Merlin - The Darkest Hour
Oct. 3rd, 2011 02:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
daibhidcOh, and this was on straight after DW...
When we left our heroes, the Round Table had been formed, Morgana had fled with an injured Morguase, and Uther had had a breakdown at the revelation Morgana was a baddie. Which is pretty much where we pick things up; Morgana takes Morguase to the Isles of the Blessed, where she sacrifices her to open a gateway to the Otherworld. Result: Camelot is filled with ghosts. (This week's Genuine Mythological Creature is the Cailleach. In this version she guards the gates of the Otherworld, which may indicate some confusion with the Morrigan. Perhaps the name was too similar to Morgana.) The Chailleach warns Morgana of "Emrys", but Morgana is completely unaware that Emrys is Merlin, although she does have a dream connecting the name to Merlin's "elderly sorcerer" illusion.
Merin continues its fine tradition of mixing up Arthurian myth to suit itself with the introduction of Agravaine as a sort of evil Aurelius. He's Arthur's uncle and helping to run the country while Uther is sick, but secretly plotting with Morgana. No relationship to her, or indeed to Gwaine. His similarities to the legendary Agrivaine are 1) he's a bad guy and 2) He's related to Ygraine (brother rather than grandson).[1]
Speaking of Gwaine, it seems that with the Round Table established, he and Lancelot are now regulars (or maybe semiregulars) rather than guest spots. The trouble is, this makes the series rather crowded; Gaius barely gets two lines, and they're just in his role as Mr Exposition.
The Arthur/Merlin banter is still good though, I especially liked "You could say thank you!" and the Sarcastic Confession of Merlin constantly saving Arthur's life.
And Arthur is going to sacrifice himself to save the kingdom, unless Merlin can sacrifice himself first. I can't wait to find out what the third option is...
[1]Those who haven't been following the family relationships in Merlin carefully, but are familar with the legends, may wonder how Agravaine can be related to Ygranne but not Morgana. In Merlin, Arthur is the son of Ygraine and Uther, just like in the legend, but Morgana's status as half-sister of Arthur comes because she is the daughter of Uther and Vivienne, which is the name they've given to Gorlois's wife (who in the legends was Ygraine herself). Sometimes I think knowing the legends is a handicap to following what's going on in Merlin...
When we left our heroes, the Round Table had been formed, Morgana had fled with an injured Morguase, and Uther had had a breakdown at the revelation Morgana was a baddie. Which is pretty much where we pick things up; Morgana takes Morguase to the Isles of the Blessed, where she sacrifices her to open a gateway to the Otherworld. Result: Camelot is filled with ghosts. (This week's Genuine Mythological Creature is the Cailleach. In this version she guards the gates of the Otherworld, which may indicate some confusion with the Morrigan. Perhaps the name was too similar to Morgana.) The Chailleach warns Morgana of "Emrys", but Morgana is completely unaware that Emrys is Merlin, although she does have a dream connecting the name to Merlin's "elderly sorcerer" illusion.
Merin continues its fine tradition of mixing up Arthurian myth to suit itself with the introduction of Agravaine as a sort of evil Aurelius. He's Arthur's uncle and helping to run the country while Uther is sick, but secretly plotting with Morgana. No relationship to her, or indeed to Gwaine. His similarities to the legendary Agrivaine are 1) he's a bad guy and 2) He's related to Ygraine (brother rather than grandson).[1]
Speaking of Gwaine, it seems that with the Round Table established, he and Lancelot are now regulars (or maybe semiregulars) rather than guest spots. The trouble is, this makes the series rather crowded; Gaius barely gets two lines, and they're just in his role as Mr Exposition.
The Arthur/Merlin banter is still good though, I especially liked "You could say thank you!" and the Sarcastic Confession of Merlin constantly saving Arthur's life.
And Arthur is going to sacrifice himself to save the kingdom, unless Merlin can sacrifice himself first. I can't wait to find out what the third option is...
[1]Those who haven't been following the family relationships in Merlin carefully, but are familar with the legends, may wonder how Agravaine can be related to Ygranne but not Morgana. In Merlin, Arthur is the son of Ygraine and Uther, just like in the legend, but Morgana's status as half-sister of Arthur comes because she is the daughter of Uther and Vivienne, which is the name they've given to Gorlois's wife (who in the legends was Ygraine herself). Sometimes I think knowing the legends is a handicap to following what's going on in Merlin...
