Episode II.IV – Lancelot and Guinevere
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19th April 2020 @ 11:08 pm
While I absolutely loved the Merlin&Arthur scenes, oh the comic timing!, Lance leaving at the end of the episode made me want to throw something at him. His idea of nobility is certainly not very noble when he doesn’t even ask Gwen what she wants – because it’s obviously Lancelot. Argghhh. Anyway, loved the scene by the river with Arthur and Merlin and how quickly it goes from humor to angst.
21st April 2020 @ 9:26 am
From a very medieval, non progressive, patriarchal view point I find it quite fascinating, and I do think it’s part of Lancelot’s character. that he’s got this moral code in his head, that outshines all other moral codes, and that includes removing himself as an option for gwen, so gwen doesn’t have to be put in a position of choosing (even if she may really want to), but also, and possibly more importantly, removing himself as an option, so gwen doesn’t choose him over the prince and future king of camelot. which is what lancelot has decided is the right thing to do, and damn everyone else. which is a trait that I think he has and, at large, is not something that many people focus on or talk about, because it’s really not very attractive. but it is fascinating.
2nd March 2020 @ 11:16 pm
Dear all,
I just wanted to say how lovely it is to read everyone’s comments each week. They really make me think and (re)consider some issues within each episode. Maybe that’s the reason I always post rather belatedly…But thank you!
So, to start, and I hope you won’t think this sacrilege, but I disctinctly remember NOT liking this episode at all when I first watched it. (Sorry!) I think part of the reason was that I have a huge rat-phobia so while Merlin looks terrified while Arthur tells him about the ‘giant baby r**s’, I would have been faster at the other end of the kingdom of Camelot than Merlin can light a flame with his magic!
Another problem I had/ have with this episode is what Michelle has so aptly called the ‘strange beast’ that is Merlin. I know the comedy between Arthur and him is funny. It’s hilarious, I agree. But there is a huge part of Merlin that is missing. He is usually quite soulful, sensitive and, many times, wise. And that’s my favourite Merlin. In this episode though, he was reduced to a fool that was quick to quip but very, very slow to remember that he had any kind of magic. And I know that Merlin has to play the fool to hide his true abilities and Colin Morgan usually makes this very clear in his nuanced performance. But the plot of the story does not imply that there is a huge danger of Merlin’s double life being detected. So, why the one-register fool act? It’s as if the producers have decided that you can either have a perceptive Merlin/ prattish Arthur or a sensitive Arthur/ silly Merlin. You apparently can’t have both or different combinations because otherwise who would be the foil? I think it’s this same problem that bothers me in general about a fair few episodes in season 2. I’m also going to go ahead and blame the whole issue on the producers/ costumers deciding to not give Merlin a neckerchief throughout the entirety of the episode. Due to the lack of his most iconic item of clothing, Merlin almost looks naked and perhaps this is symbolic of the fact that in this episode we don’t get all of Merlin, his idiocy, his wisdom etc. But only a 2D version – without a neckerchief!
Finally, perhaps my biggest issue with this episode is that it’s kind of ‘Lancelot’ all over again. Wonderful, complicated, promising (and handsome) character swoops in, makes a huge impact, only to be dropped like a hot potato at the end of the episode. I know perhaps there were contractual reasons for this, but I always wonder why Lancelot cannot be in more episodes. He wouldn’t really disturb the central Arthur/ Merlin relationship (Leon’s now in the show and he doesn’t). Is he, as a character, simply too good to be true, so he had to leave just as Aglaine had to die in ‘The Nightmare Begins’ because goodness like theirs can’t exist in Uther’s world? Did the writers not see a way to further devleop this character because he is presented as the ‘ideal knight’ already? Were they afraid that he would make such a huge impact (as he already does in just the few scenes he is in) that they would have to rename their show? (I would certainly love a ‘Lance-a-lot’ series!) Or perhaps, he has to leave for the same reason that Gwen cannot be allowed to be the one to choose. For it is clear (to me) that she would choose Lancelot! Lancelot later says that he won’t come between Arthur and Gwen. But he has had no proof from Gwen that she also feels for Arthur what she has so lately confessed to him. Also, he wouldn’t be standing between them: it’s tradition, birth, wealth, everything that Uther’s kingdom is build on that stands between Arthur and Gwen. So, despite Gwen’s confession of love for him and all the obsactles between the prince and her, Lancelot has to leave and Gwen can’t be asked to make up her own mind. The producers simply won’t go into a territory where they might have to explore this love triangle over several episodes, giving us a more conscious choice and devlepment in Gwen that leads to her marrying Arthur in the end as the legend says she will.
