merlinlocations | my thoughts on the news (Reply)

'official' thoughts

As I'm sure you've already read elsewhere, the news has finally broken that we are currently watching the last ever episodes of our beloved show. The BBC announced overnight that the fifth series of Merlin will be the last. It will end with a ‘spectacular’ two-part finale just before Christmas. You can read the full BBC press release here.

For anyone kind enough to wonder, please let me assure you that Merlin Locations will be around for a long while yet! There’s still so many locations to visit, so very many episodes to rewatch, and so many friends to stay in touch with… Not to mention a whole heap of Arthurian Locations we can visit, too! ♥

personal thoughts

Well, I have rather mixed feeling about this, it’s true.

This is the first time I’ve really been involved in the fandom for a ‘live’ show, a show that’s being made while we watch – sometimes literally while we watch! – and that’s been one heck of an exciting experience. It will be very sad to see the show and the ‘live’ experience come to an end. But then, this in no way means the end of the Merlin fandom itself, and I plan to be around for years yet. There’s so much Merlin!loving yet to be done, let alone following our beloved cast, crew and creatives on to whatever stories they bless us with next.

I have to say that I admire the creators for having a five-year plan and sticking to it. In my opinion, too many other shows have kept going and going, until finally it ends not with a bang but a whimper. I think going out on a high is almost always the thing to do. And (perhaps speaking as a fellow writer) I think sticking with the original conception of the five-year story they wanted to tell isn’t a bad thing.

Many of us will be left with disappointments, and many of us would have told the whole story in different ways, let alone ended it differently. But my firm belief is that this version of Arthur and Merlin’s story belonged with the creators, and they have told it according to their own vision. They can’t have done so badly with that, if we love it so. Perhaps I’m speaking as a writer again here, but there are so many versions of this story out there already, and so many more waiting to be told… and the only ‘perfect’ telling for each of us is the one we tell ourselves.

It’s been an awesome four years. When I first tuned in to watch Arthur and Merlin as ‘two hot young things’ way back in September 2008, I had no idea that I would fall so deeply in love with these wonderful actors – some of the best actors around, both young and old – with the cinematography and direction, and indeed with the filming locations!

But most importantly, I didn’t guess at how many wonderful friends I would make. I think the cast and crew have found that, too, as well as we fans. It’s been a very friendly show. And that’s perhaps the best way that Merlin will live on and on for years yet. In the friendships.

I’m loving you all…