Merlin "The Disir"
So, feeling considerably more chilled out this week, I sat down to watch the episode and found myself quite enjoying it. Huh.
What do you get if you cross the moral dilemma of The Beginning of the End with the self-fulfilling prophesy of The Crystal Cave? This episode. And I’m guessing that this was to Merlin/Arthur fans what Lancelot du Lac was to Arthur/Guinevere fans: beautifully performed, but emotionally devastating.
The Disir
I liked the use of the Disir, and I’m willing to count them as magical woman who were not strictly benevolent, but certainly not evil either. They were simply the mouthpiece of the Triple Goddess, and the narrative makes it clear that they had good reason to be angry at Arthur.
Furthermore, it makes perfect sense to have three female soothsayers present in an episode that hinges so strongly on the concept of destiny and self-fulfilling prophesies. They instantly brought to mind the Grecian Fates or the Shakespearean Weird Sisters, what with their power, immutability and preoccupation with kings. Plus, the manifestation of Arthur’s fate in the form of a coin was nicely reminiscent of the toll paid to Charon on crossing the River Styx.
The only real question is why on earth they waited until now to pass judgment on Arthur. What exactly have they been waiting for all this time?
Plot (or Fate)
Usually Merlin episodes are composed of a series of plot-points that signify nothing except getting to the next scene, but here the writers allowed the story to slow down a little in order to explore some of the themes that the show is based on: duty, fate, identity and sacrifice -
Merlin’s growing dissatisfaction with his imposed anonymity is emphasized by his jealousy of Mordred: another magic-user who lives in hiding but is steadily becoming Arthur’s favourite. His lack of recognition is reflected in Osgard’s unmarked grave, something that he can share only with Mordred, the youth who understands what it means to hide your true self, but who Merlin fears will bring about the end of all that he’s worked for.
Merlin’s powerlessness is further underscored when Arthur ignores his advice on entering the Disir’s cave armed, leading directly to their outrage and Mordred’s fatal injury, something that Merlin seeks to capitalize on in preventing Arthur’s destiny of dying at his hands. Whilst Arthur defines his duty as protecting his knights and confesses to Guinevere that she was right in advising against taking Mordred; Gwen reminds him that his true duty is his role as king, and that Mordred fulfilled his duty in saving Arthur’s life.
Which is exactly what Merlin hopes to ensure by letting Mordred die, even if it means forsaking his personal dream of being open about his powers and getting the respect that he craves - because HIS duty is saving Arthur at all costs. And it’s only now, at this crucial moment, that Arthur listens to Merlin’s advice and so rejects the Disir’s offer - and in attempting to sacrifice Mordred in order to preserve Arthur’s life, Merlin finds he’s not only renounced his own identity and his people, but brought about the restoration of that which he was trying to prevent. Mordred’s recovery is exactly what the Disir were trying to warn Arthur about: the keystone to the tragic fate that they foretold regarding Camelot’s fall and Arthur’s doom.
Whew. It’s all rather mind-boggling, but a Greek tragedian couldn’t have plotted it more catastrophically.
I suppose I do have some bones to pick with it. I have no idea why Merlin is still listening to Kilgharrah after all the shit he’s pulled in the past. It wasn’t right to kill Mordred when he was a child, and it’s not right to kill him now as a teenager (however indirectly that killing might be). In his experiences with Morgana, Merlin has already dealt with self-fulfilling prophesies, as well as the consequences of turning on people at the dragon’s behest. He should have known better than to try and manipulate a prophesy for his own ends.
And hasn’t Kilgharrah stated several times that the key objective of Merlin’s on-going protection of Arthur is that it will allow Arthur to bring magic back to the land? That his great destiny specifically involves the integration of magical people back into the kingdom? Why does Merlin allow the suffering and persecution of druids and the like to go on in order to protect Arthur when Arthur’s great destiny apparently involves saving these people? What exactly does Merlin think Arthur’s destiny IS at this point? Heck, what does he think his OWN destiny is? Because right now he’s betraying his people to protect a man who is apparently supposed to be granting those very same people their rights and safety.
So despite Merlin telling Mordred, “it won’t always be like this,” I find it increasingly difficult to believe if things ever do change for the magical community, that it’ll be through anything MERLIN says or does. Though I suspect we’re meant to think that Merlin choosing to rank Arthur’s life above everything else was a heartrending and laudable decision, I’m not convinced that it wasn’t just a dumb one, especially since it was a) once again made without giving Arthur all the information he needed to make an informed decision, and b) ultimately for naught.
So for the first time ever, I’m actually thankful that the girls were largely (or fully) absent from an episode. Know why? Because...
“At least this time they can’t blame us for any of this!”
