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nyxelestiaMerlin is back, to carry on the saga of Morgana and Morgause’s plans to take down Camelot!
So, we open on to the scene of Merlin lying in the middle of a bunch of rocks with the dragon standing over him. Their dialogue shows that Merlin had doubted the dragon’s call, and Kilgarragh answers that even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to resist the call of the Dragonlord. Does that mean this time, he came willingly, and he wanted to help?
Meanwhile, Arthur walks into Gaius’s chambers with a crossbow, and when neither of them have seen Merlin in a while, Gaius becomes more visibly worried. (Interesting that Arthur’s first reaction is that Gaius is covering for Merlin...has this happened a lot in the gap year?)
Uther’s chambers are guarded by Leon and several guards, which Morgana manages to lure away with the appearance of a fire, so she can replace the mandrake root for the spell, making it scream and watching it delight at the sheer terror Uther experiences at the sound.
When Merlin wakes up, he finally admits that the dragon was right. The dragon doesn’t entirely see Merlin as being at fault, having done what he thought was right. But, he also reveals that trust can’t be trusted, and Merlin’s determination to see the good in people will be his downfall. In the short term or long run?
Cue a rather fun looking ride on a dragon. Looks like they’re both enjoying it. :) Also, Kilgarragh, way to lay on the responsibility!
Merlin gets back, and he and Gaius head up to Uther’s to see the place wrecked, Uther huddling in near-tears in a corner, cowering from his vision of Ygraine and several children, all sopping wet...sopping with his guilt? It really does seem to be the key point of these visions.
When Merlin tosses the mandrake into the fire, the enchantment ends, and they get him to sleep to rest. When Merlin proposes telling Uther about Morgana, Gaius points out Uther would kill them both - he dotes on her and would never see anything wrong with her. Morgana has been using this to her advantage, and we see more evidence of how blind Uther is to things he doesn’t want to see.
And then cue shot of Cenred’s huge army and the knight of Camelot, seeing thing, rushing back to the castle. How the hell did Cenred get that kind of army together so fast?
Anyway, Arthur’s room is a wreck, and Arthur is pissed off at Merlin for being so long without permission. I wonder if there was a purpose to Arthur saying he wouldn’t be complaining if Merlin was dying, or if this was just more banter. Arthur continues on being cranky, and when Merlin remarks only that Arthur obviously hasn’t had breakfast, Arthur immediately responds that he’d have Merlin for breakfast.
...they’re not even trying to keep the innuendo subtle anymore, are they?
Morgana does not react well to learning the mandrake is gone, no matter how she hides it, and moments later pulls Merlin aside, blackmailing him into keeping silent with the threat of telling Uther he tried to poison her.
Now we see the pressure building on Arthur - he goes against recommendations to just give Cenred some territories and says to prepare the castle for siege. Either wisdom that a few territories won’t satisfy Cenred, or foolishness about his pride and that of Camelot’s. Later, Merlin says they won’t have to worry - Camelot has Arthur. Then he says he’s always protecting Arthur, and Arthur clearly doesn’t believe him. Wonder what Arthur’s reaction will be later when (if?) he finds out Merlin was right.
Cenred and Morguase meet on the border and exchange yet more innuendo. Isn’t this supposed to be a family show? :P
Gwen comes by to give Arthur a bit of a pep talk. Again, what the hell happened in the gap year? They seem to have almost moved backwards, as demonstrated by Gwen calling Arthur ‘sire’ against Arthur’s insistence otherwise. She’s trying to distance herself, and he’s trying to at least consider her a friend. How will this bode for their romance?
Morgana has doubts, especially knowing that Merlin lived and thwarted them. Morgause is still confident, giving Morgana a magical staff, incredibly powerful. Morgana admits her magic is still weak. So what was she doing for the year she was gone?
The castle prepares for a siege, bustling with activity, provisions being brought in and infirmaries being prepared. When Arthur goes to see Uther - still asleep - he promises to not let him down.
When Merlin gives his version of a pep talk, Arthur is clearly weirded out, even asking Merlin if he’s drunk. But he still admits Merlin has his moments of wisdom.
The battle begins with Cenred catapulting Camelot with flames, which wakes Uther to see his kingdom under attack. He goes out to join the battle as Merlin tells Gaius to keep an eye on Morgana (back in her men’s clothes/warrior outfit again), only to get shot by an arrow in the leg and the whole army having to retreat.
