Pre-airing speculation : Merlin 511 'The Drawing of the Dark'
OK, so the teasers for the next episode have started to appear on various websites. Here's the list so far, with some speculations on my part (or just plain snark) :
[Potential Spoilers (click to open)]
Cultbox.co.uk offers the following, all dialogue teasers :
"I'm the best tracker here!"
Percival? Or Gwaine - in reference to tracking the nearest tavern? (I miss the good old days of happy-go-lucky, tavern-bound Gwaine. Where did he go? He's just so damn OOC serious all the time).
Or Mordred trying to cover his GF's tracks in a totally unsubtle way.
"I knew he'd come round."
Fantasy answer : a reference to Arthur's sudden and unaccountable acceptance of magic-is-just-a-tool-and-can-be-used-for-good.
"I'm only sorry I failed."
Merlin, finally accepting his / Arthur's fate.
Mordred's GF, on failing to stab Arthur.
"Your secret is safe with me. You have my word."
Mordred to Merlin, just so he can look arch-evil when he swiftly dobs Merlin in to Morgana.
But seriously - Mordred to his GF or Merlin.
It won't be Merlin uttering those lines, because we all know he keeps his word, and this is crying out to be a broken promise.
"There must be a simple explanation."
ROTFLMAO. Oh how we have wished for this REPEATEDLY. Yes, of course there's a simple explanation, Arthur. But you're not going to hear it from your manservant for at least another 90 minutes, under peril of his death-by-pyre or other dubious reason-of-the-week. Arthur to Merlin.
"I need not remind you we are at war."
Arthur to....Mordred, Merlin, the assembled Knights? Because obviously the casual viewer has forgotten the final pronouncement from last week, that Morgana has declared war (because apparently everything up to last week was just a little sibling rivalry).
"Tell me you wouldn't do the same for the woman you love?"
Mordred to Merlin - why, yes - let's rub salt into the wound called Freya. Another opportunity to reinforce to all viewers how much Merlin has erroneously sacrificed on his road to complete and utter failure prevent Arthur's demise. Then again, it could be Mordred to Arthur, just so we're all reminded of Arthur's flip-flopping approach to magic when it comes to someone he loves.
"If it hadn't been you."
Hmmmm....more thought required, too many variables.
"He's beguiled you, he's beguiling you all."
Beguiled...I like this word. But which of the characters would use it? Given the fluctuating way the characters have been written (a hint of intelligence one week, rampantly stupid the next), it's actually hard to pin down who might use the word. It sounds like Gaius, but could just as well be Arthur, Merlin, Mordred... But not one of the Knights, methinks.
Mordred to those assembled, regarding Merlin.
Merlin to everyone within shouting distance, having finally given up on the subtle approach to Mordred.
"I'll clean it."
Merlin to Arthur - regarding his sword (get your minds out of the gutter, people!)
From InsideMediaTrack.com, 14 teasers, all dialogue again :
"She is brazen."
Why is it when I see the word 'brazen' I assume the writers just silently add 'hussy' whenever they hear the dialogue?? Why can't we ever have a brazen bloke?? Obviously about Mordred's GF...would assume it's one of the Knights or Arthur.
"I fear you're wrong Arthur!"
The possibilities are sooo numerous, but I'm going to plump for Merlin.
"What right have you to question me?"
I'm going to guess (hope) this is a Merlin/Mordred conversation. But it could be Arthur.
"No matter what he preaches, he is no different from his father - a tyrant, brute..."
Mordred.
"There are some parts woven so deeply into the fabric of the world Merlin, that nothing can be done to change them!"
Gaius to Merlin, or is that too obvious.
"I will not rest until you are dead and your kingdom is no more!"
Mordred to Arthur - but that's possibly too easy.
"Then she is more foolish than I thought."
Arthur, re Mordreds GF.
"What of the bond between Knights?"
Mordred to Arthur. Or the other way round, when Arthur finally wises up.
"You took me in, I will always remember that...and everything you've done for me."
