Episode IV.IX – Lancelot du Lac
We discuss Episode 9 of Season 4 of Merlin, Lancelot du Lac.
The third episode named after this man…
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7th June 2021 @ 3:10 am
I agree that this episode could have been much stronger if they’d done it a number of different ways (and that Lancelot looks great in black!), but what I wanted to see (in addition to more agency for Gwen, and Arthur not being so potentially abusive–those are some scary warning signs, in my opinion) was this more from Lancelot’s perspective. If we got a struggle between the obedience and blank slate that being brought back from the dead created in him and his old personality and memories, or even if he was mostly his old self but Morganna had planted this directive in his brain and told him to forget and he was fighting that, I think that would have made for a more compelling story problem. I mean, I guess it’s nice that we get to void Lancelot of any culpability, but he’d still be enchanted. Or even if this blank slate guy started feeling torn, that would have been more interesting. On the one hand, Morganna has told him to get caught kissing Gwen to break up the wedding. On the other hand, she was very clear in instructing him that he is the most honorable of knights/men. Those two things alone should have created some sort of mental feedback loop. If we also had some of his memories and old character fighting to break free and/or ask for help, this episode could have been even more moving. If the writers are determined to keep Merlin’s magic secret and Merlin unable to reveal his magic, wouldn’t it have motivated Arthur to hate magic even more if he saw it revive and destroy his friend/possible love interest Lancelot? If the actor had been available, they could even have taken it another way and broken him free of Morganna completely, and said “hey, free trip back from the dead, here’s Lancelot alive again” and then later they could kill off Giaus and we could have more Merlin and Lancelot scenes. Or what if the shade had basically become Lancelot and then realized at some later date that he wasn’t the “original” Lancelot? I don’t know, I like the “creepy slightly off Lancelot” and wanted there to be more invited sympathy with him.
26th April 2021 @ 5:12 am
I rewatched the episode just now and got a good chuckle out of the actual pages of the Necromancy book in the scene with Merlin studying it. See if you can pause and read the pages…it’s genuinely amusing 😂
26th April 2021 @ 8:25 pm
I have to try this!
27th April 2021 @ 11:08 am
ah man! I was editing, but now I totally have to go and check that out on netflix!! hahahah
27th April 2021 @ 11:21 am
okay, so my screen is not very high res, but I can tell for sure that this spell is for revealing THE TRUE NATURE OF THE BEING, because the book says so in triplicate! hahaha love the arrow pointing at the face, also. ‘true nature will be revealed here —–>’ LOL
2nd May 2021 @ 3:56 am
Exactly 😂 it’s like Necromancy for Dummies.
2nd May 2021 @ 3:57 am
Exactly 😂 Necromancy for Dummies.
26th April 2021 @ 2:52 am
I’m pretty annoyed with this episode, it makes almost no sense, there is zero critical thinking, and again, Morganas plan comes out of something convenient, not something she’s been planning for a while. And killing Gwen won’t even free up the throne, Arthurs on it, not Gwen! I also just need to get something out: I HATE AGRAVAINE AND HIS STUPID FACE. He sucks, he’s creepy around Morgana, he’s betraying Arthur 24/7, and he seems to take pleasure in other peoples suffering, he’s a sick twisted dude and I hate him.
I also have a quick gripe, I get that it is often called a love triangle, but it’s not a love triangle unless someone in there is queer. If it’s a girl that likes two guys and the guys both like her, that’s just (I’m making this word up here) a love V. It would be a love triangle if the girl liked two guys, the two guys liked her, and one of the guys liked the other one. I’d like to note that I do take full responsibility that I am being a total grump with this.
27th April 2021 @ 11:11 am
haha feel free to grump away! 🙂 Also, that is very true about the love V. Sadly for most actual love triangles (happy and unhappy) you have to visit fanfic. But gosh, does fanfic have your back when it comes to that! 😀
M Xx
27th April 2021 @ 4:34 pm
In Mists of Avalon, Arthur and Lancelot are also in love. Guinevere eventually comes to the conclusion that the two men not being able to express their feelings for each other in the way they can demonstrate their love for her is the true source of the heartbreak between them. I find it to be a much more compelling story!
28th April 2021 @ 7:45 am
have you seen the movie that was made of that? I’m wondering if it’s any good…
29th April 2021 @ 10:57 am
I learnt about the Arthur/Lancelot version of the legend from a certain Merlin interview… 😆
http://www.ksitetv.com/interviews-2/merlin-interview-bradley-james-camelots-future-king/7461/
(He also talks about Arthur being married to the job -an interesting take on all of Arthur’s relationships)
25th April 2021 @ 6:00 pm
Hello from Australia! This is my first time commenting and I’m a bit nervous so excuse the factor I may be rubbish at this. I just wanted to say how I never really liked this episode in general, it came off boring to me and kind of cliche. I think it just feels like a waste of time to me because I feel like it is so obvious that Arthur and Gwen will get back together quickly after their splitting. I find it hard to have any empathy or really latch on to the idea that Arthur is banishing Gwen, its as if I don’t really believe it (this is nothing to do with Bradley or Angels acting however, they are brilliant).As for me I don’t really care for this episode and I don’t appreciate how it brought down Lancelot’s character (even tho he is enchanted).
However, I do want to highlight I appreciate the story line and what it adds to Arthur as a character. Bare in mind he is my favourite character in the show, but I think it adds to his depth. He has now been betrayed by his adoring finance, accompanied by his betrayals of his own sister, his father lying about his birth and his soon to be betrayal of Agravaine. I really appreciate some angst, and a hurt Arthur as I think it builds his character as a whole. When convincing all my friends to watch the show, they never took a liking t Arthur as I think they could only view him as an arrogant, rude King/Prince. I think this is partially because they never rewatched it and became as infatuated as I was. This was my first thought as well when watching the show for the first time, I never really liked Arthur or connected with him. However, it is when I rewatch and listen to your podcasts that I realise how broken Arthur actually is. I appreciate how this episode helps steer away from Arthur’s known ‘arrogance.’ Moral of the Story: I love Arthur and he is so hurt I feel bad but I also love this character depth so keep it coming writers pls :’)
27th April 2021 @ 11:20 am
–This is my first time commenting and I’m a bit nervous so excuse the factor I may be rubbish at this.–
NO SUCH THING! <3
I totally see what you're saying in regards to the break up and the banishing not being very believable. not through any fault of the acting, but just because as a viewer of the show, you know better I guess. And the fact that these characters are clearly endgame (whether you know the legends or not) makes it all the more confusing that they are using every excuse in the book to ensure that neither Gwen nor Arthur can be blamed for anything, therefore sort of... doubling down on the fact that it's not going to stick, because they did nothing wrong, and so their break up is as false as Gwen's betrayal was.
--’ Moral of the Story: I love Arthur and he is so hurt I feel bad but I also love this character depth so keep it coming writers pls :’)--
characters we love have to get hurt, because they cry so pretty... the mantra of fanfic writers everywhere lol
I'm glad we helped you come around to Arthur's vulnerability and all around LOVELINESS. I am incredibly biased, I'm aware - I LOVE HIM! lol - but I do absolutely adore the depth and nuance in Arthur's character, and I do think he's one of those characters on TV that changes dramatically depending on which age you are as a viewer and your own experiences in life (especially with arrogant, entitled bullies) at the time of watching. Cordelia Chase in Buffy is another character that works the same as far as I'm concerned, in terms of sliding scale from I LOVE YOU to 'urgh, what a vapid bully.'
M Xx
25th April 2021 @ 2:13 pm
I find that I don‘t have a lot to say about the central idea of this episode, apart from that the acting is stellar, the writing lazy and the story appalling. I have not seen this episode often and would prefer Lamia any day. The whole thing is so ‘neither here nor there’ and feels like the producers just felt compelled to tick this part off their Arthurian legend checklist but were equally too craven to actually dare to go anywhere profound. SPOILER: especially the way this is all quickly and clumsily glossed over and forgotten in future episodes makes me realise that they included this more as a duty (because you’ve got to hit some arbitrary legend markers while you simply ignore others – and who decides which ones?). So, the whole story feels a little heartless or uncommitted to me. Just to stress: not the actors’ performances or indeed the crew who acted and worked their socks off. But bad story and writing can only be remedied to a certain extent.
In terms of the proposal scene, I wish we didn’t have Merlin lurking and smirking outside Gwen’s house, but that is consistent with his character. Remember when he lurked outside Gwen’s house in 1.3 to see whether the healing poultice would do its work? And when it did, there was a cute smile as well. Merlin sneaks, that’s what he does. But at least that’s being consistent and his smiles in both cases show that he is selflessly and genuinely happy for Gwen. I also love that Gwen forgets to actually give Arthur an answer. It is such a sweet reminder of bumbling, stumbling-over-her-own-words Gwen from season 1 and fits with her desire to be ‘Just Gwen’ for as long as she can before the wedding. Also, I love that both the proposal and the tournament hark back to 2.2, the episode where Gwen and Arthur’s relationship was first kindled. Only, sadly this time, it all ends sickly twisted and tragic. ☹
I actually wanted to point out that this episode stresses the Camelot public a lot more than others. Twice, Agravaine refers to Arthur and Gwen’s relationship as being a matter of state and the opinion of the people having to be taken into account. (Once in the opening scene and then after Gwen and Lancelot have been incarcerated). Arthur also points to public opinion when he asks Gwen, ‘Do you know what they are saying?’, referring to the court (or just Agravaine – when has Agravaine come to represent the people, hey Arthur?) demanding Gwen’s death. But I think the only one who actually has Camelot’s public opinion figured out is Merlin when he says that the people would find Arthur merciful and understanding if he forgave Gwen and proceeded with the wedding. Have a look at the tournament scene: all the Camelot citizens are happy and approving of the match. There is no sense of any dissent or grumbling that Arthur would marry a servant girl. It is the same for Arthur’s knights. Everyone is looking forward to celebrating the upcoming nuptials and it is a beautiful confirmation of the trust both Arthur and Gwen have managed to incite in their people.
I have many issues with Arthur in this episode. His sudden desire to kill Lancelot and their swordfight is far, far too violent and out of character. especially since Lancelot just that very day preserved his dignity and kneeled to him in submission during the tournament. We’ve seen Arthur this very season spare an enemy in a duel (His Father’s Son); it feels inconsistent that he would not afford the same to Lancelot, whom he knows much better. Also, it’s not like Lancelot had Gwen half undressed. It was a kiss! However, perhaps this harks back to irrational Arthur who was ready to leave crown and kingdom for Gwen in 3.10? But he should have surely moved on from this. Likewise, I hate that Arthur’s banishment of Gwen actually breaks his promise to her in 1.12 when he gave her his word that she would always have a home in Camelot after her father’s death. That’s Arthur breaking his word!!! Conclusion: this isn’t really the Arthur we know but one who has to fit the story! Finally, even if ‘adultery’ is punishable by death as Agravaine says, what Gwen has done cannot be termed adultery under any definition of that word. Maybe betrayal. But adultery needs a marriage bond – and again, it was ‘only’ kissing! Of course, it is not okay to betray your fiancé by kissing another, but it isn’t adultery. If Arthur was the Arthur we know, he would have acted similarly broken but noble by letting both Gwen and Lancelot leave together. He could have banished them but would have enabled them to at least be happy in the path they have chosen. Then we wouldn’t have had Gwen leave Camelot without any support or help and could have avoided Lancelot’s suicide by a clever intervention spell from Morgana that would have killed Lancelot on the road. The Gwen would have ended up alone after all and unable to return to Camelot. That might also explain why Merlin is the only one laying Lancelot to rest: he probably snuck after Gwen and Lancelot and found him dead in the woods.
Some additional musings and puzzlements:
I HATE the design of the Dochraid. Everything about her repels me so much. However, her line, ‘I hope to live to see that day,’ makes me chuckle. She’s blind!
I like that the short scene between Merlin and Lancelot actually focuses on Merlin’s trauma and survivor’s guilt after Lancelot’s death. It is a rare thing in Merlin and we don’t do much with it except use it as a vehicle to show that Lancelot doesn’t know about Merlin’s magic. But I appreciate the textualization of Merlin’s emotional turmoil and struggle anyway.
I have been wondering about the Necromancy book Merlin digs up. The cover design seems very familiar – did he steal this from Agravaine’s magical library? The vague title would certainly suggest that he could have purchased it as a box set with ‘Witchcraft, Sorcery and Magic’. 😊
During the second part of the tournament, Lancelot seems to be back on his old, white horse. While that’s really sweet (I bet Santiago appreciated being given his old companion), I have been wondering why the horse doesn’t notice that his old master is only a shade of himself. I’m trying to remember whether we had any previous instances of animals being more alert to magic and I think we did but none come to mind. Hmmm…
I wish in the early stages of Gwen’s enchantment, we could have seen a clearer indication of Gwen’s internal battle and confusion. Angel acts very subtly but I think a more obvious delineatioin between enchanted and unenchated Gwen would have made things easier.
Oh my goodness! There are actually other girls in the castle of Camelot!!! You see them walking through the halls just before Gwen sneaks out to meet Lancelot. Actual other girls! And not just servant girls but they look like nobility! Oh. My. Word.
In reference to your comment on Justin Molotnikov’s dramatic direction: Why does Lancelot draw his sword on Merlin after he (almost) knocks him out to prevent him from meeting Gwen? Because Lancelot doesn’t use the sword against him – he just knocks him out with a pommel to the face. Surely, Lancelot can knock slight Merlin unconscious without the unnecessary drama of drawing a sword first?