When Morgana activates the staff, Merlin and Morgause both feel the magic, and an army of the dead rises to Morgana’s psychotic smile as the battle continues on the ramparts above.
As Arthur tries to figure out how to get his father to safety, Merlin goes down to see Morgana. When he says women and children are dying as the city falls, she no longer cares, even proclaiming it “Good!”. Oh, dear lady, what happened to you during the gap year?
I, too, though, am disappointed that when Morgana went on about how he doesn’t know what it’s like to have magic, he doesn’t tell her the truth...but it’s understandable. If she’s saying innocent people dying is good, then she’s far too gone, and Merlin would only put himself in further danger by telling her his secrets. Even as she attacks, he defends himself by picking up a sword even as he asks that if she kills him, she make it quick.
He uses magic only when she can’t see him doing it to subdue her, and he finally destroys the Rowan staff, which makes all the skeletons fall.
Interesting moment later, though - Cenred calls off the siege, and gives the reason that he won’t watch thousands of men die. It appears he has some honor and care of his own, too.
The morning comes, and Morgana is the hero, but she and Merlin know better, glaring at each other in silence across the hall as Uther gives his victory speech, especially against magic.
At dinner with Gaius, Merlin laments Uther’s blindness while claiming he’ll be ready for when Morgana tries again. Gaius asks that Merlin not let that bitterness and hate that has affected Morgana to get to him. He, in turn, claims nothing will make him that angry.
Then we hear Arthur shouting down the hallway for Merlin, who reconsiders. :)
TL;DR
Morgause has completely converted Morgana to her ideals. The lady who once collected extra food and fought raiders for one village now shouts “Good!” at the news that innocent people of Camelot are dying. She is far gone into the dark side, and there is no bringing her back.
Arthur lives up to his destiny when he takes charge of the battle of Camelot, with the words of wisdom Merlin manages to spout in time to give Arthur confidence while laying yet more responsibility onto his shoulders.
And Merlin saves Camelot yet again, with the credit going to the evil Morgana. Poor guy really needs a hug.
This show is starting to get closer to the legends. Gwen and Morgana are distancing further from each other, while Merlin and Arthur grow ever closer, and Uther is slowly, slowly, ever so slowly, spiraling downward.
So, we open on to the scene of Merlin lying in the middle of a bunch of rocks with the dragon standing over him. Their dialogue shows that Merlin had doubted the dragon’s call, and Kilgarragh answers that even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to resist the call of the Dragonlord. Does that mean this time, he came willingly, and he wanted to help?
Meanwhile, Arthur walks into Gaius’s chambers with a crossbow, and when neither of them have seen Merlin in a while, Gaius becomes more visibly worried. (Interesting that Arthur’s first reaction is that Gaius is covering for Merlin...has this happened a lot in the gap year?)
Uther’s chambers are guarded by Leon and several guards, which Morgana manages to lure away with the appearance of a fire, so she can replace the mandrake root for the spell, making it scream and watching it delight at the sheer terror Uther experiences at the sound.
When Merlin wakes up, he finally admits that the dragon was right. The dragon doesn’t entirely see Merlin as being at fault, having done what he thought was right. But, he also reveals that trust can’t be trusted, and Merlin’s determination to see the good in people will be his downfall. In the short term or long run?
Cue a rather fun looking ride on a dragon. Looks like they’re both enjoying it. :) Also, Kilgarragh, way to lay on the responsibility!
Merlin gets back, and he and Gaius head up to Uther’s to see the place wrecked, Uther huddling in near-tears in a corner, cowering from his vision of Ygraine and several children, all sopping wet...sopping with his guilt? It really does seem to be the key point of these visions.
When Merlin tosses the mandrake into the fire, the enchantment ends, and they get him to sleep to rest. When Merlin proposes telling Uther about Morgana, Gaius points out Uther would kill them both - he dotes on her and would never see anything wrong with her. Morgana has been using this to her advantage, and we see more evidence of how blind Uther is to things he doesn’t want to see.
And then cue shot of Cenred’s huge army and the knight of Camelot, seeing thing, rushing back to the castle. How the hell did Cenred get that kind of army together so fast?
Anyway, Arthur’s room is a wreck, and Arthur is pissed off at Merlin for being so long without permission. I wonder if there was a purpose to Arthur saying he wouldn’t be complaining if Merlin was dying, or if this was just more banter. Arthur continues on being cranky, and when Merlin remarks only that Arthur obviously hasn’t had breakfast, Arthur immediately responds that he’d have Merlin for breakfast.
