First, apologies to anyone outside the UK who has not heard of this, but the BBC has a new series starting on the 20th September called Merlin. http://www.bbc.co.uk/merlin/

For some reason the BBC seems to have decided to take one of our better known myths and cast it with possibly the oddest looking people as its protagonists. Arthur and Merlin in particular are just weird looking. They did the same with Robin Hood recently. Now, I'm not the prettiest person on the planet, I'll be first to admit, but TV/Fantasy could make a bit of an effort to show our population in a good light. I don't know, maybe I'm a little odd for thinking like this, but Merlin is supposed to be the most badass mage ever. Having a soft spot for mages, I just get bugged. First goddamn Del Boy as Rincewind and now Merlin is a jug-eared bulb-head. Thanks, BBC, as if the nerdy, mildly ostracized fantasy audience didn't have enough negative stereotypes to contend with.

And, of course, they seem intent on screwing the entire Merlin/Arthur stories entirely. Merlin and Arthur growing up at the same time? Should have just bought Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle rights and made those into a series.

At least Uther is played by Giles.

-SP