We revisit the BBC fantasy show Merlin, hoping to enjoy it more than the pilot–and while the dynamic between Merlin and Arthur is certainly better than before, the rest of the show leaves us frustrated, not just with ignoring wide swathes of Arthurian elements, but for indulging in one of the worst sins of 21st century storytelling: the hidden emotional trauma of the nerd and his absentee father.

That’s right, we’re cranky, and you’re all gonna be mad at us again.

Merlin, season 2, episode 13: “The Last Dragonlord”.

Starring Colin Morgan, Bradley James, John Hurt, Richard Wilson, and John Lynch. Written by Julian Jones. Directed by Jeremy Webb.

This is a preview of the latest episode of our series Hollywood Avalon. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: https://www.patreon.com/maryvsmovies.