Episode V.X – The Kindness of Strangers
Join us as we discuss The Kindness of Strangers
We are getting worryingly close to the end of Season 5, so please start thinking about any feedback you want to send in for the Season 5 Round Up. Remember there will be a seperate ‘BBC Merlin Round Up’ discussing all 5 seasons that we’re going to ask for write ins for, separately.
Contact Us before the 25th November with your Season 5 thoughts.
—
Check out The List of Destiny to see where we ranked all Merlin episodes so far and write in for our Lessons Learnt game by Sunday midnight, the week after the episode airs.
Visit Poetry & Chicken to delight in our listener’s creative output.
We love hearing from listeners! Come talk to us on Twitter and Tumblr, or email us and please review us on iTunes.
If you wish to support us, you can do so from $1 a month via Patreon, or as a one off, by buying us a Ko-Fi or two. Thank you.
22nd September 2023 @ 1:13 pm
This episode is an episode I can watch randomly in isolation or in a and love it but when I watch it when I am doing a full rewatch I find it dull.
14th November 2021 @ 4:16 am
I’m super late, aaaah! Here are my thoughts, anyway…
I love the scene between Merlin and Kilgarrah. It made me realize how much their relationship, more than almost any other depicted in the show, really changes over the course of the series. It’s also been one of the more complex relationships, uneasy at times, downright hostile at others. But then, sometimes, it’s like this scene; deeply respectful, unexpectedly tender, and full of this kind of sad longing for a bygone age where they could have been The Great Dragon and his Dragonlord, instead of just a hunted beast and a serving boy. I love them ♥️ I also love John Hurt, his voice and delivery is always so brilliant.
It bothers the HELL out of me that Merlin never says thank you to Finna or to any other magical person who helps him. At least, I never remember him thanking anyone. He’s so clearly not interested in the plight of magical people, except when the plot requires him to be, and even then he acts resentful of their esteem and expectations of him and his identity as Emrys.
And further into the doom zone we go…*doom doom*
10th November 2021 @ 12:06 pm
Dan’s Lesson (as promised in the up top section of The Drawing of the Dark)
.
.
(BEWARE, SPOILERS)
.
.
.
.
“So it’s entirely possible you won’t even be able to read my lesson on air, because it’s totally headcanon-y and also probably spoiler-y, but here we go: I really believe Merlin learned (or, maybe, finally realized) that he’s immortal? He lives through Finna’s death and has, yet again, a near-death experience himself, then learns Kilgarrah is practically dying. And when Kilgarrah says “you will remember me” there is this little grimace of realization on Merlin’s face and I wonder if he’s asking himself “is that all I will have left one day? Remembering everyone that died?”.”
10th November 2021 @ 1:05 pm
“is that all I will have left one day? Remembering everyone that died?” –
Yes, that’s exactly what I got from Colin’s expression there. Also, yep, that’s exactly what will be left for him!
I don’t even have words :😭😭😭
14th November 2021 @ 4:17 am
OOF that’s sad. Damn.
8th November 2021 @ 12:00 am
It’s funny: this is one of the episodes that I remember least. I think it’s not because of how good or bad or enjoyable it is but mainly because it is somewhat awkwardly positioned in the middle of two much wider story-arcs: the evil Gwen-arc and the final arc (which I can’t talk about yet). It doesn’t really achieve much that we need for later episodes except give that final prophecy to Merlin (which, as you have discussed, could have been done more expediently). Also, when viewed in the context of the overall show, it is very confusing as the prophecy (and prophets don’t lie) predicts Arthur’s doom but Finna and the Catha seem to think that Merlin can change that fate, harking back to the very first prophecy that foretold Albion and uniting the kingdom etc. But there can only be one that will ultimately come to pass (at least within the tight timeframe of the show), the prophecies are mutually exclusive unless Camlann is to happen in the far future when Arthur and Merlin have achieved all of the dragon’s first prophecy. So, why is the show not clearer here? Of course, they might want to keep us watching but they have set themselves up to disappoint and not live up to at least one of these promises. Anyway, I don’t understand.
I also don’t understand why we invented a new character (and her confusing backstory and contradictory lore about priestesses and all that) when we already knew Alator from season 4 and we would have been a lot more invested in him if he had taken on Finna’s role and sacrificed himself for Merlin. I mean, he does, but Merlin doesn’t find not. Also, Alator dies because of his stupidity and that’s wasted emotional potential. Morgana could have found out Alator’s whereabouts and then hunted him and Merlin in a different (and cleverer) way and then I certainly would have been much more broken at the end. The death would have been more significant as well since we know Alator as Merlin’s only outside magical contact that has sworn allegiance to him and has some pretty skilled people at his disposal. Alator dying for Merlin would have both emphasised his loyalty but also, tragically, robbed Merlin of his only magical ally. Again, Merlin IS deprived of him anyway but doesn’t know it. SPOILER I wonder if after the end, Merlin travels to seek out Alator to either join him or question why he did not come to support him only to find him gone. Sorry, just one more blow for poor Merlin, like he doesn’t have enough to deal with already. SPOILER END.
I think it is actually quite ironic that they filmed Morgana’s castle in the same set as the council chambers in Camelot. I mean, apart from the fact that it was easier for them because they didn’t have to build two different sets, I also think it would make narrative sense that a crazed and obsessed Morgana would choose a room really similar to the one she desires to sit in to have the rule over Camelot. She has even placed her ‘throne’ in the same spot as Arthur’s. She has created her own version of Camelot but it is obvious how much inferior and darker and less joyful her version is. Perhaps this throne room gives us an insight of the state of Camelot if Morgana ever did come to rule longterm. A bleak future indeed!
I really enjoy the edit from the scene where Morgana threatens Alator with the snake, asking him, ‘Where is Emrys’ to Merlin suddenly pulling aside the decorative curtains around Arthur and Gwen’s bed. Apart from the cut providing the answer to Morgana’s question, the visual contrast is quite striking. Morgana’s castle is filmed in blues and greys, it is cold and dark and dangerous. Merlin’s world, on the other hand, is rich in colour, especially reds which are quite strikingly bright and stand-out in this particular episode. Everything in the lush fabrics and setting speaks of a warm, comfortable, even slightly whimsical tone. We could see this as quite comical: Morgana is utterly consumed by her search for Emrys whom she expects to be elusive and a great threat. But the person who is Emrys is, instead, well-known to her and currently occupied by waking their majesties and, later, fetching their breakfast and some pretty flowers. That is, of course, until Alator and Morgana’s world catches up with Merlin.
On second glance, though, this edit can also reveal something quite worrying and sinister: Merlin seems unconcerned and safe and comfortable, complacent in his calling to be Emrys and bring about Albion’s future while those who hope in him and that future are in danger and risk their lives. Yet he doesn’t seem to worry about them or their hopes or concerns and, instead, wants to worry about nothing more than Arthur and the daily routine he knows. Merlin, at the beginning of this episode, has lost sight once again of his calling to be the prophesied Emrys, preferring his human side, his Merlin identity, his own comfort and his close relationship with Arthur instead of the greater picture of others who build their hope on him. Like I said, as the episode progresses Merlin is forced to face the greater picture and witness his followers suffering and dying for him. But does he feel guilty about neglecting them and their cause at the end? Or does he only blame Morgana? How many people have suffered because Merlin is either too complacent or too afraid to begin his work as Emrys, to reveal himself to Arthur and to become active for the freedom of magic instead of just waiting for things to happen? And how many people has Merlin himself lost because his focus was only on Arthur? And is he to blame for such a tunnel vision? Has it not been reinforced again and again by the dragon and Gaius?
