An informal rule of Doctor Who (but one that is always adhered to) is that magic doesnt exist. Its either smoke and mirrors or some kind of alien technology or biological ability. So with that in mind, the question is how could Merlin, the most famous wizard of British legend, be incorporated into Doctor Who? Well, remember when River Song said that good wizards in fairytales always turn out to be the Doctor? In this case its true. In the 1989 story Battlefield, the Doctor finds King Arthurs sword Excalibur along with a note from Merlin in his own handwriting, making him (if the Eighth Doctor novel One Fateful Knight is taken as non-canon) the grand old sorcerer of Camelot. And that would be an excellent setting for a pseudo-historical story. The Tardis arrives in Camelot and the Doctor realises that its time to close the paradox created in Battlefield and for him to become Merlin. Cue him using the Tardis and all sorts of alien technology (including the Sonic Screwdriver as a wand) to dazzle Camelot and create the legend of Merlin while helping King Arthur to fend off some kind of extraterrestrial threat. Doctor Who has meshed itself together with one of British folklores two greatest heroes in Robot Of Sherwood, and now its time to finish what was started in 1989 and bring the Doctor and Merlin together as one. What myths and legends do you want to see the Doctor tackle? Letus know in the comments section below...
JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
