Episode IV.X – A Herald of the New Age
We discuss Episode 10 of Season 4 of Merlin, A Herald of the New Age, where Elyan sees dead people!
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7th June 2021 @ 3:21 am
Thank you for pointing out Percival and Leon’s discussion! I listened as far as this episode before I watched Lamia, and…. Wow, I’m a Percival/Leon shipper now. I keep watching them whenever they’re on-screen, and they are delightful. Thanks!
You know, in this episode, I get the feeling that Gawain (whatever version this is) doesn’t much like Elyan. When they’ve got Elyan cornered, he has this look on his face like he wants to just keep attacking that only fades when Percival knocks Elyan out.
I really, really find the hints of “this is group of men whose job is violence and they are very good at it” tantalizing. I get that, as a family show, really exploring that in an ensemble way could be too dark, but I really want the show to get more into what that means for them and the people around them. There is something about the way that Gawain just hits Elyan after their short shoving match that feels oddly callous, and I just…I don’t know what I want them to do with the knights, but it makes me wonder. A lot of the time, I feel the show shift into “these are bros. These bros love each other and they are mean to each other because ‘bros’ ” and that feels shallower than I want it to be. I think American society in particular avoids looking hard at dynamics of groups of guys being competitive or violent (sports, military).
20th June 2021 @ 5:14 pm
yay, the Percival/Leon shipper conversion plans are working! MUAHAHAHA
(seriously though, they are always so cute in the background!)
–When they’ve got Elyan cornered, he has this look on his face like he wants to just keep attacking that only fades when Percival knocks Elyan out.–
the Elyan/Gwaine in this episode is super weird, starting with his complete and utter over reaction in the armory, and yes, you’re right, the way he looks at Elyan.
I do think there is a weirdness to New (worse) Gwaine, that’s about having a very VERY short fuse, and no patience for people, and noo kindness… which just isn’t what Original Gwaine would have done, I don’t think. And yeah, I’ve not spend a lot of time reading interviews with Eoin Macken, but the little stuff I’ve seen has always made me think he was also very aware of the nonsense that was done to his character, and how much of a shame it was.
And yes, completely agree, the lack of depth to the knights individually I think is what leads to this complete lack of depth to the knights as a group that you describe, and how it leaves you with this super surface version of ‘bros’ that yes, kind of hard to swallow, on one hand, but also just really boring, on the other hand.
M Xx
3rd May 2021 @ 3:48 pm
OH MY GOD RUTH MICHELLE I WAS SO EXCITED TO WRITE A COMMENT FOR THIS EPISODE. Not because of the whole plotline, but only because when I think of The Herald of the New Age, all I can think about is that specific camera shot and angle of Bradley James crying towards the end of the episode. It’s practically engraved into my brain, if that’s the right term, not sure.
I appreciated the whole plot line with Elyan, I think it was obvious the writers wanted to include more of the knights from the round table and it gave Adetomiwa Edun, which thank god they made a ‘effort.’ I will say, when I think about the whole plot around Elyan and the child spirit, I really couldn’t care less. I think I just don’t particularly like that sort of ‘spooky’ stuff, so it always seems like a bit of a drag to me having to think I have to watch Elyan freak out about a ghost for 30 minutes (an exaggeration). Despite that, I still have a level of fondness for this episode and I really do think it was a defining moment in the series. It was when watching this episode that I suddenly realised it felt I was getting up to the most ‘iconic’ episodes that were ‘groundbreaking’, and I got really excited. Yet, there is still season 5 and I really despise most of those episodes in s5. I think season 4 had the most interesting plot lines and especially with the new additional cast. The budget obviously increased and I’m glad that they put it to good use with the costumes and everything else.
Also, I just want to say I laughed a lot during this episode, not the stew in the hair joke, but everything else I loved. I think most of that came down to the actors skilled comedic timing, but it was the little things like Bradleys delivery of the lines;
“Are you alright down there Merlin? … GoOOOOOoOOD” Makes me laugh every time.
I’ll work myself in no particular order, starting off with the end scene where Arthur goes to apologise. That stand only scene, for the last 10 minutes where it consisted of Arthur apologising to the spirit along with Merlin was just incredible. To me, I think the lines the writers chose were phenomenal and Bradley perfectly interpreted them. I am sure you are getting a wide amount of the same comments surrounding Bradley’s acting in this episode, but It was just gorgeous. I loved how his tears kept flowing, like constantly, (thanks Merlin for pointing that out by the way). My favourite bits of that scene were when Bradley produced the very shaky, croaked line ‘I wanted to stop it. I froze.’ Just pure gold. I think that’s what really sold it to me, it was very heart wrenching and I’m pretty sure the first time I ever watched it I cried. I like how this confirmed further Arthur’s view on ‘magic’ and consolidated his merciful, fair, personality but then again, I’m not really sure whether we needed that. None the less, I really enjoyed that whole scene and I think it tops his performance in the Sins of the Father, or at least on the same sort of level.
My critics –
Gwaine: I appreciate the fact the writers are trying to reintroduce Gwaine and Merlin’s friendship, I think in the Secret Sharer that was apparent too, and I did enjoy that for the most part…
Yet, yes. Here they go again completely defamiliarizing Gwaine and what he used to be. However, I don’t really mind Gwaine’s new appearance, its kind of fitting seeing as he never wanted to be a knight and was really stubborn, so of course he’s more brutal and ‘lad like.’ Hence why he punches Elyan in the face………….
