Sorry about butting in, but I too have difficulty focusing on a new show. I like to watch on the computer at the same time as someone, so we can squee together on IM or gtalk or whatever. Works great! Way more fun than watching alone. Merlin IM squee quickly devolves, for me, into all-caps OH MY GOD THEY ARE SO CUTE, rather than any substantive discussion. Still, it's fun. :)

(and yes, it gets better the farther along the season goes. Arthur stops being a total waste of space by ep 2, which is a relief. At that point, if you're me, you fall totally buttcrazy in love with him, which is quite a swing.)