The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin Offers a Bold Retelling Through Christianity, Prophecy, and Rivalry

I’ve watched every television show or movie related to Arthur, Merlin, or Camelot, so it was intriguing to learn about a different retelling.

While Daily Wire+’s The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin isn’t your traditional Knights of the Round Table, it’s fascinating, historical, and makes you think.

While Daily Wire+ has developed other series, The Pendragon Cycle was envisioned as a ten-year project and created and produced by co-founder Jeremy Boreing.

The cast is led by Tom Sharp as Merlin, Rose Reid as Charis, and James Arden as Taliesin.

Other cast members include Emree Franlin as Morgian, Finney Cassidy as Aurelius, Myles Clohessy as Uther, Brett Cooper as Ganieda, Alex Laurence Phillips as Pelleas, and Daniel Fathers as King Avallach.

The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin is an adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s award-winning novels.

It covers the Arthurian Legend, but not in Medieval times; it’s set in Roman-occupied Britain during the rise of Christianity, as people are torn between Paganism and worshipping God.

When invaders threaten to take over the Island of the Mighty, only those who believe in the true God will survive.

The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin will cover Lawhead’s first two books, Taliesin and Merlin, and journalists received advanced screeners of the first two episodes.

The first two episodes will cover Taliesin, a singing bard with incredible powers like his son, Merlin. It also introduces a displaced Princess Charis, torn between her Atlantean culture and duties, and her attraction to Taliesin.

While there are battles in the first two episodes, The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin’s strength will focus on character arcs and relationship development.

It’s more about internal conflict, as characters like Taliesin and Charis make difficult decisions in the face of good and evil and must determine who their God is when tested.

Culture is a major clash, especially since King Avallach and Elphin’s men are at war, and neither man approves of their children being together.

Some fans may long for the endless excitement of previous adaptations, but this version provides plenty of fight scenes. Daily Wire+ and Stephen R. Lawhead just worked hard to make this more family-friendly fantasy.

The setting and scenery are gorgeous, and you’ll be enchanted by the rolling hills, majestic waterfalls, and the lake at night.

We don’t want to spoil too much, but Rose Reid makes the perfect Lady of the Lake, the other name for Princess Charis. She’s the MVP of the first two episodes, and you don’t want to miss them.

The first two episodes provide an excellent backstory for Merlin, who we meet at the end of the second episode, and he’ll be the focus for the rest of the series.

The remaining five episodes will revolve around the second book, Merlin, which focuses on how Merlin prepares to protect Arthur, rather than Arthur’s adventures.

While I loved their adventures, I’m eager to see this adaptation from Merlin’s perspective. 

When the barbarians start making more trouble, we know Uther is involved, as the promo hints, and suspect that’s when Arthur is born and becomes the next heir.

Merlin sees prophecies and believes in the light, but Aunt Morgian (this version’s Morgana) tempts him.

Prepare for the ultimate battle over the Excalibur sword, and good versus evil, a theme that remains in Merlin.

Merlin almost seems like the ultimate prophet, who’s being tested to see if he’ll still believe in God, even if he suffers and even if those around him die.

Daily Wire+ has gone faith-based in its programming, combining that with fantasy, action, and romance.

We’re hopeful the series is a hit and gets renewed, because there are several novels to adapt, with plenty more material for Merlin and Arthur.

Will you check out this latest adaptation of Merlin? Have you read Stephen Lawhead’s books, and are you looking forward to this?

We’ll be covering weekly reviews and would love to hear your input.

The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin premieres on Daily Wire+ at 1 am ET on Thursday, January 22.

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