Gaius, in this episode, tries everything he can to stop Merlin from going to Finna and engaging with the greater picture. He cooks Merlin’s favourite food (watch that space – this will be a technique he uses again!) to keep him dependent and comfortable. He even betrays Finna to Arthur as he has done before when he told Uther of Freya. Gaius’ entire idea of Merlin fulfilling his destiny is to keep him tucked away safely in the castle (and ignorant, since Merlin still can’t seem to do anything by himself) and Merlin, over time, seems to have adopted this mode as well. I do love that once Merlin does come into contact with the greater picture, he does accept his responsibility and takes risks to meet Finna even against Gaius’ advice. He is becoming more independent and mature: He comforts Gaius after the physician has admitted that he has caused Finna to be in danger BUT Merlin does go and leave Gaius because, as he says, he has to. When he leaves, Gaius looks so forlorn and lonely and I somehow understand that much of his idea about keeping Merlin safe is because he doesn’t wish to be without him anymore, to be left alone. But this makes him one of the reasons why Merlin is not being proactive in fulfilling his destiny and protecting ‘his’ people who believe in him.
Anyway, this episode basically makes me feel quite uncomfortable about Merlin’s lack of interest in other magic users that pin their hopes on him while they are hunted and killed. Merlin is too passive for too long – as so often, he waits in relative comfort until things catch up with him and he HAS to act. But usually, at that point, it is already too late. This reminds me also of what happened to Aithusa. Well, none of this is canon obviously, but I wonder if she had given her loyalty to Merlin instead if he had shown a little more interest and a proactive attitude in caring about her (instead of just Arthur, Arthur, Arthur).
8th November 2021 @ 1:00 am
-She has created her own version of Camelot but it is obvious how much inferior and darker and less joyful her version is. Perhaps this throne room gives us an insight of the state of Camelot if Morgana ever did come to rule longterm. A bleak future indeed!-
You are so insightful! I was way too busy being annoyed and angry to notice this. Thanks for pointing it out!
-Merlin, at the beginning of this episode, has lost sight once again of his calling to be the prophesied Emrys, preferring his human side, his Merlin identity, his own comfort and his close relationship with Arthur instead of the greater picture of others who build their hope on him. Like I said, as the episode progresses Merlin is forced to face the greater picture and witness his followers suffering and dying for him. But does he feel guilty about neglecting them and their cause at the end?-
I love this! Wonderfully put… exactly why he is such a tragic character and why he fascinates me. I do think something in Colin’s performance leads me to think the full weight of his decisions and destiny weighs on him after Gaius reads the prophecy. I do not think he is just mourning for Arthur’s impending death. I really really really wish we could discuss the last two episodes here, but I will wait….
-When he leaves, Gaius looks so forlorn and lonely and I somehow understand that much of his idea about keeping Merlin safe is because he doesn’t wish to be without him anymore, to be left alone.-
I absolutely agree! He is being the parent that is refusing to let their child spread their wings and fly, which ends up crippling them in the end. Thank you for bringing psychology to Gaius and his motives. This is helpful and may allow me to watch the episode with more ease instead of just blaming the writers for being crappy.
-Well, none of this is canon obviously, but I wonder if she had given her loyalty to Merlin instead if he had shown a little more interest and a proactive attitude in caring about her (instead of just Arthur, Arthur, Arthur).-
All this time, I feel the show and Merlin have been telling us for years that Arthur must accept his destiny, but no one really pushed Merlin to accept his and come out as Emrys. I know Gaius is supposed to be that person, but like you pointed out, he just cripples Merlin. Once again, I wish we had another character that knew of Merlin’s magic and didn’t die that could play opposite to Gaius. There could have been a sort of Angel and Devil on the shoulder situation. Gaius obviously would push Merlin to hide his magic and protect Arthur and the other character could have pushed him more to accept himself and tell Arthur. If only….
8th November 2021 @ 4:49 pm
-Once again, I wish we had another character that knew of Merlin’s magic and didn’t die that could play opposite to Gaius. There could have been a sort of Angel and Devil on the shoulder situation. Gaius obviously would push Merlin to hide his magic and protect Arthur and the other character could have pushed him more to accept himself and tell Arthur. If only….-
We had a twisted version of that in season 1. Gaius was all “keep the magic secret”, while the dragon constantly told Merlin to basically kill the king, kill Mordred etc. Oh, how I wish Merlin had somebody else, someone who’d actually be supportive for a change! But then, the show wouldn’t be the tragedy it is…
8th November 2021 @ 10:18 pm
This is basically why it would have been great to keep Lancelot. But he, of course, is a destined character himself and so had his ‘end’ written despite his friendship with Merlin and his possible position as his sounding board. Gwaine would have been great because they keep very little (nothing?) of the original character from legends so he might well have played that role if he had known about Merlin’s magic. I think this is the reason why he is such a fan favourite in fics to know or find out about Merlin’s magic and then be supportive.
9th November 2021 @ 1:47 am
I usually always think of Gwaine as well, but I kind of like the idea of the dragon taking on more of this role. He would be in the perfect position to care more about Emrys and less about Arthur…
8th November 2021 @ 10:16 pm
You are so insightful! I was way too busy being annoyed and angry to notice this. Thanks for pointing it out! –
Lol, thanks. I actually just noticed it as I was about to hit post for my comment with two minutes to go till midnight. I am glad it made sense to someone. 🙂
I do think something in Colin’s performance leads me to think the full weight of his decisions and destiny weighs on him after Gaius reads the prophecy. I do not think he is just mourning for Arthur’s impending death. –
I really agree! And for once it is textualised in the dialogue as well because Gaius says that Merlin’s destiny is almost too much for one man to bear. And destiny, really, is nothing else than the many, many people that put their hope in Merlin and whose lives and wellbeing depend on his actions. And Colin played it wonderfully. It breaks my heart because I so wish that he could be ‘just Merlin’ as he has so often tried to be. But it was never allowed: he tried to return to his life in Ealdor and be ‘just Merlin’ and his only friend was killed; he tried to escape with Freya and be ‘just Merlin’ and she died; he tries and tries to be ‘just Arthur’s servant’, happy in his place, at this point, even happy not to be thanked, if only he can escape the weight of his destiny and be ‘just Merlin’. But destiny and all the people who believe in it and put their trust in him won’t let him. And there we have the question again: is destiny something supernatural, something determined by a higher force directing Merlin’s path? Or is it just another word for the expectations of the people, founded on some ramblings (‘prophecies’) written long ago?
9th November 2021 @ 1:50 am
Oh Merlin…. ☹️
That’s what is so fascinating about destiny. Wish I had the answers…
8th November 2021 @ 4:50 pm
I really, really like your analysis of the scene succession and how it ties to Merlin’s neglect of the magical community. It’s so heartbreaking, but so well done.
