Merlin, 5.10 and 5.11
First, 5.10, The Kindness of Strangers.
I did enjoy this episode and thought it was very good although there were two things that made me shake my head.
1. Why didn't Alator eat the note, or shove it up his bottom or piss on it or do something to make it undiscoverable? Surely "Do not let the captors read the secret message" is Prisoner 101? At the very least it's plain common sense!
2. How the bloody hell is that prophecy supposed to help Merlin? The only thing it says that he didn't already know is that Arthur's doom will be at Camlann. I can't see how that's supposed to be a help given that every message Merlin seems to be getting from every side is that Arthur is doomed and there's nothing he can do to fix it - even though prior to this season he'd been getting lots of prophecies about this alleged golden age. Either way, doesn't seem very helpful to me.
Apart from that, there were some very good things about this episode. Finna was a wonderful character although it was interesting to see her bending the knee to Merlin; I wonder how many others out there would do that if they came into the presence of the great Emrys? Or is it only her because Alator has told her of Merlin and the prophecies Gaius was spouting when he tortured him? Anyway, Finna was strong, female, magical, good and brave, and yet miraculously not a beautiful young thing; I wish we'd had a few more like her throughout the years.
Merlin suffering is too heartbreaking; you just want to bandage him up and cuddle him. Loved the way he became progressively weaker, till his voice slurred sleepily when he said "Thank you" to Finna, and then he could scarcely rasp out the dragonspeak. Nice work, Mr Morgan.
The little scene between Merlin and Mordred in the woods was beautifully done. I love that they so often shoot Mordred's face as half in shadow, half in light, and the unspoken, perhaps unwanted by them both bond between him and Merlin. I wish they'd got rid of the possessed-Gwen arc this season and focused more on Mordred.
Also love that Gwen is so clearly wise to Arthur's bumbling attempts at being romantic and that she knows perfectly well he couldn't do any of it without Merlin :) I really like the relationship the three of them have clearly fallen into.
And Kilgarrah looked a bit scalier than usual, didn't he? Poor old dragon. I wonder how they will deal with that; will his passing be a symbol of the old world of magic passing, or of the old world of separation between magic and mundane passing? Who can tell?
Now. 2.11, The Drawing of the Dark. Oh my, oh my, oh my. This was a hard, intense episode, but so compelling.
It was predictable that the only way Mordred could ever betray Arthur was if Arthur did something which Mordred saw as inconceivably, irretrievably monstrous and proved he had feet of clay. His hero worship and his joy at finding somewhere he belonged was so absolute that the fall had to be very sudden. Alex Vlahos did a wonderful, wonderful job; absolutely incredible acting there. Bravo. Mordred in his desperation and fear and immaturity isn't able to make the distinction or see past his own feelings. Kara did try to kill Arthur when he was offering her assistance, and no matter what, that is an ignoble deed.
And what it all boils down to is the sins of the past. Nobody will ever trust Arthur, no matter what, because of his father's reign. You get the impression that if he did lift the ban on magic, without knowing he had a sorcerer at his side, someone would just come in and magically kill him anyway. The sins of the father really have been visited on the son.
It's so unfair on everyone. It's unfair that the Druids and people with magic were persecuted by Uther for the misdeeds of a few; it's so unfair that the minds of people like Kara have been warped to turn them into bloodthirsty killers because of that; it's so unfair that Arthur gave Kara two chances (once when he sheathed his sword in the cave, and once when he offered to let her repent) and she let go of both of them; it's so unfair that everyone in this predicament feels they have no choice.
One of the things this episode really drove home was why Merlin still hasn't revealed his secret to Arthur. Arthur will uphold the law; that's what he is there to do. He loves Mordred like a brother but will not let his pleas overcome the law (although it's interesting that we never find out what he'd intended to do with Mordred once he was captured, and I wonder if he ever knew himself). I know there are many people who feel that Merlin should have told Arthur long ago, but you can see how Merlin could be so desperately reluctant given Arthur's adherence to the law even in the light of personal feelings, and the fact that he (Arthur) has been betrayed so often by so many people he loves. Make the decision at the wrong moment, reveal the secret in the wrong way, and it's all lost, irretrievable and forever. No wonder Merlin holds back.
And you might say that Arthur could change the law if he cared enough! That as the King, he *is* the law! But I think Arthur probably feels that as King he is more subject to the law than anyone in the kingdom, since he's subject to no other person. The law must protect his people from the ultimate power he holds. Especially given that the times he's broken the law himself (ie, using magic) it has never gone well.
Are Merlin and Arthur going to bring about the world that has been prophesied, that the Dragon always told Merlin he was destined to bring about? I honestly don't see how they can now.
Only two more epsiodes to go! Waaaahhhhh!
ETA: just watched it again. Oh, Mordred's little hopeful, desperate face! He looks so young and vulnerable, even when he's being his hardest; and he was so horrified when Kara mercilessly killed the guard, and so vulnerable when he was pleading with Arthur. Emotions hit so much harder than anything else when you're young and he really showed that.
And Merlin's little hopeful, happy look when Arthur offers Kara her second chance; he's so sure she'll accept. My heart!
Also, the trailer for next weekend? That's possibly the most anguished scream ever.