1.01 – The Dragon’s Call – Merlin Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

“No young man, no matter how great, can know his destiny”

Think of a world in which prejudice is law. Imagine that the oppressed are, in fact, not only worthy, but also powerful. What if the folly of youth gave way to the potential for greatness? What if you had gifts, but did not know how to utilize it? The opening salvo of Merlin embraces these elements and forges a narrative out of them – one which is at once compelling and spellbinding. All told, the episode is notable for being something akin to a prequel – a precursor to the already legendary tales of King Arthur and the Wizard Merlin. To see the two as young, inexperienced, foolish men is a interesting, especially considering where the two are destined to find themselves.

And this is an episode about Destiny.

“The Dragon’s Call” is the story of how a young Merlin arrives in Camelot and discovers his destiny as protector and guide for Arthur. But at this point, Merlin is little more than an awkward young adult, unsure of his own powers – let alone his place in a dangerous, unsettled world. As Merlin arrives in Camelot, a young man is put to death for practicing Magic, and the grieving mother vows to avenge her son by killing Arthur, son of King Uther Pendragon. For his part, Arthur is brash, arrogant, and too intent on acting powerful, rather than letting his power be demonstrated through the nobility of his actions. But as the episode unfolds, Merlin will learn that it is his destiny to safeguard Arthur from all enemies – even from powerful witches.

The strengths of the episode come from its exploration of Merlin’s character, his struggle to find his place in the world, and its humor. Merlin is indeed the archetypal teen – lanky, clumsy and unsure how to apply his talents. That he is a singularly powerful and talented magician is of no help to him in a world that does not value magic. In this sense, Merlin faces the typical conflicts of a teenager – feeling unappreciated and unworthy in the face of what society deems to be “important.” But Merlin gets some help from a caring protector, named Gaius (whose last name isn’t Baltar, thankfully), and a Great Dragon (voiced by the legendary John Hurt). Through these two mentors, Merlin learns to not only channel his powers, but use them for the good of all.

Along the way, there’s a healthy dose of humor involved in the story. It’s a nice touch, providing a balanced approach which is endearing and engaging. Also enjoyable are the supporting characters. Guinevere, as a helpful, compassionate friend to Merlin is especially noteworthy. And the episode’s villain, the grieving mother, is both plausible and enjoyable to see on-screen.

Incidentally, if you’re looking for criticisms, they can be found both in the visual effects and the overall pacing of the episode. The visuals are obvious and subpar, but they do serve their purpose. More critically is the way the story unfolds. By the time Merlin finally confronts the Great Dragon and learns of his destiny, half of the episode has passed on by. The problem is that only with Merlin’s knowledge of his destiny does the episode really find its footing.

Overall Grade: B-

“The Dragon’s Call” is a solid, worthy opening episode. Enough character and story elements are established to draw in viewers and make them care about the characters. It’s not perfect. Indeed, this episode is more like a lighthearted (and lightweight) version of Legend of the Seeker. But if you’re a Seeker fan and are looking for something to keep you entertained over the summer, you could do a lot worse than Merlin. Plus, if you’re a casual fan, just checking in to see what all the fuss is about, there’s enough here to keep you interested for at least a few more episodes.

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Topics: Sci-Fi, TV Reviews
Filed under: Merlin