...they’re not even trying to keep the innuendo subtle anymore, are they?
Morgana does not react well to learning the mandrake is gone, no matter how she hides it, and moments later pulls Merlin aside, blackmailing him into keeping silent with the threat of telling Uther he tried to poison her.
Now we see the pressure building on Arthur - he goes against recommendations to just give Cenred some territories and says to prepare the castle for siege. Either wisdom that a few territories won’t satisfy Cenred, or foolishness about his pride and that of Camelot’s. Later, Merlin says they won’t have to worry - Camelot has Arthur. Then he says he’s always protecting Arthur, and Arthur clearly doesn’t believe him. Wonder what Arthur’s reaction will be later when (if?) he finds out Merlin was right.
Cenred and Morguase meet on the border and exchange yet more innuendo. Isn’t this supposed to be a family show? :P
Gwen comes by to give Arthur a bit of a pep talk. Again, what the hell happened in the gap year? They seem to have almost moved backwards, as demonstrated by Gwen calling Arthur ‘sire’ against Arthur’s insistence otherwise. She’s trying to distance herself, and he’s trying to at least consider her a friend. How will this bode for their romance?
Morgana has doubts, especially knowing that Merlin lived and thwarted them. Morgause is still confident, giving Morgana a magical staff, incredibly powerful. Morgana admits her magic is still weak. So what was she doing for the year she was gone?
The castle prepares for a siege, bustling with activity, provisions being brought in and infirmaries being prepared. When Arthur goes to see Uther - still asleep - he promises to not let him down.
When Merlin gives his version of a pep talk, Arthur is clearly weirded out, even asking Merlin if he’s drunk. But he still admits Merlin has his moments of wisdom.
The battle begins with Cenred catapulting Camelot with flames, which wakes Uther to see his kingdom under attack. He goes out to join the battle as Merlin tells Gaius to keep an eye on Morgana (back in her men’s clothes/warrior outfit again), only to get shot by an arrow in the leg and the whole army having to retreat.
When Morgana activates the staff, Merlin and Morgause both feel the magic, and an army of the dead rises to Morgana’s psychotic smile as the battle continues on the ramparts above.
As Arthur tries to figure out how to get his father to safety, Merlin goes down to see Morgana. When he says women and children are dying as the city falls, she no longer cares, even proclaiming it “Good!”. Oh, dear lady, what happened to you during the gap year?
I, too, though, am disappointed that when Morgana went on about how he doesn’t know what it’s like to have magic, he doesn’t tell her the truth...but it’s understandable. If she’s saying innocent people dying is good, then she’s far too gone, and Merlin would only put himself in further danger by telling her his secrets. Even as she attacks, he defends himself by picking up a sword even as he asks that if she kills him, she make it quick.
He uses magic only when she can’t see him doing it to subdue her, and he finally destroys the Rowan staff, which makes all the skeletons fall.
Interesting moment later, though - Cenred calls off the siege, and gives the reason that he won’t watch thousands of men die. It appears he has some honor and care of his own, too.
The morning comes, and Morgana is the hero, but she and Merlin know better, glaring at each other in silence across the hall as Uther gives his victory speech, especially against magic.
At dinner with Gaius, Merlin laments Uther’s blindness while claiming he’ll be ready for when Morgana tries again. Gaius asks that Merlin not let that bitterness and hate that has affected Morgana to get to him. He, in turn, claims nothing will make him that angry.
Then we hear Arthur shouting down the hallway for Merlin, who reconsiders. :)
Morgause has completely converted Morgana to her ideals. The lady who once collected extra food and fought raiders for one village now shouts “Good!” at the news that innocent people of Camelot are dying. She is far gone into the dark side, and there is no bringing her back.
Arthur lives up to his destiny when he takes charge of the battle of Camelot, with the words of wisdom Merlin manages to spout in time to give Arthur confidence while laying yet more responsibility onto his shoulders.
And Merlin saves Camelot yet again, with the credit going to the evil Morgana. Poor guy really needs a hug.
This show is starting to get closer to the legends. Gwen and Morgana are distancing further from each other, while Merlin and Arthur grow ever closer, and Uther is slowly, slowly, ever so slowly, spiraling downward.
