Merlin is a popular British fantasy drama television series that aired on BBC One from 2008 to 2012. The show, loosely based on the legends of King Arthur and Merlin, follows the young wizard Merlin as he protects and mentors Prince Arthur in Camelot. Merlin ran for 5 seasons with a total of 65 episodes before ending in 2012.
Merlin was very well received during its run and developed a strong fanbase. Many fans were disappointed when the show ended after 5 seasons and have been eager for more. This has led to much speculation and hope that the show could return for a 6th season.
Overview of Merlin
Merlin premiered on BBC One in September 2008. The show starred Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon, Katie McGrath as Morgana, Angel Coulby as Guinevere, and Richard Wilson as Gaius. Other recurring and guest actors included Anthony Head, John Hurt, Santiago Cabrera, and Alexander Vlahos.
The show was created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Julian Murphy, and Johnny Capps. It was produced by Shine Limited.
Over its 5 seasons, Merlin received very positive reviews and strong ratings, especially in the UK where it averaged between 6 to 8 million viewers per episode. Some of the highlights and key events of the show included:
Season 1
– Introduction of main characters Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, Gwen, Gaius, Uther
– Merlin arrives in Camelot and becomes Prince Arthur’s servant
– Merlin must keep his magic abilities secret as magic is outlawed
– Major foes include the witch Nimueh and the sorceress Morgause
Season 2
– Merlin continues protecting Arthur and Camelot from magical threats
– Morgana’s powers begin awakening which brings conflict
– Uther remains adamant against lifting the ban on magic
– Major new characters join including Lancelot and Gwaine
Season 3
– Morgana’s transition to villain as she allies with Morgause
– Uther’s continued opposition to magic causes chaos
– Arthur and Merlin face the ruthless warlord Agravaine
– Morgana ultimately takes the throne of Camelot briefly
Season 4
– Arthur is now King of Camelot with Merlin still at his side
– Guinevere becomes Queen and marries Arthur
– Morgana remains the main adversary as an evil sorceress
– Merlin continues maturing in power and wisdom as a wizard
Season 5
– Arthur works to make Camelot a fair and just kingdom
– Merlin leads the Knights of Camelot into many battles
– Mordred emerges as a new foe aligned with Morgana
– Merlin faces his biggest challenge in defeating Morgana and Mordred to save Arthur and Camelot
The finale episode closed with a cliffhanger and tease of Arthur’s eventual return, leaving the door open for potential future stories.
Merlin Ratings and Reviews
Merlin was a very successful show for BBC One during its original run. Some key ratings and review details:
| Season | UK Viewers (Millions) | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 7.15 | 88% |
| Season 2 | 7.09 | 100% |
| Season 3 | 6.94 | 100% |
| Season 4 | 7.49 | 100% |
| Season 5 | 5.79 | 100% |
– Average viewership ranged between 6-8 million viewers per episode in the UK.
– The show received consistently stellar reviews, earning a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes across its run.
– Merlin was one of BBC’s highest rated dramas during its airing.
This data demonstrates that Merlin developed a very loyal following and was a critically acclaimed success for BBC.
Potential for Merlin Season 6
Despite Merlin’s strong popularity and ratings over 5 seasons, the BBC ultimately decided to end the show in 2012 after 65 episodes.
The creators stated this allowed them to give the show a proper ending, however many fans still had a strong desire for the adventures to continue.
In the years since Merlin ended, interest and buzz around a potential Season 6 has remained high among fans. Several key factors have contributed to hopes for the show’s return:
Unresolved Ending
While Merlin’s Season 5 finale gave the show closure, it also left several story possibilities open for the future including:
– Arthur’s resurrection being foreshadowed to occur one day
– The ban on magic still not being lifted in Camelot
– Morgana ultimately not defeated and remaining a threat
– Merlin’s future adventures left wide open
Many fans felt these unresolved story arcs could fuel future seasons.
Successful Revivals of Fantasy Shows
In recent years, several beloved genre shows similar to Merlin were successfully revived after years off the air:
– Doctor Who returned in 2005 after a 16 year hiatus, and remains a hit show today.
– The X-Files was revived in 2016 for 2 additional seasons 11 years after ending.
– Twin Peaks made a successful limited revival in 2017, 26 years after the original run.
These successes have demonstrated there is often demand for limited or partial revivals of fantasy/sci-fi shows, which gives hope for Merlin.
Passionate Fandom
Even a decade after ending, the Merlin fandom remains very passionate and engaged:
– Merlin fanfiction, art, and discussions remain extremely active.
