"That's the darkest thing we've watched in a while," my husband said. I agreed. This episode rivaled the darker episodes of Torchwood. ( Read more... )
It's Camelot's Champion and Prince he doesn't want risking his neck, the person most able to defend himself and least likely to be executed by Uther.
I think it's more than just execution Merlin is protecting Arthur from. He probably knows that Uther wouldn't actually kill Arthur - however Arthur would suffer very much indeed from his father's wrath and disapointment. It might break Arthur's heart, and Merlin would do anything to protect Arthur from that as well.
It's not like he would trade the boy to protect Arthur at this point, he's probably just thinking he's done enough, and that it's up to Morgana now. He wants to wash his hands of the whole thing, now that Arthur's involved.
I love this episode, although watching Morgana & Uther together is very hard - I honestly think he loves her as much as he does Arthur, as much as if she was his daughter. (I've toyed with the idea of writing a short story where she first comes to court after her father's death, and Uther becoming charmed by her.)
Anyway, I love the dilemma Merlin is faced with here, and how he handles it. Obviously he did the right thing - punishing someone now for something they might do in the future is insane, and Merlin is optimistic enough to believe he can head off any danger to Arthur that might crop up later on. (I'm keeping in mind this time that you haven't seen the whole series yet)
I've always wondered about Merlin's trust in the dragon. Doesn't it occur to him that a creature whose race was wiped out by Uther, who was then imprisoned by him, might not have Uther's son's best interests at heart?
And at no time does he ask the dragon if he can help it. If you came across a man locked ina dungeon in chains for 20 years, wouldn't you try to help him? Is it a sign of Merlin's (selfish) youth that he just accepts help & advice and never ever offers anything in return?
The dragon's warnings smack of prophecy to me - and I hate prophecy so very very much. Mostly they are self-fulfilling, and that's so frustrating!
I was interested to read what you say about childen being executed. I was reading a Patrick O'Brian book just the other day, in it was mention of a hanging that everyone around was attending, where five or six men and one child were ebing hung. It seemed quite commonplace, and this was 1740. It didn't strike me at all out of character for Uther to order the execution of a child, although it was quite chilling (and it was when I started respecting the show - that just wouldn't happen in a US TV show).
Thanks for your thoughts - sorry about my own ramblings - you really caught my interest!
One of the places where the show fails is at showing the chain binding the dragon in the earlier episodes. You hear it, but I at least didn't actually see it until Episode 6. It's a bit shortsighted of Merlin not to ask about things like that, but he is a teenager. Not only that, he's originally convinced that he can't do a lot with his magic. Although I'm not sure the whole "destiny" schtick isn't really the Dragon's "get out of jail" ploy. Only the Druids knowing about Merlin counters that.
I think it's more than just execution Merlin is protecting Arthur from. He probably knows that Uther wouldn't actually kill Arthur - however Arthur would suffer very much indeed from his father's wrath and disapointment. It might break Arthur's heart, and Merlin would do anything to protect Arthur from that as well.
It's not like he would trade the boy to protect Arthur at this point, he's probably just thinking he's done enough, and that it's up to Morgana now. He wants to wash his hands of the whole thing, now that Arthur's involved.
I love this episode, although watching Morgana & Uther together is very hard - I honestly think he loves her as much as he does Arthur, as much as if she was his daughter. (I've toyed with the idea of writing a short story where she first comes to court after her father's death, and Uther becoming charmed by her.)
Anyway, I love the dilemma Merlin is faced with here, and how he handles it. Obviously he did the right thing - punishing someone now for something they might do in the future is insane, and Merlin is optimistic enough to believe he can head off any danger to Arthur that might crop up later on. (I'm keeping in mind this time that you haven't seen the whole series yet)
I've always wondered about Merlin's trust in the dragon. Doesn't it occur to him that a creature whose race was wiped out by Uther, who was then imprisoned by him, might not have Uther's son's best interests at heart?
And at no time does he ask the dragon if he can help it. If you came across a man locked ina dungeon in chains for 20 years, wouldn't you try to help him? Is it a sign of Merlin's (selfish) youth that he just accepts help & advice and never ever offers anything in return?
The dragon's warnings smack of prophecy to me - and I hate prophecy so very very much. Mostly they are self-fulfilling, and that's so frustrating!
I was interested to read what you say about childen being executed. I was reading a Patrick O'Brian book just the other day, in it was mention of a hanging that everyone around was attending, where five or six men and one child were ebing hung. It seemed quite commonplace, and this was 1740. It didn't strike me at all out of character for Uther to order the execution of a child, although it was quite chilling (and it was when I started respecting the show - that just wouldn't happen in a US TV show).
Thanks for your thoughts - sorry about my own ramblings - you really caught my interest!
Reply
One of the places where the show fails is at showing the chain binding the dragon in the earlier episodes. You hear it, but I at least didn't actually see it until Episode 6. It's a bit shortsighted of Merlin not to ask about things like that, but he is a teenager. Not only that, he's originally convinced that he can't do a lot with his magic. Although I'm not sure the whole "destiny" schtick isn't really the Dragon's "get out of jail" ploy. Only the Druids knowing about Merlin counters that.
Reply
Leave a comment