Merlin to Gaius.
Mordred to Arthur...? Nah.
"You can do as you wish. It will not stop Morgana's uprising."
The GF or Mordred, to Arthur or Merlin.
"Please Arthur, you have to listen to me."
Merlin, for the umpteenth time.
"Use your magic. Do it!"
Oh, how much do I want this to be Arthur to Merlin, out of the blue. But I highly doubt it.
From SpoilerTV - more dialogue teasers :
"He's beguiled you, he's beguiled you all."
Oh fergadssake, if you're going to give us teasers, then at least coordinate amongst yourselves. Nul point for repetition! (see Cultbox above).
"I can't believe you'd say that"
I'd like it to be Richard Wilson Gaius, but I reckon Merlin.
"Your secret is safe with me. You **** ** ****."
Come on guys, we've already got that one from Cultbox (see above).
"Please, I mean you no harm."
Mordred to the GF. Or Merlin likewise.
"In your words, I hear the ***** of *******."
In your words, I hear the death of freedom - Mordred to Arthur (still sticking to the party line of hang-em-high) or Merlin (bottling it once again).
"She has always lived inside my heart."
Mordred re the GF...to Merlin, or possibly Arthur in a heartfelt plea to save her from the rope/pyre/axe.
"I'd never let something like this ruin our friendship."
Honestly Mordred, how many ways can Arthur show you that you're his bestest knight eva and now you want him to just release the 'brazen hussy' your girlfriend?? Please be realistic.
Since Mordred would have to be delusional to think he has a friendship going with Merlin, it's going to be between Arthur & Mordred.
Ooooon the other hand [puts Rose Tinted specs on], if Arthur suddenly yells to Merlin to 'Use your magic. Do it!" (see earlier), I could totally see this being the follow-up with a forgiving & understanding Arthur.
"Tell me you wouldn't do the same, for the woman you love."
Seriously guys, you need to coordinate your teasing efforts more - see above.
"We will leave Camelot and never return."
Mordred to Arthur, when trying to extricate the GF from the clutches of the tyrant, brute OAFK.
"How will one more death bring about the peace we long for."
Merlin trying to persuade Mordred back from the Dark Side - for the love of god knows why :-(
Trailer Teaser : "NOOOOOOOO!!"
Yeah, right, not trusting any of the spoiler sites on this given that their idea of a stonking cliffhanger last week was what...?? Morgana declaring war, Mordred getting in Merlin's face in the trailer for the coming episode. Could be anyone, for any reason. Come to think of it, isn't that the combined screams of a fair proportion of fandom in the face of what's unrolling...???
ETA 11-Dec-2012 : SFX teasers are in the form of a conversation between two characters. Distilling it down, we get the following :
Episode is big on druids, crucial turning point on both a grand & personal scale.
It has to happen - Arthur hasn't exactly been overly supportive of the Druids, regardless of his child-like devotion to Mordred.
Allegiances & loyalties shift and bend in many surprising ways. You may think you see where things are heading but the route there may not be the one you expect.
What's surprising about Mordreds jump to the Dark Side? We all know it's coming. The rest is just sleight of hand, to keep the sofa-viewers watching.
Not a barrel of laughs.
Have any of the recent episodes been?
Many people have to consider the consequences of their actions. Or their inactions. Or their slavish adherence to beliefs.
The birds come home to roost for Merlin & Arthur...finally
Not a lot of action, or magic. One of the most dialogue-driven eps ever. Full of tension, shocks and drama.
I have abso-bloody-lutely no problem with this. Bring it on, I say. Time for some meaningful exposition, so we can have the reveal.
Not a lot of Gwen.
Cry me a river.
Emphasis on the politics of war.
Arthur considers the number of allies he can count on and suddenly realises he doesn't have a hope in hell of beating Morgana...unless he can miraculously find a friendly super-powerful warlock and somehow manage to persuade him to ignore all the magic-users blood on Arthurs hands, to side with him against Morgana because...well...she's evil, and she keeps trying to kill him for some reason. It's a bit of a tall order, but I'm sure Merlin knows just the person you're looking for, Arthur.