Final and rather sad thought: I have always noted the abundance of flowers in Lancelot’s boat and rather than assuming that Merlin picked all of them, I imagine that these are the flowers that were to decorate Arthur and Gwen’s wedding ceremony. There you go, now we can all cry ourselves to sleep!
25th April 2021 @ 5:50 pm
Omg! Yes! Merlin snuck back into Agravaine’s room to steal the necromancy book that kind of caught his eye last time. This is why Gaius is shocked at seeing such a book! 👏🏻 👏🏻
27th April 2021 @ 11:45 am
— (because you’ve got to hit some arbitrary legend markers while you simply ignore others – and who decides which ones?)–
I’ve always wondered in how much Lancelot’s appearance and story writing was created around Santiago’s availability. They did the Lancelot & Gwen thing in the episode NAMED Lancelot & Gwen, meaning they’ve already ticked their ‘legend’ box, as well as their ‘legend subversion’ box, and then they killed him off, because Santiago was busy doing lots of other stuff. Bringing him back at this stage feels very much like one of Morgana’s “plans”. ie Not actually a plan, more a last minute thought you had when Santiago’s agent rang you up and said ‘he’s free for three days in May, do you want him?’ and so you went and found a way to have him return to the show, just because you could have him back, not because that’s actually what you had planned all along… I dunno. Honestly, we’ll never know. But god do I want to sit the creators down and get them to painstakingly detail what of the story they had planned from the start, and what they had changed halfway through, and what they pulled out of their backsides the day before shooting lol
— I also love that Gwen forgets to actually give Arthur an answer.–
and the fact that Arthur gets genuinly nervous there for a second, too! because he’s a dumb dumb and for all of his arrogance he could list a hundred reasons why Gwen shouldn’t or wouldn’t want to marry him. In fact he’s been listing them for the last 3 seasons. so his moment of panic is also such a lovely touching on the “real” Arthur. And yes, Gwen is the most gorgeous EVER.
— But I think the only one who actually has Camelot’s public opinion figured out is Merlin when he says that the people would find Arthur merciful and understanding if he forgave Gwen and proceeded with the wedding.–
completely agree. which I think also goes beautifully hand in hand (and I think deliberately so!) with Merlin’s “I think you’re mad. I think you’re all mad.” speech, which he was making from the heart and was very much about what he thought was right, but I think also reflected the opinion of ‘the people’. Merlin spoke about the people (“People should marry for love”) but I think also for the people.
–I have been wondering about the Necromancy book Merlin digs up. The cover design seems very familiar – did he steal this from Agravaine’s magical library? The vague title would certainly suggest that he could have purchased it as a box set with ‘Witchcraft, Sorcery and Magic’. 😊–
oh it definitely came in the ‘for dummies’ series that Agravaine bought, I 100% accept that as canon!!
–During the second part of the tournament, Lancelot seems to be back on his old, white horse. While that’s really sweet (I bet Santiago appreciated being given his old companion), I have been wondering why the horse doesn’t notice that his old master is only a shade of himself. I’m trying to remember whether we had any previous instances of animals being more alert to magic and I think we did but none come to mind. Hmmm…–
horses on merlin are always a little bit complicated, because I fully appreciate that Dolbadarn (the horse stunt company) have a wide, but still limited range of horses, that they couldn’t give every single horse to Merlin the show, and that therefore horses are used by various people in often confusing ways. Which of course is only insanely relevant when it’s a stand out gorgeous white one, like that, which has “belonged” to Morgana, Lancelot, Gwen, and any number of guest stars, bandits, one off villains, and “misc. other”. and hell, the animal is beautiful! I would also use it left right and centre if I was casting horses, but it is puzzling… Another thing is that Santiago is actually the only person in the cast that has been called out as being a decent horseman that the horse team didn’t have to worry about, so why I totally get giving him the same horse, it sounds like he’s actually the one person who wouldn’t have had a problem being given ‘random horse Nr. 8’. Then again, I assume the selection for Dolbadarn horses that ‘are good in large noisy crowd’, ‘can take large blokes in rattly armour’ and, ‘can joust’ limits the pool of horses further…
Anyway, equine ramble aside. I don’t think we’ve hda a lot of animal sentience, other than Morgause being very attune to her horse (who… now I think about it… wasn’t that also the white one?? lol), and then of course enchanting Arthur’s horse, meaning we had a semi sentient horse in that episode, but magically so. Can’t think of any other instance (other than of couse the dragon, but one cannot fairly call him an animal)
–Because Lancelot doesn’t use the sword against him – he just knocks him out with a pommel to the face. Surely, Lancelot can knock slight Merlin unconscious without the unnecessary drama of drawing a sword first?–
fair point. maybe they knew that in A Herald of a New Age literally EVERYONE was going to be knocked out cold with a single punch, so they didn’t want to overuse it?
(oh, hang on, no, that would suggest foresight, so that can’t be it… lol)
M Xx
27th April 2021 @ 9:16 pm
But god do I want to sit the creators down and get them to painstakingly detail what of the story they had planned from the start, and what they had changed halfway through, and what they pulled out of their backsides the day before shooting –
Oh my word, if that ever happens, please can I be there? I have about a million questions for them as well. Most of them end with an exasperated ‘What were you thinking?’
Arthur gets genuinly nervous there for a second, too! because he’s a dumb dumb and for all of his arrogance he could list a hundred reasons why Gwen shouldn’t or wouldn’t want to marry him. –
I hadn’t actually thought about it this way. That’s so sweet – good on Arthur for showing some humility and thanks for pointing it out.
Merlin spoke about the people (“People should marry for love”) but I think also for the people. –
It’s interesting that you drew the link to Merlin speaking for the people and as the people here. So, Merlin is at his best and most in tune with the truth when he champions the people. If only this would translate to his championing the magic people a little more and not only Arthur, left, right and centre. Maybe the story could have played out a little differently.
I don’t think we’ve hda a lot of animal sentience –
Yeah, I couldn’t think of anything yet either. Maybe it’s just an expectation build up from other shows that, you know, the dogs will start howling or the horses become restless when danger is near and I was simply assuming it is the same in the Merlin universe. Apart from that, Santiago certainly looks the ost confident on a horse. He also looks mighty handsome on a horse, especially the white one and I’m glad we see so much of that combination in this epsiode.
maybe they knew that in A Herald of a New Age literally EVERYONE was going to be knocked out cold with a single punch, so they didn’t want to overuse it?
(oh, hang on, no, that would suggest foresight, so that can’t be it… lol) –
What’s foresight? Is that the same as flashbacks in the show, i.e. non-existant? 🙂
Perhaps this is a good point to confess that I love A Herald of the New Age. Bradley is so awesome in it and I cry every single time. 🙂
28th April 2021 @ 8:19 am
–Oh my word, if that ever happens, please can I be there? I have about a million questions for them as well. Most of them end with an exasperated ‘What were you thinking?’–
there could be ropes, gaffer tape, and very bright lights involved…
no?
step too far?
oh, okay…
–So, Merlin is at his best and most in tune with the truth when he champions the people. If only this would translate to his championing the magic people a little more and not only Arthur, left, right and centre.–
SIGH all of that!!!
— Bradley is so awesome in it and I cry every single time. 🙂–
I appreciate I am very biased, but god the boy is talented!!
25th April 2021 @ 4:50 am
Honestly, this episode right after Lamia (which I was traveling for and missed the episode and the chance to comment bash, alas!) is like a double whammy of sexism. Another commenter noted how distasteful it feels to drag Gwen into the “fallen woman” narrative and I agree…
HOWEVER – I would have much preferred the use of the Guinevere and Lancelot legend if our Gwen had actually just made a terrible mistake out of passion, or confusion, or any of the other myriad things that make people act poorly. Because she’s human, too! I think the show makes her “perfect” because the only other way for a woman to be a major character on this show, apparently, is to be pure evil. But I think truly egalitarian representations of people of any gender must include their making human mistakes and then making choices based on the consequences. Ah, but there’s that word again…choices. The thing this show rarely does, for itself or for its characters.
(Is it a coincidence that the two major characters who seem to get the worst treatment on this show are both women? The paranoid feminist in me wonders. Also, eff Gaius with his, “Gwen must pay the price,” and Elyan with his glare.)
Perhaps, along with trying to preserve Gwen’s “perfection”, the show runners believed that if the audience knew all of the facts about the shade and the bracelet but the characters didn’t it would heighten the capital – T – Tragedy of it all. But, frankly, the original legend was tragic enough! And since that’s what the characters themselves are basically left with…why go through all this trouble?
Lancelot being dead was probably their biggest hurdle – it kind of makes me wonder why they had him die at the beginning of the season at all? Had they forgotten the Guinevere/Lancelot tragedy or had they always planned to use Morgana as a vehicle to pull it off without sullying Gwen in the process?
Last thought: at least we get a glimpse of Studious Merlin in this episode…?
25th April 2021 @ 10:15 pm
I think Santiago’s filming schedule clashed with another show he was in, so the writers of Merlin had to kill Lancelot off to obviously have a logical reason for his future absence as a knight.
which is a real shame because the whole point of his character is to see him reach and enjoy his ambition as knight and cause a stir in Arthur and Gwen’s relationship, despite the writers also making Lancelot too perfect to believe he would intentionally sought after the girl he couldn’t have, but I feel they would have found a way to make the storyline work better if Santiago could stay longer.
They must have still wanted to somewhat play out the legendary love triangle with the limited time they had Santiago for so wrote this episode down the line but because Gwen and Lancelot had not had much screen time together, there was no choice but to excuse their behaviour as necromancy mingled with enchantment.
26th April 2021 @ 5:06 am
Aah ok, that makes sense, and now I remember Michelle and Ruth mentioning that about Santiago’s schedule during another podcast.
You’re right, they’ve made two nearly perfect characters who would have to seriously break character – OR be given enough time and space (and good writing) to believably cast aside their principles – in order for them to follow this legend to the letter. Just doesn’t work.
Luckily, there’s the “necromancy mingled with enchantment” excuse 😂 Wish I could use that one for my bad days.
25th April 2021 @ 10:49 pm
-Perhaps, along with trying to preserve Gwen’s “perfection”, the show runners believed that if the audience knew all of the facts about the shade and the bracelet but the characters didn’t it would heighten the capital – T – Tragedy of it all. But, frankly, the original legend was tragic enough!-
I agree! I think people often forget that Tragedy (the capital T one) is not only about tragic circumstances, but also about bad choices, and the best tragedies are often a combination of the two. Yes, Oedipus was terribly unlucky, but if he didn’t decide to kill a random guy on a road because he took his breathing space, he wouldn’t be a killer of his father. Tragedy is often about bad choices getting amplified by tragic circumstances. I wish we had that in this episode.
26th April 2021 @ 5:10 am
– Tragedy is often about bad choices getting amplified by tragic circumstances. I wish we had that in this episode. –
Yes! Choices! I want Gwen to make some! Hell, I want Morgana to make some, too. I want Merlin to tell anyone anything. Anything at all. For once.
27th April 2021 @ 11:51 am
–Lancelot being dead was probably their biggest hurdle – it kind of makes me wonder why they had him die at the beginning of the season at all? Had they forgotten the Guinevere/Lancelot tragedy or had they always planned to use Morgana as a vehicle to pull it off without sullying Gwen in the process?–
I just pondered on this in a response to another comment further up. they definitely had a lot of conflice due to Santiago being in other shows, and my theory is that they killed him off with as knight-y and nobel and fullfilled a story line as they could manage, only to then find out that they could have him for another 5 days of filming or something, and therefore brougth him back from the dead, because they (and the audience) love lancelot and santiago. It’s pure speculation, but I don’t think anyone would have planned this story arc, had there not been obstacles and issues. I could be wrong, of course, but that’s my theory. A last minute ‘Hey Santiago is free! yay! … Ah shit, we murdered him last time he was on the show.’ lol
M Xx
25th April 2021 @ 3:01 am
Well, I remember now why I have only seen this episode once before now. I hate how it does literally anyone I care about dirty, but I agree the performances are amazing!
I was listening to the podcast when driving to work while you were discussing how great it would have been if Gwen had more agency and was significantly overwhelmed by her new role. People around me probably thought I was crazy because I was like “YES!! YES YES!!” That would have been amazing to see Gwen, who is basically perfect, have a moment of weakness. I really love characters that have flaws and would have enjoyed getting my heart ripped out because Gwen was feeling overwhelmed, lost and unsure of her new role and then creepy, shade Lancelot was the only one giving her some comfort because everyone else was just all super excited and happy for her. If they had given us a 2 part episode, we could have explored this more and really laid it on thick how different Gwen’s life was about to be. Gosh! It would have been so great!
I know you both mentioned that you didn’t like Arthur’s going “in for the kill” moment and it didn’t feel in character, but to me it felt absolutely right. Here Arthur is in this pure happy state because he is finally getting to marry Gwen and he just had a blast at the tournament and his life is coming together in the way he has been dreaming about for years… then he walks in on his everything kissing another man. Arthur was completely thrown off guard and shocked, but he is a warrior. Warriors are trained to attack and kill a threat that presents itself. Fight or Flight response kicks in no matter if it is a physical attack or an emotional one. Arthur’s response in these type of moments have always been to fight. (I am thinking of the time he tried to kill Uther, but in that moment he had time to mull over everything on the ride back to Camelot so slightly different.) Also, Arthur is a Hufflepuff at heart and he takes betrayal VERY seriously. I also absolutely think that if Arthur had delivered the killing blow, he would have immediately regretted it.
