Merlin – Nostalgia Central

1 9 9 8 (UK/USA)
2 x 60 minute episodes

Filmed in Wales and at Pinewood Studios, this star-studded two-part miniseries, which tells the Arthurian legend from the perspective of Merlin the magician (Sam Neill), was produced by Hallmark and NBC for US television. It aired on Channel 4 in the UK.

The saga recalls the legendary wizard’s major role in the establishment of Camelot: he helps King Arthur (Paul Curran) to claim the throne, seek the Holy Grail and cope with Guinevere’s (Lena Headey) affair with Lancelot (Jeremy Sheffield).

However, Merlin also has his own matters of the heart to deal with.

His devotion to his eternal love Nimue (Isabella Rossellini) leads him to fight a fearsome dragon and carry an enduring grudge against Mab (Miranda Richardson), the Queen of Darkness, to whom no person’s sacrifice is too great if it means ending her country’s civil war – which was brought about when Arthur’s grandfather, King Constant (Sir John Geilgud), is slain by the pagan Vortigern (Rutger Hauer).

Also posing considerable challenges for Merlin are the scheming sorceress Morgan Le Fay (Helena Bonham Carter) – Arthur’s half-sister who tricks Arthur into sleeping with her to produce Mordred, who in turn precipitates the downfall of the Round Table – and Mab’s devoted, mischief-loving shape-shifting servant Frik (Martin Short).

When the miniseries screened in the US in April 1998, it attracted more than 70 million viewers.

The special effects from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop were considered groundbreaking at the time and seamlessly blend early CGI with practical puppetry and prosthetics.

Sam Neill returned in the 2006 sequel miniseries, Merlin’s Apprentice.

Merlin
Sam Neill
Morgan Le Fay
Helena Bonham Carter
King Constant 
Sir John Gielgud
Lord Vortigern
Rutger Hauer
King Arthur
Paul Curran
Mountain King (voice)
James Earl Jones
Queen Mab/Lady of the Lake
Miranda Richardson
Nimue
Isabella Rossellini
Frik
Martin Short
Guinevere
Lena Headey
Lancelot
Jeremy Sheffield
Uther Pendragon
Mark Jax
Lord Ardente
John McEnery
Cornwall
Thomas Lockyer
Mordred
Jason Done
Ambrosia
Billie Whitelaw
Young Merlin
Daniel Brocklebank
Young Nimue
Agnieszka Koson
Elissa
Emma Lewis
Young Galahad
Justin Girdler
Sir Boris
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Lord Leo
Nicholas Clay
Gawin
Sebastian Roché
Lady Igraine
Rachel Colover (Rachel de Thame)
Lord Lot
John Turner
Sir Hector
Keith Baxter
Lady Elaine
Janine Eser
Soothsayer
Peter Woodthorpe
Sir Gilbert
Robert Addie
Sir Egbert
Nickolas Grace
Young Mordred
Harry Whitewood

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