Adventures of a Boy Wizard

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

"Merlin"

Sundays at 8 p.m. on NBC

The basics: The magical Merlin is sent to Camelot to secretly learn the ins and outs of spells and potions from the court physician in a time when using wizardry is punishable by death. A dragon soon reveals Merlin's destiny -- that the teenager's fate is intertwined with the arrogant and annoying Prince Arthur. Even though Merlin denies he would ever help Arthur, he soon saves the prince from harm and is "rewarded" by being named Arthur's manservant.

What it faces: The competition will vary during the summer, but when it starts, "Merlin" is up against several series in reruns: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on ABC, "Million Dollar Password" on CBS, and "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" on Fox.

What you'll love: Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur) are adorable on screen, and Angel Coulby (Gwen) brings a sassy verve to a production that is funny and well-acted. The British import also boasts high-quality special effects and promises a bevy of magical creatures during its 13-episode run.

What you won't: The scheduling of the series is a bit odd: It's being aired in two-hour blocks on the first two Sundays then changes to a single-hour program on July 5.

Bottom line: "Merlin" is fun family fare, and many fans of the "Harry Potter" series are sure to fall under its spell.

-- Debra Leithauser