– DVD sales and streaming views have stayed strong over the years.
– High social media engagement with still over 500k followers on Twitter.
Merlin’s sustained popularity these many years later indicates the appetite for more adventures remains strong among fans.
Cast and Crew Openness
In recent years, several key cast and crew members have indicated they would be open to reviving the show:
– Colin Morgan (Merlin) said he’d love to revisit the world and character.
– Julian Murphy (co-creator) said he’d never say never to more Merlin.
– Anthony Head (Uther) said he’d be happy to return to Camelot.
This openness to revisiting Merlin in the future provides hope and momentum around potential revival discussions.
Likelihood of Merlin Season 6 Happening
Based on the above factors, is a 6th season of Merlin likely to actually happen?
There are reasons to be hopeful, but a revival is far from guaranteed:
Reasons a Revival is Possible
– Sustained fan interest and demand these many years later.
– The cast and crew openness to revisiting the characters and world.
– Financial incentive of reviving a proven hit show with built-in fanbase.
– Fantasy/sci-fi revivals like Doctor Who showing it can work.
Potential Hurdles to Overcome
– Getting the key cast members fully on board again after a decade.
– Showrunner availability for Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps.
– BBC approval and resources for a limited revival.
– Finding the right story to justify bringing the show back.
Prediction on Likelihood
There appears to be a 30-40% chance of Merlin being revived within the next 3-5 years. While far from a sure bet, the sustained fan interest and creative openness gives hope.
The most likely scenario would be a limited run of 6-10 episodes to properly continue the story and give a new ending. But any firm Merlin revival news remains speculative for now.
When Would Merlin Season 6 Premiere?
If Merlin was revived, when could fans expect to see a Season 6 premiere?
The soonest a new season could air would likely be late 2023 or early 2024, assuming a revival was announced sometime in the coming months.
Here is an estimated timeline for Merlin making a hypothetical return:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Late 2022 to Early 2023 | Initial revival discussions and negotiations between BBC and creators |
| Mid 2023 | Formal revival announcement and pre-production beginning |
| Late 2023 | Filming commencing on new season |
| Early to Mid 2024 | Post-production work |
| Late 2024 | Potential premiere of Merlin Season 6 |
So if a Merlin revival does get the green light in the next year or so, fans could expect a 1-2 year wait until they see the new episodes air. This follows the typical timeline for producing a new season of an existing series.
Of course, an even later revival remains possible as well if negotiations stall – but for now, a 2024 or 2025 premiere seems the most plausible for a hypothetical Merlin Season 6.
Potential Storylines
If Merlin did make a return for Season 6, what storylines and adventures might fans see?
Here are some possible directions a revival could take:
Arthur’s Resurrection
The Season 5 finale teased that one day Arthur will rise again when Albion needs him most. This prophecy would likely play a key role in a new season, with Merlin working to bring Arthur back. Fans would surely be thrilled to see Arthur and Merlin reunited again.
Restoring Magic to Camelot
With Arthur back, he could work to finally lift the ban on magic – a hope teased but never realized in the original finale. This would open up fresh story potential of sorcerers coming out of hiding.
New Magical Threats
While Morgana was defeated, entirely new villains could emerge to threaten Camelot and Arthur’s rule. Providing an exciting new antagonist for Merlin and Arthur to face together would be important for a new season.
Merlin’s Continued Quest
A full revival season could explore a much older Merlin centuries after Arthur’s original death, where Merlin continues his destiny to protect the kingdom in the modern age. This twist would open fresh story possibilities.
The nostalgia of the original cast returning mixed with some new characters and quests would provide the most compelling formula for a Merlin Season 6. Fans would undoubtedly love seeing Merlin and Arthur’s friendship again as they face new adventures.
Conclusion
After 5 highly acclaimed seasons from 2008 to 2012, Merlin remains one of BBC’s most beloved fantasy series. While the original run ended on a cliffhanger tease, there is sustained hope among fans that the show could return for Season 6 in the future.
Key factors like the passionate ongoing fandom, creative openness to reviving the show, and success of similar fantasy revivals, indicate there is a reasonable chance of more Merlin happening. If a revival does get approved, fans could potentially see 6-10 more episodes continuing Merlin’s story in late 2023 or 2024 at the earliest.
It would surely be a major television event if BBC greenlights more Merlin. And while any firm plans are still speculative, the sustained interest these many years later is a promising sign that Merlin’s magic may grace screens again before too long. Fans eagerly await potential news of the wizard’s future adventures returning.
