Order of Merlin, First Class
The BBC has made a show about Merlin. It is, obviously about, well, Merlin. But then you need to forget almost everything you think you know about Merlin and Arthur and things. Because Merlin is not the wise old wizard you think you know. He is a bit of a fool; an impatient idiot sometimes; a clumsy but magically very powerful teenager. Arthur is not the wise king you think you know, but a bullying, arrogant nevertheless brave young prat. They are about the same age which contradicts a bit what you knew about them, does it not? Come to think of it, no one there is really like the one you would expect. Confused? So was I. Uther Pendragon is still the king, but a king that does not allow magic in his realm on pain of death. Nimueh is not Merlin’s love but his enemy (and she wants to kill everyone in the show). Morgana is not a witch ‘only’ a seer. And Guinevere (also called Gwen) is Morgana’s maid. And she is black and fat and not too good-looking to be honest. There you have it, in a nutshell. A perfect recipe for disaster, wouldn’t you say? I did. But only until I have watched the first episode and then I did not stop until I have seen the entire first series. Because the show is very good. The story is excellent, the script is OK, there is plenty of good humor in it and the young actors aren’t bad themselves, especially Merlin. And the dragon is very convincing. I cannot wait for the next season to start. Alas, it will only start in December. If it will be as good as the first one than it will surely deserve an ‘Order of Merlin, First Class”.
Attila Andrasy
13/04/2010
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Well, my favourite is the dragon, of course. Nevertheless, Merlin is really convincing in a rather complex performance. The story is great indeed, surprising to say the least.