The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin

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Overview

Merlin, the immortal son of the bard Taliesin and Atlantean Princess Charis, is followed through his tragic upbringing, descent into madness, and shocking disappearance, leading to the legend that surrounds him. Set before King Arthur's birth, Merlin, assumed dead or a myth, reemerges in sub-Roman Britain to unite the fractured kingdoms under threat from Saxon invaders.

Media

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Official Opening Credits

Cast

Creator:

Jeremy Boreing, Stephen R. Lawhead

Fist Air Date:

2026-01-22

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

Bonfire Legend, Hero Squared, Tirian Films, Buffalo 8

Genres:

Action & Adventure Drama Family Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Keywords:

adventure arthurian mythology based on novel or book camelot drama excalibur fantasy historical fantasy

More Show Details

Vote Average: 7.8/10

Vote Count: 43 Votes

Show Popularity: 17.7265

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

View all reviews

Insomniacs Reviews
- 02 May 2026 at 9:01 pm

9 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY Set in the raw, mist-covered landscape of Roman-occupied Britain, this retelling of the Arthurian legend follows the survival of the Atlantean princess Charis and her eventual union with the British bard Taliesin. Their son, Merlin (Tom Sharp), is born into a world of shifting gods and barbarian invasions, where the old Druidic ways are clashing with the rising tide of Christianity. It’s not the "knights in shining armor" version of King Arthur you’ve seen a thousand times; it’s a pained, muddy, and mystical look at the birth of a legend in a land fighting to keep its soul. THE PROS This is an amazing series because it finally gives Stephen R. Lawhead’s novels the epic scale they deserve. It hits a 9 because the world-building is a total highlight; the decision to start with the fall of Atlantis and the Roman evacuation of Britain adds a sincere, historical weight that most fantasy shows skip. The cinematography is stunning—filming in Hungary and Italy has given it a massive, cinematic look that feels honest to the "Island of the Mighty." Tom Sharp is great as a younger, more internal Merlin, and the show’s willingness to lean into its spiritual and religious roots makes it a smart, refreshing alternative to the usual cynical fantasy tropes. THE CONS It stays at a 9 because the early detours into theological debate and baptism scenes can feel like a bit of a slog for viewers who are just here for the sword-fighting. It misses a perfect 10 because some of the "Atlantean" costumes and makeup are an honest head-scratcher and lean a bit too hard into a *Rings of Power* aesthetic that doesn't always gel with the gritty Briton setting. The pacing in the first three episodes is a fair shout for slow, as the show takes its time establishing the prophecy before the war actually kicks off. While the scale is amazing, some of the CGI transitions between locations feel a pained bit "low-budget" compared to the high-quality practical sets. THE VERDICT 9/10. A bold, smart, and visually breathtaking epic. It’s a great series that respects the source material and stands as a fair shout for the most ambitious fantasy project of the year. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • To stay honest to the "Sub-Roman" setting, the production designers avoided all Medieval-style plate armor, opting instead for historically accurate Roman leather, chainmail, and Celtic woven garments.• Jeremy Boreing, the show's director, took a year-long leave of absence from his executive duties to live on set in Europe, ensuring the "biggest-budget project in DailyWire+ history" was handled with a sincere personal touch.• The series actually uses a "multinational" cast of relative unknowns to ensure that the characters of Taliesin and Merlin didn't feel overshadowed by a famous face, a move intended to keep the focus entirely on the legend itself. THE VIBE Like a prayer whispered in a storm. It smells of damp earth, incense, and the metallic tang of a Roman gladius.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

7 Episodes

Air Date: 2026-01-22

Videos

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Official Opening Credits

Ganieda Teaser: The Beloved of Merlin

The Journey Ends Here

Aurelius and Uther Teaser: Brothers Before Kings

How Post-Production Brings a Medieval Epic to Life

Years of Work Comes Down to This | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 18

Morgian Teaser: The Sorceress of Shadows

Editing and Scoring The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin

We Made It to the End | The Pendragon Production Diary 16

Taliesin Teaser: The First Bard of Britain

Action and Emotion on the Set of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Production Diary 15

"There will be no peace" | The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Teaser

Things Don’t Always Go To Plan on Set | Production Diary 14

The Last Princess of Atlantis

Dialect Training | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 13

You Don't Want to Miss This Scene... | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 12

The Legend of Merlin

The Scene That Left the Crew Speechless | The Pendragon Cycle Diary 11

The Scene You've Been Waiting For | The Pendragon Cycle Diary 10

What It Takes to Tame a Bull | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 9

You're Not Ready For This Scene... | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 8

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Now Streaming

The Hardest Week of Filming Yet | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 7

How We Made This Medieval Song | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 6

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Production Diary 5

Yes, She's Still in the Show | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 4

This Scene Was Insane... | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 3

Merlin Discovers a Mysterious Foe | The Pendragon Cycle Production Diary 2

On the Set of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Production Diary 1

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin | Official Teaser

Cast

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Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 2 May 2026 at 10:01 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10
THE SUMMARY
Set in the raw, mist-covered landscape of Roman-occupied Britain, this retelling of the Arthurian legend follows the survival of the Atlantean princess Charis and her eventual union with the British bard Taliesin. Their son, Merlin (Tom Sharp), is born into a world of shifting gods and barbarian invasions, where the old Druidic ways are clashing with the rising tide of Christianity. It’s not the “knights in shining armor” version of King Arthur you’ve seen a thousand times; it’s a pained, muddy, and mystical look at the birth of a legend in a land fighting to keep its soul.
THE PROS
This is an amazing series because it finally gives Stephen R. Lawhead’s novels the epic scale they deserve. It hits a 9 because the world-building is a total highlight; the decision to start with the fall of Atlantis and the Roman evacuation of Britain adds a sincere, historical weight that most fantasy shows skip. The cinematography is stunning—filming in Hungary and Italy has given it a massive, cinematic look that feels honest to the “Island of the Mighty.” Tom Sharp is great as a younger, more internal Merlin, and the show’s willingness to lean into its spiritual and religious roots makes it a smart, refreshing alternative to the usual cynical fantasy tropes.
THE CONS
It stays at a 9 because the early detours into theological debate and baptism scenes can feel like a bit of a slog for viewers who are just here for the sword-fighting. It misses a perfect 10 because some of the “Atlantean” costumes and makeup are an honest head-scratcher and lean a bit too hard into a *Rings of Power* aesthetic that doesn’t always gel with the gritty Briton setting. The pacing in the first three episodes is a fair shout for slow, as the show takes its time establishing the prophecy before the war actually kicks off. While the scale is amazing, some of the CGI transitions between locations feel a pained bit “low-budget” compared to the high-quality practical sets.
THE VERDICT
9/10. A bold, smart, and visually breathtaking epic. It’s a great series that respects the source material and stands as a fair shout for the most ambitious fantasy project of the year.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• To stay honest to the “Sub-Roman” setting, the production designers avoided all Medieval-style plate armor, opting instead for historically accurate Roman leather, chainmail, and Celtic woven garments.
• Jeremy Boreing, the show’s director, took a year-long leave of absence from his executive duties to live on set in Europe, ensuring the “biggest-budget project in DailyWire+ history” was handled with a sincere personal touch.
• The series actually uses a “multinational” cast of relative unknowns to ensure that the characters of Taliesin and Merlin didn’t feel overshadowed by a famous face, a move intended to keep the focus entirely on the legend itself.
THE VIBE
Like a prayer whispered in a storm. It smells of damp earth, incense, and the metallic tang of a Roman gladius.

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