Merlin is a fantasy drama loosely based on the familiar legends of King Arthur and his mystical kingdom of Camelot.
The Plot of Merlin
Young low-born Merlin (Colin Morgan) possesses magical talent, which must be kept secret since such powers are treasonous in the court of King Uther (Anthony Head).
In order to allow Merlin to secretly improve his talents, Merlin’s loving mother sends him to live with the court physician Gaius (Richard Wilson), who is one of the few trusted individuals aware of Merlin’s growing magical abilities.
Once at court, Merlin becomes the trusted friend of the young heir to the throne, Prince Arthur (Bradley James). Both the royal father and son are hindered by flaws such as stubbornness, but each is also well meaning and benevolent.
Throughout the series various challenges and dangers are encountered as plotlines and character relationships develop.
The Cast of Merlin
Colin Morgan and Bradley James portray the main characters of Merlin and Arthur as intriguing, entertaining, and likeable protagonists.
The famed Guinevere (Gwen) is written as a servant to the king’s ward Morgana (Katie McGarth). Guinevere herself is well played by Angel Coulby, who shows potential of being able to interest audiences in her characters and the characters around her. The performance of McGarth as Morgana is much less enjoyable and somewhat uneven in quality.
Overall, the supporting cast is acceptable. Although the performances of some cast members, such as Anthony Head as the reigning King is occasionally wanting.
Science Fiction Fantasy from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings
The legendary stories of the future King Arthur require a mythically rich and lush appearance to appeal to the imagination of audiences. Predominately, the series allows the show this needed “Technicolor-like” effect and gracious regal and magical look.
However, there are points when the appearance of the show more greatly resembles the grittier appearance of the first season of BlackAdder rather than the more impressive appearance of the recent movies of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, which all more seamlessly blended grit with glamour.
The Doctor Who Tradition of Science Fiction Fantasy
Merlin has already been compared to series such as Doctor Who, and it has the potential to appeal to audiences who enjoy series routed in all ranges of mystical fantasy and modernized “classical” story themes such as good verses evil and dutiful honor.
Critiquing Merlin
Although the first episode of Merlin makes the mistake of uninterestingly unraveling some initial information, once the storyline foundation is laid, it is an enjoyable series.
There are certain uneven aspects of the production and plot, and anyone particularly fond of the traditional Arthurian stories may find the vast story alterations unnerving or even irritating at times.
However, overall, Merlin has the potential to be amusing and absorbing entertainment for a wide range of audiences.
