Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-93.72.133.51-20140307194703/@comment-58.6.252.95-20140307215411

I came to conclusion at the end of the series, that they seriously had no respect for the character, and demeaned and belittled a great legend. I think their whole premise was flawed from the very beginning. Because they never seemed  to have planned where the series would go very well, they could never rectify it. (or didn't want to, I always got the feeling they weren't fond of their titular character.

The legend Merlin is known for two things, one is of course, bringing about Arthur's birth and guiding him in his Kingship, but also he's primarily known for prophesying. What did this series do? Give everybody else the gift of seeing the future and leaving Merlin in the dark about what was going on, having the great Dragon and then Giaus telling him what he was supposed to do, but also giving him conflicting advice. They took away his mystique and made him a clumsy servant, who had to play the fool. Every so often we had Arthur say, "there's something more to you" (what I believe is called "Petting the dog" in screen writing terms) but it never resulted in anything more than a tease to the audience

I think season 1 was the best in one respect, because season 1 Merlin didn't just accept it this was his destiny, he wanted Arthur to prove to him that he was worth it, season 1 Merlin wasn't just going to take anybodies word for it. He also knew that there was much more at stake then just keeping Arthur alive. But as the show progressed, they actually stripped away, not added to, the characters ability, they just tried to humanize the characters too much, and these characters of legend were reduced to falling over in manure, and being the object of bullying. (its the sort of stuff kids write)  Merlin was never pro-active in anyway, he was always reacting, and needing to go and get advice. In later seasons, Merlin just accepted blindly that this was his destiny and he had to fulfill it. No wonder there are all these theories about the troll-dragon who was just playing Merlin for his own fun and revenge, Personally I think it was Giaus who won in the end, he was the one who wanted nothing to change, and to retain his position as advisor (although he ends up advising Gwen and not Arthur, he never lost his job), which he would have lost if Arthur had elevated Merlin to the position.

One thing that has always bugged me, is that Merlin is told he is a creature of magic,  his magic comes from the Old Religion, but then when he comes up against those of the Old Religion (which is different than the Druids? I never quite worked that out), he pretty much kills them off, or they oppose him (as in the Disir) When he should have been working with people of the Old Religion all along, because he was one of them

I hope this makes sense, because honestly, trying to rationalise this show does my head in.