Some big questions are asked.
Merlin, why didn't you tell me about your magic 10 episodes ago? Why didn't you kill Morgana when you had the chance? Why are you so bloody ineffectual?
A head will roll.
another hapless magic user, possibly a Druid, forcing them to choose/change sides against the brute, tyrant Pendragon.
Merlin catches something.
...a clue perhaps?
Morgana receives some very exciting news.
Mordred spills the beans to her about Emrys.
Arthur has a 'Bear Grylls' moment.
I look forward to watching Arthur drink his own pee.
Merlin realises his horse may have been a bit high.
What...the...? High off the ground? He's been riding him for 9 years and he's only just realising this now?
Or has Dobbin been at Gaius' potions again.
The last line is a cracker, with knobs on.
yeah, you implied the same last week and look what it brought us.
ETA 11-Dec-2012 : From Cultbox - there are duplications from above entries, so here are the unique ones :
Much will be made of tracking skills.
Pick a knight, any knight...but I'm changing my previous theory to Mordred.
Someone will help themselves to Gaius' supplies.
I'd say Merlin, but that's too obvious as the physician's apprentice. How about my fall-back answer for this week - Mordred.
Expect analogies to both a bird and an insect.
?????
Someone will try to pass off a girl as a deer.
Mordred trying to help his GF.
There will be more hooded noctural wanderings from Camelot.
Mordred clandestine meetings with his GF.
Someone will soil their own breeches and someone else's.
Mordred. Merlin, because we can't miss an opportunity to remind everyone that he's the King's manservant first and foremost.
A timely punch is delivered.
Merlin knocking some sense into Arthur?
Merlin gives up the subtle approach to blanking Mordred with shifty eyes, and shows him what he really thinks of his skullduggery?
Gwaine saves Merlin's neck by punching Arthurs lights out before he can finish the sentence "You have MAGIC?!! You've betrayed me all these years!! I sentence you to de..."
More later...
[Potential Spoilers (click to open)]
Cultbox.co.uk offers the following, all dialogue teasers :
"I'm the best tracker here!"
Percival? Or Gwaine - in reference to tracking the nearest tavern? (I miss the good old days of happy-go-lucky, tavern-bound Gwaine. Where did he go? He's just so damn OOC serious all the time).
Or Mordred trying to cover his GF's tracks in a totally unsubtle way.
"I knew he'd come round."
Fantasy answer : a reference to Arthur's sudden and unaccountable acceptance of magic-is-just-a-tool-and-can-be-used-for-good.
"I'm only sorry I failed."
Merlin, finally accepting his / Arthur's fate.
Mordred's GF, on failing to stab Arthur.
"Your secret is safe with me. You have my word."
Mordred to Merlin, just so he can look arch-evil when he swiftly dobs Merlin in to Morgana.
But seriously - Mordred to his GF or Merlin.
It won't be Merlin uttering those lines, because we all know he keeps his word, and this is crying out to be a broken promise.
"There must be a simple explanation."
ROTFLMAO. Oh how we have wished for this REPEATEDLY. Yes, of course there's a simple explanation, Arthur. But you're not going to hear it from your manservant for at least another 90 minutes, under peril of his death-by-pyre or other dubious reason-of-the-week. Arthur to Merlin.
"I need not remind you we are at war."
Arthur to....Mordred, Merlin, the assembled Knights? Because obviously the casual viewer has forgotten the final pronouncement from last week, that Morgana has declared war (because apparently everything up to last week was just a little sibling rivalry).
"Tell me you wouldn't do the same for the woman you love?"
Mordred to Merlin - why, yes - let's rub salt into the wound called Freya. Another opportunity to reinforce to all viewers how much Merlin has erroneously sacrificed on his road to complete and utter failure prevent Arthur's demise. Then again, it could be Mordred to Arthur, just so we're all reminded of Arthur's flip-flopping approach to magic when it comes to someone he loves.