8th November 2021 @ 10:20 pm
🙂 Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. I honestly don’t know what happened. One moment I only noticed the interesting edit and the next I had written half an essay.
And yes…heart-breaking. But with only three episodes to go, I guess there is no avoiding that now.
7th November 2021 @ 11:09 pm
Firstly I am really so sorry to not have been writing in these past few episodes! I’m still getting the hang of being organised enough to try to formulate anything even vaguely interesting enough in time to make the podcast, which I appreciate isn’t great with three episodes left haha. Speaking of, the fact that there are literally only three episodes left is terrifying. But! This episode I also enjoyed watching – and it has also made me cry Michelle your not alone! – and I actually think is one that handles the more serious tone pretty well. This is just going to be thought salad as usual so I hope it makes some sense!
(SPOILERS!!!) Merlin is so isolated from Camelot in this episode, which is a real contrast to last week which was a quest that very much had the support of Camelot, what with Arthur there. Now they are working directly against each other in a way that reminds me of earlier episodes such as Lady of the Lake. He is very much an advocate, and agent of magic here, though this time the ultimate goal seems to be to protect Arthur, not liberate magic users. Perhaps that’s why it all feels so devastating – Finna seems to believe at least partly in Merlin’s ability as Emrys to bring about this new age, but Merlin himself really only is trying to delay Arthur’s, now inevitable, demise.
I also love the Kilgarrah scene, despite how out of the blue it does feel! Kilgarrah has never been a straightforward character, but I remember feeling pretty affected by this when I first watched. That first iteration of the destiny way back in the first ep of season 1 is one of the most iconic moments of the show I think – even if it unfortunately doesn’t play out like that – and the knowledge that he is dying is somewhat symbolic of the end of the show, the end of this destiny and the end of the story. There’s also a moment where Merlin wakes up, and looks to his side and directly at the camera – I think! – before we see Kilgarrah. There’s been some awesome observations of little audience asides Merlin could potentially have been giving, and I wonder if this is one too? It feels pretty unnerving, and almost as though he’s becoming aware of the part he is playing. The dragon says at the very very start that he “cannot glimpse the part he will play” and only here, at the end of it, is he perhaps beginning to understand his role in this ancient story.
It’s interesting then that Merlin seems, to me at least, quite young when he is delirious from the arrow wound – suddenly it’s a much younger Merlin breaking through who can’t understand why Finna is helping him, and what he must do. I really love both performances – Finna’s urgency in contrast to Merlin’s exhaustion.
I think the decision to cut the sound and just have the music is quite impactful. I wonder if it puts us more in Merlin’s point of view – he probably can’t hear what is happening, but he knows what she meant when she asked him to leave her his sword.
Thank you for a great episode!
8th November 2021 @ 2:34 pm
Ooh how eerie would it have been if the very last shot of the show before cut to black was Merlin standing turned slightly away from us and then his head turns and his eyes glance at us and shine gold😮
His powers so great in hundreds of years he can see fourth dimensionally at the biggest picture!
8th November 2021 @ 4:53 pm
You made me shiver! Such a cool idea!
8th November 2021 @ 6:06 pm
Ahh this is awesome! That would certainly be pretty unnerving haha!
5th November 2021 @ 3:23 pm
Wow! I think I might be the only one here who doesn’t actually care for this episode, which shouldn’t be a surprise since I think I usually like the episodes people dislike and dislike episodes people like. I think the problem, for me, is there are no bromance moments and we all know that’s why I am here. At least when I find plot holes, I can over look them by gushing over the bromance moments, but not this time. 😭
When I initially watched this episode, I don’t remember disliking it as much as I did when using my D&C critical thinking hat. My notes are covered in big question marks and curses… (maybe I was just mad when I watched it…)
I have many questions about Alator….
Where has he been? Where is he going? Was he on the way to give Emrys the box? Was Finna with him? Give us some background!! One tiny scene to tell us something! Also, why doesn’t Alator use magic against Morgana? He is a Catha priest! Are we supposed to believe he gave up his dark ways because he met Emrys and won’t use any magic anymore?? Or Morgana is so much stronger than she use to be and now he is scared of her?
All these questions about Alator then lead me to questions about the Catha and magic secs. Do all the magic secs have prophecies?? I thought the Catha were trained in pain and torture. They have prophecies too? When we were first introduced to the Catha, I got the impression they were bad people and just Alator made a conversion to Merlin’s dream. Now the whole of Catha priests have the same vision as Merlin? Magical freedom to torture whoever they want? 🤨🧐
(Sigh)
I do not enjoy the picnic scene at the beginning. I HATE that Gwen addresses Arthur as “my lord” in this casual setting. The whole Arthur coming over to Merlin threatening is uncomfortable. I don’t understand why Merlin and Gwen think Arthur is “so happy.” He is literally the same. Maybe if they had told Arthur in the beginning about evil Gwen and he pouted around for four episodes, this would feel more true.
I really really really wish Merlin would respond to Arthur’s stupid “Who knows more about hunting” comment with “Who knows more about magic? Me or you? That’s right! Me! I have magic, now shut up while I inspect this more!” That’s how it feels the magic reveal is going to be at this point. Merlin getting annoyed and fed up and it just comes out! Haha
Then enter Gaius… f’in Gaius. I hate him during this whole episode. From him saying “Are you really suggesting Morgana within the borders” To “Don’t go! You aren’t good enough.” Gaius really needs to make up his damn mind! Last week, he had no doubt Merlin could save Gwen and do some of the hardest magic ever…. this week he isn’t sure Merlin could take on a woman who didn’t make it as a high priestess when you so rightly pointed out he killed one years ago. I understand Gaius is dealing with some guilt here because he told Alator who Emrys is, but get it together man!
I do really enjoy the subtle sass Merlin gives Gaius when he says “Then it won’t make a difference who I take, will it?” and “I was there, Gaius, you were not.” He deserves Merlin getting snippy after he ratted Merlin out, but doesn’t deserve the immediate forgiveness.
I dislike the breakfast and Gwen scene because it feels weird Merlin would see Gwen in her nightgown. I do; however, like the “thank you Merlin” from Gwen.
I don’t like how thick they are laying on the “is Finna good or is she bad” thing. It’s just poorly done and drawn out. I don’t understand why she doesn’t immediately say, “I am a friend of Alator’s and he is in danger! Morgana has him! Also, here’s a box he wanted you to have.” One of my biggest questions is why aren’t they wanting to help Alator??
I don’t like how Arthur acts towards the knights when they say they weren’t successful. Arthur then says “They must be brought to trial.” Why? What have they done other than met in a dark forest and defended themselves from an attack.
I like that Mordred is suspicious, but agree that he plays his part a little too creepy. I don’t understand what Mordred means by “a problem shared,” to Merlin…
To say something positive…. I do enjoy Colin’s performance this whole time. He always does so well when hurt and dying! He is amazing!
So, Morgana and her men don’t notice this huge dragon flying back to the tower? 🤨
I really wish Merlin would have shared the box with the dragon, like you suggested! Gaius was being the biggest ass and Merlin still shares with him!?
The man with no face truly creeps me out! It is so disgusting! I really don’t understand why Morgana is declaring war NOW?? I thought she was searching for Emrys…. Is Morgana such a hot head that she was so furious with herself for killing Alator prematurely that she decided she wanted war and blood instead?? Does she think this will cause Emrys to come out of the shadows?
