NBC debuted their new fantasy-adventure series, Merlin, last night. Did many people tune in to watch this new take on an old tale? Will it be allowed to run its course or has the magic tale failed to excite viewers?
Merlin stars Colin Morgan as a young sorcerer who arrives in Camelot, a city where magic has been outlawed by King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head). While there, Merlin learns that he has an important part to play in the future of Camelot and residents like Prince Arthur (Bradley James), maid Guinevere (Angel Coulby), and seer Morgana (Katie McGrath). Others in the cast include Bionic Woman’s Michelle Ryan, Richard Wilson, and John Hurt as the voice of The Great Dragon.
Though many British shows have been remade for American audiences over the years, Merlin supposedly marks the first time a UK drama has aired on a major US network in over 30 years. But, how long will it last?
Last night, Merlin debuted to an average of just 5.35 million viewers for its two-hour premiere, putting it in second place behind CBS reruns. The supernatural show was also in second place for the 18-49 demographic with an average of a 1.4/4 rating/share.
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That performance certainly isn’t a magical one for the network and the ratings will very likely decline for subsequent installments. Considering that it’s Summer and that NBC hasn’t spent much money to acquire the series, it looks very likely that the network will air all 13 installments of this season.
While the show’s future on NBC isn’t certain, Merlin will continue on nevertheless. The series has been a hit for BBC One and they commissioned a second season last December. Production is expected to begin soon and will film on location in Wales and France. Unless ratings pick up, it seems doubtful that NBC will be buying it.
What do you think? Should Merlin be cancelled before season one even finishes? Will NBC make the second season available to network viewers? So, cancel or keep Merlin?
Image courtesy NBC.
I love this show “Merlin”! The casting is great, the story is fun, the writing is creative. Please keep it going!! And, give it a good time slot, so people will be sure to watch!
Why can’t we just keep some good clean SciFi on a major network? The new SyFy doesn’t seem to be up to the challenge with its new programming of blood and gore 24/7. Is it a perfect show, no, buts its certainly good enough to retain a spot for another season! I guess I’ll watch it on cable BBC America if NBC will not pick it up again.
This is a wonderful show. I look forward to it every Sunday night. Really missed it this last week, what happened to it?
Please don’t cancel a show we can all watch.
Keep it. I’m sick of NBC getting rid of every show they create less then a year after it starts. I guess their too stupid not to put new shows on at the same time as favored shows on other channels like CBS and ABC.
im tired of all the shows that envolve all these guns, sex and violence. this is one of the few shows out there that make me excited for the next and just beacaues this show doesnt envolve all this pop culture violence, sex and all that other crap doesnt make it a bad show. KEEP MERLIN
I love this show. Its unique storyline and characters are far better than any of the same, tiring crap they keep putting out on tv. I think they just need to advertise the series better or try a different time slot. Let’s face it, people don’t watch a lot of tv in the summer. So they should keep that in mind before cancelling it for fall. If NBC doesn’t pick up this series I hope that ABC or another network will on cable and I will upgrade just for this show. I tried to watch the UK internet site for… Read more »
NBC says watch us. When something comes worth watching YOU don’t want to buy a second season. Merlin is Great!!
It’s a great date. It’s a family time series. We look and plan around this event every Sunday. Please don’t cancel it. It will be a horrible mistake. Just as one of your veiwer has stated. We are tired of the sex and the detectives and the murders (not that they don’t have there place in our genre) but this is a very magical we ask that you keep it.
Are you kidding, that is the best show on TV, so bored with cops and violence and sex, this show is magical,..
If you cancel this show I will boycott you,
I want to purchase the first season, where can I find it?
Merlin is the only show this summer I have been eager to watch each week! We all love it. Please don’t cancel this refreshing new show!
It;s an awesome show, it’s refreshing to have something totally different to watch and look forward to each week, everything about solving crime,love live, cooking and what not. T.V. is about fantasy and that’s exactly what Merlin is !!!!!!!
Please, please do not cancel the most refreshing show on tv!!!!! We look forward to it all week long.
Please don’t cancel Merlin! I recently moved across the country and when i finally got my cable hooked up, my wife and I were loooking forward to the Sunday night routine.
Merlin is a keeper, please don’t cancel it. I agree, enough with the reality shows. We live in a world of turmoil, and I watch t.v. purely for entertainment. If I want reality, there is always the evening news… isn’t that depressing enough? It’s really refreshing to see something entertaining, clean, with a touch of magic the whole family can sit and watch together. It’s time to bring that back.
Please do not cancel Merlin NBC! My husband and I look forward to watching it every week. By the way, the series finale was very very good. It was really well thought out and very fascinating.