I think someone commented on Arthur being in “chainmail again” during the scene where Gwen is presented to the court. During the scene before, that probably happened within an hour or so of the court scene, Arthur was wearing his regular, relaxing clothes and thus was not on guard and had no walls up. After he discovers Gwen cheating on him, he has to go out of that room and collect himself. He has to put on mental and emotional walls/armor in order to not be a wreck when he walks into the throne room with all those people and the girl that broke his heart. I think him wearing chainmail helps Arthur protect himself mentally and emotionally and helps him feel in control of the situation. Of course that doesn’t last long since he kicks everyone out and then breaks our heart with an amazing, heart-wrenching performance…. (I don’t think that was very coherent, but I hope you get what I am saying)
I have questions that are probably a dumb since no one else are asking them… I don’t understand the magic that Merlin does on Lancelot before he sends him off into the lake. Lancelot was dead (again) and then Merlin does magic and he is alive again for long enough to say thank you and then dies again. Did Merlin just bring Lancelot back to life?! Does it only last for a second because Merlin just learned this spell and needs to perfect it?? OR Did Merlin just bring Lancelot back to himself? Did he release his soul? I really want to know what happens because if Merlin did bring Lancelot back to himself, I wish he would have found this spell when reading about shades and then gone to visit Lancelot in the dungeon and tried the spell then. If he could have brought Lancelot back to himself, maybe Merlin could have broken him out (since that is always easy). Then Lancelot could have gone back to Morgana to try to kill her to redeem himself for what she did, but then die at her hands. Lancelot could have died doing another honorable thing…. or if they really wanted to stick with the sort of Romeo and Juliet vibe and have a suicide, Lancelot could have come to himself and been so disappointed in himself and what he did that he then took his own life out of shame? I don’t know….. anything would be better than what actually happened.
Silly side notes:
-Why does Arthur put her ring on her pointer finger? I tried googling this and only found this to be a tradition in the Jewish religion??
– I don’t like Agravaine sitting up on the balcony or whatever with Gwen during the tourney. Weird
– Santiago is gorgeous in black! Damn!
– I don’t get why Gwen wears the bracelet. A newly engaged woman should not be wearing jewelry given to her by another man. Come on Gwen….
– In my notes I wrote “I hate this episode” and “I hate enchanted Gwen” SEVERAL times.
-I wish Merlin would have taken Lancelot out of the black clothes for his funeral and into whatever he use to wear…. white? red? To give us the visual that he is back to his old self.
-REALLY wish we would have had more of a response from Elyan seeing how the next episode is about him….. well I guess it really just USES Elyan and is about something completely different. (sigh) Can we skip this one and move on to The Hunter’s Heart??
25th April 2021 @ 2:26 pm
-Why does Arthur put her ring on her pointer finger?
I think Arthur puts this particular ring on her finger because it was his mother’s and he has been wearing it in every episode. So, he gives away this most precious piece of jewellery, appointing Gwen as the new ‘lady of his heart’ to whom this ring rightfully belongs. However, I think the ring might be too big for Gwen’s ring finger, hence it goes on her pointer.
25th April 2021 @ 5:57 pm
Oh I like this! Your plot bunnies are doing you well….
Do you have any answers about the magic Merlin uses on Lancelot before he sends him off into the lake? I really want to know what the heck that was!
25th April 2021 @ 10:13 pm
I actually had a thought about merlin not intending to reawaken Lancelot at all. Remember when Balinor said an old prayer over Arthur? Maybe Merlin just said a blessing, like rest in peace, but in the Old Tongue. And that had the effect that the real Lancelot, whose spirit or soul Merlin was addressing with the prayer/blessing, was a given a last chance to respond. Maybe…
25th April 2021 @ 10:30 pm
Merlin did look a little shocked when Lancelot took a breath, didn’t he. Like he wasn’t expecting it to happen.
I do think it’s believable he was only saying a prayer but it was in some way a magical exorcise thing that worked enough to free Lancelot from control and free his spirit. It kinda reminded me of the gauntlet in Torchwood that brought dead people back to life for just a minute. This explains why Merlin hasn’t done this for any others who died, or others hence…
25th April 2021 @ 10:53 pm
Ohhh good thought! Maybe? I guess when Balinor was saying the prayer, I still thought of it as magic as well. (For the trillionth time, it would be nice for the show to give us some distinction).
I wonder if since Merlin is the most powerful sorcerer there is, this prayer ended up having a magical effect that was surprising?
Who knows….
I have never seen Torchwood….
27th April 2021 @ 11:54 am
it’s even more confusing with Balinor as well, cause he says it, it clearly reads as magic, then merlin asks about it, and he “covers up” by saying it’s just an old prayer. But all of it so very clearly (I think, anyway) depicted as a lie and a cover up. Especially because he’s healing Arthur in that moment, making it even more likely to be magic. ::SHRUG::
M Xx
28th April 2021 @ 2:23 am
Yes! Exactly! I just assumed Balinor was lying because he was healing Arthur Pendragon….. son of magic-hating Uther Pendragon.
27th April 2021 @ 12:08 pm
–everyone else was just all super excited and happy for her. If they had given us a 2 part episode, we could have explored this more and really laid it on thick how different Gwen’s life was about to be. Gosh! It would have been so great!–
I am utterly enamoured with Ruth’s suggestion that everything was getting overwhelming for Gwen, and then Merlin calling her ‘my lady’ giving her that final nudge to send her for a full tailspin. So enamoured that it’s been playing out in full technicolour in my head for pretty much a solid week!!
–I think him wearing chainmail helps Arthur protect himself mentally and emotionally and helps him feel in control of the situation. Of course that doesn’t last long since he kicks everyone out and then breaks our heart with an amazing, heart-wrenching performance…. (I don’t think that was very coherent, but I hope you get what I am saying)–
totally get it, and I absolutely agree. It’s one of two responses, isn’t it? Either you break down and do not care what other’s will see (or are too far gone in your mysery, to even think about it), or you put on your best clothes, push it all aside, and try and get through the day as best you can. And the more “normalcy” you can surround yourself with, when doing so, the easier it will be to pretend to yourself that things are normal. so yeah, makes a lot of sense to me.
–Did Merlin just bring Lancelot back to life?! —
don’t think it’s a dumb question at all. Honestly, I think it’s a moment where the show wanted to lean into the symbolism, and wanted to make sure that Merlin (and through him, the audience) got to say goodbye to the real Lancelot, and they prioritised that over logic. Also possibly just not wanting to spend money and time on adding a special effect there, because frankly, I think what they are going for is a release of Lancelot’s trapped spirit / a thank you and a nod goodbye, from beyond the veil. And it would have been better (and less confusing!!!) if what we would have gotten was a ghost Lancelot, or simply a disembodied voice, echoing over the water, rather than a reanimated body, which does just lead to questions such as ‘Did Merlin just bring someone back from the dead? Does that mean that going through the veil didn’t kill Lancelot, and if only someone had tried, they could have brought Lancelot back to life MONTHS AGO?? Does merlin now have the power over life and death???’ – and of course that questions leads me to think, well, yes, actually he does. He won the power over life and death when he defeated Nimueh on the Isle of the Blessed at the end of S1. So in fact Merlin should have had that power for years at this point.
I’m okay with him not casually and liberally using it. But yeah, he kind of does have it.
-– I don’t like Agravaine sitting up on the balcony or whatever with Gwen during the tourney. Weird–
In Uther’s place no less! Grrr Agravaine. Grrrrrr
-– I don’t get why Gwen wears the bracelet. A newly engaged woman should not be wearing jewelry given to her by another man. Come on Gwen….—
I actually think they did a very nice job writing that scenen where Lancelot gives it to her, and his reasoning for why it makes him think of Gwen, and why he gives it to her to celebrate her and Arthur… all of that really works for me. And then of course once it’s on, the enchantment starts. So I’m okay with the bracelet. Apart from obviously the bit where I’m not okay with the bracelet, and everything it does… lol
—I wish Merlin would have taken Lancelot out of the black clothes for his funeral and into whatever he use to wear…. white? red? To give us the visual that he is back to his old self.—
that could have been nice, true!
M Xx
28th April 2021 @ 2:32 am
It’s been playing through my head too! I should search for the fanfic!
I like your “release of a trapped spirit” theory. That sounds nice! I agree a ghost or something would have been nice, but I can’t help but think it probably would have looked cheesy with their not always so great CGI.
I guess I never realized Merlin actually gained power over life and death with Nimueh… wait why doesn’t he use this at the end of the series!?! Maybe because the blade was enchanted!? I know we can’t talk about it here and we just have to wait, but ….. ahhhhhhh!
I don’t know…. I guess that bracelet scene doesn’t work for me because if I was Gwen, I would think about how Arthur would feel if he asked me who gave me the bracelet. Then when Gwen said “Lancelot”(who he knows had feelings for Gwen and vis versa) he would be hurt…. maybe the enchantment started when she actually touched it though and she couldn’t not wear it?
24th April 2021 @ 9:36 pm
Ok, so I’m going to try very hard to put my personal feelings on the episode aside for the sake of engaging with it on its own terms, but in case those feelings do spill out: I absolutely hate these types of stories! On a purely personal level, I find misunderstandings, public embarrassment, and basically everything that this episode is about to be pretty excruciating to watch. I was counting down the time until it was over.
So, some good things:
I adore Santiago Cabrera’s performance. It was Lancelot, but slightly off – too stiff, too formal. I believed that the knights weren’t suspicious, while feeling uncomfortable the entire time he was onscreen.
I love Merlin in the first scene. Only scene I genuinely enjoyed tbh, mostly for Merlin.
I love all of the main characters’ acting choices, especially Gwen in the final scenes she’s in.
I like the Othello parallels – Agravaine and Morgana as Iago, Arthur as Othello, Gwen as Desdemona, and Lancelot as Cassio. Not a perfect parallel, obviously, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just cool to take a Romeo and Juliet couple (different backgrounds, not allowed to be together) and take their story down the route of a different tragedy (Iago/Morgana and Agravaine scheme to frame Desdemona/Gwen and cause Othello/Arthur to enact a harsh punishment).
I don’t like “all I ever wanted was to be your queen.” I don’t know why she doesn’t just say “all I ever wanted was to be with you.” “Your queen” feels so wrong. Partly for the reasons you gave, and partly because I feel like it was a way of avoiding saying “your wife,” as if that would somehow negate her being a Strong Female Character. Like, as if it would somehow be demeaning or stereotypical for her to just want to be a wife. Except, the wonderful thing about Gwen is that she is strong via stereotypical feminine traits. Her caring nature and her maternal practicality are exactly what makes her strong, motivating her bravery where necessary. It parallels Merlin (at least s1 and s2 Merlin). There’s no shame whatsoever in wanting to be someone’s wife, wanting domesticity, and Gwen has consistently shown us what domesticity can be, how she helps people through domestic labour and care. “Your wife” would have been consistent with her character, especially in light of Arthur’s statements about her being an advisor.
Regarding “Lancelot du Lac” – I assume they chose it because “Lancelot of the Lake” fits with the way in which he is reanimated – coming out of the lake and all. I do personally quite like the idea that “Lancelot” is the real Lancelot and “Lancelot du Lac” is the shade; I think you could do interesting things with the names there. Given that we do things with Gwen/Guinevere, Merlin/Emrys, etc… personal fun aside, I think that if the lake motif is why they chose it, I wish they’d make it a textual thing.
I feel like if any episode was going to be a 2 part-er, this should have been. I felt like the whole thing was rushed – I mean, on a personal level I didn’t want it to go on any longer than it had to, but in terms of pacing I feel like it could have worked better if we’d had an episode spanning from the proposal to the first sign that the bracelet was really taking effect (which would allow for at least the implication of more time passing in-world), and then an episode that built up to the climactic scene in the throne room and gave Elyan et al more time to react properly. That said, I don’t remember how the aftermath of this plays out, so I don’t know how that will affect my feelings there.
The biggest sin of this episode, for me, is that Lancelot’s death and funeral were so good, and this just ruins that. I feel quite strongly that if you kill off a character, especially in a really significant way, then they should stay dead. And yeah, Lancelot is still technically dead, but even just seeing the character outside of flashbacks etc feels like it cheapens the initial death for an audience. Because when a character dies, in-world the characters mourn their life but IRL the audience mourn their experience of this character – the sadness of Balinor’s death, for example, wasn’t just that Merlin loses his dad but that we as an audience don’t get to see him again. Lancelot’s death is bittersweet for the audience because on one hand we won’t get to see him again (in theory) and we are sad to lose a beloved character so soon, but on the other hand he dies a really noble and narratively-satisfying death and he is given the time he deserves for us that to sink in. He’s given his moment. And then for him to come back, especially like this, just spoils that. It feels like it takes away from the emotional impact of his death. I really hate how they ruined his legacy, but I don’t think he should have come back at all.
I never liked the love triangle thing in any version of the legends I’ve read/seen, to be honest. I do recommend listening to the Mechanisms’ album High Noon Over Camelot, which is the Arthurian legends (sort of) except they’re cowboys in space (also it’s a tragedy, like all Mechs albums, so heads up there), and they sidestep the love triangle by just having Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot all in a very cute triad. I mean, cute until the tragedy, but still. They also have trans!Mordred which makes me very happy. ANYWAY the point is that I wish BBC Merlin had just not bothered trying to do the love triangle. They nodded to it before with Gwen (not) choosing, they didn’t need to do this to Lancelot OR to Gwen! I don’t remember if there was a good reason for Gwen and Arthur to be separated at this point, but surely they could have found another way of achieving that without this frustrating injustice of an episode.
