Epic Merlin Rewatch: S01E07 The Gates of Avalon
EPIC MERLIN REWATCH OF MERLIN EPICNESS
Season 1 Episode 7: The Gates of Avalon
This is a quick one as I don't really have much to say about this episode. It was good, but not particularly memorable.
- Overall quick summary: Arthur 'falls in love'/ is seduced by Lady Sophia, who is Evil Magical Creature From Other Dimension (Avalon). Morgana has dreams of Arthur dying at Lady Sophia's hands, and Gaius tells her not to worry her pretty little head about it. Merlin figures out what's happening. Lady Sophie + Father try to sacrifice Arthur to the blue pixie creatures, but Merlin saves him.
- Arthur shows that he is more than just a pretty face by single handedly defeating a band of armed robbers. Well, with a little help from Merlin. I suppose its only fitting that the great King Arthur can kick serious ass.
- I’m sorry but Sophia and Alfric practically scream ‘MAGIC PEOPLE!!’ They even have magical staffs, for chrissakes.
- How is Merlin in charge of allocating rooms? He's not the steward. Although, I suppose, he's one of only two servants (three if you include Gaius), who can actually speak so who else would do it?
- First indication that Morgana has magic- and is completely freaked out by it. I like how vulnerable and scared Katie plays Morgana here. She’s so headstrong and confident most of the time, its refreshing to see another side to her. It does make you wonder what would have happened if Gaius had taken Morgana under his wing like he did Merlin, instead of telling her to suppress it.
- Are Arthur’s feelings for Sophia genuine? Is he under some sort of spell from the beginning? Because, especially in the scene with Merlin near the beginning, he doesn’t seem under a spell, he seems very Arthur-like (even slightly embarrassed). Although it doesn't seem very Arthur-like for him to declare his feelings to the world, especially with how we know he reacts to the whole Gwen situation later (but this might be because Gwen is a servant while Sophia is a lady). Perhaps it just indicates that his feelings for Sophia are more crush-like, than what he feels for Gwen. Or maybe I'm reading it all wrong and Arthur falls under her spell early on.
- The Shes are ridiculous. They look like blue pixies. How on earth are these things from Avalon? Is this Merlin’s version of the Arthur and Avalon story? I really hope they will properly tell the Avalon story in future seasons, because they cannot waste all that interestingness on blue pixies.
- Why do these Shes think that Arthur is the greatest prince of all? Is it just a case of “he’s pretty and shiny”? Or is it some sort of magical “they know the future” thing?
- How is Merlin a terrible liar about things like this but when it comes to his secret he’s incredibly believable?
- Uther refuses to allow Arthur to marry Sophia and she's a noblewoman. What on earth would he say if Arthur tried to marry Gwen? I sort of laughed quite a lot when Uther basically sentences Arthur’s betrothed to death. Yeah, THAT’s the way to stop it. I like Uther’s reaction to the whole thing. He is amused by it because he assumes Arthur is just infatuated and it will pass, but he’s also deadly serious when he says he would kill Sophia to stop them marrying. No wonder Arthur isn't keen on revealing his feelings for Gwen later on down the road.
- Merlin visibly flinched when Arthur said “you’re not my friend, you’re my servant.” Ouch. Its harsh but ultimately true. Merlin is lucky that Arthur treats him as well as he does (in terms of being a servant- Arthur is a pretty sucky friend).
- It amuses me that if this was season 2 or season 3 during the scene where Arthur wakes up from near death he would most certainly be shirtless.
- All the bits with Merlin covering up for Arthur and getting pelted by fruit were hilarious. And Merlin's little face is hilarious:
Best Lines:
Uther: Have you some kind of mental affliction?
Merlin: Probably.
Gaius: I’m looking into it, sire.
Uther: Well, I hope for our sake you find a cure or we’ll find ourselves with a food shortage on our hands.
Merlin: *sniggers* Food shortage *confused look*
*Merlin, in the stocks, gets pelted with rotten fruit*
Uther: If this was a time of war, I’d have you flogged.
Merlin: And since its not, we’ll let it go, just this once?
Merlin: You’re dressed!
Arthur: Nothing gets passed you, does it, Merlin?