"If it hadn't been you."
Hmmmm....more thought required, too many variables.
"He's beguiled you, he's beguiling you all."
Beguiled...I like this word. But which of the characters would use it? Given the fluctuating way the characters have been written (a hint of intelligence one week, rampantly stupid the next), it's actually hard to pin down who might use the word. It sounds like Gaius, but could just as well be Arthur, Merlin, Mordred... But not one of the Knights, methinks.
Mordred to those assembled, regarding Merlin.
Merlin to everyone within shouting distance, having finally given up on the subtle approach to Mordred.
"I'll clean it."
Merlin to Arthur - regarding his sword (get your minds out of the gutter, people!)
From InsideMediaTrack.com, 14 teasers, all dialogue again :
"She is brazen."
Why is it when I see the word 'brazen' I assume the writers just silently add 'hussy' whenever they hear the dialogue?? Why can't we ever have a brazen bloke?? Obviously about Mordred's GF...would assume it's one of the Knights or Arthur.
"I fear you're wrong Arthur!"
The possibilities are sooo numerous, but I'm going to plump for Merlin.
"What right have you to question me?"
I'm going to guess (hope) this is a Merlin/Mordred conversation. But it could be Arthur.
"No matter what he preaches, he is no different from his father - a tyrant, brute..."
Mordred.
"There are some parts woven so deeply into the fabric of the world Merlin, that nothing can be done to change them!"
Gaius to Merlin, or is that too obvious.
"I will not rest until you are dead and your kingdom is no more!"
Mordred to Arthur - but that's possibly too easy.
"Then she is more foolish than I thought."
Arthur, re Mordreds GF.
"What of the bond between Knights?"
Mordred to Arthur. Or the other way round, when Arthur finally wises up.
"You took me in, I will always remember that...and everything you've done for me."
Merlin to Gaius.
Mordred to Arthur...? Nah.
"You can do as you wish. It will not stop Morgana's uprising."
The GF or Mordred, to Arthur or Merlin.
"Please Arthur, you have to listen to me."
Merlin, for the umpteenth time.
"Use your magic. Do it!"
Oh, how much do I want this to be Arthur to Merlin, out of the blue. But I highly doubt it.
From SpoilerTV - more dialogue teasers :
"He's beguiled you, he's beguiled you all."
Oh fergadssake, if you're going to give us teasers, then at least coordinate amongst yourselves. Nul point for repetition! (see Cultbox above).
"I can't believe you'd say that"
I'd like it to be Richard Wilson Gaius, but I reckon Merlin.
"Your secret is safe with me. You **** ** ****."
Come on guys, we've already got that one from Cultbox (see above).
"Please, I mean you no harm."
Mordred to the GF. Or Merlin likewise.
"In your words, I hear the ***** of *******."
In your words, I hear the death of freedom - Mordred to Arthur (still sticking to the party line of hang-em-high) or Merlin (bottling it once again).
"She has always lived inside my heart."
Mordred re the GF...to Merlin, or possibly Arthur in a heartfelt plea to save her from the rope/pyre/axe.
"I'd never let something like this ruin our friendship."
Honestly Mordred, how many ways can Arthur show you that you're his bestest knight eva and now you want him to just release the 'brazen hussy' your girlfriend?? Please be realistic.
Since Mordred would have to be delusional to think he has a friendship going with Merlin, it's going to be between Arthur & Mordred.
Ooooon the other hand [puts Rose Tinted specs on], if Arthur suddenly yells to Merlin to 'Use your magic. Do it!" (see earlier), I could totally see this being the follow-up with a forgiving & understanding Arthur.
"Tell me you wouldn't do the same, for the woman you love."
Seriously guys, you need to coordinate your teasing efforts more - see above.
"We will leave Camelot and never return."
Mordred to Arthur, when trying to extricate the GF from the clutches of the tyrant, brute OAFK.