(Sigh) Sorry for the novel of ranting, but this one just really got under my skin! I can’t believe we are so close to the end! I do remember liking the next episode, so I hope it stays that way after I watch with my D&C think hat on!
6th November 2021 @ 4:25 pm
Thank you! For a moment there I thought I was mad being the only one raving about Gwen’s constant use of ‘my lord’ for her beloved husband, in public or in private. During her brainwashing I could get, but she’s done this throughout the season!
“I really really really wish Merlin would respond to Arthur’s stupid “Who knows more about hunting” comment with “Who knows more about magic? Me or you? That’s right! Me! I have magic, now shut up while I inspect this more!””
Stop thinking up better scripts we can’t have! 😫 I kid, keep going!
If the magic reveal happened at the beginning of the season and Arthur and Merlin had been at odds with each other throughout, and it finally took Merlin openly curing Gwen of the teine diaga at the cauldron for Arthur to start treating Merlin like normal and accept him, this episode picnic scene would make sense.
Time could have passed and yet Merlin’s reaction to Arthur’s deadpan joke about punishing his imprudence could be genuine because for so long he’d put up with Arthur’s cold mood and didn’t know if he was serious or not.
“A problem shared is a problem halved” I think is the saying? Mordred just didn’t finish because he was cut off by Merlin’s scoff, he knew it was futile asking Merlin to confide in him again.
7th November 2021 @ 9:10 am
I’m not at all saying that ‘it’s the correct way for royals to speak to each other’ is a good enough excuse within BBC Merlin, a show that has been playing fast and loose with medieval custom and historically appropriate EVERYTHING haha but yeah, my Lord or your Grace I believe were standard ways for husband and wife to address each other. I just wish they had more consistency on when Gwen does it, and when she doesn’t.
The only neat thing I’ve noticed a few times is that she starts a conversation or calls for Arthur’s attention with ‘my Lord’ (generally in a slightly raised voice, ie: other people might overhear). But then throughout their conversation she slips in the occasional ‘Arthur’, which I’ve always quite liked.
5th November 2021 @ 12:39 am
This was a shockingly enjoyable episode. Like I’ve completely given up on the overall plot but this episode was very fun in isolation. If like me you just place it directly after the Disir it still doesn’t make sense but it’s better than what we’ve got. At this point I’ve just deleted the evil Gwen arc from my understanding of the plot of season 5 and the show and it’s a much more pleasant experience.
Actually this episode could have just replaced the Disir. It’s not like it has anything to do with the evil Gwen arc and the Disir is an incredibly dumb episode so just replace it with this. If we do that then Merlin’s “things will get better” is a lot more effective and the ending with Kilgarrah would explain why he hasn’t been mentioned in so long.
I have so many questions about Helva. Did Uther know about this place? Did Morgana??? If so, why wouldn’t she try to run away to a place like that after she’s out and has nothing left. I know why Merlin wouldn’t but she doesn’t have to do any of this. I wasn’t entirely sure but the wiki confirms that Helva is in Odin’s kingdom. Does this mean that Odin is an ally of magic?? Would average magic users who are not druids know about this place? I don’t actually know if average people would have access to that kind of knowledge in that time period, if anyone knows more about this topic please tell me.
Disney villain Morgana is back! I have completely given up on the plot so watching Morgana play with her snakes and deliver cliche villain dialogue is great! I love her new castle btw. Love the aesthetic and her new goons seem pretty competent so that’s nice for her.
I’m just going to enjoy Arthur, Gwen and Merlin going on a date even if it doesn’t really make sense. I really love what little we get of Gwen, Merlin and Arthur being domestic and cute though I do wish it was in a lighter episode.
Kind of unrelated to the episode but, the Arthur and Gwen relationship makes a lot of sense and is way more fun to watch if you assume they’re in a poly relationship with Merlin. Like every stage of their relationship involves Merlin already why not just make it a poly relationship. This also made me realise that the ‘with all my heart’ scene is probably the only significant moment in their relationship that does not involve Merlin.
I love Finna! She’s great and I can forgive the dumb stuff she does because she’s just that likable. Could it be possible that she was hunted down specifically for being really powerful like Nimueh or Balinor were? Uther goes after really powerful groups of magic users like dragonlords, high priestesses, and Druids. So going after powerful people who trained to be high priestesses would fit his MO.
I would love to know more about her and I really want to see that AU where Merlin gets lost on the way to Camelot in the pilot and runs into Alator and Finna. Like I just want to see these people deal with Emrys who is a very nice but reckless teenager. There’s still destiny and Arthur but it’s obviously different. He ends up getting a wildly different education and life experience while essentially being the same person so he avoids these problems and creates newer, more fun problems. There’s a comedy in there!
On a darker note Gaius doubting Merlin’s abilities and judgement would explain why Merlin doesn’t seem more powerful than Morgana. Like he’s constantly suppressing his magic in Camelot which we know is instinctual for him, add to that the fact that Gaius is constantly undermining him and doesn’t trust his abilities until it’s useful to Gaius and his goals and it all makes perfect sense. And while all of this has been going on for the past 10 years Morgana has been told that she is powerful and treated that way by other magic users and has been free to use her magic for the past 5 years. She even has high priestess training!
This might be more of a reach but building off last week it would also explain why Merlin doesn’t have all this information already and why Gaius undermines Merlin’s authority in front of other people. Because if Gaius tells Merlin everything then Merlin doesn’t need him anymore and if he’s not needed then he has no control over Merlin.
I think Merlin knows on some level that Gaius isn’t a very good person. Because look at the way he treats Daegal, it’s very different from the way Gaius treats him. In general Merlin is a lot kinder to other magic users than Gaius would be. Merlin has an awareness that the kind of person Gaius is, and the way Gaius treats him isn’t right but he’s not in a position to examine that or confront it the way Arthur has with Uther. If he ever faces up to the reality of Gaius he would have to do something about it and he would be completely alone with his magic and no one left who knows him. Now Merlin doesn’t have to acknowledge this but the show really does.
Also I doubt any of this was intentional on the part of the show but at this point it really doesn’t matter either way. They’ve created a strangely consistent character with Gaius and their unwillingness to acknowledge the issues with this character and this dynamic just makes it so much worse.
I had a really long section about Mordred and his relationship with Merlin but I’m going to save that for next week. For now my thoughts are – Why are you like this Mordred?
The discussion about the brooch reminded me of the coin from the Disir and I think you guys also discussed the pointlessness of that. Another really interesting thing is that the Disir, with all my heart, and this episode seem to be the only ones that bring up and try to deal with the magical community and their situation. There’s also that repetition of Mordred and Merlin saying things will be better one day and these are the only episodes apart from Arthur’s bane that give Mordred anything meaningful to do. I don’t really have a point here, I just noticed that all of these episodes had some common themes and were written by the same writer.
I guess we’re in the doom zone now. It’s the Mordred episode. Finally. Not looking forward to it but I am looking forward to hearing the discussion on it!
5th November 2021 @ 10:08 am
I see what you mean about Arthur/Merlin/Gwen, I’ve read fics like this and it works. In fact in the legends it was a big suggestion that Arthur loved Lancelot in that way too so they were poly in some versions. So it’s not like this relationship concept is too primitive for the times.