Regarding Merlin not telling Arthur or Gwen – I can almost forgive him not telling Gwen since (as far as I remember) he doesn’t know about the bracelet and so I got the impression he was angry and confused and didn’t know what to say to her (ie “I think you’re a good person but also you just cheated on my best friend, what the actual heck”), although he should have said something as soon as he know Lancelot was even a little bit sus. I don’t even mind that Merlin doesn’t tell people things, in theory, since that IS part of the whole tragedy of the show as a whole. I just wish he was given proper reasons to do so – textual reasons, not just fanon justifications! I just want him either to try to say something and get shut down, or to have good reason to think it won’t work or that there will be other consequences. Have Morgana threaten him! Have Agravaine threaten to hurt Gaius if Merlin breathes a word of his suspicions to anyone! Have Merlin come across something akin to the Crystal of Neahtid so he sees something in the future that makes him think there’s a “right time” for Arthur to find out and now isn’t it! I don’t care how they justify it, I just want SOME in-world reason for him to be secretive that is actually textualised!!!
Regarding word salad: I can overlook Old Religion/Old Ways/etc word salad to some extent because I don’t expect characters to all agree on the exact nature of a way of life that has been wiped out. I wish it was clearer, but I can overlook it. However, casually using the word “destiny” like that?! Dude, destiny if the biggest theme of the entire freaking show! You can’t just casually mention that something is someone’s destiny if you don’t intend to fully back that up! (Although, destiny word salad does support my personal headcanon that fate doesn’t actually exist in the Merlin world and the main tragedy of the show is Merlin being manipulated by the way this grand story that loads of people believe in and that he ends up basing his decisions on…)
This might be an unpopular opinion, but this episode has brought something to my attention that I’ve kind of lowkey felt for a while: I don’t like Richard Wilson’s acting in a lot of serious scenes. His comic acting is good, and in certain more Gaius-centric episodes I’ve liked what he did, but the rest of the time he’s basically… flat? His affect is basically always the same, whether he’s saying “well even if Lancelot was a shade Gwen did cheat on Arthur” or something really mundane. It’s not that he has no gravitas so much as that he says everything with roughly the same old man gravitas and so moments that should be emotional for him as well – like Gwen, someone who he must have seen grow up in Camelot and with whom we have seen him have a sort of almost paternal relationship, being banished!
I have so much more to say, but I think I’ve spent enough time rambling about an episode that mostly just leaves me feeling sad and anxious…
25th April 2021 @ 1:46 am
-I don’t like “all I ever wanted was to be your queen.” I don’t know why she doesn’t just say “all I ever wanted was to be with you.” “Your queen” feels so wrong. Partly for the reasons you gave, and partly because I feel like it was a way of avoiding saying “your wife,” as if that would somehow negate her being a Strong Female Character. Like, as if it would somehow be demeaning or stereotypical for her to just want to be a wife.-
YES! That line felt completely wrong out of Gwen’s mouth and I agree with everything you said in that paragraph 100%! Well said!
25th April 2021 @ 6:05 pm
MY GOD YES. It was so out of character for Gwen and only made me feel more frustrated about this episode.
25th April 2021 @ 5:27 pm
I don’t remember if there was a good reason for Gwen and Arthur to be separated at this point, but surely they could have found another way of achieving that without this frustrating injustice of an episode. –
I’ve had some thoughts on how this could have been achieved. Maybe have a look at my own comment. But no, there basically isn’t a reason to separate them since Spoiler! all of this is easily glossed over and dismissed when they need Arthur and Gwen to be together again at the end of the season.
I just want him either to try to say something and get shut down, or to have good reason to think it won’t work or that there will be other consequences. Have Morgana threaten him! Have Agravaine threaten to hurt Gaius if Merlin breathes a word of his suspicions to anyone! –
I think that’s a fantastic idea. Despite 4.06, we now again under-utilise and under-play Merlin’s clout. Surely, even though the plan to possess Merlin and kill Arthur failed, Morgana and Agravaine would still try to keep Merlin’s influence well in check. A threat might be the right direction and would actually give Agravaine a purpose for once.
25th April 2021 @ 11:06 pm
I agree with you regarding Gaius’ reactions to things, I do think it’s a running theme with the writing throughout the show that many long term relationships aren’t given depth or the characters themselves don’t interact differently to others compared to how we were introduced to them or Merlin was.
It’s like the universe only started up once Merlin arrived in Camelot. An example of this is in s1 ep 3 when Arthur goes to search Gaius’ rooms and acts as though that’s the first time in 20 twenty years he’s set foot in there, asking what all the books are for, or about the small room at the back. Gaius has known many people for many years. Like you said, he would have seen Gwen in Camelot maybe since her birth, he should have had his own personal reaction to Gwen’s downfall and exit.
27th April 2021 @ 4:16 pm
— Like, as if it would somehow be demeaning or stereotypical for her to just want to be a wife.–
that’s an interesting addition to the weirdness of that line. And yes, I agree that Gwen i sstrong via her stereotypical feminine traits. Though I’m also force to wonder why the show would care. It’s not like they’re normally worried about selling out their female characters, so it seems strange that they pick this of all moments to make a stand. Equally, as I type this, I am reminded that this is one of the 3.5 episodes written by the one female staff writer. So maybe this was indeed Lucy trying to take a stand somewhere, and just chosing the wrong place, which I think we are all agreed on, whatever the reasoning.
–I feel like if any episode was going to be a 2 part-er, this should have been. I felt like the whole thing was rushed – I mean, on a personal level I didn’t want it to go on any longer than it had to, but in terms of pacing I feel like it could have worked better if we’d had an episode spanning from the proposal to the first sign that the bracelet was really taking effect–
which would also allow these two poor sods to be happy for a minute and a half before it all goes to.. slug.
also as everyone else in the comments below, I completely agree that the problem isn’t Merlin keeping secrets, the problem is the show never ever bothering to even in the slightest justify why he is keeping secrets, and after 4 seasons Gaius saying ‘oh, but we can’t possibly!’ just isn’t good enough anymore. And yeah, no one is saying that it needs to be a different and elaborate ruse every single time. Literally just use the same excuse over and over. it’s better than nothing. Sigh.
— in certain more Gaius-centric episodes I’ve liked what he did, but the rest of the time he’s basically… flat?–
I spent quite a lot of ‘early Merlin obsession’ days feeling guilty for not enjoying Gaius focused episode – even though they are few and far between in the first place, so really easy to avoid. But when you are waiting a whole freaking week for a new episode, and you know it’s going to be all about Gaius, and therefore really you are waiting two freaking weeks!! for a new episode, it feels like an absolute waste of screen time. and considering there’s only 13 episodes per season, wasting a whole episode sucks. But I did feel bad, because I assumed that the reason I didn’t like Gaius was because he wasn’t Merlin or Arthur, and therefore I was unfairly uninvested in his character. The bias towards the young and pretty boys I was obsessed with, and all that. I now see that no, actually younger me wasn’t being very fair to myself, because hey, guess what, Tony Head is not even a decade younger than Richard Wilson, and I would watch literally anything with him in it, and while I may have been distracted by all the pretty boys, and the pretty girls whenever they got featured, I now see that I have legit reasons for disliking Gaius. and while most of that comes from the way his character is written, I do agree with you, he doesn’t seem to be putting in a ton of effort of playing Gaius on more than one level when it comes to scenes that – with 12 seconds of thinking about them – Gaius maybe needs to deliver speech one way, but should feel a completely different way about it, deep down. Such as Gwen suffering, to name a most recent example, but also his quite callus treatment of Morgana for 90% of her time in Camelot.
M Xx
27th April 2021 @ 11:01 pm
Wow, I agree about Gaius. When I was watching Merlin for the first time, I also felt guilty, because everyone kept saying how great an actor Richard Wilson is, and I just didn’t see the engagement… unlike with Anthony Head, or any other older guest star actors, for instance. And I get it that it must be so tedious to deliver all this exposition in a way that is engaging, but you’re right, he sometimes says something which is NOT exposition in his “exposition tone”… I don’t know, I think it might be also the contrast between him and Colin Morgan’s super-emotional acting in most of the scenes that also makes Gaius look bland by comparison.
28th April 2021 @ 8:34 am
I have very little knowledge of Richard Wilson’s career, other than that he was in One Foot In The Grave, which I’ve watched some off on youtube and couldn’t really get into, but I totally understand that it’s a classic, hugely beloved, and that Richard Wilson was a huge name to get to sign up for your show. I just never got an awful lot beyond that. But fully appreciate there may be stuff I’m not seeing. Very happy I’m not alone though!!!! 😀
24th April 2021 @ 4:17 pm
The thing with this episode for me is, I don’t really like the story. I feel like there could’ve been so much more interesting things you could do with an engagement or a resurrection of Lancelot. I don’t understand why they were so keen on doing the cheating thing while also not wanting to hurt any of the character’s personalities and being too scared to give them agency and flaws.
I wish this episode would focus more on Merlin’s friendship with Lancelot as well and how Merlin is loosing him all over again. In the beginning of the season we established his unbelievably tight their relationship is and surly it must all affect Merlin more than he shows. I assume the choice was that Merlin pushes his feelings away in order to work properly and do what it takes to keep everyone safe (and therefore being able to focus the episode on the love triangle), but it could have been such a good element of the episode. And they clearly didn’t forget their friendship in the episode and we see Merlin’s pain in the end (which made me bawl my eyes out), so why didn’t we do more of that.
I feel like we lost so much time to the tournament/jousting, because there are so much more interesting and important character and relationship elements which needed more time. It’s such a delicate story to tell, why give the “fun, knights and fighting” stuff so much time. The season is already a lot darker and serious, this isn’t the time to bring those things back.
This episode is also a stab in the heart for a whole different reason than only what the episode mainly tries to do. This episode makes me realise again how much I would have loved Lancelot to be there and to be by Merlin’s side. Merlin deserves his friend so much and deserves some weight taken off his shoulders. Instead this is a painful reminder that he doesn’t have that. That he lost the only friend who knew all parts of him.
I’m so confused by Lancelot. I doubt Morgana could have told him everything he needs in one night. Morgana doesn’t have the knowledge about Lancelot and his relationships to other characters for it to work. It just seems so unlikely for no one to notice that Lancelot doesn’t have all the knowledge he should have.
Lancelot also still talks the same way he always did and there’s no way Morgana taught him the “Lancelot way to speak”, so I believe there’s still some essence of Lancelot in there.
Lancelot should have his own room. You asked in the podcast where the knights sleep: That question is answered in the next episode. Elyan appears to have a (rather spacious) room in the castle. There’s no way Lancelot would have to share an accommodation with a servant. It would almost make more sense for him to sleep in the chambers for royal guests until another knight room is ready for him.
Gaius’s presence is so unhelpful. There’s no reason for him to be there. Merlin is perfectly capable of doing all the research himself. He’s just there to once again say “we can’t be sure” and “we have no proof” and “we can’t tell them”.
I’m very irritated by Agravaine saying “he must die, but painfully”. I know we are in the medieval times but yikes? Why doesn’t Arthur realise how ill advised and twisted Agravaine is, to suggest that??
This THE episode to get angry at Merlin for not telling ANYONE ANYTHING. NOT GWEN. NOT ARTHUR BEFOREHAND TO WARN HIM OR AFTER TO EXPLAIN.
Both Arthur and Gwen deserve to know what happened and just- ARGH.
GAIUS WHAT THE FUCK EVERYONE DESERVES TO KNOW WHAt HAPPENED WHY SHOULD GWEN PAY THE PRICE???
I’m sorry this just makes me so angry.
We could still have Arthur banish her when they both get an explanation on what really happened and Agravaine could do his manipulation magic and convince Arthur that it doesn’t look good to the public for a king to let a cheater go unpunished.
Just please, why doesn’t anyone get an explanation?
The scene of Arthur and Gwen together in which they try to understand what happened and neither of them can understand it is heartbreaking. You feel bad for both for them and I think as an audience it’s even harder because you know the circumstances. You really feel that injustice in that scene, because you see Arthur and Gwen break apart and at least I as a viewer got mad on behalf of them, because no one explained. You want them to at least understand the circumstances and know why everything happened this way, but Merlin just never came forward to relief their pain by sharing his knowledge.
25th April 2021 @ 1:53 am
Denise,
I share your anger! I have re-watched Merlin several times, but this is only the second time I have seen this episode and it is because it makes me SO ANGRY!
Esme said this episode should be a 2 part episode and I completely agree because then we could have seen more of the Merlin and Lancelot dynamic and the impact of Merlin losing his friend again….
How beauty and the beast got more time than this…. I will never know.
25th April 2021 @ 10:36 am
This story isn’t an easy one to tell so I don’t understand why they didn’t take their time with it so they could construct a plot that is a lot more satisfying than whatever this is. We easily could have done without Lamia, so why not give an important story more time? (that could be said for many episodes this season)
Many poor decisions were made for this episode…
(and why beauty and the beast got way too much time will for ever remain a mystery)
26th April 2021 @ 12:17 am
I actually don’t feel that there is enough content or potential action-picked content in this plotline to make it a two parter episode. Kids are still watching this and would surely get bored at all the between, romance and political bits. I feel that one episode could have been enough if they just prioritised themes and altered things a little to make it work. This also would help if the show establishes time lapses a bit more clear.
