But Hordriss was a more than worthy replacement. I liked the air of mystery around him initially - was he on the dungeoneer's side or not?

Merlin is also rumoured to have lived backwards in time, so had the potential to be stronger than any normal human ever could: as we gain in wisdom, our bodies begin to slow down around us. I've no idea how 'old' (according to a backward life) Merlin was in Knightmare, but he always seemed wise enough, so he was only going to get more powerful.

But having said that, he was clearly a good man.

It's a shame Hordriss became good later on - he was a fun adversary, especially when he started insulting people

Merlin on the BBC is complete and utter rubbish in my opinion!

It seems that they have barley even glanced at the legend.

Avoid at all costs!

That's because they are not telling the legend, they are telling a new story, based on those classic characters, but the turn of events are not going to be the same. That's what I heard anyway. So there's no reason to avoid it at all costs if you are open minded and you don't expect it to be yet another retelling of the same old story.

For me, the best on screen portrayal of Merlin is Nicol Williamson in Excalibur.

Agreed. In some ways, I think that the early Treguard resembles that version of Merlin, especially the voice. (Have you ever noticed how much he and Nigel Terry resemble Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, by the way?)

The Merlin who appeared in Knightmare, to me, bordered on a stereotype. The absent-minded, elderly scholar, kindly but with an irritable streak. Not very original really. I wouldn't say it was John Woodnutt's fault especially - same way it wasn't his fault that Mogdred was such a bore - but there have been far more interesting versions of the character. In fact, I'd say Geoffrey of Monmouth's Merlin in The History Of The Kings Of Britain was more interesting, and that book's over eight centuries old!

Looking back, its also a shame that considering the Arthurian current that runs through Knightmare that Merlin wasn't more of a powerful and serious character.

With no disrespect to that opinion, I feel differently. I always considered Merlin to be highly powerful: the way he would appear out of thin air, disappear into thin air, know a dungeoneer's name before they'd introduced themselves, hand out and cast all manner of spells, or deny a team life-saving help if they got a single riddle wrong, left me slightly awed as a child. (Except perhaps during Series 4.) As for (lack of) seriousness, I admire the way that John Woodnutt's portrayal of Merlin was at times comically bumbling and mischievously witty, as it added originality to a potentially hackneyed character, and continues to make enjoyable viewing for me. The BBC's new series has attempted something similar by making Merlin an adolescent, and a contemporary of Arthur.

For me, the best on screen portrayal of Merlin is Nicol Williamson in Excalibur.

Powerful, majestic, commanding yet at times still comical.

The bumbling yet still powerful Merlin in Knightmare seems lifted from the Merlin portrayed in T.H. White's The Once And Future King.

Don't get me wrong though, I did love what John Woodnutt brought to the character.

I just wish that Merlin could have been portrayed a bit more like the Merlin in Excalibur.

Merlin on the BBC is complete and utter rubbish in my opinion!

It seems that they have barley even glanced at the legend.

Avoid at all costs!

Looking back, its also a shame that considering the Arthurian current that runs through Knightmare that Merlin wasn't more of a powerful and serious character.

With no disrespect to that opinion, I feel differently. I always considered Merlin to be highly powerful: the way he would appear out of thin air, disappear into thin air, know a dungeoneer's name before they'd introduced themselves, hand out and cast all manner of spells, or deny a team life-saving help if they got a single riddle wrong, left me slightly awed as a child. (Except perhaps during Series 4.) As for (lack of) seriousness, I admire the way that John Woodnutt's portrayal of Merlin was at times comically bumbling and mischievously witty, as it added originality to a potentially hackneyed character, and continues to make enjoyable viewing for me. The BBC's new series has attempted something similar by making Merlin an adolescent, and a contemporary of Arthur.

I never understood why Merlin took so long to cast energy spells on the dungeoneers

Not intentional. He just had to keep pausing between letters while trying to remember what the next one was...

I mean, what if he'd taken a bit TOO long and the dungeoneer's health had run out before he'd finished?

Then it would have been dungeoneer sausages for tea... mwuhahahahahahahaaaaaaa.

LEGAL NOTE: I should make clear that of course I am not suggesting in any way that Merlin was a cannibal or was deliberately trying to get the dungeoneer killed. Just that he was hungry.

It's a shame that Merlin and Hordriss didn't share any scenes together.

Looking back, its also a shame that considering the Arthurian current that runs through Knightmare that Merlin wasn't more of a powerful and serious character.

I think a duel, or at least a meeting between Merlin and Hordriss would have been fantastic.

As for Hordriss, I know that he became more 'Dugeoneer friendly', but I always got the impression that he still remained slightly unaligned.

And even if he didn't, judging by his heavily-laboured performances of casting VIM, it'd probably take him around seven minutes to cast the first spell. I imagine that might be a gnat's too slow...

Lol, I never understood why Merlin took so long to cast energy spells on the dungeoneers (particularly the one he cast on Leo - ENERGY) ...I mean, what if he'd taken a bit TOO long and the dungeoneer's health had run out before he'd finished?

They could've had a fireball duel (as of Hordriss and Grimaldine)-- not sure who'd win that though

Hordriss, easily, in round one. Merlin forgot his spell book.

Dungeoneer: (Innocently) Do you know somebody known as Merlin around here?

Hordriss: DON'T talk to me about that two-timing, prune faced old b*****d around me, thankyou!"

[LOL] They could've had a fireball duel (as of Hordriss and Grimaldine)-- not sure who'd win that though

Series 3 Hordriss would have abhorred Merlin, I think. After all, he wasn't a good character! The Hordriss I write for is usually the series 8 goody-two-shoes we've come to expect, and since he's "replaced" Merlin by then, I think they'd get along a lot better.

When Hordriss gave out a Step to Chris in Series 3, it could be said that he was indirectly acknowledging Merlin's existence.

I find it fun to imagine that when Merlin gave Leo the SWORD spell, he knew that it would be needed specifically against Hordriss. Interestingly, by the end of Series 3, Hordriss was casting it himself.

Dungeoneer: (Innocently) Do you know somebody known as Merlin around here?

Hordriss: DON'T talk to me about that two-timing, prune faced old b*****d around me, thankyou!"