Some thoughts on Food...

[wiccaqueen]

After rewatching the 6th episode of Merlin yesterday I couldn't help but notice the remarks about food. Some of them made me wonder, such as 'quicker than you can say rotten tomatoes' or when Merlin said that the people were throwing potatoes instead of rotten food.
 

If we believe that Merlin really is set in a fantasy land somewhere in time, that wouldn't be a problem of course. But if we believe that it is set somewhere in Britain, as the original legend of course suggests, the question arises if this is an oversight from the Merlin producers. We all know that tomatoes and potatoes only came to Britain sometime in the 1600s....and as the Merlin producers said, the series can be set somewhere from the 6th up to the 14th century, but certainly not later.

So what do you guys think? It is just an oversight or is Merlin really set in some complete fantasy land/ time?

 

Comments

[calicokat.livejournal.com]

It's def. set in fantasyland. The giant French castle is pretty indicative of that. It is neither square, stout, nor made from rough grey stone which, as far as I know, most English forts would have been at that time? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure any actual castle in that time would've been built entirely for defensive purposes with none of those wildly French flourishes. I mean, this was 500 CE. Heck, it's pre-Roman so it should probably be a hill fort?

[wiccaqueen.livejournal.com]

Well I think the castle indicates that it could be set somewhere in the 14th century, as one of the producers said on the behind the scenes.
But I guess you're right when talking about earlier periods.

[calicokat.livejournal.com]

Yes, but Arthur lived in the sixth century, if he lived at all. (And he probably did live, he just may not have been so exciting!) So the fourteenth century would be...a very long way away. XD

[wiccaqueen.livejournal.com]

I know, but I think they refered to 'Le Morte d'Arthur' the manuscript which was written around that time.
Anyway it's a beautiful castle! So I'll just enjoy it as it is :-)