Fantasy TV series often have tragic fates – only a few survive to see logical endings. The recent cancellation of The Wheel of Time after only three seasons is the brightest example of this.

Besides Game of Thrones, (which had a finale, but a controversial one), there is one completed fantasy gem that doesn't look outdated even more than 15 years after its release – Merlin.

What Is 'Merlin' About?

The kingdom of Camelot is plunged into chaos – magic sows discord among the people. Uther Pendragon forbids witchcraft under penalty of death, expels sorcerers, and kills all dragons except one.

Twenty years later, Merlin, who was born with magical powers, arrives in Camelot. He gets into a skirmish with a warrior who turns out to be the king's son, Arthur, and ends up in prison.

There, he hears the dragon's call. This voice shows him the way to the castle's dungeon, where the dragon is imprisoned. The dragon reveals to Merlin that his destiny is to help Arthur become the king of Camelot.

'Merlin' Chose an Unconventional Way to Tell a Familiar Story

Many movies and series have been made about the adventures of King Arthur. These stories have been told from the perspectives of Arthur himself, Lancelot, Merlin, and the sorceress Morgana.

However, the authors of the BBC series took an original approach to the legendary cycle. They banned magic in Camelot and stripped Arthur of his exploits and Merlin of his experience and knowledge.

In this version, the famous sorcerer is not a wise old man but a clumsy young man who discovers that he must protect the future king's life. This is difficult, given that Merlin is not permitted to cast spells in public. And Arthur himself is far from a perfect ward.

'Merlin' Is One of Those Rare Fantasy Series That Received a Proper Finale

The change in the ages of the main characters created a wide field of maneuver for the five seasons of the project, which is notable not only for its duration.

Each episode presents well-known events in a new way. Excalibur is literally handed to Arthur, Guinevere starts out as a servant, and Morgana is revealed to be a deceived young woman, not an evil witch.

Although the finale of Merlin still sparks discussion among fans, it has a pretty high score on IMDb – 8.1/10, and one undeniable advantage is that the show has a finale at all.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Merlin'?

• Merlin has 85% from critics and 88% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.9/10.

Where to Watch 'Merlin'?

Merlin is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.