The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin Season 1 is a DailyWire+ production explicitly positioned as counter-programming to woke fantasy adaptations like Rings of Power or Wheel of Time, with co-founder Jeremy Boreing directing to emphasize faithful adaptation of Stephen Lawhead's Christian historical fantasy novels. Casting features primarily white British and Irish actors like Tom Sharp as Merlin, Rose Reid as Charis, and Brett Cooper as Ganieda, fitting the Roman-occupied Britain setting without race-swapping, gender-swapping, or forced DEI that clashes with source material; minor diverse actors like Emree Franklin as Morgain appear organic and non-focal. Themes center on Merlin's Christian conversion, faith, heroism, and historical oppression in ancient context (slavery, invasion), presented traditionally without modern lectures on systemic racism, identity politics, or patriarchy critiques. No creator statements push activism; instead, promotion highlights anti-woke authenticity. Audience and reviewer reactions, including from anti-woke outlets like Worth it or Woke?, praise the absence of progressive messaging, with X posts calling it 'faithful... no forced diversity or woke messaging' and a 'positive depiction of Christianity.' No significant backlash labels it woke; pre-release hype hoped it would break the DEI mold, and post-release impressions confirm traditional storytelling focused on entertainment and epic adventure.