Catweazle

OK, let me start off by saying this isn't the best show ever made - but just remember it is a kids show, and that it was made 40 years ago now (1969 / 1970).
This is not a show I grew up with, I am a little young for it and only started watching it a few years ago. However, I really enjoyed it and I think that a kid's program that can still bring delight to kids (or anyone else for that matter) after such a long period of time can't ever get a bad review!
Catweazle is about a magician (or was he a Sorceror?) that was alive 900 years ago. He somehow managed to catapult himself through time to the present day (or it WAS the present day when this show was made). There he met a young boy named Edward (Carrot for short) and learnt about the present wonders of electricity (or "Elec-trickery" as he called it) and other things such as the telephone ("Telling Bone"). Catweazle would usually get into a heap of trouble because he didn't know how things in the present day worked, and it was usually up to Carrot (or Cedrick in the 2nd season) to get him out of it. There are many laughs in this series as well as some storylines that vary from ordinary to fantastic. I loved the episode in the 2nd season where someone had lost their voice (not literally of course) and Catweazle found a music record. Thinking that there was a "lost voice" on the record - he tried to feed it to the person to restore their voice!
Catweazle is still a classic and whether you are 5 or 55 - I recommend that you watch at least one episode.moreless

Catweazle is a classic children's tv series. After all, what child does not want to meet a real sorceror?? I certainly wouldn've liked to meet one.
The fun and problems started because Catweazle wasn't exactly the best sorceror in the world. The spell that transferred him to our time was an accident and his later spells rarely work.
The contrast between past and present caused some great comedic moments. What is normal to us, a lightbulb for instance, turned into a cause of wonder in the eyes of Catweazle and this made children realise how magical and wondrous our inventions must seem to people who have never seen them before.
The relationship between Catweazle and Carrot (and later on Cedric) was wonderful. It started with a healthy dose of distrust but gradually developed into a real friendship. It also cleverly reversed the adult-child role at times. Carrot, the child, having to explain 'elektrickery' to the adult Catweazle, surely appealed to children of all ages. In my opinion, series one is the better of the two series. Some of the jokes and gags were repeated and the relationship between Cedric and Catweazle never became as close as between Carrot and Catweazle. The redeeming element of series two was the global story arc dealing with the signs of the zodiac and the search for the treasure.

All in all, a very enjoyable, if dated, children's series.
moreless

Your typical fish out of water tale with a twisted take on modern life (in the 70s) as seen through the eyes of a time travell'd magician. Uriah Heap (the band) meets Steptoe & Son via the TARDIS. Conjures up twisted hildhood memories but difficult to re-watch. Ah well, Marc Bolan loved it!