The A/M/G dynamic sometimes reminds me of Sherlock, John and Mary. Mary never comes between her husband and his deep strong loving bond with Sherlock. They share him haha
4th November 2021 @ 10:59 pm
I wish the whole last season had the same vibe and plot as this episode does. It really does seem like the show is prepping for the climax, after realising they wasted so much time and development of other things on the Gwen plot. It’s got more Merlin Whump, Alator, the dragon, and the cool concept that good magic users are out there on Merlin’s side, rallying others to the cause.
Instead of this random henchman with Morgana though, I think we should have gotten Alvarr back, as more of a partner to Morgana but still happy to do the legwork. They had a flirty thing going on in season 2, or at least Alvarr did, but Morgana has changed a lot since then. After observing the sexual power her sister held over the mortal king Cenred, Morgana and Alvarr could be in that semi-situation, only they are just as bad as the other, both using sexuality and charisma on the other for power play, but both kinda loving it. Alvarr could voluntarily be Morgana’s b**ch, because he has his own will and hold over her, and his own agenda attached to the cause. He needs Morgana’s excelled skills in magic, and Morgana needs his influence of recruiting followers (willing and unwilling, druid and non-druid, saxon and non-saxon). Which will connect nicely with a certain new character in next week’s episode…
I would be more inclined to support Alator as an important character to the story if it was established that since Alator first met Merlin, he had been travelling the country announcing the word that Emrys is in the world and the time of prophecy is upon them. That he has proclaimed himself Emrys’ bard and messenger who is recruiting good sorcerers and former supporters of the old religion against Morgana and the saxons. Merlin needs his own magical knights in the days to come just as Arthur does his, and if Merlin can’t ever leave Arthur’s side, someone’s gotta represent him to his people. After years, Alator has finally come back to Helva. This would be why only now Morgana has found him and restarted her sub-quest to find Emrys. This is just me trying to headcanon 😅
Again, Arthur, Gwen and Merlin go off on a picnic ALONE in the woods. Do they ever learn anything?? You can have a nice date with your wife, whilst having extra security.
And I want Gwen to stop calling Arthur My Lord, especially now unenchanted, it’s getting really annoying and confusing.
This episode gives off the odd vibe that another stretch of time has passed. Now the Gwen plot is out the way and forgotten, and Gwen is acting the same as before ‘the dark tower’, it’s like we are meant to think it has been at least a few weeks to months since ‘with all my heart’. Gwen and Merlin discussing Arthur’s mood and how he’s changed is a little confusing. HAS he become happier? Was he ever not happy? Is this to do with getting normal Gwen back? Or is this a longer-term thing and they are comparing him now to how he was in season 1. Arthur is acting the same happily oblivious dopey king he’s been all season. Did I miss something?
Okay, did Arthur, Gwen and Merlin pass through a time bubble or get abducted by aliens? How long were they on this picnic if now they come back to the city to find it filled with refugees? I feel there maybe was a deleted scene where they see groups of people passing through and heading to Camelot, so Arthur cuts the picnic short to accompany them back only to realise there are so many more.
Usually when a kingdom is attacked and the people have to flee, the ruler (if alive) sends a man to sprint ahead to the next safest land to plead sanctuary. They are usually received a good amount of time ahead of the masses so the king has got leeway to prepare for taking in refugees. These people would not just turn up within an hour without Arthur knowing, a scout would have arrived possibly the previous day and sentries would track the progress of the rest of the refugees as they passed landmarks.
I love love love how Arthur is left alone in the room with only Merlin and Gwen, and Merlin immediately walks to Arthur to discuss what they heard. Merlin is a right-hand man in this scene, an advisor not a servant. He even has crossed arms like Arthur does, and Arthur talks completely straight, no face pulling or asking Merlin how he knows a part of Odin’s lands are magic tolerant, because he’s spent so long at court, of course he’s learnt stuff, it’s beautiful. This is how they should have been with each other all through season 5.
Also, wait. There’s a town in Odin’s lands (maybe the eastern-looking one we saw in the first Alator episode) where magic is practiced freely and Merlin HASN’T even gone there to have a look round as a tourist??
We skim briskly past the fact Arthur is totally indifferent to finding out all those people scattered in his courtyard are from a land where magic is legally practiced, which means he is likely playing host to many families who could casually cast magic spells in plain view any time. Is Arthur now going to give these people a wide birth, or oppositely, much more attention in order to keep a shifty eye on them. Their very presence, since crossing the border, is now technically breaking the law. This could have been an episode plot all to itself. Another chance to show us Arthur growing more tolerable of magic and moving closer to easing his own laws.
What’s happened to Odin, if his people left his kingdom instead of heading for Odin’s citadel for safety?
Gaius is concerned Merlin is going alone, well, he looks like he’s got nothing going on, why isn’t he more inquisitive too and suggests to go with Merlin? And while I kinda like the whole episode for a ‘solo Merlin quest’, why can’t Gwaine or Mordred be in it more? Oh right yeah, because Gwaine doesn’t know of Merlin’s magic and Eoin’s part has been stripped down, and Mordred does know of Merlin’s magic yet the show clearly still want us to be confused about what side he’s on even though Merlin is only treating him like a bad guy!
Oh Sorcha, you are an amazing actress and character, how I wish you were in the season more. Like, she could appear in the background of other plots as Merlin’s shadow, popping up as a cloaked stranger in the distance watching over him. When Merlin is poisoned and waiting on Daegal to come back with the herbs, Merlin could believe he hallucinates seeing someone crouching over him and performing healing magic, which would later turn out to be Finna. When Finna finally meets him, she can admit she was sent as a volunteer from Alator to protect Merlin as much as possible without getting too involved and disturb fate.
Those mid-room curtains have never been drawn in the history of the show, the fact they are now when Arthur is married is a telling sign of what they are meant for. Merlin, what the hell? There is a married couple on the other side of those curtains, do not yank them back like that if you do not want to risk needing to wash your eyes with bleach!
The ‘breakfast in bed scene’ could have been a wonderful link back to the last few episodes. When Arthur says he can’t get breakfast himself or Gwen might wake up alone and panic, and Merlin scoffs, Arthur could have meant this completely seriously. That since last episode (however long it’s been), Gwen has been having night terrors and woken up having panic attacks, especially if Arthur had once woken up first and wasn’t there. This scene is sweet and comedic and used to get Merlin into the woods, but they could have really used what was in the script to add a little realism and consistency.
Gaius once again goes into the ‘time of the old religion’ or ‘before the purge’ shpeel. Now, it might just be the writers still adding the final ingredients to the word stew the shows been cooking since the start, but I like this last part. We have a clear image now of the hierarchy of the court of Isle of the blessed. The Bendrui at the bottom, rejects of high priestesshood, being the least talented in magic but still bloody good, and maybe used as dispensable foot soldiers and servants. Then there’s the bloodguard, warriors sworn to protect the HPs. There are also the cathas, the few men in the religion whose skills are in torture. Then there’s the ‘9’, the high priestesses, the ones who are so powerful and have unique gifts and cause all the trouble and destruction. Finally at the top are the Disir, treated as oracles, the mouthpieces of the deity.
