Merlin ran from 2008 to 2012. It took us to Camelot, where young Merlin becomes best buddy with Prince Arthur. You know, future king stuff. Along for the ride are memorable characters like Kilgharrah, the dragon with wisdom, Sir Leon, the knight who probably never skips leg day and Morgana, the ultimate drama queen. Action, drama, humor- this show had it all. Fans loved it for five whole seasons. Who knew a fantasy series could be so relatable?

Meet the characters from Merlin

The Dragon

The Dragon is this ancient, grouchy, cavern-dwelling force of nature who speaks in riddles and frankly steals every scene. He’s terrifying and wise and wears his sarcasm like scales, but also, like, he sometimes sounds oddly like a grumpy grandad. He gives Merlin cryptic advice, hoards secrets, and apparently has a thing for dramatic timing. You can trust him to be severe and suddenly absurd—just when you think he’s done, he bellows something that makes you laugh and tremble at the same time.

Merlin

Merlin is chaos in cardigan form, secretly huge magic energy trapped inside a painfully awkward young man. He’s fiercely loyal, nerdy, and always three steps ahead while pretending not to be, which is exhausting and kind of endearing. He saves the day constantly with cleverness and sometimes wildly inappropriate spells, and he’ll talk to animals or the Dragon like it’s no big deal. There’s this constant tension between his warmth and the crushing weight of destiny, and he handles both with a flustered smile. Also, he’s terrible at keeping secrets and somehow always loses a boot, which makes no sense but I love it.

Arthur

Arthur is the classic stubborn, noble prince who gets you every time—brave, hot-headed, awkwardly charming. He wants honor and the right kind of glory, and sometimes he’s painfully clueless about feelings, yet also surprisingly thoughtful when it matters. Arthur swings a sword like he’s solving a problem, and yes he can be arrogant but he grows so much, like you can literally see him learning empathy (cue dramatic hand-on-shoulder scenes). Oh and he apparently has terrible taste in pie, but maybe that’s just a rumor I’m clinging to for giggles.

Gaius

Gaius is the grumpy, brilliant court physician who knows everything and pretends not to, the kind of mentor you both adore and fear. He’s stoic, sarcastic, and protective—like a cat with a medical bag—always the voice of reason and the only person who will call Merlin on his nonsense. There’s a deep sadness under his calm, years of secrets and regrets that make him exactly the kind of tragic dad figure you never asked for but desperately need. He drinks more tea than is probably healthy and has a ridiculous stash of odd herbs, and also an improbable soft spot for badly behaved knights. Sometimes he’s strict and sometimes he’s unexpectedly goofy, which I swear keeps everyone alive more than his medicine does.

Gwen

Gwen is the quietly fierce, endlessly practical heart of Camelot—starts as a serving girl and becomes a queen, which is just the best glow-up. She’s kind without being naive, has a wickedly dry sense of humor, and will absolutely sort out everyone’s feelings while balancing a tray. Also she secretly likes gossip—shush—and is far more stubborn and capable than half the men who wear armor. She knits sometimes, or maybe mends medieval aprons, and is both unflappable and surprisingly competitive about gardens, I think?

Morgana

Morgana is complicated in the best tragic-antihero way—so beautiful and brilliant but hurt so deeply that she becomes terrifying. There’s this slow burn from sweetheart to revolutionary with a lot of rage and righteous anger layered in, and honestly you can sympathize even when she does awful things. Her magic makes her powerful and unpredictable, and she collects secrets the way birds collect shiny things—sometimes affectionately, sometimes dangerously. She smiles like a friend and plots like a queen, which is wildly unsettling and brilliant writing. Also she once had a moment of humming to herself in the garden, so yes she has surprisingly domestic hobbies between plotting world-altering schemes.

Uther Pendragon

Uther is the iron-fisted king who thinks sternness is a personality trait and rules with a terrifying conviction. He’s intense, proud, and often cruel, but there are flashes—rare and small—of the man who loved his family, which makes his rigidity feel tragically human. He hates magic with a passion that’s basically a political personality disorder, and this obsession ruins more than it protects. He also enjoys pomp and dramatic speeches and probably has the worst bedtime routine of any ruler ever imagined.

Sir Leon

Sir Leon is the big-hearted, slightly awkward knight who will sprint into a brawl with gusto and then apologize afterwards. He’s loyal to a fault, very strong, and also surprisingly tender—like, he might crush your chair but then offer you a fish pie. He’s brave but also kind of clueless sometimes, the sort who forgets protocol but remembers everyone’s birthdays, which is very endearing. There’s this goofy energy about him—part hero, part puppy—and honestly he’s the friend you want at your side in any storm.