Kind of tying in with my last paragraph and what everyone has been discussing about the timelines and pacing of the Gwen & Arthur/ Gwen & Lancelot relationships in this season: I just wanted to point out how different the two first kisses were filmed. Both scenes are underscored with roaring, emotional music, but with Lancelot and Gwen’s kiss there is no lingering, no georgeous lighting. It acually looks desperate and doomed whereas Gwen and Arthur’s kiss was filmed like destiny was calling, full of promise.
All that being said: the episode has grown on me while re-watching it. But issues…
Now for some lessons:
Kendrik has learned, if he isn’t too dead by the end of the episode for such cognitive feats…
1) His bandits need to be told NOT to shoot arrows wildly into a group of horsemen/-women when one of them that could potentially be hit is the girl you want to hold for ransom!
2) His bandits are seriously in need of physical training since they can be easily out-run by some girls in dresses that should be far less fit.
Viewers have learned…
1) Morgana has one hell of a punch and Gwen one hell of a sword strike. Personally I think that the vicious slicing off of her pursuer’s ankles is Gwen’s way to rebel against the writers making her twist her poor, weak, female ankles (!) during the flight: “If I won’t be allowed to use my ankles properly, well, neither shall this bandit! Ha!”
2) Everyone in Camelot is a really heavy sleeper and absolutely unconcerned about their safety resting in the hands of only two guards. Barrels rolling over cobblestones make a hell of a noise that should awaken Tristan du Bois & Co in their dungeon tombs (were he still in his tomb). Certainly, it should awake anyone actually still confessing to being alive and not deaf!
3) Scaling vertical walls seems like a perfect way to shake us out of our willing suspension of disbelief. It’s just too impossible to be credible. (Another comedy scene that, in my opinion, was ill-placed, and actually distracted from the main story rather than aid it).
4) Really liking the main villain in a Merlin epsiode is possible when played by James Cosmo. Gosh, I think my favourite line must be when Hengist mock-repeats Lancelot’s earlier statement to him: ‘…and that (Gwen being caught and dying alongside Lancelot) must hurt you more than I could ever understand.’ I’m totally with Hengist on this one: it’s just the cheesiest line and deserved the mockery. Cosmo’s delivery makes me laugh every single time!
5) Finally, viewers have learned that the producers/ writers/ props department will shamelessly use the innocent prison window bars between Gwen and Lancelot to signifiy the impossibility of their relationship. It is basically representative of everything that keeps them apart: They may talk, look at each other, their fingers may touch but they are yet forever separated. In short, viewers have learned that the prison bars are Arthur!
3rd March 2020 @ 10:25 pm
I think you summed up why I so often feel like Merlin’s character is under-utilised! I get sidetracked gushing about the scenes he is in, but then when watching certain episodes that I thought were really great Merlin-wise I think “wait, it was just that one (really good) line…” because you’re right, he basically only gets to be perceptive and sensitive and wise when Arthur is being a prat; he plays the fool, but then when the show needs light relief Merlin IS a fool and it’s only Colin’s subtle choices that remind us he isn’t really, but that isn’t always enough to make his real character clear when he’s written as a clumsy idiot to serve the plot. I don’t know if I’m explaining right but basically I agree with you 😛 It was odd actually, now I think about it, that this episode didn’t make use of Merlin’s friendship with Gwen – they rarely interacted, and there was so much potential for a Merlin-Gwen heart-to-heart about Lancelot.