It wouldn’t have to show Morgana talking to shade Lancelot about Gwen, show the proposal and then have a big o’ corner caption shouting ‘3 weeks later’ or something, but visually or subtly reveal to us that it took a while for Morgana to fully make Lancelot ready to unleash into Camelot, and that Gwen has been trying and struggling a tad to adjust to her changed life before her wedding, in say another 3 weeks. 3 weeks time for shade Lancelot to be there for Gwen and settle back into ‘knighthood’ and Gwen gets closer to him without magical help. Morgana need not be on such a time crunch…
25th April 2021 @ 8:49 pm
I don’t understand why they were so keen on doing the cheating thing while also not wanting to hurt any of the character’s personalities and being too scared to give them agency and flaws. –
My very thoughts exactly. I think whoever in the Merlin-maker team had a say over which parts of the legends you HAD to include and which were optional gave the command that the Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur triangle was obligatory but it presented massive problems with the way they wanted the characters to remain blameless and preparing the material for a family audience. Like I said in my own comment, it all feels pretty half-hearted (from a writing/ plotting perspective) and more like going through the motions without actually committing.
It’s such a delicate story to tell, why give the “fun, knights and fighting” stuff so much time. The season is already a lot darker and serious, this isn’t the time to bring those things back.-
Completely agree – it’s too much tournament. Also, I hate every time the series makes Merlin a bystanding commenter. Not only does Merlin remain passive – there isn’t even magical interference – I also always pity Colin for having had to do so many standing, commenting and looking worried scenes when there was probably nothing at all in front of them to look at or react to. It just feels awkward.
27th April 2021 @ 4:37 pm
–I feel like we lost so much time to the tournament/jousting, because there are so much more interesting and important character and relationship elements which needed more time. It’s such a delicate story to tell, why give the “fun, knights and fighting” stuff so much time. The season is already a lot darker and serious, this isn’t the time to bring those things back.–
I feel really torn about that, because I love the jousting tournament and the little asides we get between arthur and merlin about it, and seeing Percival give Gwen the jousting hoop he won and riding away beaming IS THE MOST PRECIOUS, and I wouldn’t want to loose that!! But yes, I do agree, that it seems to be the wrong thing to prioritise in this episode, if nothing else. A better balance is needed for sure!
–Merlin deserves his friend so much and deserves some weight taken off his shoulders. Instead this is a painful reminder that he doesn’t have that. That he lost the only friend who knew all parts of him.–
which is also just another reason why it’s so odd that they didn’t decide that – due to Santiago’s conflicting filming schedule they knew they weren’t able to feature lancelot more heavily – Gwaine should become the next person that finds out / works out Merlin’s secret, and become his “replacement” friend.
–Gaius’s presence is so unhelpful. There’s no reason for him to be there. —
And doesn’t that just sum up Gaius post season 3 episode 13??? 🙁 🙁 🙁
–I’m very irritated by Agravaine saying “he must die, but painfully”. I know we are in the medieval times but yikes? Why doesn’t Arthur realise how ill advised and twisted Agravaine is, to suggest that??–
someone else called out that Agravaine seems to enjoy watching people suffer, and honestly, I hadn’t remembered that line, and it does feel like we’ve suddenly slipped into Game of Thrones, rather than Merlin. And I get that the show’s getting darker, but that can’t all be hung up on the actions (or not even actions, mostly just words) of one single character, right? So what is with the sadistic torture speak Agravaine?? It’s not like we were at the risk of forgetting he’s evil, so… literally no need.
–Just please, why doesn’t anyone get an explanation?–
a question we will forever ask ourselves when it comes to almost basically everything in Merlin 🙁 🙁 🙁
M Xx
24th April 2021 @ 12:24 am
This episode has some amazing acting and visuals. It also has the plotline that made me genuinely lose faith in the show for the first time…
Firstly, the thing that worked with enchanted-Arthur was that there was always a distinct shift between normal Arthur and his enchanted self. What I would have loved is if after taking off the bracelet Gwen is full of absolute clarity that it must have done something to her. The problem here is that the shift between real Gwen and enchanted Gwen is rather grey. By not coming up with a reasonable argument about why she wouldn’t cheat on Arthur, she pretty much just did. This is what bugs me so much –the bracelet was only there to make the audience feel *sorry* for Gwen –it doesn’t even establish her ‘purity’ as Arthur’s enchantments did for him. Instead of playing the empowered woman, they have decided to go with “the fallen woman” storyline. It’s disappointing that this historical concept of ‘women are more weaker to temptations’ is carried into this modern take on the legend.
I imagine a version where, yes, she is a crying mess, but with angry tears –angry that Arthur would have so little faith in her. *She* should have had the line of ‘are you just my king’ that I should be kneeling before you? That line there –it *showed* Arthur wanted her to defend herself just once and be his equal, tell him they’re all wrong! What more, her behaviour in this scene contradicts the reason Arthur states for marrying her: someone who would challenge him and not float around, pandering to him.
Ok, time for some praise! I agree Arthur’s initial reaction to go kill Lancelot is super shallow. But the scene where Arthur confronts Gwen is one of those moments that’s next-level for me. Arthur’s reigned-in anger that’s warring with his sense of rationality and slowly escalates until all we have is anger culminating into that brief explosion (which honestly makes you jump too) which then mellows into genuine loss. Gosh it’s so good –not just one of my favourite Merlin performances but a notable scene in anything! While with Gwen –that unbridled crying- we also have a great performance, her lines really don’t do anything for me. I particularly don’t like the ‘All I’ve ever wanted is to be your queen’. I know she means ‘with you’ but it makes her sound shallow.
I actually love the overdramatic direction. Loved how Morgana’s voiceover juxtaposes the proposal: it’s haunting how the woman about to ruin their relationship is the one narrating their love story. While I think it’s not Arthur’s style to do the room full of candles that’s straight out of a 90s romcom (I think that was Merlin’s idea), the proposal itself is beautifully done. Love how in true Arthur style, he cuts anything flowery to go straight to the point, while Gwen’s reaction is adorable and without any words their struggle to be together has been conveyed just with that reaction.
But then it’s all marred by the fallen woman angle, complete with everyone (looking at you, Elyan) believing Gwen just fell into temptation and no one can help with her cart. If you cut out the death punishment bit, I really don’t think Arthur meant it in a tyrannical way when he said he didn’t want to see her. It’s like when people break up –it’s hard for them to keep living in the same place sometimes because of the memories. But since Arthur is the king of Camelot he can’t move out, so he wants her out. Given his softer expression when he tells her to go and later when he speaks to Merlin about her, I don’t think he would have cared if Merlin helped her move, to say, Ealdor.
So yeah, an amazing episode whose drama is unjustified by:
– the fact that the Arthur/Gwen romance has no real tensions this season then suddenly shoots into this epic cheating scenario
– the fact that Gwen had little more than a crush on Lancelot before Arthur, which was not a secret to anyone including Arthur, unlike what Morgana claims is a dark secret
– choosing to make Gwen a victim and not an empowered female character. Instead, it all becomes about a man: ‘will Arthur ever bring himself to forgive her’?
24th April 2021 @ 3:25 pm
-her behaviour in this scene contradicts the reason Arthur states for marrying her: someone who would challenge him and not float around, pandering to him.-
exactly that! As beautiful as the scene is, I couldn’t help myself get frustrated by how long it took Gwen to explain herself. Usually she’s more straightforward than this. Yes, it is a very emotional moment and she seems to be in shock but I don’t believe that she wouldn’t have straight up said that she doesn’t understand what happened and that she wasn’t in her right mind when she kissed Lancelot. Instead we get an emotional back and forth, that is beautiful, but just doesn’t appear in character to me. And we see Arthur get frustrated at her for not explaining herself right away, which he seems to be expecting, as well.
27th April 2021 @ 4:40 pm
–Yes, it is a very emotional moment and she seems to be in shock but I don’t believe that she wouldn’t have straight up said that she doesn’t understand what happened and that she wasn’t in her right mind when she kissed Lancelot.–
especially in a world where literally every single character knows magic exists and at this point… I can’t think of even one character that wasn’t at some point either enchanted, or fully aware and experienced someone they love or care about deeply being enchanted in front of them. Also it’s not like we’re normally slow to blame magic, no matter the actual going ons. ARGH!
M Xx
25th April 2021 @ 8:50 pm
– the fact that Gwen had little more than a crush on Lancelot before Arthur, which was not a secret to anyone including Arthur, unlike what Morgana claims is a dark secret-
I think Gwen definitely had more than a crush on Lancelot (2.4) but she certainly was never ‘his’ as Morgana implies. Can’t have been – Lancelot wasn’t around long enough! Nor does Morgana really know him at all: she is barely in 1.5 (once in the background, I think) and remains in Camelot when Arthur and Merlin rescue Gwen in 2.4. Obviously, Morgana leaves the castle right when Lancelot returns. So, she shouldn’t have any intricate knowledge – unless she subscribed to some kind of Camelot gossip magazine when she was living with Morgause in the hovel before season 4. I guess the magazine would have often featured Camelot’s most noble knight. 😊
27th April 2021 @ 4:41 pm
honestly, they didn’t have TV back in them days, so I think Morgana and Morgause spent most of their evenings scrying on Camlot, to pass the time lol
28th April 2021 @ 6:28 am
Actually, that’s probably true. And maybe, secretly, Morgana always rather enjoyed keeping track of Lancelot.
How come Merlin never learns scrying?
28th April 2021 @ 10:12 am
how come merlin never learns teleporting like what Gwen from Torchwood did in the VERY FIRST EPISODE OF THE SHOW? so many questions… lol
23rd April 2021 @ 4:42 pm
This episode is literally the only one in Merlin to make me cry, and I didn’t realize how tragic it was until I watched the rest of the series (minor spoilers for season 5, but it’s only what you already know if you know the legends). Obviously, no one could know that Gwen was enchanted when she betrayed Arthur because that would mean she wouldn’t be banished and the plot couldn’t go where the writers wanted it to go, but man does that suck for Gwen and Arthur’s relationship. Even though he ultimately forgives Gwen and they get married, both Arthur and Gwen will never know that she did not betray him. Even Gwen is convinced that she willingly betrayed Arthur and she’ll never know otherwise!! Not only does this put a stain on Gwen’s reputation for ever, but she will never be able to have the same relationship with Arthur because there is always this looming memory of betrayal that will almost assuredly cause anxiety and doubt in Arthur even if he truly has forgiven her. I think that also demonstrates an even bigger problem in not giving context/an explanation for what the bracelet actually does because there is no textual assurance that Gwen was not at least somewhat willing in her betrayal against Arthur, and if she was, that is even more problematic and is never addressed or dealt with. All that we really get is her scene with Arthur in which she says that she never thought about Lancelot before he came back, but that’s very vague and still doesn’t explain much. I think above all, this is what makes me hate Morgana with such a passion because she took such a beautiful thing and tainted it forever in order to make a feeble attempt at getting the throne.
27th April 2021 @ 4:50 pm
–I think that also demonstrates an even bigger problem in not giving context/an explanation for what the bracelet actually does because there is no textual assurance that Gwen was not at least somewhat willing in her betrayal against Arthur, and if she was, that is even more problematic and is never addressed or dealt with.–
I wonder whether they just didn’t think it was relevant, or whether they left the exact machinations of the bracelet deliberatly vague, so as the viewer you can decide whether you want the bracelet to create feelings that Gwen doesn’t have anymore, and therefore making her completely innocent, or whether all the bracelet does is re-awaken feelings that were there in the past (as Gwen knows, as we know) and thereby simply sped up and extrapolated a conclusion that may have been reached without magic, which puts more blame on Gwen, if you choose to believe that version.
Guess we’ll never know their reasoning, as with so many things we have questions about…
M Xx
23rd April 2021 @ 1:45 am
I fully agree with what everyone else has mentioned regarding the incredible emotions of this episode versus the issues around how the episode actually gets us to those emotional beats. The only thing I wanted to add was a little bit of an off-topic rant.
As someone of South Asian heritage, I’ve always found the throwaway inclusion of “Madhavi people” frustrating, and I was almost relieved when it was called out on the podcast so I knew it wasn’t just me! You’re absolutely right that it’s an Indian name (and pronounced maa-dhuh-vee, with the first syllable stressed like in the word “margin”, although I’d be here forever if I started on the general lack of care paid to the pronunciation of ethnic words in western television!). The name Madhavi derives its origin from one of the most powerful female goddesses in the Hindu religion, and there are actually people in my friends/family named Madhavi (and Madhav, the most common derivation for a male). Long story short, the name is very much Indian in origin, rooted in Hindu culture, and still in popular use today.
There’s so little South Asian representation on television in general, especially in a way that isn’t stereotypical, and I don’t recall a single person of South Asian descent on the show to date (but please correct me if I missed someone!). It bothers me that the episode tries to leverage this woeful lack of representation as an easy shorthand for painting a group as “exotic” or more generally “other” to those in Camelot, who we’re meant to think of as the “normal people”.
I also found it interesting that some common some aspects of Indian culture appear to be included in the characterization of the Madhavi people, the first being that “their customs dictate they must give food and shelter to the needy”. Hospitality and charity are huge parts of Indian culture, and certainly something that I’ve heard emphasized in my own family my entire life. Second, Lancelot claims the bracelet he gives Gwen is from the Madhavi, and bangles are a very popular and often signature jewelry in traditional Indian culture, especially in the context of weddings/brides. Not sure if the show actually put that level of research or thought into it, or if they just went with a bracelet because it’s convenient to put on/take off, but I found it interesting. I can’t decide whether I would find their other-coding of the Madhavi more or less problematic if it turns out the show had put genuine effort into basing the Madhavi on real Indian customs, but I just thought I’d point out both of these potential points of connection.
I fully appreciate all of this is only brought up in two small moments in the episode, and the show probably gave it 0.3 seconds of thought before including it, with no real intent to say anything profound. But I just thought I’d add my two cents on this particular topic, as it’s one of the few things I actually have some knowledge about!
