Reviewing Movies

The first thing I noticed was that in the opening dialogue Merlin is now a young man, not a young boy. When that change occurred I can't be certain. Not inappropriate considering Colin Morgan's 27 years old. He was a New Year's baby if you didn't know. Season 5 begins 3 years later. Uther is dead though his spirit is restless, and Arthur is King and married to Gweneviere. Morgana still haunts the shadows and Modred becomes a knight of Camelot. Arthur's Bane is Arthur himself sowing the seeds of his own downfall. Otherwise little seems to have changed. Merlin still lives in the room off Gaius' Lab, still wears the same clothes he was dressed in walking into Camelot, he's still Arthur's servant, and sorcery is still banned though with Modred on the scene more people are aware and able to practice it.

One of the strengths of the series and BBC Productions in general is the attention to detail as seen in the hazing that goes on when Modred sets out with the knights on his first mission--he is asked to ride seated backward on his saddle and subjected to other ignominities. Such extras add a sense of reality to a show that also features dragons and unicorns.

Morgana inhabits a dark tower not unlike those seen in Lord of the Rings though one suspects this one is CGI produced. This final season has a darker tone. Arthur is king so his carefree days are behind him though we see little of the tedious duties that must attend such a position. Plot-lines centre around attempts to cause the king harm and Morgana appears at the centre of most. The relationship between Merlin and Arthur is still the central theme of the series.

Arthurian Legend has been reworked and re-imagined countless times in the last millennial. This series is yet another in the long line. The mythic bits are all in place though the round table looks rather cramped in Pierrefonds Throne Room. And as Excalibur is cast into the lake at Avalon the Lady's arm rises from the lake to grasp it and we bid farewell to Arthur and Merlin.