4th March 2020 @ 4:10 pm
No, I totally understand what you mean. Glad we’re on the same page here. 🙂
I think Colin and Bradley’s superior acting very often elevates what would otherwise have been scenes of godawful writing. They lend a genuine complexity and life to the characters on the page – which is probably why everyone fell in love with the series in the first place.
I think Merlin and Gwen’s friendship is very often underused and sometimes seems to dispappear entirely. Sometimes I think the writers needed to position Merlin very firmly on Arthur’s side, supporting him, at the exclusion of other relationships. Naturally, in real life, it’s possible to have many friendships and loyalties, but perhaps they just wanted things to be very clear-cut in the series.
A heart-to-heart between Merlin and Gwen would have been really great, but again, that would have given Gwen some choice in the matter or at least an opportunity to voice her opinions. Which I don’t think the writers could allow of they didn’t want to veer into a further exploration of this love triangle in future episodes.
29th February 2020 @ 9:13 am
I feel for all the characters individually, but I’m really not for the love triangle. This show already gave us a twist in setting up the Arthur/Gwen tragic love. Two episodes later it’s set up with Gwen/Lancelot. That’s a bit dodgy!
Perhaps there should have been a moment in the start where Arthur is indifferent to Gwen and she makes up her mind to forget him. Or maybe Lancelot should have initiated the goodbye kiss so that it was more like she’s still holding on to Arthur and Lance is the one who is pining. Then it would make it more intense when she’s disappointed at Arthur’s comment later. So yeah, all would have been better with more agency from Gwen and her actually choosing. Otherwise she appears indecisive and weak.
The episode might be called Lancelot & Guinevere, but what stole the show for me was Arthur’s confession. I love the change of tone where Merlin assumes Gwen is just a crush or flirtation then the reveal of the depth of Arthur’s feelings.
29th February 2020 @ 3:03 pm
I seriously didn’t even remember that we go from uther thinking morgana has been kidnapped in last episode, to morgana actually (almost) being kidnapped in this episode… i thought there was acres of space between those two episodes, too! Same for the Arthur/Gwen and Gwen/Lancelot. In my head these things happen with so much more space between them!
Individually, I like the once and future queen, and I like L&G, as individual episodes. But the pacing across the season is actually crazy. Something that will hopefully get a chance to talk about in the season 2 round up, as I’d never stopped to think about it until now.
28th February 2020 @ 11:39 pm
Ok I wrote out a whole thing about the subverted quest thing but then you said almost verbatim what I wrote, so I’ll just add; while both are upset that they won’t get to be with her, neither try to force her, neither say “well I saved your life so you owe me!” It sucks that Gwen doesn’t get the choice, but both backing off is an interesting subversion. Maybe the lesson that both Arthur and Lancelot (and Merlin?) learn is that love doesn’t conquer all, that human emotions and real life consequences aren’t as morally simple as deeds of heroism.
Morgana’s use of her posh girl mask parallels Arthur’s use of his prince mask in the Poisoned Chalice, which I really like. Another parallel is Merlin saying that he knows Arthur likes Gwen vs Morgana asking Gwen if there’s a boy she likes – I think maybe it shows that although Morgana and Gwen care deeply about each other, they’re not as emotionally close – Morgana can tease her but it doesn’t cause Gwen to open up, and Morgana asks when they’re surrounded by knights anyway, which suggests that she assumes that if there is a boy it can’t be serious (as if she thought Gwen had serious feelings for someone she would surely only ask Gwen to divulge them in private?)
I love Bradley and Colin’s comic timing in the “giant… baby rats” scene. It’s perfect.
I love how well Merlin knows Arthur – seeing his love for Gwen, knowing how to keep his spirits up, and I think also knowing what tone to take so that Arthur does feel safe to open up a bit but also when to stop. Also though, how well Arthur knows Merlin: that Merlin won’t tell, that Merlin will stand by him (that his fear is genuine but won’t stop him, and when he is playing it up for banter), etc. It’s really lovely that this aspect of their relationship gets so much space in an episode that is about the love triangle – it would be easy for Merlin to be forgotten here, but instead we get insight into him being a genuinely good friend (not just a loyal servant) who knows what Arthur needs and does his best to be there for him the way any other friend would.