The pieces are falling together, too bad overall it doesn’t really mean anything. Years! of Academy Training! Wasted!
I know that the show wants us to see Arthur share more affection and trust with Mordred this season, especially to either make Merlin wary or jealous, but these times come too few and far between, but also completely confusing. Like last episode when Arthur told Leon and Mordred of the levy route change, today Arthur is entrusting young knight Mordred to lead a charge to apprehend a sorceress. This is problematic for some reasons. 1) Arthur asked Mordred to do this, not Leon or another main knight. Leon is part of the group! 2) We see no conflict from any other men in Mordred’s group that they refuse to take orders from an inexperienced boy half their age. 3) We see nothing of Mordred and his internal struggle to lead a raid to capture a fellow magic user. If anything, Merlin shouldn’t need to use magic so he and Finna can escape. Mordred should see them and sabotage the group from getting them himself. 4) Mordred helps a little later, but for now, he doesn’t show any signs of knowing it was Merlin with Finna and lie to the king. 5) Arthur has no knowledge of Mordred being a druid so there is no point!
Alator has clearly never heard of the phrase “burn after reading”.
And yes I agree, the note should have been written in code, weird sentences, code names! Like in Harry Potter, someone got on the radio and repeated the phrase “weather report, lightning has struck” to mean Harry’s return. Couldn’t Finna have written something that Alator would know to mean she has met Emrys, even if it turned out Morgana was smart enough to work it out anyway?
Side note; I love how the Catha writing looks. I didn’t realise until Dan said that it’s a legit language.
I wish Merlin was a little meaner and more serious in this episode towards Gaius. Of course he still loves Gaius and can argue with him like any parent and child do, but Gaius over-stepped and its not like he embarrassed Merlin at a party, his actions behind Merlin’s back could have literally gotten Merlin hurt, killed, caught, or at least seen. Instead of falling for Gaius’ kicked puppy dog eyes, a fed-up Merlin could have snapped at Gaius, saying how the dynamic works best when his opinions and fears are treated as gospel and whilst he keeps the secrets, no secrets should be kept from him; he needs all info possible at his disposal and know who to trust. He has had a taster of just how powerful and god-like certain magic users see him and worship him, and whilst he’s obviously not comfortable with that or reveling on the pedestal Finna has him on, in contrast Gaius treating him like a child who would wander off with a strange adult offered sweets is finally what could make Merlin realise he has outgrown the older generation and gives Gaius in this moment the ‘take me seriously, work with me or leave me be’ rant so desperately needed. Or just could use a better version of the scene where Gaius says he screwed up and for Merlin to say outright “Yeah. You did. Don’t do it again”. They can move past it later, no problem.
Leon calling the shots is hot haha.
Mordred’s “be careful” is chilling and so wonderfully ambiguous.
Throughout the journey to the watchtower, Finna looks after Merlin and helps him walk but never appears like she’s worried for his injury or his pain, only for his identity to be kept and for him to know the prophecy. I believe Finna knows what Merlin doesn’t yet, that he will live through this, that he would always live through it…
Finna is such a good character, so badass and loyal in her short time. She performs seppuku in front of Morgana as a middle finger to her! What a gal!
Wish the dragon and Merlin had time to exchange a few more lines than they do. This is the first time in ages we or Merlin has seen Kilgharrah and now he’s old and dying. This is a big thing to gloss over, the great dragon has been there since the start, a big character, he’s main dragon to the last dragonlord. If only he mentioned Aithusa and urged Merlin to find and befriend him again so Merlin would not be without a dragon when Killi does die, or so that at least Morgana doesn’t have him to use in the big battle that’s approaching fast. The personal lost and the ‘remember me’ bit is beautiful, but the rush of the scene makes it seem that soon-to-be killing off of Kilgharrah was thrown in by the writers last minute.
I like Ruth’s idea/headcanon; that the Catha could have been an old cult of magic warrior type people skilled in torture and violence specialized to protect ancient prophecies that must not be read by anyone other than the person it applies to, or else the whole of space and time will fall into the sea…. Or something.
Nothing must stand in the way of their jobs, not family, not friends, not emotions, not physical harm on their own person, they must become robots for the greater good. Oh how I wish the show thought of this 😟
The amount of time the camera just stays on Colin’s face as Merlin processes what he’d heard is heart wrenching. It’s like he just heard the apocalypse is coming and he can do nothing more. The message the show seems to preach all the way through is that once you hear a prophecy or prediction of the future, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. Merlin may have hoped what Finna gave him was a list of tips and tricks for the near future, but not a word for word prophecy. It’s like he’s kicking himself for having listened to it coz now there’s less chance he can change it. Arthur’s name is stated clearly, there is no room for misinterpretation or vague guesses.
This episode to me, is very smooth, very dark, and feels we’re reaching the point of no return. The things that could have touched it up a little is more Mordred agency, and having Finna as an established character before to make her death a bit more impactful (it still was). I also nearly forgot Arthur was even here. This episode was definitely reminding us that the show is called ‘MERLIN’, he’s treated throughout this episode as if HE is the chosen on, the ultimate hero, the leader, the saviour, the king. Not Arthur. Arthur, to some of the magical community, is almost purely a puppet king which Merlin just needs to help win the war against Morgana, then sit Arthur on his lap and pull the little trigger on his back to speak and act through him.
All in all, this is a great episode, even if it feels like the writers realised only now after wasting time with the Gwen plot, that they only had a few episodes left to make that sprint to the finish line.
Next week, Mordred’s 180… sort of 😉 Great podcast as always, ladies.
5th November 2021 @ 1:28 pm
-Leon calling the shots is hot haha.-
You made such amazing points, really great thoughts and I’m so sorry I’m only commenting on this one but YES. 100% I agree. xD
6th November 2021 @ 4:36 pm
Lol it is a very important point 😁
7th November 2021 @ 9:32 am
—— When Arthur says he can’t get breakfast himself or Gwen might wake up alone and panic, and Merlin scoffs, Arthur could have meant this completely seriously.——
Oh, if only…
I was about to say ‘I will never understand why they don’t link things backwards and forwards across the episodes’, except I fear I do actually know. Like, between the very well known time crunch the show was in, the longer it went on for, and the very well known tendency to shoot multiple episodes at once, and the less publicised, but I feel heavily whispered about and implied tendency for delivering scripts late, and last minute scene changes the night before, or on the day of shooting… I do think that every single episode had to be written in complete isolation, because apart from an overall ‘this episode we meet Lancelot and he learns about Merlin’s magic, but then leaves again’, ‘this is where Morgan’s tries to kill uther but changes her mind’, ‘this is where Gwen goes evil, but no one will know…’ etc., I just don’t think they had previous scripts they could refer to, when writing future scripts. Certainly not from the 3-5 episodes that came before. And while you could reference season 1, it may be weird to link back to that, but miss the obvious link to last week… so safer not to do it at all?
😬😬😬
4th November 2021 @ 3:40 pm
This is one of my favourite episodes. I adore Finna. This is one of the more serious ep’s for me. Lot’s of heavy subjects were shown here and it started off so, so happy. Arthur looks incredibly happy in the first scene. So sweet. I liked how Gwen and Merlin discussed their joy for Arthur’s happiness. This is the first time I think we’ve gotten a real Gwen and Merlin moment in some time. Very interesting scene showing their dynamic as friends as well as them being Queen and servant. It was clear that Merlin, being her friend is still her manservant. She has to balance her friendship with him with her being a Queen and him a servant, you can see she’s treating him really well as both friend and servant.
