It’s part of BBC America, and occasionally seen on SyFy too, and now, thanks to the crew out at Warner Brothers, I’m taking a look at the complete first season of Merlin, which you’ll be hearing about today.

Merlin is about pretty much what it says on the tin, to use the more appropriate British phraseology–specifically, the legendary wizard’s younger days.  Call him the original Boy Wizard, or even the first Harry Potter, but that’s what we’re tackling here today.  And a young Merlin, of course, doesn’t have all his incredible skills yet.  In fact, magic is currently illegal in Camelot and carries the death penalty thanks to the current ruler, Uther Pendragon.  And in case the name only strikes a chord within you, you should know that Uther Pendragon is the father of the much more well-known Arthur.  Thus, Merlin will have something of an uphill battle gaining acceptance and growing into his destiny, a theme which the show will harp on RELENTLESSLY.

And admittedly, there’s a certain compelling note to a show that takes so many of our predisposed concepts (Arthur was a great if reluctant hero, Merlin a brilliant wizard, and so on) and turns them soundly on their heads (here, Arthur is a power-mad misanthrope and Merlin is just some young scrub from nowhere).  But watching them change–grow, even–from the unlikely figures they are now into the great figures they would one day become is fraught with drama and peril.

And of course, as is so often the case with British drama, they’ll be unable to refrain from interjecting a few humorous notes into the whole mix, which is very welcome.  The end result gives us lots of thrills and a few laughs to break it up, and that makes this series well worth watching.

The Screenhead Ten Scale gives Merlin: The Complete First Season an eight out of ten for presenting a fun and entertaining package.