Merlin The Series
Comes To NBC
By Mel Kientz

Every magician worth his or her pixey-dust knows the story of Merlin, the great magician of the Arthurian romances. If you have somehow escaped this principal figure of our entertainment art form, I would direct you to the writings of T.H. White (1906-1964) and his 1939 masterwork, The Once and Future King. Within these pages was another smaller abridged work later completed and turned into a stand alone book, the original manuscript of which now resides in the Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas in Austin. The finished work was finally published in 1958 and called The Book of Merlyn. Please note the spelling. (read more)

This month, NBC brings Merlin to life again to our all digital broadcasting system here in the United States premiering on Father's Day, June 21st at 8:00pm (7:00pm, Central).

"Merlin" is a new drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend for a new audience. The mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began; a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious people; a dangerous world in which magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon."

"We forget that Merlin at some point was a young guy, finding his place in the world," explains Colin Morgan, who plays the young magician in the new NBC Mini-series drama.

This is the point of the series. There is plenty of dramatic conflict between the Man That Would Be King, played by Bradley James and the young Merlin. Throw in a measure of Arthurian legend including Morgana (Katie McGarth), the heart throb Guinevere (Angel Coulby), Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera), the mystical Excalibur Sword and you have a rich tapestry of myth and legend for co-creator, Johnny Capps and crew to weave a compelling story.

"It's really good fun to take the classic legends and say how they began" Capps said in a BBC PR release.

This is the same path that Gregory Maguire has taken with his writings - Wicked and Son of a Witch - in looking at the beginnings of The Wizard of Oz.

When this program aired in Great Britain, the production company put up a web site (click here).  This is a pretty slick site and makes me want to see the complete series. NBC has followed suit and you may want to wonder over there to see the difference (click here).

In any case, the story is available again in a broadcast television format ready for another generation of those interested in the castles, dragon's, ladies in distress and the magical arts . . .

Here is a related link you may find of interest on this specific topic of Merlin and the Media
(click here).  It includes a review of the show at the bottom ( three out of five stars).