Despite the show bearing his name, BBC One’s Merlin was very much an ensemble cast and the central character often put the destiny of Camelot and his friendships above his own needs.
Having been busy with stage work, Colin Morgan will soon return to our screens as reporter Jimmy Minor in the third episode of Quirke, ‘Elegy for April’, as well as in the second series of The Fall later this year.
In the meantime, CultBox has put together a list of the five best Merlin episodes for you to check out on Netflix where we feel Colin Morgan really had the opportunity to shine…
Season 2 Episode 9: ‘The Lady of the Lake’
With all the focus on Arthur and Gwen’s budding romance, this episode offered a rare chance for the show’s lead to enjoy some romance as he frees and falls for a mysterious druid girl called Freya (Laura Donnelly)
Of course, being the luckless Merlin, the object of his affections suffers from a terrifying curse and is ultimately doomed, but he does manage to save her and she leaves him with a promise.
Season 2 Episode 13: ‘The Last Dragonlord’
With the Great Dragon freed and taking his revenge, by returning nightly to rain fire down on Camelot, Arthur and Merlin ride our in search of Balinor, the last Dragonlord (who also happens to be Merlin’s long-lost father).
Merlin experiences both the joy of finding his father and the pain of seeing him die, before returning to face the Dragon with the powers he has inherited.
Season 5 Episode 5: ‘The Disir’
When the magical servants of the Triple Goddess summon Arthur to receive their judgement, he only ends up angering them. With Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) mortally wounded, Merlin is granted an opportunity to free Arthur from the prophecy that the boy will kill him.
Betraying his own magical kind, Merlin counsels Arthur against revoking the laws banning magic. In a gut wrenching twist reveal at the end of the episode, he realised he has missed his chance and actually sealed the young King’s fate.
Season 4 Episodes 12 & 13: ‘The Sword in the Stone’
As Morgana takes Camelot one more, this time backed by her Southron army, Arthur flees for his life and it is up to Merlin to protect him. He does so, revealing his powers with terrible consequences for the King’s traitorous uncle Agravaine.
On the run with a despondent Arthur, it is up to the Merlin to both re-inspire him and at the same time demonstrate that he is the rightful King to the people of Camelot. This he achieves by becoming a storyteller and stage-managing Arthur’s pull of the sword from the stone.
Season 3 Episode 5: ‘The Crystal Cave’
After visiting the Crystal Cave, the source of all magic, and seeing a vision of Uther’s death at the hands of Morgana, Merlin vows to stop her at any cost.
However, as he grapples with the consequences of trying to challenge fate, elements of the vision appear to be coming true regardless. Is he truly powerless to change Morgana’s destiny?
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What’s your favourite Merlin-centric episode of Merlin? Let us know below…