I am – Hercules!!


A decent and doubtlessly “Harry Potter”-inspired BBC series following the famous medieval wizard when he was a boy, “Merlin” stars “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” father figure Anthony Stewart Head as Arthur’s pop, the sorcery-hating King Uther Pendragon, and “Potter” vet John Hurt as the voice of an all-knowing CGI dragon.

It’s from writers Julian Jones, Jake Michie and Johnny Capps, all of whom previously collaborated on another British series, Sky One’s “Hex.”

The story of the series reminds a bit of the new “Star Trek” movie: Young Merlin and Young Arthur don’t get along in any way at first, even though an old dragon in a cave (who, like Spock Prime in a cave, somehow knows the future) tells Merlin that he and Arthur are destined to do great things together.

In most other respects the series feels more like American syndicated efforts in the vein of “Xena: Warrior Princess,” but without all the contemporary-sounding wisecrackery, and with generally stronger acting. Particularly good are 23-year-old Colin Morgan as the title character and Bradley James as his nemesis and future king. Head is terrific but underutilized as King Uther; it’s not hard to understand why he’s anxious to return to the Rupert Giles character in Joss Whedon’s proposed “Ripper” project.

The first two episodes airing Sunday are awfully repetitive; each hour essentially depicts Merlin discovering and (SPOILER ALERT!) defeating a magic-user determined to do Arthur harm. Though the project’s production values and performances go a long way toward compensating for the often pedestrian nature of the scripting, this one’s not destined for my DVR.

Entertainment Weekly says:

… Cheesy? Sure. But there's enough sword-clanging Action — not to mention homoerotic tension — to keep viewers happily entertained for a spell. …

The New York Times says:

… Although “Merlin” is refreshingly different from the sitcoms and reality competitions that clutter prime time, the show may seem a little too PG for its slot, and better suited to Saturday morning children’s programming. What saves the series and makes it enjoyable for older viewers is the chemistry of the two appealing lead actors, Mr. Morgan and Mr. James, who make the sparring, double-edged friendship of Merlin and Arthur amusing even when the script doesn’t live up to their high spirits. …

The Washington Post says:

… Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur) are adorable on screen, and Angel Coulby (Gwen) brings a sassy verve to a production that is funny and well-acted. The British import also boasts high-quality special effects and promises a bevy of magical creatures during its 13-episode run. …

The Newark Star Ledger says:

… isn't terrible, and certainly better than some other WB/CW attempts to duplicate the "Smallville" formula. (Anybody remember the short-lived "Tarzan"? Or the "Lone Ranger" pilot-turned-TV-movie with Chad Michael Murray?) …

The Boston Globe says:

… Sadly, the writers of “Merlin’’ fail to develop any very original Arthurian origins. The middling show plays too much like “The O.C.’’ with swords, crowns, and a cheesy CGI dragon…

The Hollywood Reporter says:

… a fresh, and delightfully color-blind, approach to the tale …

Variety says:

… a rather tepid drink … the new Camelot's shining moments are all too brief, indeed.

8 p.m. Sunday. NBC.

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