Guinevere
I’ve already mentioned how much I liked the Arthur/Guinevere scenes, especially since their conversations seem so adult now - Gwen advised Arthur not to do go out on a mission that his knights could handle (good continuity) and that perhaps Mordred was too inexperienced to join them. Arthur later admitted that she was right on the second account, and she in turn refuted him, reminding him that were it not for Mordred, it would be Arthur lying in Gaius’s sickbed. That was a good sequence of scenes that flowed nicely into each other, and felt like a natural conversation two people would have with each other, each challenging the other and changing their minds later. Despite being stuck in the castle, Gwen still felt very integral to the story and its themes.
I doubt we’ll get much in the way of Mordred/Guinevere interaction, but it was nice that they acknowledged each other when he entered the room. Also, I loved the way Arthur leaned into her during that scene in their bedchamber - you could tell he was searching for some comfort, but not being able to properly find it.
But my absolute favourite part was that very brief Merlin/Guinevere scene on the steps of the castle. In fact, this might well have been my favourite bit of the whole episode. That look between them said so much about who they are and how they cope with Arthur: humour and resignation in equal measure as Guinevere hands over custody of Arthur to Merlin for the day. So beautifully played by Angel and Colin.
"Merlin? You will take care of him."
"He doesn't always make it easy."
"I know."
Mordred
Mordred was flat-out adorable.
This is nothing like what I expected from him, which was to see him wandering around being vaguely sinister and creepy. I was sure that this episode would mark some sort of turning point in his development: that Merlin would not only seal Arthur’s fate by inadvertently saving Mordred’s life, but also by sowing the seeds of Mordred’s resentment. And yet...nothing. We’ve yet to be given a single reason for why Mordred should turn against Arthur - heck, he took a bullet for him!
The older knights fazing him and getting him to “meld” his saddle by riding backwards was supremely cute, as was Arthur’s surprisingly display of physical affection at the very end. Mordred seems genuinely happy to be where he is, among people that treat him like a favourite little brother. It's going to be a challenge to convincingly have Mordred turn on these people.
Miscellaneous
Both Mithian and Morgana were name-dropped. Yay!
I wish the show would stop recycling all these little snippets of dialogue. Between everyone and their grandmother telling Arthur: “you’re a great king,” and Gaius’s endless repetitions of “you must never let them find out about your magic,” and various people stating: “we have a traitor in our midst,” we’ve now heard Merlin say “I was born with it” twice, and Arthur ask: “what happened to you, Morgana?” twice. Merlin’s comment “I grew up” may have been a deliberate echo of Morgana saying the same thing in 5x02, but it really just feels as though the writers are sharing stock phrases.
Though I guess I liked the repetition of: “even as Camelot flourishes, the seeds of her destruction are being sown” - that was a nice call-back and it certainly got Merlin’s attention.
But another line that grated was Arthur’s line: “Have I not made Camelot a fairer and more just kingdom? Have I not rid it of the cruelties and injustices of the past?”
Um... I don’t know. Have you? Or should I just assume that all that happened in the three year gap? Because honestly, I’m not sure how Camelot is operating any differently from how Uther used to run things. There certainly haven’t been any changes in the law against magic. Is it because there are a couple of commoner knights now? Is it because there’s a Round Table? Because those are the only tangible difference between each man’s reign.
Still, what I am first and foremost taking out of this episode is:
1. You can’t change destiny.
2. Mordred is destined to kill Arthur.
3. If Arthur dies, Guinevere will inherit the entire kingdom.
Look at that, I've ended up writing more than I thought I would. But I was feeling good about this episode, having disengaged after last week. Hopefully I can hold onto this feeling through till next week when it seems Guinevere's story-arc finally kicks off. On the one hand, Angel Coulby, yay! On the other, Guinevere getting kidnapped and tortured and terrified, urgh.
***
On a final note, I don’t count myself as much of a shipper in this fandom (though I always had a soft spot for Guinevere/Lancelot) but I’ve been around long enough to notice that whenever a shipping war erupts, someone will always - ALWAYS - bring up Bradley’s series 2 comment about how his bromance with Merlin was more important than his romance with Gwen. It was frequently used as some sort of “argument stopper”; as if his opinion on the matter automatically bulldozed any other. Well, just recently there has been an interview with Bradley on Skype (I’m not sure what in what context - some sort of con organised by the other actors) and he was asked by a member of the audience whether his views on the bromance/romance still held true. He answered that in regards to the show, the bromance was still the central relationship, but that for Arthur personally: “I think when you find someone in your life who you love more than anything, you will do anything for them and I believe Arthur would do anything for Guinevere.” About as articulate as he gets, but his meaning in a nutshell was clear.
I think the best part is that you could just tell the girl who asked that question was fully expecting him to answer in his usual off-handed dudebro way, only to end up getting the exact opposite of what she was reaching for. So if you’re in the mood for some pristine fandom wank, grab your popcorn GIFs and head over to Tumblr. It's pretty funny in there.