I liked seeing Leon taking charge. It was sweet seeing how Merlin was sitting beside Gaius, like a father and son. Oh! But oh boy, do I have feelings about Gaius in this episode. If I disliked Gaius before (which I have) I doubly dislike him now. Gaius. betrayed. Merlin. Full-on betrayal. I was shocked on first viewing and still shocked so matter how many times I see, it makes my blood boil. He could have gotten Merlin killed! He could have gotten Merlin outed! And Mordred (who wants Merlin’s approval) was the one leading this attack. Merlin was running for his life, Finna was running for her life because of Gaius. Gaius was so close to getting his son killed. A sober, conscious choice. And he went to Arthur to do it. Abused his power as a physician as well.
Netflix. At 36:12. I don’t know why but with Merlin casually sitting on the chair by the table, drinking from the mug while reading SENDS ME. Same when he told Daegal to get out. Same with the rolled-up sleeves. I love it so much. I don’t know why but it’s just so appealing. He looks calm, relaxed in that space, how he does not even look up to ask a question. I just…i love it. 100% good job, good on the acting there. Gosh I love it. Can’t say why. Am I the only one? I hope not. Please let me know if this moment was great too for you too. Kind of gives me mafia boss vibes? I 100% agree on owning his Emrysness part, very mafia boss-like. Arthur was adorable in the scene with wanting to spoil Gwen. PRECIOUS. I liked Merlin picking flowers, so sweet. What annoyed me was cloaked Finna with a sword. It’s obvious they wanted us to not trust her at first. When she mentioned him as Emrys and he sneered and snapped at her? What was that all about? Calm down, Merlin. You’re not usually this rude to people who ask about you as Emrys. Or maybe I’m giving him too much credit. Maybe he’s just so stressed by this point? I think he even grabs her when he asks her how she knows? Felt kind of disrespectful to an elder. I have a question, how did everyone feel when the knights were walking back just before Finna appeared? Odd music choice with the scary tones and the knights shouting. Felt so unsettling. I don’t know what I was meant to feel. Is Merlin unsettled because they’re looking for Finna? Or do knights casually just shout like that normally?
Also that moment when Merlin drew out the symbol for Gaius. That whole scene was so odd. Felt like Gaius was gaslighting and manipulating Merlin. He acts like he knows who she is when he doesn’t. Gaius felt like a full-on villain in this episode. Even the music during this discussion was making Gaius out to be bad.
When Arthur is dressing down the knights it was interesting. Usually, he’s not like this. Also interesting parallel with Merlin almost being like evil Gwen and the knights being like Tyr. Also still angry at Gaius. Also upset that Merlin forgave him so easily. The tone was very odd with the knights and Merlin! Almost threatening as you say. And how they even corner him off. and notice how Gwaine looks at him, almost like I want to help you but also has a guilty quiet expression.
Merlin being injured was so rough to watch. He did it so well. And that arrow was deep in the chest. Looked so serious. When he said goodbye to Finna and that makeup on his face was so realistic, he looked so pained and dying. The grovelly voice, how he nearly passes out a few times, so well done. Poor Finna. I felt so bad for her. I wish she didn’t have to die. I don’t like Kilgharrah but I did feel bad for him and for Merlin and Kilgharrah’s situation. He put the message nicely. When Gaius read it out, it was so bleak. I don’t think we’ve had such a depressing scene like this when it came to the prophecy. There’s no hope there. Even Gaius says “There was no one more capable than you, Merlin.” And that sounded like he was giving up. Such a sad but brilliant scene. And what an intense next scene. I love how the show has grown with it’s audience enough that it can show these things ie: Sad, intense, serious moments. A great entry into the finale. The one thing that confused me with Finna is that many people saw her as a slave to Alator but I saw her as just a follower of him and Merlin. Not a slave at all. What are your thoughts? Also I know it’s late in saying this but I wish we got to see King Lot!
4th November 2021 @ 10:16 pm
Oh don’t worry I also caught that moment on rewatch and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Merlin so casual in his home with his drink and book haha.
It’s interesting you say that Merlin’s reaction was to sneer at Finna when she grabbed him and said ’emrys’. That was a weird moment. From the first episode he hears ’emrys’ and usually since, it had been coined by people he knew to trust a little. The druids for example. He would hear a person call him that and you could see his frame relax a tad and willing to hear them out. Now the whole Emrys persona has been tarnished and too many untrustworthy people know the name too, hearing someone call him emrys makes no guarantee he can trust them immediately, hence the hostile reaction.
I never saw Finna as a slave or anything. I saw her as a fanatic. Someone who had heard the stories and joined alator voluntarily after ditching the OR, which to me, the Bendrui sounds more like the slaves.
5th November 2021 @ 10:20 am
-Oh don’t worry I also caught that moment on rewatch and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Merlin so casual in his home with his drink and book haha.-
Yess! I love it so much. Yay!
-It’s interesting you say that Merlin’s reaction was to sneer at Finna when she grabbed him and said ’emrys’. That was a weird moment. From the first episode he hears ’emrys’ and usually since, it had been coined by people he knew to trust a little. The druids for example. He would hear a person call him that and you could see his frame relax a tad and willing to hear them out. Now the whole Emrys persona has been tarnished and too many untrustworthy people know the name too, hearing someone call him emrys makes no guarantee he can trust them immediately, hence the hostile reaction.-
Beautifully said. You explained this so well.
-I never saw Finna as a slave or anything. I saw her as a fanatic. Someone who had heard the stories and joined alator voluntarily after ditching the OR, which to me, the Bendrui sounds more like the slaves.-
Yeah. I just felt like she followed Alator because she believed in the prophecy.
5th November 2021 @ 2:38 am
Netflix. At 36:12. I don’t know why but with Merlin casually sitting on the chair by the table, drinking from the mug while reading SENDS ME.
YEEEEEESSSS! I made note of that as well when watching! I like the rolled up sleeves scene more but this one is excellent as well!
5th November 2021 @ 10:21 am
-YEEEEEESSSS! I made note of that as well when watching! I like the rolled up sleeves scene more but this one is excellent as well!-
xD I’m so glad you agree! Yes exactly!
7th November 2021 @ 9:44 am
—— He looks calm, relaxed in that space, how he does not even look up to ask a question. I just…i love it. 100% good job, good on the acting there. Gosh I love it. Can’t say why. Am I the only one? I hope not. ——
I must confess, I had to go back and check the 36:12 time stamp to see what scene you were talking about, which was very confusing, as 36 minutes into the episode is when Merlin dies up on roof and calls for the dragon… then I figured you may have read the time the wrong way round, so I checked 7 minutes in (36 minutes remaining) and hah! Found it.
