Merlin's second season raises the bar for the TV fantasy series

01 February 2011

Gerard Wood

With the third season of Merlin come and gone in the UK and a fourth recently confirmed, it might seem a little late in the day to be looking back at Season Two of the BBC's speculative fantasy about the coming-of-age of Merlin and Arthur. Frankly, any excuse to revisit this charming and thoroughly enjoyable series is worth taking, and the release by BBC America of the Second Season on DVD is as good an excuse as any!

Conceived by producers Julian Murphy and Johnny Caps, Merlin was inspired by Warner Bros.' Smallville, which chronicles Superman’s early years. In turn, rather than giving us the familiar stuff of Arthurian legend, Merlin's writers explore a time before Camelot's Golden Age, imagining the events, personalities, relationships and conflicts which may have brought about that Golden Age and its eventual doom. Very occasionally this endeavour creates some clunky moments when key elements from legend are shoe-horned into the youthful adventures of the characters, but on the whole the writers have elegantly introduced the themes and elements of legend with which we're so familiar.

Imagining a childhood for the key players in Arthurian legend, and one in which they grow to adulthood together, clearly requires some dramatic departures from the source material (Guinevere is a serving girl, for instance), and yet for the most part the writers have identified and extracted the essence of the source material. The development of the characters and narrative is  typically inspired and  slowly but surely brings us closer to the legend we know. To the credit of the writers and actors, these almost superhuman figures of legend are re-imagined as very believable characters with very human flaws and yet retain the potential for legendary greatness.

Of the three seasons screened in the UK, the second was least successful in terms of audience numbers, averaging 6.2 million viewers during its TV run. Season three averaged an impressive 7.17 million viewers, but did so on the strong foundation laid down by the first two seasons. In reviewing the first season I was optimistic that the writers would build on the foundation they’d laid, and for the most part the second season not only fulfills that promise but raises the bar several notches above the first.

A quick recap of the first season is probably in order:

Camelot before its Golden Age is ruled by the tyrannical Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head). Blaming magic for the death of his wife during childbirth Uther has stamped out the practice of magic with an iron boot, making it punishable by death. There could be no more dangerous place for a young man of magic, but Merlin (Colin Morgan) is drawn to Camelot in search of an explanation and purpose for his inexplicable powers. He quickly finds himself at odds with the arrogant prince Arthur (Bradley James) but Fate conspires against him and before he knows it his powers are put to use saving the prince. He discovers purpose, and his reward is the dubious honour of becoming Arthur’s man servant. Friendship is inevitable, but it’s a rocky road and along the way Merlin must learn to harness his power and keep it hidden, a tricky task given his youthful indiscretion. Through the guidance of his uncle Gaius (Richard Wilson), a man of science now but once also a sorcerer, and the great Dragon Kilgharrah (voiced by John Hurt), Merlin comes to understand that his destiny and Arthur's are inextricably linked.

And here’s Warner’s synopsis of the second season:

"Merlin is back with even more magic, adventure and romance as the young wizard struggles to protect Prince Arthur in the perilous world of Camelot. While battling deadly assassins, mystical monsters and the most powerful sorcerers Camelot has ever seen, Merlin must work harder than ever to conceal his unique abilities, as King Uther redoubles his war against magic. And Merlin isn’t the only one whose destiny calls—Lady Morgana (Katie McGrath), Uther’s ward, discovers dangerous secrets she dare not reveal; Lancelot returns, changing everything for both Gwen (Angel Coulby) and Arthur; and King Uther fall in love, little knowing that the charming Lady Catrina is secretly a hideous troll. And as Arthur continues on his path from arrogant prince to the noble and just King Arthur of legend, we see the return of the one prophesied to kill him—the mysterious druid boy, Mordred. Featuring exciting new villains, white-knuckle stunt sequences, and spectacular CGI monsters, Merlin Season two is more thrilling than ever."

With the second season the writers introduce more elements from the source material and pick up the threads carefully woven into the first, weaving the lot into a compelling narrative that promises to lead us to familiar territory in which Arthur rules Camelot with Merlin by his side. The cast have taken possession of their roles and are supported by great guests throughout the season, notably Charles Dance (Aredian the Witchfinder), John Lynch (Balinor – Merlin’s father), Emilia Fox (Morgause), Mackenzie Crook (Cedric / Cornelius Sigan) and Laura Donnelly (Freya). Judging by the improved effects, a bigger budget was on offer too, with a noticeable improvement in the creature effects, especially the great Dragon Kilgharrah. The combat too is more furious and convincing.

But the strength of the show, as it is with any show that hopes to stand the test of time, is the writing. It  has its highs and lows to be sure, and unfortunately the low point is very low indeed: the two part story, Beauty and the Beast, features a farting troll and is characterised by some fairly juvenile humour that is out of kilter with the tone of the series. The less said about it the better.

The season kicks off strongly with The Curse of Cornelius Sigan, which very neatly reminds us of many of the narrative threads established in the first season. We're reminded of Arthur's unswerving sense of honour and duty in contrast to Uther's more flexible approach to such things (time and again Uther would have his son betray his values rather than put himself at risk); Merlin turns, once again and not for the last time, to the Dragon Kilgharrah for help and makes a promise to free the dragon which by season's end has terrible (though liberating) consequences. We're forcefully reminded too of Uther's ruthless and vicious war against magic, which increasingly places him at odds with his ward, Morgana, setting them on a course that will spell the doom of Camelot. As the season progresses we better understand Uther's belief that magic is the root of evil, bound up as it is with the mystery surrounding Ygraine's death while giving birth to Arthur: a  terrible secret is revealed that threatens to destroy both father and son. Morgana takes a more prominent role as she discovers her power and learns to fear and to hate Uther. The final episode, The last Dragonlord, starring John Lynch as Merlin's father, is a suitably dramatic, thrilling and moving conclusion that sees Merlin come into his own as a power to be reckoned with.

By season's end many of the threads are in place for the terrible conflict that rages between half-sisters Morgana and Morgause with Camelot and Merlin. And for those who haven't seen it, Season Three is a ripper!

As of 18 January the Complete Second Season of Merlin is available in the US on DVD.

Own it on DVD:

Merlin Magic Comes to the UK

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