BBC's "Merlin"

Cafe Society
1

Instead of bumping this older thread, I figured I’d start anew:

Season 5, the final series of the BBC show “Merlin,” wrapped up in the UK in December 2012 but only started airing here in the US in January.

Truth be told, I only came across it recently while flipping channels one evening. I saw the third episode of Season 5 and thought, good lord, how could I have missed this show? Where have I been? So, of course, I had to search the interwebs to catch up. Thank goodness for Hulu and Vimeo!

After watching all prior seasons, I must say that the cast in this show has a fantastic chemistry. The show (writing, etc.) is probably aimed at a younger audience, but it was endearing because of a good blend of action, drama, suspense, comedy, and of course, strong friendship.

After watching this series, my image of Merlin will always take the form of Colin Morgan. I can’t imagine anyone else in that role. He was excellent, and, not so coincidentally, won the National Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama last week.

Selfishly, I couldn’t wait for the entire 5th season to air here in the US, so after much searching I was able to watch all of Season 5 in various places. Honestly, I am quite shocked to have had such an emotional reaction to a TV show. I can’t explain the reason, really, but certainly, it has affected me. I’m rewatching it now with my children who have become addicted as well, and I plan to add the series to my home DVD collection.

I’m saddened that it is over. Anyone else watching it?

2

I enjoy the show. I think the dialog between Merlin and Arthur is often funny.

I’m more of a hard science fiction fan and not so big on magic and fantasy. I’ve made an exception for Merlin.

3

It’s one of the few fantasy shows I watch. The chemistry between Merlin and Arthur is great; to me it’s the best part of the show.

4

Agreed. The witty banter between those characters was one of the things that first sucked me in.

I especially liked the scenes where we first see “Old Merlin.” Morgan does a great job with that character, and his taunting of Arthur is hilarious.

5

When it first began, and I saw the odd way they were handling the traditional familiar legends, I was suspicious that it was going to be lame and embarrassing. But after a short while it was just enjoyable as a fun adventure series, and the Arthurian myth wasn’t really that important.

By the end of season 2, though, the groundwork was being laid to start introducing the familiar stories into the tale, and by then the cast had really warmed to each other and it showed. Though there were maybe too many “being tricked into getting married” storylines.

By the end almost all of the traditional myth had been interwoven into the tale, and it really worked. It felt like they had carefully planned it from the start.

Without giving anything away: The final episode surprised and delighted me.

6

I enjoy the show mostly, although initially the playing around with the Arthur legend was a bit … annoying. Uther Pendragon still around? Mordred NOT Arthur’s illegitimate son (yes, I realize that there are some traditions that speak of Mordred as a nephew, but this show doesn’t even do that.) I['ve mostly got over that, but only just mostly.

I’ve hit the point where the “magic is forbidden” has become old hat. It would be nice to see these characters start to evolve into the traditional etc etc. And I think they’re re-running old plots (Morgana sneaks into Camelot disguised as… they’ve run that several times, I think.)

7

GuanoLad: I’m putting my response to you in a spoiler tag, just in case.

[spoiler]That last episode was emotionally draining for me. As I mentioned in the OP, I was completely surprised by the emotional effect the entire series had on me. I wish I could do justice with an explanation, but for the life of me, I just can’t put it into words.

And, after I got over the initial shock, I believe I can say I was very pleased with the ending, too. Of course it would have been nice to have been able to see Arthur and Merlin come back to Camelot, lift the ban on magic, and see the characters evolve into their “Golden Age” legend status, but I’m not sure I would have been satisfied with that outcome.

I think the writers and cast took a great risk on ending the series as they did, but they pulled it off well. If the “happily ever after” ending had been used, I don’t think so many people would still be talking about this show and the effect it had upon them.

I was very pleased.[/spoiler]

8

I enjoyed the first season of this show, but a busy life kept me from following the remaining seasons. Fortunately, Netflix can fix that! I’m glad to here it remained a quality, fun production right up to the end.