Merlin: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)

'Merlin' follows the life of a young warlock, the legendary Merlin, before he becomes the bearded advisor to King Arthur. Merlin, instead of being a wizened old man, begins the series as a happy, optimistic young man. The opening scene has this wide-eyed country boy entering Camelot, a place where he could be executed just for the simple reason of having magic. His first meeting with Prince Arthur is surprising and hilarious. After saving Arthur's life, King Uther rewards Merlin by making him a manservant to Prince, and now King, Arthur. Colin Morgan's (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur) have a great chemistry together and are the sole reason that Merlin and Arthur have such an epic bromance. Merlin and Arthur's banter and rapport with each other is amazing and entertaining.The show kind of picks and chooses parts of the legends and pieces them together however the writers choose. Some Arhturian legend people probably think the show is blasphemous, but I think it is pure genius. Right away, the humor embedded in the show drew me in. I love sarcasm and banter. Then, this season, 'Merlin' began to show a depth it did not previously possess. The fourth season starts out strong, establishing Arthur as the ruler of Camelot, and after his father's surprising death in episode the three "The Wicked Day", as king. Each episode this season has more of a weight on it. You can feel how much work Merlin still has to do the create Albion and how Arthur feels like he won't live up to his father's reign. The show, I guess most reviewers are saying, has become more dark and mature.This season, like all shows, had its highs and lows for episode quality, but altogether, this show is amazing.My favorite episode is "A Servant of Two Masters," Who knew that Merlin being cursed to become Arthur's assassain could be so hilarious? One episode that I did like, but I didn't think went with the story arc they had begun at the beginning of the season was the ninth episode, which is where Lancelot makes an appearance to help complete the Arthurian Love Triangle of Gwen, Arthur and Lancelot. I felt like they were only putting it in there for legends sake. If they were going to do that, they should have done it when Lancelot was still alive and done that story line justice. I wish they would have stayed more focused on Morgana's search for Emrys and Arthur's journey to accepting magic.Honestly, I mostly watch the show because I love the characters, and therefore, I have come to love the actors. Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, and Angel Coulby simply shine this season, especially Colin and Bradley. They both have to pull off a lot of emotional scenes, which they nail, but they both also possess great comedic timing. All of there scenes together (and apart) are just wonderful. Gwen's charactor gets more involved with court politics this season, letting Angel really sink her teeth into the role, allowing her to show more dimension to Gwen's charactor.So, yes, simply put: Merlin is definitely worth watching...over and over again. Plus, with this box set, you get the amazing extras, which you can't get off of Netflix, so I think everyone should own the DVDs or Blurays.

For some reason, I had purchased the DVD sets of Season 1 and 2 a few years ago.They just sat there in front of my TV with many other TV series... I didn't even look at them anymore, as I didn't think they would be very good. The subject matter was kind of Ohh Humm... and after I got them, I discovered this was a British series and made by the BBC, so I knew it couldn't be very good.I began to run out of some of the more interesting series' I'd purchased, and decided one day to watch Season 1.I was shocked! The production, and acting was quite good, as were the special effects, and story and the writing!! But, the best was the acting of the main characters! Excellent! Really excellent!So, it goes without saying I watched Season 2 after and then purchased season's 3 and 4, and 5. All of these seasons proved quite excellent and well worth the cost as well as the time spent watching!The only downside with the series was of course it was a BBC production, meaning it showed NO bloodshed! I mean come on... in ALL the many battles and sword fights, stabbing some foe with a sword, the sword ALWAYS came away clean and with NO blood on it! I mean how FAKE can you get, right? I discovered that almost all productions by the BBC are like that. Apparently not wanting to show blood and gore to any audience! Oh my God!However, aside from that, this was one of the best and most entertaining series I've ever watched.

In Season 4 of a projected 5-Season story-arc much of what we have heard about the legend of Arthur is touched upon. (It has already been announced that the show ends with Season 5.) Uther dies, Arthur is crowned king, Lancelot has a tryst with Gweneviere betraying Arthur, Arthur marrys her anyway, and the season ends with the Sword in the Stone. It is one thing to know that TV and Movies are rarely shot in sequence but it is quite another to know that Camelot is located in a backlot at Cardiff Studios in Wales and Arthur's Castle is located in Brittany, France where scenes for an entire Season of programs is shot in one session lasting weeks. As often happens as the popularity of a show increases so does its budget and the complexity of the CGI effects used to create it. The backbone of the program remains the by-play between Merlin and Arthur both now in their mid-twenties. The fact that they are made peers allows us to see them grow and mature together in their relationship with one another and in their mastery of the duties allotted them. The show retains the light-hearted banter that has characterized it from the beginning and touches on the more serious aspects of the story without getting heavy. It remains a family oriented program.

Say what you will about the creators of this series rewriting the legend to fit in with a 21st Century audience. I have been looking for a heart-felt, gut wrenching Bromance since Starsky and Hutch went off the air in 1979. I've loved Bromances since I was a child, don't ask me why, but men caring for each other is an attraction I cannot pass up. Though Arthur treats Merlin like the 'fool' he pretends to be in order to keep suspicion away from his use of magic, in the end of series 4, their bond is growing stronger and stronger. Merlin is finally seeing a way to step through the door and become Arthur's 'advisor' and... Arthur finally sees the truth in Merlin's words,as showcased in the final two parter "The Sword In The Stone" arc. There is hope here, lots of it, especially in regards to their trusting each other and being positively protective of each other. The other stories in this series are supplemental and used to drive this central relationship to its heartbreaking conclusion. Colin and Bradley's performances shine and they are an incredible team. A most satisfied veiwer, here. Bring on the Bromance and you've got a fan for the duration!

