Some of the best TV show finales have been infantasyseries. However, this doesn’t mean that these episodes aren’t emotionally devastating. After spending years with beloved characters and watching them fight for what they believe in, it’s heartbreaking to watch some of the most tragic finales in series of the genre.
There are somegreat TV series finales that saved their shows, while others have lived on in the cultural memory because they were so shocking, subverting the audience’s expectations. Evenover a decade later, there are some fantasy show finales that have stayed with me,remaining as potent and intense as they were the day they aired.
For any genre of TV show, but especially fantasy,a series finale carries a lot of weightand will inform audience opinion about the series for years to come. Despite some of its controversies in the later seasons,Merlinis afantasy TV show from the 2000s that holds up perfectlyin many ways, never failing to capture our attention.
13 Years Later, Merlin Still Has One Of The Most Devastating Endings In Fantasy TV
“Diamond Of The Day” Is An Unforgettable Series Finale
Every TV show andmovie about King Arthurbrings something new to the table, exploring ways to make the well-known legends fresh and accessible to modern audiences.Merlinaired from 2008 to 2012 during an interesting period for fantasy television, quickly carving out a place for itself within the genre.As the seasons progressed,Merlinbecame more serializedand grappled with its history.
After watching Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Arthur (Bradley James) grow up together and beat back the kingdom’s greatest enemies, the series finale includes many shocking emotional moments. “Diamond of the Day” sees Merlin finally reveal his magic to Arthur after struggling to regain his powers, and this puts the friends at odds for a time after the stunning battle between Arthur, Morgana, and Mordred.
Merlin went willingly unnoticed for his magical talents and the sacrifices he made for the kingdom throughout all five seasons ofMerlin. This meant that audiences and critics had high expectations going into the series finale, knowing how much the show still had to wrap up, and the deaths, plot twists, andemotional conversations between characters are just as powerful today.
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What Makes Merlin’s Ending So Gut-Wrenching (Even Years Later)
It’s Impossible To Watch “Diamond Of The Day” Without Being Moved
TheMerlinseries finale,“Diamond of the Day,” features the deaths of many of the major charactersof the series, including Arthur, who passes in Merlin’s arms after he defeats Morgana. After building up the reveal of Merlin’s magic for so long and laying the groundwork for the partnership between Merlin and Arthur, the finale was an abrupt end to the show that was upsetting for many fans.
Ending with Merlin in the present day, still waiting for Arthur’s return, is simultaneously hopeful and deeply tragic.
Ending with Merlin in the present day, still waiting for Arthur’s return, is simultaneously hopeful and deeply tragic. Throughout the show, it was promised that the series would show Merlin and Arthur at the height of their powers, working together to bring magic back to the kingdom, full of prosperity, adventure, and trust that had been building for so long.
Fantasyshows rarely get the opportunity to run for many seasons, butMerlinis a great example of a show that never got the chance to fulfill all of its potential. If the series had additional seasons to explore Arthur and Merlin’s relationship after magic is accepted, the legacy of the show might not be as heartbreaking.