Also, I have nothing coherent or interesting to say about this, but I just had to add that the performances in this episode are STUNNING! Bradley, Angel, and Colin in those ending scenes completely sell me on the emotion and pain each of their characters are feeling, regardless of the story hijinks that got us there. They broke my heart into little tiny pieces, then trampled all over those pieces, then burned them for good measure. Hopefully next week will be happier… oh.
27th April 2021 @ 5:05 pm
–I fully appreciate all of this is only brought up in two small moments in the episode, and the show probably gave it 0.3 seconds of thought before including it, with no real intent to say anything profound. But I just thought I’d add my two cents on this particular topic, as it’s one of the few things I actually have some knowledge about!–
And it is hugely appreciated, thank you so much for sharing and elaborating on our very low key google effort. I’ve started collecting comments for the Season 4 round on topics that affect the season (and show) as a whole, and there are multiple comments in regards to representation or lack thereof and the danger of exotisism that I hope we’ll get to address in the round up, and I’ve added your comment to that, too.We really appreciate the knowledge, but it won’t be discussed in this weeks episode, and I just wanted to let you know why 🙂
M Xx
28th April 2021 @ 9:40 pm
No worries, looking forward to hearing that discussion in the roundup!
23rd April 2021 @ 12:39 am
I agree with you guys on much of this episode. It gives many fans bad vibes because they love Lancelot and this is the episode that does him dirty, and not in the traditional Arthurian legend way, but in a way where nobody except the villains could be blamed.
So I made quite a lot of notes, please bare with me haha:
Despite Agravaine having been called for, he just waltzes into Arthur’s chambers without knocking. He may be family, but Arthur is still king and higher than Agravaine. Etiquette, dude! Your nephew might have been indecent.
Arthur’s chambers looked so cozy and inviting, a sheer contrast to next scene where Morgana is sat in her cold dark hovel alone.
Okay, so yeah, I roll my eyes at Morgana. She’s spouting about wanting the throne and not wanting Gwen on it, but Morgana sweetheart, that throne is already filled! It’s Arthur’s crown you want, not Gwen’s, unless the show’s trying to hint weirdly at the concept Morgana is jealous of Gwen’s potential position and wants to be queen to Arthur, like romantically…
Besides being gross, I do like the design for the Dochraid creature, I just wish they delved more into her role in the OR and lore, since Morgana is known to her. Again the writers mix up destiny and prophecy, Old Religion and Old ways. I think by this point they hoped they could say anything and we’d roll with it. Yes, what the Dochraid is probably trying to say is Morgana’s job is to bring back the dark ways of the high priestesses of the OR when they were in charge, not Prophecised to do so. Merlin and Arthur have been Prophecised to create a different world combining the good parts of the old and new ways together, not the OR. Side question: Is the Dochraid also inspired by an actual mythological creature?
The shade and Necromancy concept is fascinating to me, it would have been interesting to go more into that at another time, or if it didn’t involve our dear Lancelot at the focus of it.
I don’t know how I feel about Gwen’s dress choices in this episode, particularly the random short-sleeved one that’s probably the one that stands out the most for weird reasons, even more than the dresses that show a lot of cleavage. The purple one I didn’t mind, I actually thought it a more historically accurate version, if in a different show, this would have been Gwen’s queen dress. Its her actual queen dresses next season that don’t suit the times but when has this show ever stuck to historical accuracy haha.
Instead of Morgana trying to mold shade Lancelot’s mind with the very vague info she had of him before and yet acts like she’s such an expert on, this could have been a neat opportunity to show how much Morgana still remembers of Gwen. As she’s describing Gwen to shade Lancelot, she sounds like she barely knows her, but the one thing she does remember is the tiny time Gwen spent with Lancelot in season 1 (unless Gwen told Morgana she saw Lancelot in s2 as well, Morgana wouldn’t even know that). Never mind that Gwen was her servant and friend for years, she gives shade Lancelot no unique info to use to his advantage to woo Gwen, this is why she has to resort to a lust bracelet…
Arthur’s proposal was very dull to me. He’s clearly not put in any effort himself AGAIN and left Merlin to do all the candle lighting in Gwen’s house and supervise it so it doesn’t burn everything. Kind of romantic that Arthur wants to propose to Gwen in the place where he realised he liked her and they had their first kiss there, but ironic that it was also the place Gwen told him off for having double standards and for not doing things for himself out of humility when he could, yet he still makes Merlin do most of the prep for Arthur’s own proposal. And all he did was literally pop the question, there was no personalised speech about their journey together, no unique promises, he hasn’t even attempted to make dinner for her to draw the evening out or take them back to that night he could have cooked, but didn’t. I did like Gwen forgetting to say yes though, real cute.
Did Arthur officially need to declare their engagement to the court or over a balcony? We get chucked into a jousting tournament lasting three days, and nothing prior to that. I agree with you guys that Gwen should have perhaps gotten more time to get settled into being a lady first and struggle with the transfer from her life before to her life as queen. It would be hectic for any new wife of Arthur’s, let alone a commoner. There would be uproar, mixed opinions from both towns folk, advisors and nobles about Gwen. But no, in this story, Gwen’s perfect, nobody objects and it takes no effort to bend the rules to let Arthur and Gwen marry. This episode didn’t need Morgana and Agravaine scheming all the way through on a time crunch if they sent Shade Lancelot in at the start, then establish it would still be a month or something til the wedding. I mean, how can a kingdom prepare for a wedding in three days??
I like how you said that they could have started to get stressed at the giant wedding therefore just deciding to keep it small and short-notice, as in some forms of the legend, Arthur and Gwen get married in the woods surrounded by their nearest and dearest, very rustic and pagan style. Maybe these two could have decided to do that and Agravaine/shade Lancelot hears this and realise they have less time to stop Gwen marrying Arthur.
Where was this cozy little private dining room before in the show? I don’t remember this room before. I love to picture Arthur having his dinner there sometimes with just his queen, best friends and head knights in future. And because most of them are common-born, it would be understandable there wouldn’t be any servants but Merlin in the room, as they still like to serve themselves out of habit.
Gaius’ exasperated reactions to Merlin’s worries and suspicions annoy me, you can tell that Gaius is slowing down and really doesn’t care anymore. “What’s that face about”, “Oh well it LOOKS like Lancelot”, “Yes, that is strange he forgot your magic, oh well, give him time”. [Frustrated groan] Gaius, just retire and go find Alice already, you clearly are not invested in your ward’s destiny anymore.
I get the show likely lost out on their classic Love triangle story because Santiago had to split his time, but it’s a real shame, they could have developed Gwen’s and Lancelot’s feelings for each other more if they didn’t have to kill Lancelot off the first time so soon. We didn’t see Lancelot’s only year as a knight at all and this is where it could have been hinted it had been a confusing time for Gwen and Arthur too. With Arthur having to be regent and Gwen looking after Uther, she and Lancelot could have been drawing closer together. It could be that only after Lancelot’s death that Gwen feels so guilty but knows how strongly she feels for Arthur, as it could have been him who died. When ‘Lancelot’ returns in this episode, and if he’d been given more time to settle back into court and seduce Gwen, it would have been nice to see Gwen try to talk more about how they were when last they saw each other. Shade Lancelot could show some of the same personality Lancelot had, Gwen could then start falling for Lancelot again, via her own faults and stress of acclimatizing to court life with no privacy and all judgements.
Gwen now being Arthur’s betrothed would be treated like royalty and watched more closely, nothing seems more off than seeing her letting out a man who’s not the king into/out of her home whilst alone.
No one is shown to talk to Lancelot more between the jousts, the knights are more or less pushed into the background of this plot, and they should be talking to their found comrade and noticing how much he can’t remember. I get this is because the plan would fall apart if we saw too many people grow suspicious of Lancelot, but any odd behaviour could be explained by his near-death experience, like you guys said.
It’s interesting how we hear to screams of the Dorocha was Lancelot passes through the circle. Is the show trying to imply that this is only Lancelot’s body that came back and some other tortured spirit from the other side randomly got planted into it? Has Lancelot’s soul become a dorocha?
I don’t like that shade Lancelot smiles slightly after Gwen leaves the tent. He’s meant to be a piece of emotionless clay molded by Morgana, he shouldn’t be feeling any sly-ness from what he’s been told to do. A little smirk after fooling someone is a little too Morgana-like.
Bless him, Poor Percival gets his only two generic lines of the episode lol.
Why didn’t Merlin use magic BEFORE Arthur got injured? That could have been a fatal blow for all he knew.
Shade Lancelot and Agravaine speak very openly and very cartoon villain-like to each other, they don’t put on an act or use code or anything ‘Yes the LADY MORGANA will be very pleased our plan is working, Mwah ha ha ha!’ Granted if Merlin wasn’t there to hear them, no one would have, there’s never any guards or late working servants in the castle.
Love angry Arthur. Sorry, just do. Bradley does this so well. When he yells, I want him to yell more! Let it out.
Elyan is a non-character in this episode, is he still Gwen’s brother? Coz besides the look he and Gwen exchanged before he leaves the hall, I don’t think he remembers that. He didn’t demand to stay and defend his sister, he didn’t suggest he’d leave with Gwen, he didn’t help her pack, he didn’t help her settle somewhere like with John and Mary. Merlin didn’t tell Gwen to go to Ealdor, what is wrong with everyone’s relationships in this episode!
Arthur doesn’t go down to the dungeons to question Lancelot, no-one ever goes down to talk to Lancelot. Arthur doesn’t ever suspect, by the way Gwen talks about being overwhelmed and not knowing why she felt drawn to Lancelot, that something weird is happening.
Why did court have to be called to witness and humiliate Gwen. You can bet it was Agravaine who spread the word, but why did this whole thing have to become known news, the only ones who were involved were Arthur, Agravaine, Gwen, Lancelot and Merlin. This matter could have been dealt with privately.
What time of night is court being held? Has everyone been called out of bed to witness Gwen’s trial only for Arthur to send them out? Why did no one visit Gwen in the dungeons? Why does Arthur have to wear chain mail AGAIN?
Every fan’s pet peeves- No one ever finds the bracelet and knows that Gwen is enchanted, and Merlin and Gaius don’t think telling Arthur Lancelot was a shade might be worth knowing!
I like how soft and calm Arthur talks to Merlin in the grand hall. He could have let his anger out on Merlin and treat him horribly coz he’s hurting but Arthur actually does voice he knows Gwen was Merlin’s friend so he knows why he’s trying to ask him to reconsider, and thanks Merlin for speaking out. I’m glad Arthur remembered it wasn’t only him who should feel conflicted. Leon was Gwen’s childhood friend too, where’s his input? he could have asked Arthur to just banish Gwen from the castle so she could set up a seamstress business in the lower town instead.
I dislike the whole scene with Gaius and Merlin. ‘This is what Morgana wanted all along’, yeah no kidding Merlin! And Gaius standing there SO not interested, like he’s discussing the events of a book he’d just read.
No interactions with the knights and no reactions from them to news of Lancelot’s second death. They don’t insist to attend his funeral anyway. Have they even been told?
I wish I could interpret Merlin’s sad beautiful face looking at Gwen leaving as someone losing a friend. Instead, I see him looking at her as if she is a piece of destiny’s puzzle that is now missing. An unfortunate inconvenience, he’s sad for Arthur, not sad for a part of his own personal life lost.
The funeral scene gets me in the feels every time, the music is beautiful. Its a shame Lancelot’s rep ends on such a note and no one else attends, but at least Merlin released his soul and gave his friend proper rest.
We get no Morgana reaction scene on how she can celebrate this small victory, even though she doesn’t react at all when (spoilers) Arthur sets himself up to marry someone else in future. So it’s Gwen she personally hates becoming Queen, not anyone else…?
Overall, this episode is another example of season 4 having good ideas but not thinking them through and not prioritizing characters and themes. They had a chance of bravely stick with the love triangle/affair from the legends by using character flaws and mistakes to their disadvantage but didn’t. And Gwen could have had more of a personal journey to cope with changes but everything was too peachy and easy in that side of things. Morgana made this more complicated for herself by only getting rid of a temporary problem and we could have seen her use her unique prophetic dreams gift to work stuff out but as far as we know, she’s only had two major dreams and that’s Gwen’s coronation and Emrys standing over her.
27th April 2021 @ 5:26 pm
–unless the show’s trying to hint weirdly at the concept Morgana is jealous of Gwen’s potential position and wants to be queen to Arthur, like romantically…–
no, I am absolutely certain that all of those fancies died in the first few episodes of season 1 and this (unfortunately) can only be explained by the show just not thinking through morgana’s motivation. as always.
–. Its her actual queen dresses next season that don’t suit the times but when has this show ever stuck to historical accuracy haha.–
I don’t know when it happens but I have this vague and unhappy memory of at some point all of Gwen’s dresses turning plastic-y looking shiny… supposed to be silk I guess? But mostly the fabric looks like a wipe-able outdoor table cloth 🙁 🙁
–. Kind of romantic that Arthur wants to propose to Gwen in the place where he realised he liked her and they had their first kiss there, but ironic that it was also the place Gwen told him off for having double standards and for not doing things for himself out of humility when he could, yet he still makes Merlin do most of the prep for Arthur’s own proposal.–
we didn’t actually talk about it (I don’t think? what’s memory… lol) but I absolutely love that they are in (what Ruth suggested is) Arthur’s bedroom, and that Arthur leads Gwen out to the lower town and to her own house, because that’s where he wants to propose. It really ties in with all of his speech at the end about how this affects him as a man, and a husband, very separate from being a king. And actually, I really don’t mind the implication that Merlin lit all of the candels, because of course he did, and every time we’ve had scenes where Arthur realises that Gwen makes him more connected to the people and unity and equality and all that good stuff, we’ve also jokingly reminded us and Merlin, that Merlin is still going to have to do his job, because it’s his job. And it’s a way in which Merlin can be involved in the proposal, which of course he would be. so yeah, I’m good with it 🙂
–Gwen now being Arthur’s betrothed would be treated like royalty and watched more closely, nothing seems more off than seeing her letting out a man who’s not the king into/out of her home whilst alone.–
and the constant sneaking in and out of his tent at the tournament grounds as well! there so many people, like, EVERYWHERE. how did no one notice the queen to be slipping into some other knight’s tent??
