The Great Dragon tells Merlin that he has an important destiny: to protect Uther's only son, Prince Arthur ( Bradley James), who will return magic to Camelot and unite the land of Albion. After hearing a mysterious voice inside his head, Merlin makes his way to the cavern beneath the keep to find that he was hearing the dragon's voice. He discovers that the king, Uther Pendragon ( Anthony Head), outlawed magic twenty years earlier in an event known as the Great Purge and imprisoned the last dragon, Kilgharrah (voice of John Hurt), in the caves beneath the castle. Merlin ( Colin Morgan) is a young, powerful warlock who arrives in the kingdom of Camelot after his mother arranges for him to stay with the court physician, Gaius ( Richard Wilson). Broadcasting rights were sold to over 180 countries, and the show became a mainstay on the digital network platform Netflix in both the US and the UK. During its airing it was nominated for several awards, winning the 2011 British Academy Television Award for best visual effects.

Merlin received mixed reviews when it premiered, but gained good ratings that improved as the story progressed, becoming the most popular program on the BBC's digital catch-up service, iPlayer.

Over the years and after several adventures together, Merlin and Arthur become trusted friends and companions, with the former doing his best to influence the latter into becoming the king he is destined to be. Merlin soon learns that the reason for his gift is to protect Arthur, but Merlin must hide his powers because magic was banned in Camelot by Arthur's father, King Uther Pendragon, and those caught practising it are executed. After saving Prince Arthur's life in the first episode, he becomes Arthur's manservant. The programme is a reimagining of the legend, in which young warlock Merlin is sent to the kingdom of Camelot by his mother because of his 'special gift'.

The programme starred Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Richard Wilson, Anthony Head, and John Hurt.

Created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy for the BBC, it was broadcast for five series on BBC One between 20 September 2008 and 24 December 2012. Merlin (also known as The Adventures of Merlin) is a British fantasy- adventure drama television programme, loosely based on the Arthurian legends regarding the close relations of Merlin and King Arthur.

Merlin season 5 episode 1 full