BBC’s Merlin

Aug 17, 2009: If there is one show I recommend to catch up on this summer, it is Merlin. I admit, when I saw the premier, I was a little taken aback by the huge twist on the Aurthurian tale. Merlin is not the grey haired Dumbledorian figure we’ve all come to imagine him as being, but instead, like Clark Kent in Smallville, he is a teenager growing up and learning lessons along the way. While this isn’t such a strech from the traditional tales (I mean, obviously an elderly Merlin would have had to be a kid at some point), it was the fact that Arthur is the same age as him and is a prince that had me clenching my teeth. But after watching the first episode I actually came to appreciate this twist. Being the same age gives greater depth to the characters, as they learn to overcome trials together- and of course, get involved in medieval drama along the way. While the show’s main audience is most likely junior high kids, people of all ages can enjoy its entertaining stories and retelling of  familiar characters, including King Uther (Arthur’s father), Morgana Le Fay, and Gwenyvere.  Another twist in this version, one that I liked from the start, is that Gwenyvere is not the beautiful, sultry princess that she is portrayed to be in previous versions of King Arthur. Instead, she is just a simple servant girl, destined to one day become queen. Her beauty is not physical but from within, a rare trademark in today’s TV shows.