Arthurian references: Merlin BBC season 1

Dec 04, 2011 16:53

Arthurian legends have a lot of resources. For this list I used my memory based on these texts (and the texts themselves when I couldn't remember):
Chrétien de Troyes and his romances
Morte d'Arthur (Thomas Malory)
History of the king of Britains and Vita Merlini (Geoffrey of Monmouth)
Mabinogion
Gildas and Bede
Historia Brittonum (Nennius)
Roman de Brut
Robert de Boron
Lancelot-Grail
Perlesvaus
Parzival
The wedding of Gawain
Gawain and the Green Knight

Arthurian references and problems:
  • Arthur as Uther's son and prince of Camelot is a big arthurian reference. Also, Ygraine is Arthur's mother. They both are Arthur's parents in almost everyone arthurian legend. And Arthur is destined to be Camelot's king.
  • Morgan as a daughter of Gorlois is also a big arthurian reference also if in the show she isn't Ygraine's daugher. SPOILERS from next seasons: (highlight to read: Morgan is actually Uther's daughter as in Geoffrey of Monmouth's tradition. So she is Arthur's half sister )
  • Merlin as a magician and Arthur's helper/friend.
  • Nimue as an enemy of Merlin and as a powerful sorceress.
  • Morgan's magical abilities.
  • There is a lady Perceval in the first episode. This is one of the worst arthurian references ever, I think.
  • In another episode there are sir Pellinore and sir Owain. They both are killed in combat. This is very sad because Merlin merely used two very important arthurian names and not the characters.
  • In the last episode there is sir Bedivere, one of the most famous knights, and he is killed without even being present in the past episodes. A pity.
  • There is the Questing Beast. It is a pity they did not associated her with Pellinore who was killed some episodes before the 1x13.
  • The Cup of Life is probably a reference to the Holy Grail o the famous celtic cauldron of the Mabinogion.
  • There is Avalon that is a sort of kingdom of the immortals. Where dead people go? I actually didn't understand it.
  • Guinevere seems to have a crush on Lancelot and also on Arthur at the end of the season.
  • Lancelot is a good, honorable and strong knight (also if in the legend he was a nobleman).
  • Lancelot is attracted to Guinevere.
  • I really hope the connection Morgan feels towards Mordred is not some sort of "OMG, he is my son in another universe!" because in this version we have Morgause so Morgan is not Mordred's mother. I hope it is not some sort of Mists of Avalon quote.
  • There is a sword called Excalibur which is invincible and it is for Arthur. And now it is in a lake.
  • There is a child called Mordred who is supposed to kill Arthur. Also if I did not like at all how the show deleted all the importance of Mordred's blood connection with Arthur in the legends.
  • They have Beltane.

[fandom] merlin bbc, [fandom] arthurian legends

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