Darlink, who did you think we were talking about?
Anyway, I think Merlin suffered from similar issues to PJ's LotR, actually. Looked gorgeous but script was very naff in parts. And also, like the films, had some fab moments. The witch's enchantment song was great.
It was great to hear John Hurt as the Dragon. Which reminds me, if you want true faerie though, of which Tolkien would approve, the Storyteller is where it is at. I re-watched the Three Ravens the other day. Awesome, Jungian stuff.