Baby Faced Merlin | Merlin's Fourth Incarnation

It is this version of Merlin that truly sparked my interest in the archetype. I watched Merlin just after it finished airing on BBC (2008 -2012) and I remember watching all 5 seasons in about 2 weeks. I had read a lot of about it and friends had been telling me how great it was so I decided to give it a go. Now it's on of my go-to comfort TV shows, the show I can watch anytime, any episode.

Merlin (Colin Morgan) anad Arthur (Bradley James)

Merlins magic in the show is the main focus for a lot of the first season as this incarnation of Merlin is a young boy (around 17/18 when the show begins) and is brought to Camelot before it's Golden Years. Here magic is banned but Merlin cannot control it - so he heads to see Gaius an old family friend who has extensive knowledge on magic but it also the court physician and advisor to King Uther. A King who we meet condemning a man to death after allegedly using magic within the kingdom.  

Merlin is quickly using his magic in secret and even helps save the princes life, resulting in him becoming Prince Arthur's personal servant. Setting up the ancient tale of Arthur and Merlin - however both of them have a lot of learn if they are to become the famous duo, this TV show gives them the time to learn and grow together.

Merlin performing magic

Merlins magic charms/spells are told in Old Welsh with the spells including the dragon in Old Gaelic, sounding different enough for them to sound different to those who don't understand the languages but magical all the same. The magic is done through a mixture of VFX and practical, in camera effects. The most iconic being the glowing of Merlins eyes when he does magic. 

Within the show alongside Merlin there is also 2 other incarnations of Merlin within Gaius and The Great Dragon. Gaius is Merlins advisor on all things magic and moral but it isn't until later in the show that Merlin starts using his own knowledge and experience to make his decisions. If Gaius doesn't know the answer The Great Dragon does, The Great Dragons has access too hundreds of years of knowledge including the future destiny's of the key characters. Including the Lady Morgana turning into the evil sorceress, Mordred being the end of Arthur and is the creator of excalibur. It isn't until The Dragon is freed by Merlin and causes havoc for Camelot that Merlin is given the powers of a dragon lord and can now control and hail the dragon when he's needed. 

Merlin speaking to the Dragon - 'Two sides of the same coin'

Merlin is also not a huge fan of Arthur, in fact the first time they meet they get into a bit of a fist fight. Which for some reason don't go in Merlins favour... eventually he learns his lesson.

Within this incarnation you have baby Merlin, clumsy and not refined, knowledgeable and wise at  times but causes mischief alongside it. Then you have the classic Old Man Merlin, the age altered version of himself that Merlin uses when he needs to use magic on a larger scale and interact with Arthur without revealing his true identity. This version of Merlin gives the audience the Merlin they are used too, he's calm and collected then giving advice. But also very mischievous and likes to get away with saying and doing things young Merlin could never get away with.

Colin Morgan as Old Man Merlin aka Dragoon the Great

It is this version of Merlin that terrifies Morgana when she connects him to her destiny of being killed by the Great Emrys. Who has been Merlin all along but it isn't until this incarnation (Baby Merlin 2.0) that she makes the connection - because it couldn't possibly be Merlin Arthurs bumbling manservant who's going to kill here now is it?

He grows alongside Arthur and the rest of the characters, he's always trying to fix things which the majority of the time don't work as he planned them to. He's constantly trying, open to helping in whatever means necessary, a little gullible at times, empathetic, bumbling and loveable. People are always rooting for this Merlin, along side his own advisors who are also kind of Merlin.... a lot of Merlins but one main one. That makes sense.

Within the project this Merlin will be slightly smaller, clumsy and not fully formed. Yet I want the audience to be rooting for Merlin because ultimately he will prevail.