 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Merlin
Common Sense Media says
Fresh take on legendary wizard is fun, if not truly magical.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this swords-'n'-sorcery series takes place in a Camelot very different from the one portrayed in other versions of the King Arthur legend: Merlin is young and untrained, King Uther Pendragon is something of a despot, practicing magic is a crime punishable by death, and Prince Arthur is a spoiled bully. There's no swearing and little romance, but expect plenty of action involving dark magic, swords, daggers, and other medieval weaponry.
What's the story?
Most people are familiar with Merlin, the wizened old wizard who served as advisor and mentor to noble King Arthur. But does anyone know how the powerful sorcerer learned to master magic? MERLIN focuses on the legendary wizard's teenage years, opening as the young, untrained magician (Colin Morgan), newly arrived in Camelot, is quickly tapped to become Prince Arthur's manservant. But this isn't a Camelot that will be familiar to people who know and love the legend. King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), Arthur's father, clearly cares for his subjects, but he's also a bit of a despot who believes that a stern hand is the best way to rule. He's banned the practice of magic, which he blames for sowing dissent in the land -- a policy that means Merlin must keep his talents under wraps. And Arthur (Bradley James) is a teenage bully who likes nothing more than terrorizing pages and commoners. But Merlin soon learns that it's his destiny to help Arthur assume his own destiny, clearly a challenge that will require a good bit of magic.
Is it any good?
Merlin offers a new take on a different stage of the King Arthur legend. Everyone knows how that story turns out, but the main characters' early years don't typically get as much attention. The show takes significant liberties with the conventions -- though there are so many versions of the story that there's plenty of tolerance for change. Making Merlin a novice magician and turning Arthur into a thoroughly unlikable jerk places the characters at the start of a developmental journey, inviting viewers along to see how they finally get to their well-known destination.
While the idea is solid, the execution is a little shaky. James is so effective at making Arthur unpleasant that it's hard to imagine him becoming a better person, while Morgan plays Merlin as bemused and a bit cocky and doesn't seem to have much else in his emotional repertoire. As a result, his young wizard frequently seems full of himself, which might be more appropriate for a seasoned magician rather than one just learning the trade. The show's tone veers from lighthearted to dark; some scenes are played for laughs and might be fun for young viewers, while others feature malevolent magic and medieval-style violence that's more appropriate for teens and up. Merlin, the legendary character, deserves a more impressive series than this. It's fun, but it lacks magic.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the legend of King Arthur. How does this show differ from other versions of the classic tale? Does the young prince seem like he's ready to become a noble king? Does Merlin have the potential to become a wise, learned wizard? Merlin has traditionally been portrayed as very old; does it seen strange to see him as a teen? Why do you think the show's producers decided to take this angle on the classic story? Who are they trying to appeal to? Does it work?
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AGE
Slightly violent, but a good message
We recently started letting the boys watch this show with us, and while it does get violent at times, it's not gory or gratuitous. The "bad" guys are terrible role models, of course, but it's clear that they're the bad guys. Merlin himself is a gentle soul who always does the right thing, and his mentor Gaius is noble and good. Arthur is a brat, but he is also a generally good person who struggles with his father's occasional cruelty. The characters are well-developed and our kids get the overall message, which is that black-and-white thinking is bad, and that as long as something is used for good, noble and honorable purposes, it's good. There are also strong messages about how a leader should treat his people kindly and with respect (Uther does not, but Arthur calls him out on it frequently, and it's clear that he will be a great king someday because he is kind and good). Our kids love magic and sorcery, and Merlin is a good role model for them because he struggles but he always makes the right choices in the end in spite of outside influences.
We like the fact that Merlin must sometimes wrestle with his conscience and make tough choices. We like our boys to know that it's not always going to be easy to make the right choices, and that the power to do the right thing comes from within, and what you know to be right and true and just.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 19, 2011
AGE
great!
this is age appropriate, but i chose 10+ because things can scare people under 10 and that it might be a bit too boring for under 10
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AGE
A Force for Good.
Merlin is a show where magic is prominent- and I love it. It's an enthralling story of Arthur and Merlin in their early years and how traditional Arthurian legend came to be. The characters undergo a lot of complex changes, like how Arthur becomes less of a sarcastic prat, but Morgana is constantly lied to and becomes the infamous Morgana le Fey. One of the main lessons is that magic can indeed be a force for good. And so can everything else.
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AGE
Great Intro to Classic Fantasy Fiction
Good take on the Arthur story. We've supplemented with "King Arthur and His Knights" by Howard Pyle. Good way to introduce differences in fiction. I'm on the border with the violence and some of the creature effects; however, both tend to be overshadowed by the positive and classic 'good vs. evil' role played out by the characters. From a Christian perspective, magic is presented as "...the old religion" but it is shown as being "practiced" and not worshiped. I would watch at least a few episodes so that you can address any concerns.
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AGE
Absolute favorite show!
My mom and I watch this all the time.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 7, 2011
AGE
Great show with some violence, 10+
I love this show. There is some fighting but not muck and there's no blood or gore. It is sometimes funny and sometimes sad but always action packed. It is very different to the original Merlin and Arthur story though. I recommend it to anyone who likes an action packed, appropriate TV show with a comedy twist and some sad moments.
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AGE
My favorite show!
This is my FAVORITE show! It's incredibly entertaining, ridiculously funny, and a great family show. Its so educational as well. I find myself wanting to read more about the Arthurian legend, and I am learning about so many characters. Violence is popular but not bloody, and usually more funny than scary. The charatcters (besides Uther and Morgana after season 2) show a kind heart and always do whats right. It's perfect for 11 and up, and probably even 10 year olds. Love it!!! *Colin Morgan (Merlin) is sooo hot!*
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AGE
The Best Show, Just Watch It
Merlin is good old British television and if you read a lot of audience reviews, you'll read a lot of good things, at least I did. This show is amazing, it blew my mind and it was also my first British show. Yeah it doesn't follow the legend, big deal, if you want the legend read some books on it or watch movies like Excalibur. But Merlin hasn't abandon all elements of the legend and what's really nice is the fact that the writers attempt to break all stereotypes of the legend, for example Morgan le fay is portrayed as a strong woman who will eventually become evil. My favorite parts of the show are the actors, costumes, and sets. Yeah the effects are really bad but just ignore them and focus on the story. The show is addicting and it keeps getting better and better from the first episode. You will really get connected to the characters, for me, I fell in love with all of them. But just to warn you, season 3 is awful.
I chose "12" because there is blood, swordfighting, romance, drinking, and language. I'm a bit confused as to why some people chose "7", "8", etc because the way it's filmed is not suited for kids and it does have elements kids shouldn't see like the blood and i do remember NBC having a TV-14 rating on certain episodes like gates of avalon, excalibur, the beginning of the end, etc. But Merlin is actually at it's best when it's more "mature"
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AGE
good show
i love this show.me and my mom watch it together.my grandmother,aunt,an two cousins who are 12 and 13 and my friend who is also 13 watch it too. we all love it.even though yeah, arthur can sometime be a bit of a jerk to merlin.he teases him a lot but really they are good friends.there is some violence though.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Networks: | NBC, Syfy |
| Cast: | Anthony Head, Bradley James, Colin Morgan |
| Genre: | Drama |
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