Merlin. Sorry, *what*?

[daibhidc]

The start of this episode looked interesting, with Gwen's father being given a mysterious job by a figure with an echoing voice, concealed by a black, hooded robe. At first I wondered if, like Jason Ogg, he was being given the task of shoeing Death's horse. But that's too much like an actual myth for this show[1], so instead we get another farrago of sorcerers plotting against the King, and the king showing us why. But this time, Gwen's dad gets killed on the king's orders for consorting with sorcerers.

Now, normally, even though I spend these posts being sarcastic about anachronisms and odd alterations of the sources, I enjoy the show. But this episode left me feeling really perplexed. Uther's crossed the line; he's killed an innocent man. And what happens? Morgana plots his death, then changes her mind when he says sorry. Merlin learns that leaving someone to be killed is murder, but blasting a potential assassin with lightning from behind is fine. And Gaius points out that at least the ox-carts run on time.

As far as I'm concerned Uther has gone from misguided good-guy to significant villain, and I'm amazed none of the characters see it that way.

[1]I'm being unfair. Last week's unicorn story was so mythical, I spent a while online trying to track down the source, before concluding there wasn't one.

Comments

[shriker-tam.livejournal.com]

I dunno - he's been a psycho about the magic thing the whole time, but for the rest of it I usually agree with Uther. Not all the time - but often I think he's being sensible, where others are emotional and personal. He's the state, he needs to be sensible and impersonal. But then, sometimes he crosses over into crazy-land and starts killing people...

The whole blasting sorcerors/vs. killing Uther thing bothered me too - but that aside I can see why Merlin chose to try and stop Morgana from killing Uther, and I can see why she changed her mind. I don't think it's a case of them not realising he's bad news, I think they do, but have reasons for not acting on it. Merlin was obviously swayed by the "don't become what you hate" argument, but I'm sure he'd be happy to see Uther dethroned some other way. Morgana I think was just swayed by her personal relationship with him. No matter what else he's done, he's taken care of her since she was a child, and they are obviously very close - though growing less so over time, as she realises just how far round the bend he's gone. I don't think you can blame someone for not wanting the blood of her father-substitute on her hands if there's even the remotest chance he can change for the better.