What do you get if you cross the moral dilemma of The Beginning of the End with the self-fulfilling prophesy of The Crystal Cave? This episode. And I’m guessing that this was to Merlin/Arthur fans what Lancelot du Lac was to Arthur/Guinevere fans: beautifully performed, but emotionally devastating.
The Disir
I liked the use of the Disir, and I’m willing to count them as magical woman who were not strictly benevolent, but certainly not evil either. They were simply the mouthpiece of the Triple Goddess, and the narrative makes it clear that they had good reason to be angry at Arthur.
Furthermore, it makes perfect sense to have three female soothsayers present in an episode that hinges so strongly on the concept of destiny and self-fulfilling prophesies. They instantly brought to mind the Grecian Fates or the Shakespearean Weird Sisters, what with their power, immutability and preoccupation with kings. Plus, the manifestation of Arthur’s fate in the form of a coin was nicely reminiscent of the toll paid to Charon on crossing the River Styx.
The only real question is why on earth they waited until now to pass judgment on Arthur. What exactly have they been waiting for all this time?
Plot (or Fate)
Usually Merlin episodes are composed of a series of plot-points that signify nothing except getting to the next scene, but here the writers allowed the story to slow down a little in order to explore some of the themes that the show is based on: duty, fate, identity and sacrifice -
Merlin’s growing dissatisfaction with his imposed anonymity is emphasized by his jealousy of Mordred: another magic-user who lives in hiding but is steadily becoming Arthur’s favourite. His lack of recognition is reflected in Osgard’s unmarked grave, something that he can share only with Mordred, the youth who understands what it means to hide your true self, but who Merlin fears will bring about the end of all that he’s worked for.
Merlin’s powerlessness is further underscored when Arthur ignores his advice on entering the Disir’s cave armed, leading directly to their outrage and Mordred’s fatal injury, something that Merlin seeks to capitalize on in preventing Arthur’s destiny of dying at his hands. Whilst Arthur defines his duty as protecting his knights and confesses to Guinevere that she was right in advising against taking Mordred; Gwen reminds him that his true duty is his role as king, and that Mordred fulfilled his duty in saving Arthur’s life.
Which is exactly what Merlin hopes to ensure by letting Mordred die, even if it means forsaking his personal dream of being open about his powers and getting the respect that he craves - because HIS duty is saving Arthur at all costs. And it’s only now, at this crucial moment, that Arthur listens to Merlin’s advice and so rejects the Disir’s offer - and in attempting to sacrifice Mordred in order to preserve Arthur’s life, Merlin finds he’s not only renounced his own identity and his people, but brought about the restoration of that which he was trying to prevent. Mordred’s recovery is exactly what the Disir were trying to warn Arthur about: the keystone to the tragic fate that they foretold regarding Camelot’s fall and Arthur’s doom.
Whew. It’s all rather mind-boggling, but a Greek tragedian couldn’t have plotted it more catastrophically.
I suppose I do have some bones to pick with it. I have no idea why Merlin is still listening to Kilgharrah after all the shit he’s pulled in the past. It wasn’t right to kill Mordred when he was a child, and it’s not right to kill him now as a teenager (however indirectly that killing might be). In his experiences with Morgana, Merlin has already dealt with self-fulfilling prophesies, as well as the consequences of turning on people at the dragon’s behest. He should have known better than to try and manipulate a prophesy for his own ends.
And hasn’t Kilgharrah stated several times that the key objective of Merlin’s on-going protection of Arthur is that it will allow Arthur to bring magic back to the land? That his great destiny specifically involves the integration of magical people back into the kingdom? Why does Merlin allow the suffering and persecution of druids and the like to go on in order to protect Arthur when Arthur’s great destiny apparently involves saving these people? What exactly does Merlin think Arthur’s destiny IS at this point? Heck, what does he think his OWN destiny is? Because right now he’s betraying his people to protect a man who is apparently supposed to be granting those very same people their rights and safety.
So despite Merlin telling Mordred, “it won’t always be like this,” I find it increasingly difficult to believe if things ever do change for the magical community, that it’ll be through anything MERLIN says or does. Though I suspect we’re meant to think that Merlin choosing to rank Arthur’s life above everything else was a heartrending and laudable decision, I’m not convinced that it wasn’t just a dumb one, especially since it was a) once again made without giving Arthur all the information he needed to make an informed decision, and b) ultimately for naught.
So for the first time ever, I’m actually thankful that the girls were largely (or fully) absent from an episode. Know why? Because...
“At least this time they can’t blame us for any of this!”
