Review of Merlin, Season 1, Episode 1: The Dragon's Call
I had been hearing a lot about this show both on TV and in the corners of the Internet that I frequent. So I decided to add this show to the list of other shows that I'm determined to watch so that I can finally say I've seen all those shows I keep hearing about that pique my interest.
The show opens with Merlin in his youth, traveling with a pack on his back and bound for Camelot. He reaches the great city and is walking around in awe and misty eyed. I guess he'd been looking forward to arriving for quite some time. But not ten minutes from entering the city gates, he gets to watch his first execution. The crime: the practice of magic. If I were Merlin, I'd be making my stay in Camelot a short one after that. Then some creepy old lady promises revenge upon the King before flying off in a poof of magic smoke. Simple set up. Nothing spectacular, but we can all hop on this wagon and see where it goes.
It doesn't take a genius to guess that by the time the episode is all well and done, Merlin will somehow foil the witch's plot. But it was kind of cute that everyone went about their business the ENTIRE episode having no idea that some witch was plotting her revenge.
The episode does a well enough job introducing the view to a string of characters that you can easily assume will have some level of importance throughout the story. If you are more familiar with the tales of Author and the Knights of The Round Table, and the story of Merlin, then figuring out what will be going on with these characters down the road will be even easier, I imagine. My memory of the old stories are a bit wishy washy so it will be almost like learning them for the first time.
There isn't too much to report without giving away a lot. We've got a fantasy story unfolding with the young Merlin. He's got to keep his magic a secret so he doesn't get his head chopped off. But he does have the advantage over other mages, wizards and witches because he's got a natural gift for magic. It just happens for him. Others are forced to recite incantations and chants in order to cause magical reactions. So it will be fun seeing that come into play and when that may no longer be an advantage that Merlin has.
I guess we'll just have to see what happens next, then! The show is a bit predictable, but not boring. So all in all, not a really bad start! My rating: 3/5 STARS
But I want to hear from you guys. What did you think of the first episode of Merlin?
The show opens with Merlin in his youth, traveling with a pack on his back and bound for Camelot. He reaches the great city and is walking around in awe and misty eyed. I guess he'd been looking forward to arriving for quite some time. But not ten minutes from entering the city gates, he gets to watch his first execution. The crime: the practice of magic. If I were Merlin, I'd be making my stay in Camelot a short one after that. Then some creepy old lady promises revenge upon the King before flying off in a poof of magic smoke. Simple set up. Nothing spectacular, but we can all hop on this wagon and see where it goes.
It doesn't take a genius to guess that by the time the episode is all well and done, Merlin will somehow foil the witch's plot. But it was kind of cute that everyone went about their business the ENTIRE episode having no idea that some witch was plotting her revenge.
The episode does a well enough job introducing the view to a string of characters that you can easily assume will have some level of importance throughout the story. If you are more familiar with the tales of Author and the Knights of The Round Table, and the story of Merlin, then figuring out what will be going on with these characters down the road will be even easier, I imagine. My memory of the old stories are a bit wishy washy so it will be almost like learning them for the first time.
There isn't too much to report without giving away a lot. We've got a fantasy story unfolding with the young Merlin. He's got to keep his magic a secret so he doesn't get his head chopped off. But he does have the advantage over other mages, wizards and witches because he's got a natural gift for magic. It just happens for him. Others are forced to recite incantations and chants in order to cause magical reactions. So it will be fun seeing that come into play and when that may no longer be an advantage that Merlin has.
I guess we'll just have to see what happens next, then! The show is a bit predictable, but not boring. So all in all, not a really bad start! My rating: 3/5 STARS
But I want to hear from you guys. What did you think of the first episode of Merlin?