Merlin: Series 5 - Volume 1 [DVD]

Similar to the Harry Potter series, Merlin is a show that grew gradually darker as it went on. This is something clear right from the start of Series 5, and it feels as though the show has grown up with most of its cast. Kicking off with the two-part opener, there's plenty of action, magic and excitement as well as the return of Mordred. Meanwhile, The Tears Of Uther Pendragon becomes one of my favourites thanks to the return of Anthony Head, in a surprisingly spooky episode - though the following episode feels disappointing, coming across as the most basic and conventional episode of Merlin you could have asked for. Volume 1 also includes the start of the "Gwen Trilogy" that sees Morgana abduct the Queen and mentally torture her in the Dark Tower.All the production values and main cast are terrific, with Angel Coulby as Gwen getting a lot more to do as the Queen, and Katie McGrath proving that Morgana is definitely more suited to the queen of evil than the kind-hearted princess she was at the start of the show. As for the DVD itself, it's nicely packaged and comes with plenty of extras and special features including behind the scenes footage and several audio commentaries - which often prove to be informative and really entertaining to listen to. If you've enjoyed Merlin over the past four series, then this and Volume 2 are definitely worth picking up to see how the show comes to a close.

I liked a lot the 1st part of the 5th serie "Merlin" full of surprises and new developments. The good turns bad and the bad seems good. The characters are bobbing up and down in the waves of their desires, duties and destiny and we never know what will be the new trick of their fate...Their fates are the writers of the serie and they are very clever... I am Impatient to see the 2cd part.In France, in university, I studied the old french langage with the roud table ' Knights. They are myths and legends that means they can come back in all times of history with the shapes, the behaviours and the adventures that we can appreciate in our own time. It is what did the BBC that, from my point of view, is the best in making series that enjoy kids and adults in a same time.All along the series, I was always curious of what the writers do with the legend. I was often surprised and I liked that! For example, I could never have imagine Mordred like that! This charactere is a great "trouvaille", a great success. Bravo!I dream of a spin-off for adults, epic and comic.....

I'm afraid I have got to the point now where this no longer feels fresh and original. From the outset it was a brilliant series, easily the best thing to happen to BBC's Saturday evening line up in ages and I subsequently purchased each box set the moment it was released. But unless the writers do something radical with the story line it will forever be the same basic premise, Morgana vs Camelot. And even the outcome of that is predictable with each series - Morgana joins up with another evil force, makes a bid for Camelot, fails. Everyone smiles and celebrates. Which is a shame, because both the actors and production of this series are fantastic. Can they not come up with a new theme to run through a series? As an example, Morgana takes Camelot, and we see what Camelot is like under her rule. Unless the writers can come up with some new ideas, I fear more viewers will grow tired of it.

Another brilliant series - thank you BBC! Each series has its own character, always progressing, and this one is no exception. Full of darkness and even more magic than before, the first three episodes have had me sitting spellbound, hardly able to breathe. Can't wait for the DVD box set. I just hope the BBC can keep bringing us Merlin for another few years....... just received this volume (1 - episodes 1 - 6). Bother! Am seriously miffed - I didn't realise it was only half of Series 5 on advance order - I thought I was advance ordering the complete box set. Should have read the information properly - have wasted my money as I would so much prefer to get the whole box set in one go as I have done with all the other series.

Episode 6 left me a real cliff hanger, and I basically don't like the theme of episode 6 - except as used in episode 6 of series 4. Any "Merlin" episode is enjoyable, and almost all of them need to be seen at least twice to get the full flavor. I particularly liked episode 3 and 4, although 3 was a bit hard on Uther. He did not die the same man he'd been for most of the series, but his ghost was Uther at his worst.

Delighted to finally complete my collection of Merlin DVD's that I received quickly and were as described from a seller that I can recommend. I am looking forward to watching them all again, but if I can put the family through (including my Hubby!) the ending again I really do not know. We all cries buckets the first time round. As a person who has a great interest in the Arthurian saga this series was a delight to see, combining stories from old to medieval tales and I thought it was very well done and the acting just got better and better through out. Utterly devastated when it ended. A huge well done to the BBC and all involved.

I miss Merlin. There was no sense of this being the final season and no winding down. If anything this final season ratcheted up the anticipation. Having watched it on TV I knew what the ending was going to be but it was wonderful to watch it again. The banter between Arthur and Merlin is cutting or funny. You can tell that Bradley and Colin were really good friends. Morgana is a wicked villain and Katie was having a ball playing her. In fact all the actors are great and you can get a definite sense that they are really enjoying themselves.