Why Did you Watch Merlin (assuming you did)?

I may have watched Merlin for the costumes alone. The colours and styles of the Medieval wardrobes were not strictly authentic but they made a good effort while having a real flare. I remember a dress Morgana wore which really caught my imagination but then I noticed she was wearing what looked exactly like modern high heels. Not quite right historically but altogether she looked like a Princess.

The Merlin and Morgana Show

Morgana is my favourite character. I really wish the show had done more with Merlin and Morgana. In the first season Gwen liked Merlin, until the second season when she switched to being love lorn for Arthur and sometimes Lancelot. Morgana seemed to like Arthur, there were expectations for them to get together but I thought she saw him more as a brother. One of my favourite scenes was Merlin poisoning Morgana. It was the first really hard decision Merlin had to make and from there on he seemed less a boy and I think he became the dragon lord soon after. Merlin and Morgana could have worked, if they had been written that way. She would have been much different if she had a real friend she could count on.

I don’t think Morgana’s motives were ever really explained or shown very well. Her character begins as a brave princess with a few bad dreams. She isn’t told who she is, that she has power and was supposed to become someone so different from the brave princess who could hold a sword. Without real cause she becomes bitter and angry even plotting to murder Arthur. She liked Arthur in season one, trusted and confided in him. She was just as honourable and kind as Arthur or Merlin in the first season. Finding out she is Uther’s daughter does not seem like enough to cause her jump in loyalties.

The Merlin and Arthur Show

I enjoyed the rapport between Arthur and Merlin as two young men. Merlin is a bit too good to be true. Steadfast and loyal just because the dragon told him his fate was to make Arthur become a great king. But he and Arthur do develop a friendship which can almost be understood in spite of the servant and royal Prince roles they actually have. Some of the best lines and humour come from the simple moments between Merlin and Arthur.

I liked the character of Uther who I have never seen given so much depth and range in any other movie or series about Arthur, Merlin and the knights of the round table. Uther becomes a real person rather than a background story. Of all the characters I think Uther is the most human, with human flaws, pride and determination. Though he is supposed to be less than Arthur as a king he actually does make very tough decisions and choices which Arthur seems unable to do. Arthur does not want to be a the bad guy but Uther understands a king (or a parent or any other type of leader) can’t always be popular or seen by all as the good guy.

Merlin is on NetFlix Too

Overall I liked the series. I’m watching it over again on NetFlix this week and will likely rewatch and catch up on missed episodes all this month. I didn’t catch a big part of the fourth season so I am looking forward to it.