–Why didn’t Merlin use magic BEFORE Arthur got injured? That could have been a fatal blow for all he knew.–
the shows always a bit iffy in these moments, hoiwever when arthur was strapped to the wheel of death I felt we made it very clear that merlin slowed down time enough to see that the blade would not stab arthur in the brain, but actually land in the wooden wheel, and therefore he let time go back to normal. This feels like the show is trying to say the same thing, except how can Merlin possibly tell whether a blow will be fatal or not? and also, Arthur gets REALLY injured. So yeah, Merlin kind of slept on that one lol
–Elyan is a non-character in this episode, is he still Gwen’s brother?–
Elyan sadly is a non character in a lot of episodes. Which is crazy because he gets more links to Camelot, Camelot people, and backstory and history than all of the other knights put together. All the ground work is RIGHT THERE. And Tomiwa is incredibly talented, he could play whatever layers you asked him to play! Just let him!!
— So it’s Gwen she personally hates becoming Queen, not anyone else…?–
while, as always, there’s a lot of questions in regards to what Morgana is trying to achieve here, the show does at least make it very clear that Morgana’s prophetic dreams are what lead her to become to fixated on Gwen and needing to get rid of her. They don’t ever state it outright, but there does seem to be a ‘Arthur will marry Gwen and bring about the SUPER HAPPY SHINY HEALTHY CAMELOT that I saw in my dreams’ – which of course would not be the same if he married someone else. In fact, having his heart broken by Gwen and then reluctantly agreeing to an arranged marriage, like what Uther always wanted and Arthur was always against, would probably go some way in breaking him and making him a less attentive, less caring, easier to dispose of king.
22nd April 2021 @ 9:39 pm
Ouch ouch ouch my heart. Totally, the emotions played in this episode are what carries it through, and why I really loved it before this rewatch- I still do, but upon a second look it is just not well done.
I really loved the first sequence with Morgana and Lancelot, and you voiced exactly what I was feeling which is that this could’ve been brilliant if a point was made about Morgana being really lonely. I think there is a hint of that, but not truly. I actually had to think back because has she ever met Lancelot? I think she met him in Lancelot, but she must have been stalking or taking comprehensive notes because she seemed pretty well versed in his character… Anyway one of the lines I liked was from her about everyone having their secrets ‘and unfortunately for Gwen, I know hers’, it’s a typical evil line but I like to be reminded that Morgana and Gwen were close once. I didn’t like the impersonal vendetta- Gwen could be anyone if its ‘my throne’ that Morgana is after, it feels like Gwen should be more than that to Morgana.
It’s odd the way Agravaine reacts to Morgana producing the bracelet, as though he disapproves of magic- it’s a bit late for that, love. As if we needed to confuse his motives more.
I don’t like to say it but Arthur really doesn’t sit well for me throughout this episode. Firstly we have that oddly dramatic bit at the start with Agravaine, but then when Lancelot returns, he comes across as quite angry in his confusion. Justly so, but still, it seems out of place as the other characters react very little (and we never get his suspicion linked and thereby validated by conferring with Merlin). At one point he grabs Gwen’s wrist, taking ownership of her. Again, kind if fair enough (if a little patriarchal) to reaffirm his and Gwen’s relationship before Lancelot without being too outright, but Gwen reacts in this sort of surprised way that makes it seem as though he is being ridiculous and distrustful.
Even in his scene at the end with Gwen, I found him to be too reserved and cold. Obviously Arthur is just withdrawing from his emotions- something he does when faced with a challenge (or when he’s about to make the wrong decision), but I don’t really get that from him. I think this is partly the fault of the script- the writing is not well done this episode; when he says ‘for goodness’ sake’ and ‘we were happy’ just don’t work for me with the direction. Levels are really potent, especially between Gwen and Arthur here, and I just do not see genuine pain in him, or lowering himself to try and understand. It sucks because I don’t think that Bradley James is a bad actor in the least! It could just be that the contrast between him and Gwen, who is allowed to be more emotional so Angel is acting her socks off. Am I just reading it wrong? I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts, I did see what Ruth and Michelle were saying about how his performance being very layered, it’s just not what I got from it when I watched it.
So safe to say I was a little let down by this episode, and remembered it to be much better, but there was one thing that stuck out to me when I rewatched it two years ago- the bracelet! I was completely infuriated that this little device had been thrown in to take away Gwen’s agency- completely for the benefit of the audience to not think ill of Gwen! I remember wishing that Gaius would find it and discover that there had been an enchantment, but no! Even though this side of Gwen has not been present at all since Lancelot and Guinevere, I think we could have taken her on an emotional journey where she eventually kisses Lancelot. As you suggested, she could be overwhelmed with queen stuff, and found Lancelot to be the only person to treat her the same.The real Lancelot never intruded upon her, or made her uncomfortable by being too forward, so by making his shade go to her house and actively seek her out you could delineate each version of him. Perhaps then he tells her he is going to leave again, and asks for a kiss, and she gives it to him out of pity or an echo of the love that had been there, and he goes further. If this is going to happen, I want Gwen to have been active. This way, her crime is really being too kind and loving too much. I don’t mean to condone cheating, but I just hate the bracelet and what it takes away!
Nevertheless, I do love the way she takes it off and doesn’t even know that it wasn’t her fault. Very much Tragedy.
22nd April 2021 @ 10:24 pm
As to the emotional response from Arthur in the confrontation scene with Gwen – this scene worked for me very well, and I’ll try to explain why. I think both Bradley and Angel lean very much into responses that are socially accepted from their genders. So, Gwen is of course allowed to cry, because she’s a woman, while Arthur channels his emotions into anger or withdrawal. It sucks, of course – toxic masculinity, hey! – but it also reads very believable to me.
23rd April 2021 @ 2:45 pm
I like your read of it, and I think you are right- this is a moment where the gender roles they are forced into feels palpable. I will definitely have to watch this episode again with that in mind. In general, their relationship has some really packed and beautiful moments, but it does miss the bits in-between of normality and so some of the moments come seemingly out of nowhere (like the proposal). It’s a great shame that their relationship is not super well grounded and explored, but it is moments like this that make it memorable and special.
24th April 2021 @ 3:51 pm
-I think she met him in Lancelot, but she must have been stalking or taking comprehensive notes because she seemed pretty well versed in his character-
I was thinking about that as well. Shadow Lancelot must have spent some time with the other knights and there’s no way Morgana knows the details of every relationship he had with the knights. They must have shared similar, even if not as close, bonds with Lancelot with conversations of past adventures or hijinks that Morgana couldn’t have Lancelot informed of. I’m amazed by none of the knights figuring it out.
I agree with Danuta on Arthur hiding his emotions and when he looses control of them he transforms them into anger/aggression. He’s unbelievably tense throughout the confrontation scene and it looks like he is trying to hide all his pain inside, trying to keep control, and when he does loose it, he starts shouting to stop himself from crying. It’s very much in character as we have seen that part of toxic masculinity in him before.
22nd April 2021 @ 7:36 pm
Let me count the ways I am so disappointed in Arthur in this episode:
1. How did Agravaine explain that Arthur needed to wake up from a dead sleep to come see something that had not occurred and not arouse Arthur’s suspicion as to Agravaine’s motive? Maybe if Gwen and Lancelot were in bed in the middle of an adulterous act, I could accept it but the only questionable offense was a kiss that had yet to occur? Somehow Agravaine knew something was brewing and yet Arthur does not question how that is possible. The only explanation is that Agravaine was in on it but no, Arthur continues to be inexplicably blind to Agravaine’s obvious duplicity.
2. How is it that having been romantically enchanted twice before himself, Sophia and Viviane, that Arthur does not consider for a second that Gwen may be enchanted? This is a most virtuous woman who has never failed to live up to her much-deserved reputation yet without hesitation, Arthur dispenses with all critical thinking and throws the book at her when she acts totally out-of-character. And then not one of her friends comes to her defense? Unbelievable and unforgiveable.
3. “On pain of death”, really! You cannot bear to see her dead but if you ever see her again you will kill her. I understand that that may be one of those instances where it would be easier said than done but to actually give voice to that threat is stunningly shocking. I can hear Gwen’s heart break from here and I live in Texas!!!
4. “Where will I go?” is a devasting indictment of Arthur’s thoughtlessness. He does not consider for a second that he has thrown her to the wolves. To first of all, break his promise to Gwen that her home will always be hers after he did nothing to save her innocent father and then to put her out on the streets knowing that all she knows is in Camelot is beyond cruel.
One thing, we can always rely on, is that Arthur rarely considers the ramifications of his decisions on others, like when he cut off Carleon’s head, but to do that to the woman he allegedly loves is unbelievable. He no longer trusts her with his heart, so he would rather risk her being exposed to God knows what kind of dangers: hunger, the elements, poverty, magical creatures, slave traders, bandits, and Morgana??? So, his love obviously has limits and apparently, he can flip it on and off like a switch because just like that he does not consider how she will survive. If he cared, he would have at least had her escorted out of his kingdom to ensure her safety and seen her settled but he cannot be bothered with such considerations. Instead, he defaults to thoughtlessness. Which leads me to believe that maybe Arthur is incapable of truly loving someone. If that’s how he treats the woman he loves…. wow.
And then there is Merlin. Where did his relationship with Gwen go? After all their shared experiences, she had just risked her very life to save him from the Lamia in the last episode, and yet there is not a trace of their special bond. He sees her go into the Lancelot’s tent after he suspects that Lance is a shade, and he does nothing to warn Gwen. He is blinded by his concern for Arthur and Arthur only. He could have at least visited her while she was in the dungeon to try to gain some insight as to how something so unbelievable could happen. This is Gwen after all, yet he makes no attempt to hear her side.
Poor innocent Gwen, after all this time we come to discover that she really has been on her own and all alone and my heart breaks for her.
As for the acting, Angel and Bradley are outstanding and they soar. Imagine what they could do with better scripts. And I agree that poor Angel really does deserve better costuming. I wish she got half the costuming attention Katie has gotten.
22nd April 2021 @ 8:12 pm
Where I disagree that the costuming was poor, I agree with you so so much. Though I don’t really like Morgana’s dresses, I loved Gwen’s in this. I can’t remember if this is the first and only time we see the purple dress in this show, but I actually really liked it and it looked regal enough to be better than for a servant but not too royal yet to break any rules before marrying into royalty. Her dresses as queen are severally inaccurate for the times, but her purple dress in this episode seems more appropriate royal-wise for the times than what she does ultimately wear.
I thought about Arthur’s enchantments too. Remember both those times Arthur was enchanted however, no one ever sussed it except for Merlin and he let Gwen know when it was with Vivian. Merlin doesn’t ever suspect Gwen this episode of being enchanted, ergo, nobody does 🙁
Arthur should have indeed thought about Gwen when punishing her. No one is in the room this time to influence his own decisions. She did wrong in his eyes, he questioned her, her answers were odd enough to warrant him maybe talking to Lancelot too to get a second piece of the picture. Instead he just banishes her, despite knowing from s3 that she doesn’t have anywhere else to settle, it would take her at least 3 days to get her affairs in order, her family to consider, and there’s her means of survival. She’s a woman in an increasingly hostile and invaded land, whatever she’s done, Arthur still cares for her and it would be better for her to be in Camelot where she would have protection and financial security. Banishing her because he could not bare to look at her is NOT Arthur thinking the entire situation through. She could just be banished from the castle, forcing her to solely rely on setting up a seamstress business in the lower town where he doesn’t have to cross paths with her. But he still cares, so don’t put her life in danger because of a wounded heart!
27th April 2021 @ 5:48 pm
–2. How is it that having been romantically enchanted twice before himself, Sophia and Viviane, that Arthur does not consider for a second that Gwen may be enchanted?–
considering every single person in this show knows magic exists and has been enchanted themselves or experienced someone very close to them being enchanted, how is enchantement not always your first go to thought for every time someone is acting weird?? I do think we are really running into the restriction crunch problem in regards to ‘ways in which we can mess with people/plans in this show’ because everyone has pretty much experienced everything already, but as we always lament, no one (arthur especially) ever seems to remember what happened in previous episodes of this show. 🙁
–3. “On pain of death”, really! You cannot bear to see her dead but if you ever see her again you will kill her. I understand that that may be one of those instances where it would be easier said than done but to actually give voice to that threat is stunningly shocking. I can hear Gwen’s heart break from here and I live in Texas!!!–
okay, that made me laugh very loudly in a way that is not appropiate at all hahahaha
–He could have at least visited her while she was in the dungeon to try to gain some insight as to how something so unbelievable could happen. This is Gwen after all, yet he makes no attempt to hear her side.–
which of course we have seen merlin do dozens of times for people he is much less fond of than gwen, and we will see again in this weeks episode, and I’m pretty sure will happen in the future. 🙁
(there are not enough sad emoticons in the world!!!)
