Merlin - Review

“There must be another Arthur because this one’s an idiot” – A review of Merlin. 

“In a land of myth, and a time of magic... the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name... Merlin.”

There’s something addictive about mythology and legend. The idea of a past world where magic was real, dragons soared in the skies, and knights battled monsters injects a little whimsy into everyday life. Whilst I’ve enjoyed mythology since I was a young child, I think Merlin was one of the first shows to cement my interest.

The BBC series centres around a young Merlin arriving in Camelot, having been sent away to live with the court physician Gaius by his mother due to his “special gift”. Merlin is a warlock, but magic has been outlawed by King Uther Pendragon, and he must learn to properly control his powers lest his talents be discovered. Upon entering Camelot, Merlin meets the handsome, somewhat arrogant future king, Arthur. Upon their first meeting the pair hardly seem likely to form a friendship; Merlin finds Arthur to be a bully, and Arthur is less than impressed by Merlin in return. However, Merlin saves Arthur’s life and becomes his servant.

Over time, the pair form an unlikely friendship; Merlin and Arthur regularly share relatively good-natured insults, their roasting of each other forming one of the most enjoyable aspects of the show. Arthur isn’t used to being challenged, yet he seems to respect Merlin for it and here it really works, with the two of them playfully (and often not so playfully) insulting one another. Their friendship grows into something strong, formed on loyalty, sacrifice, trust and shared experiences, until the lines of servant and master blur into a true friendship.

Running for five seasons, Merlin was a reimagining of the legend for new audiences. Watching the two legendary figures try to understand their respective destinies at such a young age was a joy; Arthur trying to navigate his future as King, and Merlin learning to hone his powers and protect Arthur whilst keeping his abilities secret. It is clear the two need each other – their destinies are intertwined, and their bond leads to growth for both. Merlin begins as an inexperienced and somewhat naïve young sorcerer, but grows into a protector, often battling between his loyalty to Arthur and his own moral compass, whilst Arthur’s friendship with Merlin directly contributes to his growth from a spoiled Prince to the kind and compassionate King he was born to be.

Whilst Merlin and Arthurs’s bond is one of my favourite aspects to the show, they’re by no means the only interesting characters. Good cannot exist without bad, so enter Morgana Pendragon. Originally a kind-hearted, likeable character, Morgana develops into an antagonist, a ruthless sorceress angered by the persecution of those born with magic by Uther. A complex character capable of both good and evil, Morgana turned her back on Camelot, taking a darker path and becoming a bitter and vengeful character and an excellent villain.

Another character of note was Gwen, Morgana’s servant and former friend. Strong willed, noble and brave, Gwen goes from servant to Queen, becoming a loyal friend to Arthur and a voice of reason for Arthur. Despite her life as a servant, Arthur is smitten by her, and against all the odds the pair are destined to be together despite Uther’s repeated attempts to separate the pair. Not only this, but Gwen is also the reason for Arthur and Merlin coming into possession of the legendary sword Excalibur; she gifts it to Merlin, explaining it was the finest sword her father ever created. Gwen is smart, seeing through Morgana’s lies, and all of this paired with her loyalty and grace make her a captivating character to watch.

Despite the show’s popularity, it couldn’t last. Unfortunately, the ending wasn’t great, and fans were left devastated by the fates of some of the main characters. With that said, this show is truly about the journey rather than the destination. It’s a show about friendship, loyalty, magic and brotherhood. It’s about seeing a magical Kingdom of times long past, it’s about unlikely alliances and deeply meaningful connections, heartbreaking betrayals and the battle between morality and destiny.

Is Merlin a perfect show? No. Often silly, full of cliches and with an occasional reliance on popular tropes, this is a family friendly reimaging of the legend with its issues. It’s a light-hearted show, sometimes lacking depth and often including somewhat predictable story lines. That said, it’s also massively addictive, and it’s the characters, the brilliant acting and often hilarious writing which makes Merlin so much fun to revisit.

In the end, it’s the remarkable chemistry and brotherhood between Merlin and Arthur that make this show so much fun to watch. Despite their often-hilarious banter, it’s clear that the two care deeply about each other, to the point that their platonic friendship is often remarked to be something more by fans. For me, the two show their affection to each other the way only true friends do – by absolutely destroying each other with banter.

 "You're saying I look like a toad?"

"Yes, and maybe one day you'll magically transform into a handsome prince, but since magic is outlawed that will probably never happen. Come on, let's go."

That’s true friendship if I’ve ever seen it.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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