The Merlin Episode Bracket

Ranking every single episode of BBC Merlin via tumblr polls

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Welcome to the BBC Merlin Episode Bracket!

There are 65 episodes of Merlin. Which one is the best? Well, that’s going to be up to you.

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The bracket will go as follows:

Round One: 13 polls with 5 episodes in each

Round Two: 4 polls with 3/4 episodes in each

Round Three: 2 polls with 2 episodes in each

Final Round: The top 2 finalists will go head to head to determine the ultimate best episode

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Please be aware that:

The episode from each poll with the highest votes will be the one and only one moving forward.

All of the episode groupings are being randomly generated.

All polls will include a “show results” option.

Round One polls will be open for a week to let them circulate, the following rounds will likely only last a day but we’ll see.

There is an uneven number of episodes and there may be ties, so at least one of the Round Two polls will have an extra episode.

All polls (at least in the first round) will include brief episode summaries so y’all know what you’re voting for.

Tumblr is not a reliable source of accurate data, don’t take anything here too seriously.

You’re always welcome to share your thoughts and feelings with me along the way, but hateful assholes get blocked.

and most of all…

HAVE FUN!

[bbcmerlinbracket]

We have a winner! The best BBC Merlin episode according to the bracket is…

4x06 The Servant Of Two Masters

I had a ton of fun running this bracket with you folks and I hope you had fun too! Do you agree with our winner? What’s your favourite episode?

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Four: Finals! Which is the best Merlin episode?

1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 29, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

Arthur kills a unicorn, unleashing a curse that throws the kingdom into a famine. To undo the curse Arthur has to undergo a series of tests to prove to the guardian of the unicorns that he is pure of heart.

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Merlin falls into Morgana’s hands and she plants a magical creature in him to mind-control him into killing Arthur. After multiple failed attempts, Gaius and Gwen get Merlin under control and he goes to confront Morgana as his elderly alter-ego Dragoon.

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Less than 24 hours left on the finale poll! If you haven’t voted yet, now’s your last chance…

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Round Four: Finals! Which is the best Merlin episode?

1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 29, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

Arthur kills a unicorn, unleashing a curse that throws the kingdom into a famine. To undo the curse Arthur has to undergo a series of tests to prove to the guardian of the unicorns that he is pure of heart.

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Merlin falls into Morgana’s hands and she plants a magical creature in him to mind-control him into killing Arthur. After multiple failed attempts, Gaius and Gwen get Merlin under control and he goes to confront Morgana as his elderly alter-ego Dragoon.

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Three: Poll 2 Which is the best Merlin episode?

1x04 The Poisoned Chalice

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 19, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

1x04 The Poisoned Chalice

Nimueh tips Merlin off that Arthur’s chalice has been poisoned, he drinks from it instead to save Arthur and begins dying. Against Uther’s wishes, Arthur goes on a quest to get the cure for the poison. Nimueh and her monsters try to kill him, but Merlin sends a magic orb that saves him and he’s able to get the cure back to Camelot in time to save Merlin.

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Merlin falls into Morgana’s hands and she plants a magical creature in him to mind-control him into killing Arthur. After multiple failed attempts, Gaius and Gwen get Merlin under control and he goes to confront Morgana as his elderly alter-ego Dragoon.

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Three: Poll 1 Which is the best Merlin Episode?

2x08 The Sins Of The Father

1x11 The Labyrinth of Gedref

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 19, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

2x08 The Sins Of The Father

Morgause beats Arthur in a duel to the death, but spares his life in exchange for a magical meeting with his dead mother. The truth she tells him about his birth has Arthur raging back to Camelot to kill his father.

1x11 The Labyrinth of Gedref

Arthur kills a unicorn, unleashing a curse that throws the kingdom into a famine. To undo the curse Arthur has to undergo a series of tests to prove to the guardian of the unicorns that he is pure of heart.

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Two Recap

Poll 1: 2x08 The Sins Of The Father

Poll 2: 1x04 The Poisoned Chalice

Poll 3: 1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

Poll 4: 4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

We are now entering the semi-finals. Get ready to vote, Round 3 will determine the top two episodes to face off in the finals!

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Two: Poll 4 Which is the best Merlin episode?

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

1x01 The Dragon’s Call

3x04 Gwaine

1x13 Le Morte D’Arthur

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 11, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Merlin falls into Morgana’s hands and she plants a magical creature in him to mind-control him into killing Arthur. After multiple failed attempts, Gaius and Gwen get Merlin under control and he goes to confront Morgana as his elderly alter-ego Dragoon.

1x01 The Dragon’s Call

Merlin arrives in Camelot, meets the Great Dragon, and gets appointed as Arthur’s manservant in payment for saving Arthur’s life.

3x04 Gwaine

Gwaine risks his life to help Merlin and Arthur win a fight, and they bring him back to Camelot to heal his wounds. The guys they defeated come back for revenge with magic, and Gwaine helps Merlin to defeat them once again before getting exiled by Uther.

1x13 Le Morte D’Arthur

Arthur gets bitten by the Questing Beast and Merlin travels to the Isle of the Blessed to negotiate a cure from Nimueh, but in order to save Arthur's life, someone else must die.

