Be warned, there be spoilers below. As usual, better to watch the episode before reading this.
I watched this episode with a sense of increasing excitement. Last week's episode didn't really do anything awesome enough to get me excited, but this time I was sure that there was going to be a huge game-changer! Specifically, I was convinced that they were building up to THE GAME-CHANGER - Arthur finding out about Merlin's magic. I would have forgiven them for the ridiculous amount of time they wasted getting there. And Uther. And not developing characters properly, and so on, if this had happened.
At one point, Mordred confronted Merlin about his magic right next to Arthur and it looked like Arthur was only faking sleep! I was very excited and kept waiting for Arthur to say something to Merlin. Then the whole Dragon thing happened and I was waiting for Arthur to hear Merlin talking to the Dragon. But of course, Arthur gets knocked unconscious just in the nick of time so that Merlin can preform magic without any worries. It was very frustrating.
In the end, we didn't get the game-changer that we've been waiting to see since Series 1, but we did get something else.
The developments in Mordred's character were quite shocking. And the actor's performance in those last 10 minutes of the episode just sold me on his portrayal. I still miss kid-Mordred, but I don't mind this new, older Mordred as much as I thought I would. His acting was perfect as he stabbed Morgana and then got Knighted and spoke to Merlin. I actually believe that Mordred is good. I don't think he minds Arthur and I think the only grudge/hatred he might bear will be for Emrys.
One thing that did shock me about this was that Arthur KNOWS that Mordred is a Druid, but he still made him into a Knight! Could this be the beginning of his changing views on magic? Could he really have been awake when Mordred and Emrys woke up and is waiting for the right time to reveal his knowledge? This, above all, would redeem the series' mistakes for me. We'll see. For now, I will say that I've deluded myself into a new hope. And in the end, as long as Mordred doesn't turn out to actually be evil/trying to get inside Camelot to wreak havoc I'm happy.
Also, Morgana rules. Just sayin' And what was up with that poor dragon? *shudder*
I agree with you about Mordred, I really hope he doesn't turn out to have ulterior motives. But wasn't there some sort of prophecy that said Mordred would be the fall of Merlin, or something along those lines?
ReplyDeleteOh! I didn't think about him being the fall of Merlin. I only remembered the prophecy that said he was supposed to be Arthur's Bane... and then that "Key to Knowledge" alien told Merlin that Arthur was going to be his own downfall. But yeah, I think you're right; even if he doesn't have it in for Arthur he might very well have it in for Merlin!
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