I rate this programme a two out of ten for the three moments it managed to make me laugh, the hero hitting his head on a post, the name of the Emperor (Emperor Zainus) and a character called Horst Draper. These things didn't manage to make me laugh much, mind you.
This is just really, really bad. It's like the writers decided to pick all the worst elements of comedy, particularly American comedy, and put them in one programme. There are annoying anachronisms (the baddie suggesting people send out for 'coffee and muffins' - this alone is jarring as it is said by someone British, that it is said by a supposedly mediaeval leader makes it much more so), there are ridiculous, over-laboured stereotypes (the black sorcerer, the gay one, the slutty woman), poor slap-stick and gratuitous, unfunny sexual references which just don't fit with the 'lighthearted' feel. Compare this to the BBC's excellent radio comedy 'Elvenquest' and Krod Mandoon's complete and epic failure is obvious.
I was worried about this programme from the moment I read in an interview that the American television network insisted on the lead character having an American accent. Not to worry, I thought, so long as it is good that probably won't annoy me too much. It is not good, it is worse than I thought it could be - not the worst comedy the BBC has shown in a while (Coming of Age springs to mind), but a ridiculously poor effort, especially considering the huge budget.
I suppose this was to be expected, the title of the show alone is inane. 'Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire'. Well, things that are flaming tend to be on fire.
This is just really, really bad. It's like the writers decided to pick all the worst elements of comedy, particularly American comedy, and put them in one programme. There are annoying anachronisms (the baddie suggesting people send out for 'coffee and muffins' - this alone is jarring as it is said by someone British, that it is said by a supposedly mediaeval leader makes it much more so), there are ridiculous, over-laboured stereotypes (the black sorcerer, the gay one, the slutty woman), poor slap-stick and gratuitous, unfunny sexual references which just don't fit with the 'lighthearted' feel. Compare this to the BBC's excellent radio comedy 'Elvenquest' and Krod Mandoon's complete and epic failure is obvious.
I was worried about this programme from the moment I read in an interview that the American television network insisted on the lead character having an American accent. Not to worry, I thought, so long as it is good that probably won't annoy me too much. It is not good, it is worse than I thought it could be - not the worst comedy the BBC has shown in a while (Coming of Age springs to mind), but a ridiculously poor effort, especially considering the huge budget.
I suppose this was to be expected, the title of the show alone is inane. 'Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire'. Well, things that are flaming tend to be on fire.