Guinevere
I’ve already mentioned how much I liked the Arthur/Guinevere scenes, especially since their conversations seem so adult now - Gwen advised Arthur not to do go out on a mission that his knights could handle (good continuity) and that perhaps Mordred was too inexperienced to join them. Arthur later admitted that she was right on the second account, and she in turn refuted him, reminding him that were it not for Mordred, it would be Arthur lying in Gaius’s sickbed. That was a good sequence of scenes that flowed nicely into each other, and felt like a natural conversation two people would have with each other, each challenging the other and changing their minds later. Despite being stuck in the castle, Gwen still felt very integral to the story and its themes.
I doubt we’ll get much in the way of Mordred/Guinevere interaction, but it was nice that they acknowledged each other when he entered the room. Also, I loved the way Arthur leaned into her during that scene in their bedchamber - you could tell he was searching for some comfort, but not being able to properly find it.
But my absolute favourite part was that very brief Merlin/Guinevere scene on the steps of the castle. In fact, this might well have been my favourite bit of the whole episode. That look between them said so much about who they are and how they cope with Arthur: humour and resignation in equal measure as Guinevere hands over custody of Arthur to Merlin for the day. So beautifully played by Angel and Colin.
"Merlin? You will take care of him."
"He doesn't always make it easy."
"I know."
Mordred
Mordred was flat-out adorable.
This is nothing like what I expected from him, which was to see him wandering around being vaguely sinister and creepy. I was sure that this episode would mark some sort of turning point in his development: that Merlin would not only seal Arthur’s fate by inadvertently saving Mordred’s life, but also by sowing the seeds of Mordred’s resentment. And yet...nothing. We’ve yet to be given a single reason for why Mordred should turn against Arthur - heck, he took a bullet for him!
The older knights fazing him and getting him to “meld” his saddle by riding backwards was supremely cute, as was Arthur’s surprisingly display of physical affection at the very end. Mordred seems genuinely happy to be where he is, among people that treat him like a favourite little brother. It's going to be a challenge to convincingly have Mordred turn on these people.
Miscellaneous
Both Mithian and Morgana were name-dropped. Yay!
I wish the show would stop recycling all these little snippets of dialogue. Between everyone and their grandmother telling Arthur: “you’re a great king,” and Gaius’s endless repetitions of “you must never let them find out about your magic,” and various people stating: “we have a traitor in our midst,” we’ve now heard Merlin say “I was born with it” twice, and Arthur ask: “what happened to you, Morgana?” twice. Merlin’s comment “I grew up” may have been a deliberate echo of Morgana saying the same thing in 5x02, but it really just feels as though the writers are sharing stock phrases.
Though I guess I liked the repetition of: “even as Camelot flourishes, the seeds of her destruction are being sown” - that was a nice call-back and it certainly got Merlin’s attention.
But another line that grated was Arthur’s line: “Have I not made Camelot a fairer and more just kingdom? Have I not rid it of the cruelties and injustices of the past?”
Um... I don’t know. Have you? Or should I just assume that all that happened in the three year gap? Because honestly, I’m not sure how Camelot is operating any differently from how Uther used to run things. There certainly haven’t been any changes in the law against magic. Is it because there are a couple of commoner knights now? Is it because there’s a Round Table? Because those are the only tangible difference between each man’s reign.
Still, what I am first and foremost taking out of this episode is:
1. You can’t change destiny.
2. Mordred is destined to kill Arthur.
3. If Arthur dies, Guinevere will inherit the entire kingdom.
Look at that, I've ended up writing more than I thought I would. But I was feeling good about this episode, having disengaged after last week. Hopefully I can hold onto this feeling through till next week when it seems Guinevere's story-arc finally kicks off. On the one hand, Angel Coulby, yay! On the other, Guinevere getting kidnapped and tortured and terrified, urgh.
***
On a final note, I don’t count myself as much of a shipper in this fandom (though I always had a soft spot for Guinevere/Lancelot) but I’ve been around long enough to notice that whenever a shipping war erupts, someone will always - ALWAYS - bring up Bradley’s series 2 comment about how his bromance with Merlin was more important than his romance with Gwen. It was frequently used as some sort of “argument stopper”; as if his opinion on the matter automatically bulldozed any other. Well, just recently there has been an interview with Bradley on Skype (I’m not sure what in what context - some sort of con organised by the other actors) and he was asked by a member of the audience whether his views on the bromance/romance still held true. He answered that in regards to the show, the bromance was still the central relationship, but that for Arthur personally: “I think when you find someone in your life who you love more than anything, you will do anything for them and I believe Arthur would do anything for Guinevere.” About as articulate as he gets, but his meaning in a nutshell was clear.
I think the best part is that you could just tell the girl who asked that question was fully expecting him to answer in his usual off-handed dudebro way, only to end up getting the exact opposite of what she was reaching for. So if you’re in the mood for some pristine fandom wank, grab your popcorn GIFs and head over to Tumblr. It's pretty funny in there.