M Xx
22nd April 2021 @ 5:45 pm
This episode is such an emotional turmoil for me, I was legitimately unable to say whether it’s good or bad, like, AT ALL. So thank you for helping me bring some order to my conflicting emotions a little! 🙂
I definitely agree that if we had Gwen being a bit more overwhelmed with the marriage preparations and her changing status, we maybe could have made a better story with her getting confused and acting from the point of confusion, but without the bracelet? I don’t know, because I also agree that it would be really difficult to convince the audience that Gwen would betray Arthur like that without magic. It is a bit of an impossible situation, but in general, the bracelet seems like something which shouldn’t be there.
I also agree that the episode is suddenly leaning into “historical accuracy” much more than usual. In general, the show plays fast and lose with “historical accuracy” (quote marks because it isn’t necessarily real accuracy, it’s just what feels more accurate for a medieval-ish era to the audience) – depending on how it suits them. Here, because they want Gwen to be gone from Camelot, but they don’t want Arthur to appear brutal, they create a brutal law that Arthur is stepping away from; whereas in many other episodes, the way the characters act is often very modern. I also wish we had more rules and laws established earlier so that they don’t feel contrived here.
Bradley and Angel’s performance is… I don’t even have words. It’s so, so painful to watch, but so good! It’s like one of those Oscar-deserving scenes which showcase the actors’ ability to play tragedy. The emotions, the blame, the shame… It’s incredible.
Similarly, Colin Morgan at the end… the little smile which you commented on, and the fact that he realizes this boat funerals are now becoming a theme… it’s incredible how he’s given a very similar scene to The Lady of the Lake, and yet manages to act his grief in a completely different manner, taking into consideration the journey the character has been on since s2, and the different relationship that Merlin had with Lancelot… OMG, I just can’t.
Other thoughts:
– SO confused about the “old ways”. The old lady whose name I won’t even attempt to write down actually says she’s one of the few that remembers the Old Religion. It’s not the first time that the show seems to tell me that Old Religion happened, like, 100 years ago or something, I think – but there is no reason to believe that the Old Religion didn’t rule in Camelot before Uther conquered it, and that definitely WASN’T 100 years ago.
– I love the soundtrack that accompanies Lancelot emerging from the lake! They used glass harmonica for this, which just sounds so eerie! Love love love!
– Merlin snooping on the proposal… okay, so this, instead of giving me vibes of “Merlin is happy for his friends and maybe helping Arthur with the preparations for the proposal”, rather seems to say “Merlin is vicariously living through his friends’ romance”. Which, to be honest, won’t be very out there when it comes to Merlin’s character development, as he lives more and more for Arthur and less and less for himself. But this just makes it so sad! Also, creepy. Merlin, go read kinky fanfic, don’t snoop on your friends 😛
– I noticed a curious thing in Nathaniel Parker’s performance in the scene where Morgana enchants the bracelet. Agravaine looks very uneasy with the magic. That begs the question – why does he serve Morgana if her magic makes him uneasy?? Or, is it the thought of Gwen being enchanted? I don’t think so, as he doesn’t like Gwen and is a creep, so enchanting a bracelet to make Gwen do things against her will shouldn’t spook him.
– I also agree that Merlin watching Gwen pull the heavy wagon by herself just makes him look so cold 🙁 Also, interesting thing about this scene, they play The Bond of Sacrifice soundtrack which usually plays whenever someone sacrifices themselves for someone else (mostly Merlin and Arthur, but it also played when Uther was stabbed protecting Arthur). I don’t know why it’s here, as nobody made a sacrifice. It’s just Tragedy that’s happening.
– One stupid note at the end to lighten the mood: Merlin is the most beautiful when he’s doing necromancy. THAT’S A FACT. Just look at the stills from the scene where he draws the circle. He’s ethereally beautiful.
22nd April 2021 @ 8:20 pm
I agree, this episode tried to take on more themes than it had time for again, and virtually not the themes that it maybe should have either. There is never any conflict in this episode about a commoner becoming Queen, too which there defo would be lots of mixed opinions about as well as gwen trying to prove she could take on the role, Morgana didn’t really have to get involved much. if at all.
In some episodes its stated the old ways dispersed when Uther became king, others it ended when the purge started and he attacked the isle, others the Old Religion more or less died out via other means centuries ago, I turn a Gaius-blind eye to that stuff so I dare not go mad watching haha.
24th April 2021 @ 1:23 am
Yep, too many themes, character development to cover and only 45-ish minutes. This could have been a great two-parter. I am always baffled that there is no commentary apart from antagonists about Gwen being a commoner who is to be queen. This would have been an amazing ingredient to give Gwen -and Arthur- development while they reacted to this challenge.
I know Merlin being outside looks creepy…but I do agree it could be a vicarious thing. Like your friends have this great romance that you know you’ll never have… (oh Freya)
25th April 2021 @ 2:09 am
* I noticed a curious thing in Nathaniel Parker’s performance in the scene where Morgana enchants the bracelet. Agravaine looks very uneasy with the magic. That begs the question – why does he serve Morgana if her magic makes him uneasy?? Or, is it the thought of Gwen being enchanted? I don’t think so, as he doesn’t like Gwen and is a creep, so enchanting a bracelet to make Gwen do things against her will shouldn’t spook him.*
I noticed that too and thought it was weird! He has seen her do magic before and didn’t look scared or anxious…. I can’t even come up with a good headcanon….
25th April 2021 @ 8:52 pm
Merlin is the most beautiful when he’s doing necromancy. THAT’S A FACT. Just look at the stills from the scene where he draws the circle. He’s ethereally beautiful. –
Oh my word – I so agree. I actually froze the screen for a moment during that scene, just to appreciate his beauty! I really like the tiny curls over his ears. (Who on earth thought it was a great look to shear off Colin’s lovely hair like a sheep in summer at the beginning of season 3?)
25th April 2021 @ 11:02 pm
We share the sentiment then 🙂 I literally went straight to Far Far Away site after watching the episode and downloaded the still from this scene for future drawing reference <3
The curls are the best! I also don't get the super short hair choice, unless they wanted to make him look more like an awkward servant and less like a gorgeous guy he is 😀
27th April 2021 @ 5:51 pm
they definitely spent a fair amount of time making colin look younger, ganglier, and less gorgeous than he is in real life, and deserves to have highlighted AT ALL TIMES!!
I laugh every time I see people tweet about ‘the hot journalist from The Crown’ and wondering who the hottie is, and I’m like ‘that’s merlin and you’ve all been sleeping on him for years!!!’ haha
27th April 2021 @ 5:58 pm
–Merlin snooping on the proposal… okay, so this, instead of giving me vibes of “Merlin is happy for his friends and maybe helping Arthur with the preparations for the proposal”, rather seems to say “Merlin is vicariously living through his friends’ romance”. Which, to be honest, won’t be very out there when it comes to Merlin’s character development, as he lives more and more for Arthur and less and less for himself. But this just makes it so sad!–
dude! did you have to go there? HAVE WE NOT ALL SUFFERED ENOUGH????
you did at least lighten it up with telling Merlin to go read porn and yes, I approve! hahaha
M Xx
22nd April 2021 @ 4:49 pm
This episode is quite tragic, only briefly having some joy, only to crush it underfoot. I don’t really get why Morgana thought getting Gwen off the throne would make a difference, Arthur is still king. Her only real motivator is jealousy, but that doesn’t seem to cut it for this episode. Morgana is only now deciding to get rid of Gwen, she could have done that ages ago, heck, she could kill Gwen while she’s on the throne! I also don’t understand why it all had to be so convoluted, she literally could have sent a power draining bracelet and killed her that way. Getting Gwen banished isn’t a guarantee that she won’t become queen, we’ve seen Arthur being forgiving. The whole Morgana plot balances on something pretty flimsy, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
I’m not very well versed in Arthurian legend, so I assumed Lancelot du lac, meant Lancelot of the lake, like where he was summoned from, not his last name.
I’m also disappointed continually in Arthurs critical thinking skills, he never seems to think about the fact that Agravaine is always around when something goes awry. We never see what he thought of the fact that Agravaine accused Gaius of magic, said he ran away, and then later was like, “ah, yes, totally kidnapped”. That is very suspicious, especially coming from a close advisor. Maybe Arthur just wants to see the best in everyone or is very inept and recognizing things that shout, “red flag”.
It’s also a little frustrating that an episode that finally has a bunch of Gwen in it, barely gives her any lines. She’s really only an object of romantic affection in this episode, she doesn’t have a lot of control over her narrative. She only does 2 things in this episode of her own choice, get engaged to Arthur, and accept Lancelot’s bracelet. She just sits pretty for a lot of the episode, which makes sense but she could do more. In the first couple seasons, Gwen does stuff, she is smart and makes decisions, but she does nothing but look nice and kiss people in this episode, which is a bummer. Although Gwen doesn’t do that much, I still think Angel Colby’s performance is awesome, she really sells the tear-streaked scene near the end. Her physical performance displays so much of her emotions, her posture, and the way she’s sucking in her lips to hold back sobs, it’s really cool.
The fact that Merlin gets knocked out cold and not found, as well as Lancelot and Gwen sneaking around, really shows to how terrible Camelot’s guard rotations are. We only ever really see two guards at any given time, but the fact that there’s none outside the council chamber just seems weird to me.
At the end when Agravaine says, “this is from Morgana,” the guards can probably hear him! Is no one else suspicious but Merlin, Gaius, and Gwen? The guards could definitely report that to Arthur, he sees peasants out of the goodness of his heart, surely, he doesn’t dismiss his guards. I guess the only reason that might not work is Arthur’s emotional vulnerability, but still, someone’s got to tell him! Merlin could even do it, he’s a servant, he can tell Arthur “hey I was doing this, and I saw Agravaine doing ___, that’s weird isnt it?” At least getting Arthur to become suspicious and start noticing stuff would make more sense than just “I totally trust my uncle, even though he always disappears before bad stuff”.
We know Agravaine’s kind of a weird dude, with his creepiness around Morgana, but the fact he seems to take pleasure in Lancelot committing suicide is really sick. I don’t even understand what this does to develop his character, he could literally just have delivered the note. I am inferring in this case that he has read the note, but I think the scene reads as him having read it.
The bit with Merlin giving Lancelot a send off at the end is a little odd because none of the knights or anyone else is there. other people cared about Lancelot; I don’t think they’d give him a one person send off. It is very emotional and touching with Merlin briefly (we assume freeing) the true Lancelot, but it would have been even more of a tearjerker if we saw the other knights paying their respects. Maybe it’s because they wanted to give him a magical send off, if anyone else has any ideas, I’d love to hear them.
In conclusion,
I hate Agravaine’s stupid face, I wish he’d shut up and learn his place. Arthur gets engaged and Morgana is enraged. Lancelot’s second death is super sad, and Gwen getting banished isn’t rad. Merlin learning Lancelot’s is a shade but doesn’t tell Arthur because he’s afraid?? It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but contemplating won’t be time well spent. This episode is pretty tragic, and there’s not even that much magic. I hope the “Herald of a New Age” fills the hole in my heart, but I’m worried I’ll have to wait for a good part.
22nd April 2021 @ 8:38 pm
I think Lancelot Du Lac is old french for ‘servant of the lake’ but not 100% certain 🙂
I agree, surely after Morgana, Arthur should not be so strong on the morals of ‘Ah yes he’s just turned up but he’s totally reliable’ or ‘he’s family so he’s the last person I should suspect of betrayal’ or ‘He’s related to me and been super vague in helping lately, but he’s my mother’s brother so he loves me no question.’
I assumed in the scene Agravaine gave Lancelot the letter that Aggy had not so much read the note, but talked with Morgana through the whole eventual plan and so when Morgana handed to letter to Aggy to give Lancelot she would say something like ‘this is his last order, to ensure no loose ends or ties back to us’ sort of thing, to which he would get the jist without reading the letter himself. But yes his smile at the thought this would be the last time he saw this mindless man alive and left him alone to kill himself (somehow) is horrible!
22nd April 2021 @ 10:59 pm
I think Lancelot does mean servant (googled it a bit), which would work for this episode. He is literally a servant from a lake, he’s been summoned by morgana to do her bidding.
24th April 2021 @ 1:03 am
I think the ‘du Lac’ part is a nod to the legend where he is raised by the Lady of the Lake and goes by that name. So ‘du Lac’ is from his adopted mother, I guess!
25th April 2021 @ 8:53 pm
She only does 2 things in this episode of her own choice, get engaged to Arthur, and accept Lancelot’s bracelet. She just sits pretty for a lot of the episode, which makes sense but she could do more.-
SPOILER! Just wait for season 5 Gwen. There is lots more sitting around looking pretty but not actually contributing much of impact coming up. It’s as if they couldn’t think of any ways a married woman could still be useful. Until they thought of a way to give her back some agency – or rob her of it entirely, really. I already dread those episodes! And there was so much we could have done. Perhaps, like Michelle and Ruth said, we could have focused on Gwen’s adjustment to being a queen instead of, you know, entirely glossing over that time as if it was neither interesting nor important.
27th April 2021 @ 6:07 pm
— Maybe Arthur just wants to see the best in everyone or is very inept and recognizing things that shout, “red flag”.–
agravaine makes no sense. Arthur having to be a dumb dumb to allow Agravaine to continue doing his thing makes even less sense. They do it briefly, occassionally, but I do wish there had been more leaning into the fact that Arthur has lost all of his family at this point, and Agravaine is his only remaining blood relative. it wouldn’t justify all of it, but it would go some way to explain his blind loyalty to the only family member he has left.
–We only ever really see two guards at any given time, but the fact that there’s none outside the council chamber just seems weird to me.–
especially because in this week’s episode there’s going to be guards EVERYWHERE, as we have to murder a whole bunch of them.
camelot guards really have a nack of being at the right (or dreadfully wrong) place at the right time, don’t they?
M Xx