Merlin

a seductive series. this is its basic virtue and the motif for who it is not a bad idea to see it. because it preserves the Medieval atmosphere, the traits of the well known characters but it has the courage and the science to be provocative, nice, dark and amusing, this kind of impeccable adaptation of a familiar universe giving to it new splendid nuances and details. it is a series about friendship and about different forms of magic, about trust and challenges, about beauty and about courage, about a form of delicate and precise definition of the meanings of life in the best manner. so, a charming series. good acting. and great story. enough for create dependence.

Oh Merlin. Four years since I finished my last re-watch and you're still breaking my heart. You are quite terrible in many ways, with some of the cheesiest special effects I've ever seen on television, and some of the cheesiest writing as well, but your story captured my imagination like no Game of Thrones has done. The friendship/romance between Merlin and Arthur is almost unbearably lovely and the characters of Guinevere and the knights still haven't left my heart. There were moments of absolute brilliance in this little family show elevated by beautiful acting that still resonate and stay with me after all these years. I would go through it all again.

Okay, I feel like you have to judge this show with a grain of salt. I've actually found it very enjoyable and oddly addictive, though that doesn't mean I think it's good. Yes, there are plot holes, character inconsistencies, cheesy dialogue, etc., but I think because it doesn't take itself too seriously (like, for example, Robin Hood was prone to do) it can get away with most of these things. There are moments of genuine comedy that I really appreciate, and the rest of the time I spend giggling at the aforementioned flaws. I think the cast is quite good as well: Colin Morgan is charmingly dorky as the title character; Anthony Head milks a surprising amount of emotion from a ridiculously poorly written character; and the rest (except perhaps for Katie McGrath, who can be a little too emotional) imbue their roles with genuine humanity. I especially like the growing relationship between Merlin and Arthur-- the way the show is written, Merlin's only reason for helping Arthur is that 'it's his destiny,' and Arthur has no real reason at all to help Merlin, and yet you definitely feel that they are starting to care for each other.

So, yeah, it's no television masterpiece, but it is fun to watch, and sometimes that's all you need.

I've watched this series about 4 times, I just don't know what it is about it. It feels like home. The relationship between Merlin and Arthur is the most beautiful and funny I've seen on TV. I am very aware that the dialogues can feel a bit corny sometimes, especially in the first season, but it's just...endearing. The adventures are really fun, more so in the last seasons when the tone gets darker. Obviously the CGI isn't the best, and the show has its overdramatic moments, but it doesn't impact the quality significantly. Oh and the ending is not great and feels a bit rushed, which was a bit heartbreaking. It's not perfect but when you're this emotionally attached to a show it means it's pretty good.

What a wonderful tonic to revisit Merlin in 2020 on Pick TV. If you have not seen it yet, don't expect a history lesson, just imagine it as a fairy tale your Dad might tell you as a child, so like your Dad, there maybe plot inconsistency and dialogue you're not expecting but it does not matter, this is pure wonderful fantasy and escape from whatever the real world is throwing at you at the moment. I have to say for me that this is about the only TV series ever where I have loved all the characters, everyone darn one of them whether they are in the entire series or just a couple of episodes have added something and made us laugh,cry,scare whatever.