Mostly it makes me laugh, because those scenes normally include both Merlin and Gaius frantically reading spell books to find an answer… but Gaius is the only one who can translate, and Merlin looks like he’s just casually reading the thriller he picked up at the bookshop last week, while he waits for Gaius to be done.. lol
7th November 2021 @ 11:51 am
Oh no. Sorry about the confusion. You are correct, I was looking at the wrong time frame. I should have been looking how far into the episode it was, not how much time was left. Glad you found it though.
xD Very true. I like how people interpret it differently. Nice way of seeing it, hehe xD Let Gaius do the work this time xD You can relax Merlin. It did look like he was casually just reading and waiting. Haha xD
I just find it so appealing. He looks like he owns the space around him, his slow and unhurried mannerisms. He looked calm, like he was home, which he was. Also I think this is the first time he isn’t reading for knowledge, as you say it looks like he’s reading a novel while enjoying a tea/drink. The poor guy just looked so calm and casual. After all that’s happened, we’ve finally gotten a window into their lives that is sometimes not shown. That Merlin is not always a frantic mess. That he has a home and is relaxed in it and has downtime. As downtime as he can get while Gaius is working on the answers. xD
4th November 2021 @ 3:25 pm
I really liked this episode, too. But I also noted that this is probably the most brutal episode in the whole show? Violence-wise, at least. Morgana slapping Alator, Morgana snapping his neck with a gruesome sound (!), Merlin being shot with an arrow, Finna’s brutal suicide, and the knight with no face… we’re definitely entering a PG-13 territory.
Although the cute scenes between Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen don’t really fit with the rest of this episode (and with the fact that Gwen was possessed and has no trauma connected to it), I really, really love them in isolation. The happy dynamic between them, the banter, the lack of tension and jealousy… also, my mind is completely in the gutter right now, so when Arthur threatens Merlin while slowly walking in his direction, all I can do is chuckle nervously. And Gwen seems to agree. Lol, I regret nothing. Those two scenes alone push me into an OT3 territory again.
(also, I remember the folks from Merlisten talking about costumes on Merlin once, and they called Arthur’s shirt “the white shirt of sex”. That made me laugh 😀 )
Side note: they’re using the Persian cuneiform for the Catha script. A cool choice! Also plays into the vague Middle Eastern vibes we got from Alator in s4, but in a more subtle and less stereotypical way.
Okay, now to the most important bits of the episode. I find the scene where Merlin tells Finna “things will be better” truly fascinating and striking. He looks like he’s dying, and Finna is going to die soon, too. It all reads like the end more than a beginning. And Colin Morgan makes an interesting acting choice: he makes this half-smile, half-laugh which reads almost ironic, like he knows he’s telling a lie, like he doesn’t believe it himself. Merlin’s hope doesn’t read like a hope for a real social change in the future anymore; it reads like a religious hope of someone who believes they will go to paradise after they die. I find it truly fascinating that this shift has happened within Merlin’s way of thinking. He condemned the magic users in the Disir episode, and he knows that. Here, he meets a positive magic user, and there must be some guilt there – not just because Gaius was the worst again and ratted her out. It’s almost as if Merlin is trying to give Finna some last ray of hope against all hope. I really feel this was intentional here. That’s why this scene makes me cry every time.
…And it also makes me cry because of the soundtrack. Because here, right in the moment when Merlin gets to the roof and Finna kills herself, we hear the Destiny/Golden Era soundtrack for the last time in the whole show. The soundtrack which accompanied us when Arthur stood by the OG Round Table, where there was some hope for actual change. The soundtrack that stems from Freya’s theme, which is used every time a positive magic user appears on the show. The soundtrack that sounded and got cut when Merlin condemned those magic users. Now it gets cut as Finna dies, and after that scene, I believe it’s clear that there will be no better time for magic and Albion under Arthur’s rule, not any time soon, not like Merlin hoped it would be. The fact that they use this particular music so very rarely (I managed to count only 5 instances in the whole show, this episode included), gives it a special impact. And it gives me goosebumps. And I’m crying.
Last final note: I don’t really have a problem with Finna’s gift being just some note in Catha. Sure, it does look a bit underwhelming, but it also feels like a really ancient thing. I always thought it’s some very old note that has been passed on through generations, probably even without much understanding of what it really means (and hence why it’s written in Catha; ancient notes don’t come in contemporary English). Merlin even says “so many have suffered so I can read this” – which really brings it home. He’s receiving a wisdom which is like holy verses of a religion. Like a mysterious verse from a Book of Revelation. And maybe the Catha themselves don’t really know how Emrys could reverse the destiny. But they still think he should have the note, because it’s the most precious piece of knowledge they possess. It works for me on a cultural/religious level. Also, Merlin’s words about many suffering are so laden with guilt, they tie nicely with the rest of the episode. By “tie nicely” I mean “make the most cruel parallel imaginable, I’m really really crying right now”.
And I shall probably cry till the end of the season! But do not be afraid to cry, for not all tears are bad, as Gandalf said.
4th November 2021 @ 9:49 pm
I didn’t know that the catha language was persian cuneiform, that’s so cool! That actually makes sense.
It is interesting how Merlin speaks in the scenes in the watchtower, he looks and acts like he may die. Yet at the same time both Merlin and Finna act like he’s definitely not going to die. Finna, despite Gaius saying how potent her magic is, doesn’t ever attempt to heal Merlin or give him magical pain relief, just keeps him moving as he’s losing blood.
They are not doing the same thing as others would, ‘No I refuse to believe this person i care about will die so i will ignore how bad it looks nor will I ever acknowledge the strong likelihood they will die in words’. Finna and Merlin really are acting like Merlin’s pain and fatigue are simply an inconvenience and OF COURSE he will get out of this if he just waits a few more minutes until Morgana leaves, despite near ready to bleed out.
When Merlin says to Finna there is nowhere else to go and she casually says there’s a roof, Merlin doesn’t mention anything about potentially dying before getting away, he even stops dying momentarily to mourn the fact Finna would soon too, like that was an even bigger tragedy.
With Merlin saying “it won’t always be like this” to anyone who needs to hear it, even many years later and not much changing, it almost seems to me like Merlin is…not so much giving up, but giving up the dream for himself. To paraphrase another LotR quote, Merlin might end the show being like Frodo. “We set out to free magic. And it might still be freed. But not for me.”
And then I cry inside.
4th November 2021 @ 10:47 pm
Oh my goodness, the Frodo quote is so fitting! And so sad of course…
4th November 2021 @ 10:56 pm
Also, I now thought of another thing – how symbolic Merlin and Finna’s escape is. Morgana is closing in on them, and they voluntarily choose to hide in a place that has no escape route except via the roof = an impossible escape (unless you have a dragon). It is a bit of a symbol of how Merlin has painted himself into a corner with the whole magic situation. He’s in a place where he can’t really find a reason for telling Arthur about his magic (as Ruth and Michelle observed on the podcast), he’s condemned magic to Arthur’s face, he only thinks about preserving Arthur’s life, but is constantly presented with a fate that seems to be irreversible. He unintentionally planned his own downfall (how ironic, that in his escape he goes up, while metaphorically, he’s falling down!), but he doesn’t die even though, as you mentioned, he doesn’t do anything to actually try to heal himself. He falls, and yet he prevails… *SPOILER music for the finale*
4th November 2021 @ 11:04 pm
“He unintentionally planned his own downfall (how ironic, that in his escape he goes up, while metaphorically, he’s falling down!”
Gah, the pain! 😖
5th November 2021 @ 2:28 am
Sorry… 😢