We see Gustaf Skarsgard who is the drunken Merlin; Daniel Sharman plays the mysterious Weeping Monk and Lily Newmark plays Nimue's best friend Pym.
There are many different variations and interpretations of the Arthurian myth, in this approach it suggests that Arthur didn’t find the sword first instead Nimue (Lady of the Lake) had its possession first. Nimue belongs to a race which are magical beings called the Fey. This race is being persecuted by an order of monks called the Red Paladin, led by Father Carden (played by Peter Mullan). The story begins with Nimue's village being burnt by the Red Paladins and her dying mother's wish is for Nimue to deliver a sword to Merlin. This sword is Excalibur, and we learn of its origins and the power it has while also the destruction it brings. In this story, Merlin works for King Uther Pendragon but he barely keeps his head as he has lost his magic and can't please the king.
This series is quite entertaining, the first two episodes are slow, maybe because the creators are trying to build up characters and relationships and to set the scene. Yet we want to get to some action or something quicker and we finally get that in episode 3. We get the surprises and action that we have been waiting for hence we are excited to see what is going to happen next.
Langford as Nimue does a good job throughout. Sometimes her delivery of lines falls a bit flat and we don't get much emotion from her. That being said we don't get to see much range from this character, it's always serious or tense. Hence we must go to other characters for some relief. This doesn’t knock Langford's performance but sometimes her performance can be boring as its just one tone constantly. Her performance is good but there is room for improvement.
Merlin played by Skarsgard seems like the perfect casting choice. This Merlin keeps secrets to himself, barely trusting anyone and constantly defying authority figures. Skarsgard version of Merlin doesn’t look as old as other interpretations made him out to be but when you look at him, you can tell that he is Merlin. However, this Merlin is troubled and regrets past decisions he has made but is still making mistakes. Skarsgard performance is strong from start to finish and has made this Merlin intriguing to watch as he has many layers but at the heart is trying to make right the wrongs he has done but not always that successful or done in the right way.
Nimue (Langford) and Arthur (Terrell) are the main love interest we follow in this season. Both are good actors; Terrell brings more heart and emotion to his character compared to Langford's quite stony faced Nimue. When Arthur and Nimue are together in a scene alone the results are varying. Sometimes we see the connection and it feels like these two characters feel something for one another but at other times it feels awkward to watch as if it isn’t right and unnatural. We know in the Arthurian myth that Arthur marries Guinevere but this character hasn’t been introduced yet so at the moment he is seeking The Lady of The Lake. It feels that Arthur cares more than Nimue. Overall, when these two characters are together the performance from both actors is confusing as it is unclear what they are trying to put across to us the audience.
Each episode brings with it twists and surprises that make you want to carry on watching even though there are pacing issues in this series. We are introduced to characters and discover their true identities later which is exciting as you aren’t sure who certain people really are or if they are who they say they are. A moment in particular which was a true surprise was the reveal of the Weeping Monk and who he truly is. Sharman does an amazing job in this series; you fear his character but also are interested to see more of him and what he really is. In episode 10 (The Sacrifice), Sharman puts on his best performance, we get to see the inner dilemma this character is facing and what we thought we knew about him is actually completely wrong.
Some of the side-characters like the Weeping Monk bring more joy and excitement when watching this show. The character Squirrel played by Billy Jenkins, is a character who keeps appearing and you wonder why so much screen time is spent on him. Jenkins does a great job throughout every episode and may be a star to watch in the following years. He makes the most of every second he is in a scene thus we create a connection with this character and are curious of what more he will bring if there is a second season.
Like any period, show, film or play there is a battle between power and religion while in Cursed there is also a battle with the fey/magic. The Red Paladin are attacking and burning fey kind as they believe they are evil and cursed with darkness. Only men are allowed in this order but Sister Iris played by Emily Coates wants to join. We experience a lot of hatred in this character. She is determined to get what she wants and goes to very far lengths to succeed.
Uther Pendragon is played by Sebastian Armesto. Uther is trying to keep a hold of his crown and throne but it is clear he doesn’t know what he is doing and has a lot of anger. In other interpretations we see Uther hating magic but in Cursed we see him using Merlin for his magic to help himself. Along with this we discover the true nature of Uther and mysteries surrounding his birth, which makes this character more interesting to watch as there are lies and deceit. Armesto plays a childish king who is pretending to know what to do but really has no idea.
The visuals are amazing, so are the sets. You do feel transported to medieval Britain where magic is real but this is a Netflix series so there is no surprise that the effects are good. The way we move from one scene to another is interesting, the animations used are good but it does make you question why are they used as they don't bring anything to what we are watching, if anything it delays us from going to the next scene quicker. The animations look good but there is question of if they are necessary and what do they bring - apart from adding to the medieval atmosphere.
As of timing of writing, a second season hasn’t been mentioned but this first season has ended and left us with many unanswered questions. We are left on a cliff-hanger and curious to know what happens next. This first season has set up nicely for a second as there are still questions of how Nimue becomes Lady of the Lake, how does Arthur become king, Morgana's prophecy/destiny, the outcome for the Weeping Monk and Squirrel. While also we still haven’t been introduced to other main characters that are known in this Arthurian myth.
This show is very graphic at times, so if you don't like blood and guts there may be moments you need to look away. While the narrative does keep going, there are moments that you question if they are necessary or is that character behaving in the right way. For example, Pym is very calm and relaxed and almost happy in one episode when she had recently lost someone she loved and is starving while hiding for her life. Her actions considering her predicament don’t match up.
Cursed was enjoyable to watch and you become intrigued with the characters presented as you compare them to what you already know of this legendary myth. Pacing is an issue at times but if you push through the first couple of episodes the outcome is worth it. Nimue seems one-dimensional at times but there are surprises from the other side-line characters. Full of twists and surprises that you don't expect, which creates unknown backstories that you don’t expect. If there is a second season the foundations are there already for an interesting and exciting second season. Acting wise, the performances all round were good but some were better than others so there is room for improvement. Visually this show works but little things need to be thought through fully so that they make sense, as result the show would then flow better, for example the animation between scenes. Cursed has a lot of promise and with the little surprises is exciting to watch, just a few things let it down at times.
Episodes include:
Episode 1: Nimue
Episode 2: Cursed
Episode 3: Alone
Episode 4: The Red Lake
Episode 5: The Joining
Episode 6: Festa and Moreii
Episode 7: Bring Us In Good Ale
Episode 8: The Fey Queen
Episode 9: Poisons
Episode 10: The Sacrifice
