Merlin - The Castle of Fyrien
Oct. 24th, 2010 08:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
daibhidcAn arc episode, but not one that advances it.
In fact, it seems content to maintain a holding pattern: Morgana is still working with Morguase and Cenred, everyone except Merlin is still clueless.
A pretty good episode nonetheless; it avoids the trap of an Idiot Ball plot, as Gwen sensibly tells Merlin her problem, and Merlin sensibly says she should tell Arthur, rather than Gwen keeping it all to herself until she started getting accused of acting suspiciously. Too bad that was exactly what Morguase wanted her to do. There's some very nice location work at a coastal castle (probably somewhere in Cornwall?), and the plot hangs together nicely (although the extent to which Morgana maintains her masquerade, when she thinks everyone is going to be dead soon anyway, does strain credulity somewhat). But in the end, none of it seems to go anywhere, although it appears that Elyan is sticking around.
Mythwatch: The rival kingdom that used to occupy the Castle of Fyrien was Caerleon, a real Welsh town which according to Monmouth was Arthur's capital (Camelot was invented by the French romances). Elyan may or may not be based on Sir Elyan the White (obvious gag ignored), who rather than Guenevere's brother was Lancelot's second cousin.
An enjoyable episode, but one that seems to be doing more than it actually is.
In fact, it seems content to maintain a holding pattern: Morgana is still working with Morguase and Cenred, everyone except Merlin is still clueless.
A pretty good episode nonetheless; it avoids the trap of an Idiot Ball plot, as Gwen sensibly tells Merlin her problem, and Merlin sensibly says she should tell Arthur, rather than Gwen keeping it all to herself until she started getting accused of acting suspiciously. Too bad that was exactly what Morguase wanted her to do. There's some very nice location work at a coastal castle (probably somewhere in Cornwall?), and the plot hangs together nicely (although the extent to which Morgana maintains her masquerade, when she thinks everyone is going to be dead soon anyway, does strain credulity somewhat). But in the end, none of it seems to go anywhere, although it appears that Elyan is sticking around.
Mythwatch: The rival kingdom that used to occupy the Castle of Fyrien was Caerleon, a real Welsh town which according to Monmouth was Arthur's capital (Camelot was invented by the French romances). Elyan may or may not be based on Sir Elyan the White (obvious gag ignored), who rather than Guenevere's brother was Lancelot's second cousin.
An enjoyable episode, but one that seems to be doing more than it actually is.
