18 Years Later, Merlin Still Feels Perfect From Start to Finish

Following the recent death of actor Anthony Head, many viewers are revisiting one of his best-known projects: the BBC fantasy adventure Merlin, which ran for five seasons from 2008 to 2012 and remains a staple of ’00s British TV. The show follows Merlin (Colin Morgan), a young warlock who serves Prince Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James) while secretly learning magic away from the watchful eye of King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head).

John Hurt provides the voice of Kilgharrah the Great Dragon, and the series delivers a traditional tale of justice, good versus evil, and loyalty. Merlin worked within a relatively low budget, especially in its early episodes, and that is sometimes visible in the visuals.

Even so, the more basic special effects have aged well, and the series still holds up against many modern fantasy productions. The relationship between Merlin and Arthur has long been central to the show’s appeal.

United Kingdom

merlin, anthony head, colin morgan, bradley james, john hurt, kilgharrah, bbc, arthur pendragon, uther pendragon, special effects