# Merlin (2008)

> A young manservant with secret magical powers secretly protects Prince Arthur and the kingdom of Camelot from sorcery-hating authority.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/6727

## Facts

- Seasons: 5
- Episodes: 65
- Episode runtime: 43 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: fantasy, adventure, drama
- Created by: Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy, Julian Jones
- Network: BBC One
- Cast: Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Anthony Stewart Head, Richard Wilson, Michelle Ryan, Alexander Vlahos
- TMDB rating: 7.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1199099/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: whimsical, warm, adventurous, lighthearted, earnest

## What critics say

Audiences rated the series positively across all five seasons, praising its playful take on the Arthurian legend and the chemistry between its leads.

## Synopsis

Merlin (2008-2012) is a British fantasy adventure series created by Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy and Julian Jones for BBC One. Colin Morgan plays Merlin, a young man with extraordinary magical powers who serves as manservant to the headstrong Prince Arthur, played by Bradley James. Their unlikely friendship anchors a five-season run of thirteen-episode seasons. Each season pairs a larger, self-contained magical threat, often a sorcerer, a creature or a dark spell, with a steady undercurrent of hidden loyalty. Merlin must keep his powers secret from King Uther (Anthony Stewart Head), who has outlawed magic in the kingdom of Camelot, while Gwen (Angel Coulby) and the court physician Gaius (Richard Wilson) help shield him. The show is set in a legendary medieval Camelot with castles, forests and tournaments. It is a family-friendly, lighthearted fantasy with warm humor and sincere adventure, in the vein of Once Upon a Time and Camelot. Fans of Arthurian myth and gentle swashbuckling will find it easy to enjoy.

## Shows like Merlin

- [Legend of the Seeker (2008)](https://ember.film/tv/7166)
- [Merlin: Secrets and Magic (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/28494)
- [The Winter King (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/83831)
- [King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1979)](https://ember.film/tv/20278)
- [The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/138716)
- [The Beginning After the End (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/181464)
- [The Worst Witch (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/60940)
- [Camelot (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/31253)
- [The Letter for the King (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/83514)
- [The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog (1998)](https://ember.film/tv/2590)

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