It was Christmas Eve, and a nation of viewers settled in for the finale ofMerlin. A beloved fantasy series, it promised adventure, magic, and the triumph of good. Instead, it delivered a gut punch that echoed through a generation.
The show, a reimagining of the Arthurian legends, had captivated audiences for five seasons. It followed the young sorcerer Merlin, concealing his powers, and the heroic, yet unaware, Prince Arthur. Their unlikely friendship was the bedrock of a kingdom on the brink of a golden age.
Merlinwasn’t just a children’s show; it boasted a stellar cast including acting legends like Anthony Head and John Hurt. It consistently drew over seven million viewers per episode, peaking at over eight million for the finale – a testament to its powerful storytelling and compelling characters.
For many, myself included, it was a last grasp at childhood innocence. A bright-eyed thirteen-year-old, I was utterly invested in the promise of Camelot and the unwavering bond between Merlin and Arthur. The stakes felt impossibly high as the final episode, “Diamond of the Day: Part Two,” began.
The original Arthurian tales are steeped in tragedy, filled with betrayal, loss, and a darkness often glossed over in adaptations. The showrunners, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps, faced a daunting task: to honor the source material while maintaining a family-friendly tone. They largely succeeded, delivering the familiar tropes of the legend with a playful energy.
But the core of the myth demanded a reckoning. And on that Christmas Eve, it arrived with brutal force. Arthur, the noble king, was brutally stabbed by Mordred, his former knight turned bitter enemy. The scene unfolded with agonizing slowness, a devastating blow to everything viewers believed.
It wasn’t just Arthur’s death that shattered expectations. It was the aftermath. Watching Merlin, heartbroken and powerless, cradle his dying friend, performing the funeral rites, was a moment seared into the memory of an entire generation. The grief was palpable, raw, and utterly unexpected.
Then came the final, haunting image: an immortal Merlin, centuries later, still waiting for the return of his king. The implications were devastating, a chilling reminder that even the most cherished dreams can remain forever unfulfilled. It was a cold shock of reality delivered on the most magical night of the year.
The finale garnered 7.8 million viewers, a massive audience collectively experiencing the same heartbreak. Yet, despite the widespread devastation, the creators stand by their decision. As Johnny Capps stated years later, he wouldn’t change a thing, believing they ended the series on a high note.
But for the fans, the wound remains open. Thirteen years later, the fandom persists, fueled by over 55,000 fanfiction stories and countless TikTok edits, all clinging to the hope of a sixth season, a chance to rewrite the ending. It’s a testament to the show’s enduring power and the profound connection it forged with its audience.
Perhaps it was a bold, even cruel, lesson in the realities of life: that loss is inevitable, that heroes fall, and that sometimes, stories don’t have happy endings. But even now, the memory of that Christmas Eve finale serves as a potent reminder of the power of storytelling to both enchant and devastate.
