“Merlin the Magician” is episode twenty-seven of season one of The Time Tunnel.
At the end of the previous episode, “Attack of the Barbarians”, Doug and Tony were frozen in time but, before Tik-Toc could do anything, someone cried ‘No!’ and everyone froze. The man jumps down and doesn’t seem impressed by Tik-Toc, calling it simple toys and commonplace magic. He brings Doug and Tony back, also frozen.
The man says they will do nicely and introduces himself as Merlin, soon to be court magician to King Arthur. He requires their service; they may be killed, although Merlin will try to make sure they are not. They will remember nothing of this meeting but, next time, will do whatever he asks. Merlin sends them away, leaves and unfreezes Tik-Toc.
Doug and Tony arrive near a castle where they are attacked by two men. They fight and drive them off; Doug says they were Vikings. Another man, dressed differently appears. He wants them to surrender, but realises they aren’t Vikings. Their help is needed to drive out the Vikings; either you are with or against him. Doug and Tony don’t want to fight and the man goes to fight them but Merlin appears and stops him, calling him Arthur. Doug and Tony think Merlion looks familiar, but Arthur doesn’t recognise him. Merlin tells Doug and Tony to fight with Arthur and they agree.
Tik-Toc is building power and has the time and place as 544 AD, on the coast of Cornwall in England. Which is a seriously odd place to find Vikings; in that time, they would have been Saxons. Or raiders from Ireland.
Arthur isn’t leading Doug and Tony to the castle. It was his home, but was taken by Vikings. Arthur is raising an army to retake it. How big is this army? Now, two. Oh dear. They are ambushed by more Vikings. Doug is stabbed and the other two are overwhelmed. The Vikings’ leader tells his men to halt. He and Arthur recognise each other. The leader is Wogan, who killed Arthur’s father. Arthur threatens Wogan, who finds it funny.
General Kirk returns to be told that Doug is dead and Tony captured. Kirk says England was ruled by feudal kings and was being raided by Vikings. Kirk isn’t willing to give up on Doug. Ray says it would take a miracle; Kirk thinks it’s kind of a miracle Doug and Tony are back then in the first place.
Tony is chained up, but uses his free hand to grab a torch and weaken the chain enough to break it. He sets a fire to lure in a guard. Ray is saying that Arthur is a myth, a fairy tale. They can now transfer Tony, but Kirk wants to wait in case Doug is alive.
Which he is. He’s being tended to by Merlin and a young woman. Her name? Guinevere. Merlin wants Doug dressed as there is little time. Guinevere says he can’t, as his wound was near mortal. Except Doug is now fully healed. Doug asks Merlin’s name. Merlin would have thought Doug would have guessed it by now; he’s well known, even in Doug’s time. Yes, he knows about Doug’s time. Merlin disappears, his parting word being his name.
Tony finds out where Arthur is being kept and rescues him. Arthur is weak and Tony asks where they are. Arthur’s father’s castle. They need to hide; Arthur knows a secret room. Which they are seen entering.
Doug, on hearing that Tony and Arthur have been captured, wants to go rescue them. Merlin interferes anytime Tik-Toc tries to make a transfer. Demonstrating his magic every time someone doesn’t believe in it.