'Merlin': Complete Series 5 DVD extras review

Attractively packaged, this is a five disc-set, with the fifth disc containing extras. The discs open with the familiar animated menus, set within Gaius’ chambers.

Audio commentaries

Provided by the cast and crew, these are present on eight episodes and vary wildly in tone. There are a couple of notable absences though, as we had hoped to hear Alexander Vlahos’ perspective on ‘The Drawing of the Dark’, the crucial Mordred-centric episode, and there is sadly no contribution from Colin Morgan during the crucial final four episodes.

For ‘Arthur’s Bane (Part One)’ Executive Producer Justin Murphy and director Justin Molotnikov give quite a technical take whereas Colin Morgan and Alexander Vlahos are more thoughtful on ‘Arthur’s Bane (Part Two)’.

The comedy double act of Angel Coulby and Rupert Young provide an entertaining, if rambling commentary on ‘The Death Song of Uther Pendragon’ and Executive Producer Johnny Capps and Colin Morgan make a detailed, informative and funny assessment of ‘The Disir’.

Director Alice Troughton and Bradley James give an informative chat about the series on ‘The Hollow Queen’, including addressing some twitter-generated questions from fans, while for ‘With All My Heart’, Angel Coulby and Alexander Vlahos provide a gallop though the show with some amusing flights of fancy.

‘The Kindness of Strangers’ has Bradley James and Rupert Young holding a conversation full of impersonations of the other Knights, though little to do with the episode in question. For ‘The Diamond of the Day (Part Two)’ there is a highly irreverent commentary, in which Katie McGrath experiences the finale for the first time while producer Julian Jones gleefully pokes fun at some of the show’s undertones.

Deleted scenes

From ‘Arthur’s Bane’, we see some comedy surrounding Arthur and Merlin’s alfresco sleeping arrangements and a little of Percival shirtless action, as well as a scene with Queen Gwen and Merlin challenging Arthur’s decision to go on to Ismere alone.

Scenes from ‘The Death Song of Uther Pendragon’ set up Arthur’s grief for Uther and see Percival raising a toast. More importantly are a series of scenes that reveal an edge to the Arthur/Gwen relationship, involving flowers and the start of the haunting.

From ‘Another’s Sorrow’, there is a nice Mordred scene where he requests to accompany Arthur on the mission to Nemeth and is denied, and from ‘The Disir’, a scene mentioned in the commentary where Merlin voices his concerns to Gaius about Mordred. Finally from ‘The Dark Tower’, Arthur laments Morgana’s evil and how she has changed.

From ‘A Lesson in Vengeance’ there is a brief scene of Gaius making a mess in his quarters as well as worried shot of the physical and a comedy breakfast scene with a hurried Merlin from ‘The Kindness of Strangers’.

From ‘The Diamond of the Day Part 1’, we find a Morgana/Mordred scene where the druid boy still holds out hope for Arthur and she forces him to pledge his allegiance once again. Also there is a brief interchange between the two where Morgana tells that she has entombed Merlin.

From Part 2, there is a battle moment with Percival and Gwaine, and later a vow from Percival that he will kill Morgana. In addition, there is a brief moment of a worried Merlin watching the sleeping, wounded Arthur.

Storyboards

Some interesting storyboard sequences show the original plans for various scenes including Arthur’s death vision and Gwaine’s encounter with the Euchdag, which seems to be drawn very differently from how it was eventually presented.

Out-takes

With some amusing fluffs, silliness and corpsing, this sequence also includes fun from the finale’s dice game and a kiss for Gwaine. We also see King Arthur pulling the Usain Bolt pose, suffering horse problems and Bradley James’ repeated sneezing at Elyan’s funeral. The selection ends on a quite wonderful moment with Colin Morgan as Dragoon playing about atop the rocks over Camlann.

SuperFan videos

13 minutes of fan made videos, with some scenes restaged in garages and living rooms, and even in Lego form. Great fun for those involved, but you’re not going to watch it more than once.

‘Making of Merlin’ documentary

25 minutes with members of cast and crew giving a look behind the scenes of Series 5 as well as reflecting on the five year journey of the show.