Though the show attracted a devoted audience on NBC, it looks highly unlikely that NBC will be bringing Merlin back for a second season. Its ratings were anything but magical for the peacock network.
Fortunately for UK viewers, the show has been a success for the BBC. The first season of Merlin began airing in September of 2008 over there and ran through December. Soonafter, the network announced that a second season had been ordered.
Colin Morgan returns as the young sorcerer who must fulfill his destiny and protect Prince Arthur (Bradley James). Other regular castmembers include Anthony Head, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, and Richard Wilson.
The second season of Merlin is set to debut on Saturday, September 19th. In the premiere episode, an ancient and supposedly cursed tomb is discovered that’s filled with treasure. Meanwhile, a new servant named Cedric (Mackenzie Crook) is doing his best to supplant Merlin’s position as Arthur’s right-hand man and friend.
We may not get to see the episodes for quite awhile here in the US (perhaps on BBC America?) so here’s a little taste of what season two holds for the young magician.
What do you think? Look enticing or not up to snuff?
Why do the networks keep taking off the shows that are enjoyable and fun to watch?
I looked forward every week to watching Merlin and Kings. They have now taken off both of them. Instead they leave reality tv shows, suppossed comedy, detective shows, etc.!!!!
I agree with all the above.. I love Merlin~! But why wait for them to air it in America, when I can just watch it online as it comes out? I just watched Season 2 Episode 1 from the comfort of my laptop, a day after it came out in the UK. I guess I don’t see it as that big a tragedy if a US network doesn’t pick it up, because it’s perfectly easy to come by it through other means.
I also happened to find Merlin on the internet and was delighted with the entire series I managed to view. I plan to buy the DVD when it is released in the U.S. so I may view the episodes I missed. NBC is missing a wonderful opportunity to present something that is just plain fun. Hopefully, it will be shown somewhere here. If not, maybe DVD season 2.
I agree. I love the show, but I can’t find season 2 anywhere on the internet. It’s so frustrating. It’s NBC’s fault the show isn’t super popular. I just happened to stumble across it one night, and I was like wow, this is actually really good. It’s frustrating that I can’t watch it on the BBC’s Merlin website. If anyone has a link where I could see season 2 online, I would really appreciate it.
I really love this show and hope NBC brings it back. I love sci-fi and watch other tv shows like this and I love the movies like Harry Potter, so I would love to see the second season of this show. I have been watching the first season on the enternet just so I can watch. I would love to get the first season on DVD when it comes out.
I really would love to see the next season soon.
Thanks Chere
The trailer looks amazing! NBC seriously needs to air season 2 of Merlin. It would have gotten much better ratings if they had promoted it more, kept it at a consistent time, and didn’t basically rush through the series in the middle of the summer randomly. They need to try it out at a consistent time…perhaps following a popular show if necessary…and widely advertise it! It is so good, and I know of many people in the US who would watch many more seasons. I think it should stay on NBC or get moved to Syfy or USA though…not BBC… Read more »
Please bring Merlin back! Really enjoyed watching it.
Hi folks
We love Merlin!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Please, Please air season 2 soon? I had heard that it should start in sept. 2009 hear but it might just be a rummor.
How about airing Merlin on SyFY?
Agree with you folks!
The BBC channel on Cablevision doesn’t carry any of their good shows. I was dieing to see the 5-part Torchwood movie so I just found it online and watched it. I’ll do the same things with Merlin. The first season was brilliant. So smartly written, well acted and amazing production values for a weekly series. They must spend a fortune on costumes alone. I’m not going to wait until someone decides to air it here or if they decide to release the DVDs here. If I knew NBC was bringing it back, I’d wait, but It starts in a few… Read more »
It is no different than what NBC did with Life. I absolutely adored Life and watched it regularly. Last time I checked one of their late s2 episodes garnered 4.5 million viewers before Tivo’d returns were counted. But that was still somehow not enough to save the show.
My husband and I were both big fans of Life and Merlin. We didn’t miss a single episode of Merlin over the summer. I would gladly watch it on another NBC station…or BBCA.
It would seem to me that those of us who are in the USA that would love to see Merlin’s 2nd season need to start filling NBC’s e-mails or mailboxes asking for the return of the show. If enough people get on board, they might just listen. It is such a shame that most of the major networks in the USA are more for reality TV junk than for some wholesome drama shows. Lets start typing and asking NBC to bring Merlin back!
I totally and wholeheartedly agree with MK(@ #2). Because SyFy is a part of the entertainment conglomerate NBC Universal, transitioning Merlin to SyFy would appear to be an elegant solution. However, as we all know, television networks operate on the profit motive, rather than common sense rationality.
I agree with MK. NBC has other channels as options to put Merlin on. Sci-Fi would probably be the best bet in terms of a target audience, but there is also others like USA. They certainly had no problem switching Law and Order: Criminal Intent from NBC to USA a year or so back.
Or as suggested in the article, BBC America could work too.
This sucks! Why can’t NBC just put it on SciFi (which they own) and keep it going for the US fans? It’s not like most Sci Fi viewers would miss an infomercial, ghost show or ECW wrestling!
There is also the option of getting a British TV Licence. Yes they have to pay for watching TV, It is about $300/yr
“why?” you ask…
Because if you do the BBC will allow you to stream BBC and other British Broadcasters shows, like Merlin, through their iPlayer service, so long as the makers of the show don’t object.
So it depends how bad you want your British Shows and what kind of Broadband Internet service you have.