Merlin (TV miniseries): Difference between revisions
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The series brings [[Celtic Mythology]] to the forefront and introduces new characters not seen in the original mythology, with Queen Mab acting as the leader of [[The Fair Folk]] and the series' [[Big Bad]]. '''Merlin''' also stays throughout the entire reign of King Arthur and after it, with some details altered to fit the story more from his point of view.
The series was re-released on tape and DVD and often remembered by fans as a film (with a brief intermission) rather than a 2-part miniseries. It was followed by a novelization in the form of a trilogy in 1999, and by a sequel, ''[[Merlin's Apprentice]]'', in 2006, which had less to do with traditional Arthurian Mythology and was not as popular as the first movie.
[[Similarly Named Works|Not related to]] the [[Merlin (TV series)|2008 series of the same name.]]
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* [[Beauty Is Never Tarnished]]: Very, very strongly averted when {{spoiler|Nimue is disfigured with an enormous scar across her face that cannot be healed after narrowly escaping a dragon.}} ''Ouch.''
* [[Because Destiny Says So]]: The Lady of the Lake accepts her impending doom, because, “It's fate.”
** She comments that her watery nature helps her accept it - she's cool with the idea of ebb and flow (and, presumably, drying up altogether).
* [[Because You Were Nice to Me]]: A villainous example. Morgan le Fay converts to the Old Ways simply because they have been good to her.
* [[Bed Trick]]: Arthur and Mordred are both conceived in this way.
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* [[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"]]: The Duke of Cornwall is referred to simply as “Cornwall.” In the actual mythology, his name was given as Gorlois or Hoel.
* [[Evil Matriarch]]: Mab.
* [[Evil Twin]]: Miranda Richardson is [[Acting for Two]] as both Queen Mab and her sister, the Lady of the Lake
* [[Excalibur in the Stone]]: Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are portrayed as the same weapon, though both the myth of it being given by a Lady of the Lake and Arthur pulling it from the stone are true. Merlin was given the sword by the Lady of the Lake first, and later plunged it into the Rock of Ages to keep it from Uther, where Arthur eventually drew it from.
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: Lord Lot.
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* [[Fountain of Youth]]: One of Merlin's explicit powers.
* [[Four-Element Ensemble]]: The novelization explicitly says that there are four elemental beings: Mab (Air), The Lady of the Lake (Water), the Rock of Ages (Earth), and the Great Dragon (Fire).
** This is much less clear on screen, where Mab has quite a rocky theme - living in a cave, using crystals, and crying a gem. She can make a tornado when she's upset though.
* [[Functional Magic]]: Explained quite a bit more in the novelizations than in the movie.
* [[Genius Bruiser]]: Merlin.
* [[Gilded Cage]]: Vortigern keeps Nimue in one, to make sure her father stays loyal to him.
** Mab makes one for Merlin and Nimue.
* [[Glamour]]: Frik makes Morgan appear beautiful when he recruits her for Mab (as she was previously insecure about her appearance). She doesn't seem to mind that it isn't real. {{Quote|'''Morgan''':...They made me beautiful.
'''Merlin''': But beauty is only an illusion.
'''Morgan''': Beauty is ''always'' only an illusion, Merlin.}}
* [[Glamour Failure]]: Uther's magical disguise doesn't affect Morgan, and she realizes who he is almost immediately.
* [[Gods Need Prayer Badly]]: Queen Mab's main motivation. If the old faith continues to decline, she and the rest of her people will die.
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* [[Unreliable Narrator]]: According to Frik, and by Merlin's own admission, a few things were omitted from the story. Merlin claims he didn't think anyone would believe it if they heard it the way it really happened.
** Some observers have used this theory to allow the sequel ''Merlin's Apprentice'' to fit into continuity. Whether this is [[Fan Wank]] or not is open to interpretation.
*** Unless Merlin conveniently left out the part where
* [[Unstoppable Rage]]: Frik, when Morgan le Fay is killed.
** Likewise, Merlin when he hears that Arthur slept with Morgan le Fay.
* [[Villainous Demotivator]]: Mab.
* [[Voluntary Shapeshifting]]: According to Mab, though, it's only an illusion.
** Frik's favourite trick, by the way.
* [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic]]
* [[What Is This Thing You Call Love?]]: Mab has ended up like this, as pointed out by Ambrosia.
* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: When Merlin hears about what happened with Morgan le Fay, he lets Arthur have it. He does it again, to Guinevere and Lancelot, after their affair.
** Sir Rupert does a subtle version when Merlin lets Uthur rape Igraine. Merlin later acknowledges that he betrayed her by doing so.
* [[Why Did You Make Me Hit You?]]: “Now see what you made me do!”
* [[Wizard Beard]]: Merlin, in the present when he is old. Averted through most of the series.
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