Sam Neill's Perfect 2-Part Magic Series Still Has the Best Ending in Fantasy TV History
CBR, bAshley Land
Image via Hallmark
The 1990s saw a revival of the fantasy genre, allowing for legends like King Arthur and Merlin, dragons, and medieval knights to find new relevance. Having seen his star power rise after Jurassic Park, Sam Neill was destined to star in such a project, and his 1998 miniseries delivered one of fantasy's best endings.
Towards the end of the 1990s, Neill joined an ensemble cast in exploring one of the greatest legends in history. Having been forgotten by modern audiences, Merlin is a two-part epic begging to be rediscovered by fantasy fans of all stripes, especially for those looking to pay tribute to the legendary actor following Neill's tragic passing.
Merlin Makes the Magician the Star of Arthurian Legend
Image via Hallmark
In 1998, Hallmark produced one of the decade's greatest TV events, and it gave Sam Neill one of his best roles after Alan Grant. Merlin brings audiences the epic tale of the Arthurian myth, centered on the magician's side of the story, which serves as the central hook.
Beginning with his supernatural creation at the hands of the dark witch Queen Mab, he's initially raised by his aunt, a Christian convert who once followed the "old ways" of the sorceress. When Merlin inexplicably uses magic to rescue the young Nimue from drowning, he becomes smitten with her, but turns to his aunt to learn of his true origin.
Learning of his powers, he's sent to Mab, who, along with her gnome servant Frik, teaches the young man how to wield magic. However, when the queen kills Merlin's aunt during an argument, he completely renounces her ways and devotes his life to destroying her.
Years after Merlin's separation from Mab, the witch queen visits King Vortigern, whom she tries to persuade to kill Merlin so his castle will finally withstand construction. In keeping with the myth, a series of betrayals drives Merlin into the arms of Uther, helping him win a victory to avenge the attempted killing of Nimue.
Victorious, Uther becomes king and keeps the wizard as his advisor. When the new monarch becomes obsessed with the lady Igraine, Merlin reluctantly disguises himself as her husband, allowing him to seduce her, but requests guardianship of their child. When Uther goes back on his word, murdering Igraine's husband and later taking his own life.
The second half of the miniseries focuses on Merlin's tutelage of Uther's son, Arthur, and the arrival of his half-sister, Morgan le Fay, with whom he unknowingly conceives Mordred. As punishment for what she sees as a betrayal, Mab imprisons Nimue in a forest, using her magic to keep them separate.
With war looming between the now-adult Mordred, a student of Mab, and Arthur's knights of Camelot, the wizard is forced back into action one last time, in true hard fantasy fashion. With magic all but gone, the story leaves the audience to question the sorcerer's future before finally bringing closure.
Merlin Has the Perfect Fantasy Ending
Image via Hallmark
After defeating Queen Mab, Merlin is left to grow old and alone in a world where magic is all but dead, making money by sharing his stories with anyone who will pay. After his latest tales, he's visited by an aged Frik, who tells him that his beloved Nimue is finally free from the witch's imprisonment.
When he arrives, he finds an eager Nimue, who's thrilled to see her old love standing before her. Despite their time apart, the pair picks up where they left off, laughing together as they get ready to spend whatever remains of their lives together.
Before their story can end, Merlin tells her, "I think I have one last trick," casting a spell that restores them both to their youth. In a bittersweet moment of perfection, he tells her, "There's no more. That's the end of magic," and the pair walk joyously towards her home.
The ending is a wonderful testament to the love story that gave the Hallmark miniseries its heart and soul. When Merlin tells Nimue he used up the last drop of magic so they could have the life they deserved, it's also a fun wink to the audience that perhaps this is how the myth really ended.
For all the questioning of what happened to the supposed magic of Arthurian mythology, the series offers viewers the idea that the beloved wizard used it for true love. For all the trouble magic and sorcery brought them before, being reduced to ordinary people suggests they can finally live out the quiet life they always wanted.
So passes the end of the legend of Merlin, King Arthur, and the Court of Camelot, ushering in a new chapter for Britain, with no trace of the Old Ways. If the love of the scene wasn't great enough, it's greatly elevated by Trevor Jones' beautiful score, which sums up all the love, magic, and emotion of the whole miniseries.
Sam Neill Was Perfect for the Role of Merlin
Image via Hallmark
Over the years, a variety of actors have played the role of Merlin, each bringing their own perspective to the character. Where some are more eccentric or mysterious, actors like Colin Morgan played him with a more dramatic flair. While these actors have all earned their own fan bases, Sam Neill stands out as the best take on the character to date.
Through his acting, viewers see a range of emotions, from his tender love with Nimue to his frustrations with Arthur and hatred of Mab. It's interesting to note that many aspects of the miniseries aren't accurate to the mythology, with Mab herself being the best example.
Where some interpretations cast aspersions on the morality of Merlin, and others cast him as a trickster, Neill's version is humble and honorable, more than befitting a wizard of Camelot. As the central figure in this version of the story, he undergoes a tragic journey, though one ultimately redeemed by the ending.
The underrated fantasy miniseries trades in some of the more grandiose aspects of the real mythology in favor of a story more human, emotionally driven, and romantic.
Other than Mab, there are very few truly evil characters here, and the overall power of magic is often reduced to prophecy, visions, and tricks, with Merlin saving his best for last. By the end of the story, Neill delivers a performance so brilliant it feels like it belongs in a Shakespeare adaptation.
Ashley is a Rotten Tomatoes–approved critic and CBR MTV writer specializing in pulp comics, the DC Universe, and genre storytelling. With a passion for westerns, sci-fi, horror, and thrillers, he brings both critical analysis and fan enthusiasm to his coverage. A lifelong pop culture fan, Ashley writes features, reviews, and commentary that highlight the best fiction has to offer.