"How will one more death bring about the peace we long for."
Merlin trying to persuade Mordred back from the Dark Side - for the love of god knows why :-(
Trailer Teaser : "NOOOOOOOO!!"
Yeah, right, not trusting any of the spoiler sites on this given that their idea of a stonking cliffhanger last week was what...?? Morgana declaring war, Mordred getting in Merlin's face in the trailer for the coming episode. Could be anyone, for any reason. Come to think of it, isn't that the combined screams of a fair proportion of fandom in the face of what's unrolling...???
ETA 11-Dec-2012 : SFX teasers are in the form of a conversation between two characters. Distilling it down, we get the following :
Episode is big on druids, crucial turning point on both a grand & personal scale.
It has to happen - Arthur hasn't exactly been overly supportive of the Druids, regardless of his child-like devotion to Mordred.
Allegiances & loyalties shift and bend in many surprising ways. You may think you see where things are heading but the route there may not be the one you expect.
What's surprising about Mordreds jump to the Dark Side? We all know it's coming. The rest is just sleight of hand, to keep the sofa-viewers watching.
Not a barrel of laughs.
Have any of the recent episodes been?
Many people have to consider the consequences of their actions. Or their inactions. Or their slavish adherence to beliefs.
The birds come home to roost for Merlin & Arthur...finally
Not a lot of action, or magic. One of the most dialogue-driven eps ever. Full of tension, shocks and drama.
I have abso-bloody-lutely no problem with this. Bring it on, I say. Time for some meaningful exposition, so we can have the reveal.
Not a lot of Gwen.
Cry me a river.
Emphasis on the politics of war.
Arthur considers the number of allies he can count on and suddenly realises he doesn't have a hope in hell of beating Morgana...unless he can miraculously find a friendly super-powerful warlock and somehow manage to persuade him to ignore all the magic-users blood on Arthurs hands, to side with him against Morgana because...well...she's evil, and she keeps trying to kill him for some reason. It's a bit of a tall order, but I'm sure Merlin knows just the person you're looking for, Arthur.
Some big questions are asked.
Merlin, why didn't you tell me about your magic 10 episodes ago? Why didn't you kill Morgana when you had the chance? Why are you so bloody ineffectual?
A head will roll.
another hapless magic user, possibly a Druid, forcing them to choose/change sides against the brute, tyrant Pendragon.
Merlin catches something.
...a clue perhaps?
Morgana receives some very exciting news.
Mordred spills the beans to her about Emrys.
Arthur has a 'Bear Grylls' moment.
I look forward to watching Arthur drink his own pee.
Merlin realises his horse may have been a bit high.
What...the...? High off the ground? He's been riding him for 9 years and he's only just realising this now?
Or has Dobbin been at Gaius' potions again.
The last line is a cracker, with knobs on.
yeah, you implied the same last week and look what it brought us.
ETA 11-Dec-2012 : From Cultbox - there are duplications from above entries, so here are the unique ones :
Much will be made of tracking skills.
Pick a knight, any knight...but I'm changing my previous theory to Mordred.
Someone will help themselves to Gaius' supplies.
I'd say Merlin, but that's too obvious as the physician's apprentice. How about my fall-back answer for this week - Mordred.
Expect analogies to both a bird and an insect.
?????
Someone will try to pass off a girl as a deer.
Mordred trying to help his GF.
There will be more hooded noctural wanderings from Camelot.
Mordred clandestine meetings with his GF.
Someone will soil their own breeches and someone else's.
Mordred. Merlin, because we can't miss an opportunity to remind everyone that he's the King's manservant first and foremost.
A timely punch is delivered.
Merlin knocking some sense into Arthur?
Merlin gives up the subtle approach to blanking Mordred with shifty eyes, and shows him what he really thinks of his skullduggery?
Gwaine saves Merlin's neck by punching Arthurs lights out before he can finish the sentence "You have MAGIC?!! You've betrayed me all these years!! I sentence you to de..."
More later...