Honestly, if you haven’t rewatched the BBC’s Merlin lately, you’re missing out on some of the most frustratingly brilliant character arcs in fantasy TV history. It’s been years since the finale aired, yet the debate over the Merlin TV show characters and their questionable life choices still rages on Reddit and Tumblr like the Great Purge never ended.
We all remember the basics. Merlin is the clumsy warlock. Arthur is the royal "prat." Morgana is the one who deserved a therapist but got a high priestess instead. But when you look closer, the actual writing of these characters is way messier—and more interesting—than the "destiny" trope suggests.
Why Merlin is More Than a "Bumbling Servant"
Merlin, played by Colin Morgan, is the heart of the show, obviously. But calling him just a "servant" is kind of a massive understatement. He’s essentially a god-tier sorcerer living in a studio apartment (Gaius’s back room) hiding his identity from a king who wants to execute him.
The weirdest thing about Merlin is how his character shifts. In Season 1, he’s this optimistic kid from Ealdor who just wants to do the right thing. By Season 5? He’s basically a war criminal in some people's eyes. He makes some truly cold-blooded calls. Remember when he basically handed Morgana over to her downfall or refused to help a dying Mordred?
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He’s a man crushed by the weight of a prophecy that doesn't even come true the way he expected. Most fans focus on his magic, but his real power was his patience. Imagine having to polish boots for a guy you know is destined to be "The Once and Future King" while he treats you like a footstool. That takes a specific kind of mental fortitude.
The Evolution of the "Prat" (Arthur Pendragon)
Bradley James brought a level of nuance to Arthur that I don't think the writers even anticipated. He starts as the quintessential bully. He’s arrogant. He’s loud. He’s honestly kind of a jerk to anyone below his pay grade.
But then something happens. He meets Merlin.
The friendship between them—the "Merthur" of it all—is what kept the show alive. Arthur’s growth from a spoiled prince to a king who actually cares about his people is beautiful, but it's also tragic. He’s constantly torn between his love for his father, Uther, and his own evolving moral compass. People often forget that Arthur was actually quite progressive for Camelot. He knighted commoners like Lancelot, Gwaine, and Elyan. In a world where bloodline was everything, Arthur chose merit.
The Tragedy of Morgana: Villain or Victim?
If you want to start a fight in the Merlin fandom, just ask if Morgana was justified.
Katie McGrath’s portrayal of Morgana is a masterclass in the "slow-burn villain" trope. She didn't just wake up one day and decide to be evil. She was gaslit by Gaius and Merlin for years. Think about it: she was having terrifying prophetic dreams and experiencing magic she couldn't control, and the two people she trusted most told her she was just "tired."
The Turning Point
The real shift happened when she met Morgause. Suddenly, she had someone who didn't lie to her. By the time she takes the throne (multiple times, she’s persistent if nothing else), she’s lost all her empathy. But you can’t help but feel for the girl who used to stand up to Uther to save innocent lives.
What most people get wrong is thinking Morgana hated Arthur from the start. She didn't. She hated the system. She hated the fact that her very existence was a death sentence in her own home. By the time she becomes the High Priestess of the Triple Goddess, she’s so far gone that she can’t see the bridge Merlin keeps trying to build.
The Supporting Cast That Carried the Show
We have to talk about the Knights. The show wouldn't be the same without the "Round Table" boys.
- Sir Leon: The man is literally immortal. He survived every dragon attack, every magical plague, and every coup. He is the definition of "I just work here."
- Sir Lancelot: The only one who knew Merlin’s secret from the start (besides Gaius). He was too pure for that world. His sacrifice in the Dorocha arc still hurts.
- Sir Gwaine: The fan favorite. He provided the comic relief and the "sexy rogue" energy that balanced out Arthur’s stiff-upper-lip vibes.
- Sir Percival: The muscles. Mostly just there to look imposing and occasionally lift heavy things, but we love him anyway.
- Sir Elyan: Gwen’s brother and a solid knight who deserved way more screen time than he actually got.
And then there’s Gwen (Guinevere). Angel Coulby had a tough job playing the "perfect" queen, but her journey from a shy blacksmith’s daughter to the ruler of Camelot is the most grounded arc in the series. She was the moral anchor for everyone. When Gwen lost her way (like during the Lancelot/enchantment plot), the whole show felt off-balance.
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The Elephant in the Room: Uther Pendragon
Anthony Head is incredible as Uther. He’s the villain of the piece, but he doesn't think he is. He genuinely believes magic is a plague that destroyed his family. His grief for Ygraine (Arthur’s mother) fueled twenty years of genocide. It’s dark stuff for a family show.
Factual Breakdown: Who Played Whom?
If you're trying to put faces to names for your next trivia night, here’s the core lineup:
The main duo featured Colin Morgan as Merlin and Bradley James as Arthur. They were supported by Richard Wilson, who played the mentor figure Gaius, and Anthony Head as the formidable King Uther. The female leads were Katie McGrath as the complex Morgana and Angel Coulby as the resilient Gwen.
As the show progressed, the cast expanded to include the Knights: Rupert Young (Leon), Eoin Macken (Gwaine), Tom Hopper (Percival), and Adetomiwa Edun (Elyan). We also can't forget the legendary John Hurt, who provided the iconic voice of Kilgharrah, the Great Dragon.
What We Can Learn From the Characters
The ending of Merlin is... controversial. I won't sugarcoat it. Merlin fails. Arthur dies. Magic isn't legally restored in the way we hoped.
But the Merlin TV show characters teach us something about the "burden of greatness." Merlin spent his entire life protecting a secret that eventually became his prison. Arthur tried to be a better man than his father but couldn't escape the cycle of violence.
The real takeaway? Destiny is a trap, and loyalty is the only thing that actually matters in the end.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore, your next move should be to track down the deleted scenes from Season 5. They provide a lot more context for the relationship between Merlin and Arthur in those final days. You might also want to look into the original Arthurian legends—specifically Le Morte d'Arthur—to see just how much the showrunners flipped the script on these classic figures.