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Two: Poll 3 Which is the best Merlin episode?

5x03 The Death Song Of Uther Pendragon

3x13 The Coming Of Arthur Part 2

1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 11, 2023

Episode descriptions below the cut (contains spoilers).

5x03 The Death Song Of Uther Pendragon

Given the chance to meet with his father’s ghost, Arthur takes it. However, Uther’s angry ghost is upset with Arthur’s choices as a ruler and knows about Merlin’s magic. In order to bring his vengeful rampage to and end and protect Merlin’s secret, they have to hunt him down and return him to the grave.

3x13 The Coming Of Arthur Part 2

The gang regroups after losing Camelot to Morgana. Arthur creates the Knights of the Round Table and Merlin retrieves Excalibur. Together they take back Camelot from Morgana and Morgause, who escape weak and wounded.

1x11 The Labyrinth Of Gedref

Arthur kills a unicorn, unleashing a curse that throws the kingdom into a famine. To undo the curse Arthur has to undergo a series of tests to prove to the guardian of the unicorns that he is pure of heart.

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Two: Poll 2 Which is the best Merlin episode?

5x13 The Diamond Of The Day Part 2

3x08 Eye Of The Phoenix

1x04 The Poisoned Chalice

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 11, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

5x13 The Diamond Of The Day Part 2

Merlin ends the battle at Camlann. Morgana’s army and Mordred die in the battle. Morgana’s spy is found and killed. Percival and Gwaine hunt down Morgana, who tortures Merlin and Arthur’s location out of Gwaine, which kills him. Morgana finds Merlin and he kills her with Excalibur. Merlin reveals his magic to Arthur, tries and fails to get Arthur to Avalon in time to heal him, and Arthur dies in Merlin’s arms.

3x08 The Eye Of The Phoenix

Morgana gives Arthur the Eye of the Phoenix as he sets out on a quest to get the Fisher King’s Golden Trident. A concerned Merlin and Gwaine follow him, Merlin exchanges the Eye of the Phoenix for the water of Lake Avalon and Arthur finds the Trident.

1x04 The Poisoned Chalice

Nimueh tips Merlin off that Arthur’s chalice has been poisoned, he drinks from it instead to save Arthur and begins dying. Against Uther’s wishes, Arthur goes on a quest to get the cure for the poison. Nimueh and her monsters try to kill him, but Merlin sends a magic orb that saves him and he’s able to get the cure back to Camelot in time to save Merlin.

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Two: Poll 1 Which is the best Merlin episode?

2x08 The Sins Of The Father

4x01 The Darkest Hour Part 1

2x09 The Lady Of The Lake

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 11, 2023

Episode descriptions below the cut (contains spoilers).

2x08 The Sins Of The Father

Morgause beats Arthur in a duel to the death, but spares his life in exchange for a magical meeting with his dead mother. The truth she tells him about his birth has Arthur raging back to Camelot to kill his father.

4x01 The Darkest Hour Part 1

Morgana sacrifices Morgause to tear open the veil between the worlds, releasing deadly monsters and learning that her destiny is to be killed by Emrys. Arthur, Merlin, and the knights go on a quest to close the veil, but the monsters catch up with them and Merlin sacrifices himself to save Arthur.

2x09 The Lady Of The Lake

Merlin saves a Druid girl with a nasty curse from a bounty hunter and antics ensue as he keeps her in hiding and smuggles her Arthur’s sausages and Morgana’s dresses. They start to fall for each other, but her curse gets in the way and their dreams of running away together are not meant to be.

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Just a friendly reminder that we’re heading into the final 24 hours to vote on Round Two polls!

[merlin-knights]

The Lady of the Lake (Merlin, 2x09)

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[merlin-knights]

The Darkest Hour, Part 1 (Merlin, 4x01)

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[merlin-knights]

The Sins of the Father (Merlin, 2x08)

@bbcmerlinbracket

[bbcmerlinbracket]

Round Two: Poll 4 Which is the best Merlin episode?

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

1x01 The Dragon’s Call

3x04 Gwaine

1x13 Le Morte D’Arthur

Show Results

Voting ended onApr 11, 2023

Episode descriptions under the cut (contains spoilers).

4x06 A Servant Of Two Masters

Merlin falls into Morgana’s hands and she plants a magical creature in him to mind-control him into killing Arthur. After multiple failed attempts, Gaius and Gwen get Merlin under control and he goes to confront Morgana as his elderly alter-ego Dragoon.

1x01 The Dragon’s Call

Merlin arrives in Camelot, meets the Great Dragon, and gets appointed as Arthur’s manservant in payment for saving Arthur’s life.

3x04 Gwaine

Gwaine risks his life to help Merlin and Arthur win a fight, and they bring him back to Camelot to heal his wounds. The guys they defeated come back for revenge with magic, and Gwaine helps Merlin to defeat them once again before getting exiled by Uther.

1x13 Le Morte D’Arthur

Arthur gets bitten by the Questing Beast and Merlin travels to the Isle of the Blessed to negotiate a cure from Nimueh, but in order to save Arthur's life, someone else must die.