Merlin 5:5 - The brain cells are firing at last....

[undead_begonia]

I feel a bit like Merlin.  Not overworked and unappreciated (although I do, but that's a completely different topic) but rather chagrined and with a sense that I'm the one at fault rather than the things I see around me.

I expected to hate this episode.  With the spoilers that I've read about it, I expected to be rendered almost incoherent with rage

Comments

[jayb111]

He still listens to advisors he should have outgrown five years ago.

I've been thinking about this over the last two or three weeks. How is Merlin supposed to learn and grow as a sorceror and a person? Gaius has presumably taught him all he knows. He has limited opportunities to practice. He never meets or talks to other sorcerors (other than evil ones who are trying to kill him and/or Arthur).

Arthur seems to think Merlin is barely capable of tying his own shoelaces, but it never seems to occur to him that maybe he could do something to help, rather than constantly belittling Merlin.

Contrast that with Arthur taking the time and trouble to help Mordred with his training, and doing it publicly, so it's clear to everyone that Mordred is a valued member of his household.

[undead_begonia]

I agree. I've always maintained that Merlin can't become the Merlin of legend until he is able to study and practise his magic freely. That, ultimately means a magic reveal and either banishment, so that he can get on with learning at the same or better pace than Morgana obviously has been learning since she left Camelot, or the ability to openly practice magic IN Camelot. I know that the show probably would not ever want to have a season (or part season) long arc with Merlin being separated from all the other characters, but really, it should have been done years ago. The Merlin of legend was fabulously knowledgable, well educated, well travelled. Merlin is none of these things because the only thing he's really learned in the ten years he's lived in Camelot is how to knock on doors, and launder Arthur's smalls.

I am having thoughts...

[sugaredwhimsey]

A lot of really interesting thoughts here- and I do think you're really spot on in your comparison of Arthur to Kirk, Aragorn ect. I kind of came up with the same thing, that many of the magic users are like the extremists we see in the Muslim culture. The old religion is not getting the best of press here, but the old religion and magic are so linked in the show. The show always shys away from doing anything political or raising serious questions about real topics, and a religious discussion would be just that, so I'm torn whether the show can ask of the viewers, to bring the magic but leave the religion behind. Perhaps the show is maturing, and this is the introduction to addressing the topic? That the Triple Goddess is herself inherently unfair in her test, asking that Arthur not just accept, but cede her as his superior? That's not asking for freedom from religious persecution, but asking Arthur convert, isn't it

Re: I am having thoughts...

[undead_begonia]

I agree, they are not clear about it, and how subtle they've been intentionally is very difficult to work out. I've always drawn a clear distinction between the druids and the priestesses of the Old Religion, which appear to be completely different groups of magic user. The druids have been left to live in peace in Camelot as long as they don't use magic openly, by my interpretation, but the show really doesn't make it clear what is going on in the background. There also seem to be others - the Catha, the odd hedge-witch, people who don't currently come to our attention as people who are being actively persecuted. Arthur does seem to have a particular focus on the high preistesses and their lackeys, which is not surprising considering Morgana is one of them. I just don't see his attitude as all that unreasonable. Until I SEE him rounding up innocent men and women and condemning them to death because of a bit of healing magic or the occasional harmless charm, I'm not prepared to believe the worst of him.