Die Staffel entwickelt die bisher angelegte Geschichte logisch weiter. Die einzelnen Folgen steigern sich in Komik und Dramatik. Merlin und Arthur werden erwachsen und reifen zu den Helden heran, von denen die Sage berichtet. Ich möchte nicht zuviel vorwegnehmen, doch soviel sei gesagt: Gajus wird älter und schwächer - seine Zeit auf dieser Welt geht zur Neige. Es gibt ein Wiedersehen mit Kilgharrah und mit seiner Artgenossin Aithusa "Named after the light of the sun.". Morganas Hass wird fast unüberwindbar, und sie wird Camelot erneut einnehmen. Merlin wird sich zu seiner Magie bekennen. ("So it is you - you are Emrys." Merlin: "That's what the druids call me.") Und schließlich wird Arthus das Schwert aus dem Stein ziehen.Insgesamt wird hier zu einem fairen Preis - verglichen mit der deutschen Beutelschneiderei - die gesamte Staffel 4 angeboten. (Man bedenke, dass hier in Deutschland die Staffeln das Doppelte kosten!!!!) Die Folgen lohnen sich sehr, sofern man des Englischen mächtig ist. Auch als Lernprogramm finde ich diese Staffel gelungen, weil hier sehr reines BBC Englisch gesprochen wird. (Und es englische Untertitel gibt.)Vorsicht spoiler hier ist eine Übersicht über die Folgen:Merlin Series 41. The darkest hour part IMorgana öffnet das Tor zum Totenreich mit dem Blut ihrer Schwester. (Diese Geister sind technisch und arkustisch super gemacht.) "My magic is useless against them. When they came I felt this emptyness."2. The darkest hour part 2Merlin versucht das Tor zu schliessen - mit seinem Blut. "Of course Sir Lancelot. The bravest and most noble of them all." Lancelot: "I m not shure that s true." "Well we shall see."3. The wicked dayUther liegt im Sterben und Arthur beschließt, einen Zauberer zu seiner Rettung zu bestellen - Emrys. "My father spend 20 years fighting magic. I think I knew better - I am so arrogant."4. AithusaMerlin macht sich auf die Suche nach einem legendaeren Drachenei? "So you are no longer the last of your kind." "It seems not."5. His fathers sonArthur soll seine Grenzen sichern - er toetet dabei einen Wehrlosen. "There is something about you Athur Pendragon, that gives me hope for us all."6. A servant of two mastersKann man Merlin beherrschen? Man kann! "Merlin, meet George."7. The secret sharerMorgana engagiert einen Folterspezialisten, um aus Gaius herauszufoltern, wer Emrys ist. "Morgana got nothing of me."8. LamiaEine Folge nach der alten Machart. Ein boeses Wesen kommt und bringt Gefahr nach Camelot.9. Lancelot du lacLanzelot kehrt zurueck. Von den Toten hat er den Weg zurueck ins Leben gefunden, um zu tun, was er im Leben versaeumte. "Thank you Merlin."10. A herald of the old ageEin Geist aus vergangenen Zeiten fordert Rechenschaft. Arthur: "I am truly sorry."11. The hunters heartArthur findet eine neue Liebe und jagt mit ihr ein spezielles Wild. "I m asking you for a chance, Merlin."12. The sword in the stone IMorgana erobert Camelot erneut und Aggravaine verlaesst seine Tarnung.13. The Sword in the Stone IIArthur zieht das Schwert aus dem Stein. Tristan und Isolde erfuellen ihr Schicksal. "So it is you - you are Emrys" "That s what the druids call me."

I CAN ENJOY MORE THAN OTHER SIMILER 　ONE , I WOULD LIKE TO GET 5!

Ich habe mich vor allem wegen des Preises für die englische Fassung entschieden. Ob Englisch oder Deutsch spielt für mich keine Rolle. Erst recht nicht bei dieser Serie, die mit Blick auf jüngeres Publikum gedreht wurde.Wie immer viel Action, tolle Story und auch die Entwicklung der Figuren wurde nicht vernachlässigt. So machen Serien Spaß!Jetzt warte ich auf die (leider) letzte Staffel...

大好きな魔術師マーリン。どうしても続きが観たくて購入しました。字幕もなく英語ですから、細かいことはわかりませんが、おおよそのストーリーはわかります。ハリーポッターのお手本になるようなことが様様に出てきて面白いです。マーリンがグエンを救うために、年寄りの魔術師になったり、モルガーナはひたすら悪い魔女になっていますし、ガイヤスもやっぱり魔法が使えるのがわかりましたし。十分に楽しめます。

Die Englische Version ist nicht nur viel günstiger als die deutsche, man muss sich auch nicht drüber ärgern, dass es keine englischen Untertitel gibt.Die Serie selbst ist natürlich auch sehenswert und witzig wie immer.