I'm halfway through Atlantis Season 1. It's entertaining. It feels similar to BBC's Merlin, like a Greek mythology-themed version, especially meeting a young, spirited and likeable Medusa before she became the entity she is remembered as in legend, like Merlin did with the early Morgana. Lots of our favorite mythical creatures appear, but it's also light-hearted with a lot of comedy in each episode like the aforementioned series. The episode Twist of Fate especially reminded me of an important one from Merlin-- The Beginning of the End, the plot with the child that I won't give away.
I don't mind what I feel are similarities. I feel little more direction for the character of Jason wouldn't hurt though. I understand that they're trying to keep his backstory mysterious, but the whole point of why he started this journey was to try to unravel the mystery of his parentage. He's not been actively searching for information since the first episode, or getting frustrated and trying to go back to his own time. He just kinda is there hanging out with friends, and when someone in distress he helps defeat the monster of the week, but I'd like to see him act with more urgency to do what he came here to do, and perhaps gets sidetracked along the way because of said emergency, in one step forward, sends him two steps backwards formula.
I like the cast though, especially the Cowardly Lion version of Hercules played by the wonderful Mark Addy. His comedic timing is right on the money. He could be the main character-- and kinda is really. There are a lot of a great special guest star performances too. I'm interested in how this will play out.
I am on a Greek mythology binge lately. I finally completed Troy: Fall of City, and also rewatched Jim Henson's The Storyteller: Greek myths. I am eager to watch more fantasy of he genre wherever I can find it.