I discovered the BBC's TV series Merlin by accident. While flipping through shows on Hulu, I happened to see a link with a picture of a dark-haired boy on it. I clicked it, and the rest, as they say, was history. Merlin is first and foremost a British TV show, hitting television waves in 2008. Since then, it has come to 183 countries and has been renewed through five seasons. Season four debuted on Syfy Jan. 6, but as my discovery of the show suggests, Merlin also enjoys a strong online fanbase which is unencumbered by airwaves or network airdates.
Set before the inception of the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin treats viewers to the familiar characters of Arthur (Bradley James), Morgana le Fay (Katie McGrath), Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera), Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Guinevere (Angel Coulby). The show starts as a prequel to the canonized Arthur stories and gradually works the legends into each season. Boy-wizard Merlin must keep his powers a secret because of King Uther's policy of punishing magic by death. His survival as a warlock is further complicated by the fact that he is Prince Arthur's manservant and cannot let Arthur know of his powers. As the seasons progress, Merlin and Arthur become close friends, with Merlin repeatedly saving Arthur's life via magic - without Arthur catching on.
Yes, Merlin has had some cheesy moments. Some of the first season's costumes look like cheap Halloween outfits, and the special effects verged on pathetic. Nevertheless, there is something about the show which draws viewers. The acting is solid and the characters are endearing, and a few episodes are enough to convince the viewer to forgive the show's low budget and only concentrate on the characters. And such dedication pays off. As Merlin progresses, the costumes and special effects get better, and so does the plot. The fourth season opens with King Uther's illegitimate daughter Morgana unleashing evil spirits on Camelot in an attempt to seize the throne from Arthur. Arthur and his newly appointed knights, Lancelot and company - and Merlin, of course - set out to stop her. Merlin is again faced with the challenge of ensuring Camelot's survival while keeping Arthur safe yet unaware of Merlin's magic. Each episode of the fourth season appears chock-full of the action, humor and surprising plot twists fans love, while avoiding some of the filler plot moments which plagued the third season.
I'll readily admit that I'm hooked on Merlin. As an Arthurian enthusiast, I love seeing how the show incorporates the old stories, and any fantasy lover will surely enjoy it as well. Tune in to Syfy Fridays at 10 p.m. - or look it up on Hulu - to catch the latest and greatest on the oldest wiz kid on the block.
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