Hm, okay really not sure about Gwaine.
Although, Eoin is really selling him, especially with the hair and that beautiful necklace. Its when Gwaine rushes to Elyan’s room and bends down, I really appreciate how gorgeous he is. I also like how we got to see him out of chainmail!
Merlin: Merlin is really pushy and stubborn in this episode; I think he’s just become really impatient with Agravaine. I found it really peculiar when Agravaine was trying to convince Arthur to kill Elyan or something and Merlin was also standing there convincing Arthur not to.That whole conversation just reminded me of a child’s conversations “no pick me!” “I have the better advice! you’re wrong I’m right!” It made the scene a lot funnier to mean but idk, not sure how to feel about it. They just kept cutting to Agravaine’s opinion, then to Merlin’s, then to Arthur’s then back and forth again. It’s even funnier when Arthur just shoos them both away. Really confused because Merlin stands up and is so sassy to Agravaine, proving that perhaps Merlin doesn’t feel threatened by Agravaine’s ‘authority’ compared to Uther’s. Honestly Merlin in this episode gave me season 1-2 throwback vibes when he was complaining about never getting any thanks and how his job is too hard.
I don’t have much to say about Merlin during this episode, except he was a tad annoying. IN WHAT UNIVERSE MERLIN WOULD YOU BOTHER YOUR BEST FRIEND ABOUT GWEN FOR THE 5TH TIME, TRYING TO MAKE HIM REGRET WHAT HE DID FOR THE 5TH TIME. I just found it annoying because Arthur showed mercy in Gwen, he could’ve killed her if it was in his father’s time,but he didn’t. What else could he have done? Arthur was in the right (in my opinion), he showed mercy to her, APOLOGISED TO GWEN FOR WHAT SHE DID, (as well as apologising because he made her leave Camelot, but still, rightfully so) and had to be the better man, in a way. Yet here Merlin is, trying to rub it into Arthurs face. If Arthur is obviously hurting, despite whether it’s about Gwen or the Druid camp, LEAVE HIM ALONE IF HE’S MADE IT SO CLEAR. Oh my god can you imagine this in real life with someone else’s ex.
On a more positive note…I want to add how I really liked the scene when Merlin and Gaius went to the druid camp place and he looked into the well, and Colin cries beautifully. I loved the way he shoved his hands onto his head, it was really affective and proved his physical and mental pain for the suffering he felt of others. Sorry if that didn’t make sense. SO PLEASE, tell me WHY: WHY DOES MERLIN CRY LOOKING IN THE WELL, BUT NOT AT ARTHURS SPEECH?! Arthur could not see him, Arthur had his back to Merlin, so even at that, Merlin wouldn’t have to hide it. His life had been DEDICATED to bringing back magic to Camelot, and here Arthur is, admitting his regret and promising a new, safer life for the druids. The druids have magic and SURELY this would mean something to Merlin. Yet when they cut back to Merlin, he just looks less emotive then normally and sort of angry. Just a bit frustrated really.
Also why did merlin catch the water bottle so GOOD in the first minute of the episode.
Arthur – Don’t think I have much to say on this, entirely because it says it all in itself in this episode. 10/10 Arthur yay. I like how as soon as Agravaine walked away, Arthur told Gaius and Merlin information linking to Elyan being a spirit. I think Arthur sort f showed he had learnt his lessons from His Father’s son (killing Caerleon, or whoever’s name I forgot). Arthur yet again proves his fairness when he goes “I would be killing an innocent man”, etc, etc. Beautiful. Yay! Do we really need this? No… I already know Arthur is a good man but it’s nice to have.
The Knights: Liked how they built the knights in this episode, showed more of their personality, yes they unnecessarily teased Elyan but I don’t care anymore, I’ve given up trying to make sense with the writers (especially that stew game they played with Merlin early on in the season…). I LOVED when Merlin caught the water bottle and they HYSTERICALLY CHEERED AT MERLIN, kind of really cute. Especially when Merlin also cheered at himself. Awwww 🙂
Also laughed when Percival goes “Merlin’s gonna feel that in his arms tomorrow.”
Elyan: I am a bit confused with Elyan’s character at this point, especially in this episode. This is of course, due to the fact BBC grew a massive cast and it was hard to develop all these induvial personalities. However, when they first introduced Elyan, they acknowledged he was more careless/reckless/relaxed as he was forever running around, not really caring. Yet in this episode, and in the start before he’s even harassed by the spirit Elyan comes off really sensitive and tense. Although, rightfully so, the Knights were teasing them about his water bottle and that would’ve been annoying but like, why did he get so edgy and serious in season 4. Not as much fun but I guess you kind of need that balance in a group.
Arthur & Merlin: Don’t like them together in this episode all that much.I must’ve been in a bad mood or something, but at the time I was just too frustrating to watch them be so sarcastic. Arthur doing the gag of ‘wHEre have You bEeN’ got a bit old (I still appreciate it though at times). Then I find the very last scene where Merlin asks for a hug funny and ironic, but out of place for what just happened. Yes, it lightened the mood because of the last scene but I wish they just decided to leave it sadder. Bradley delivers a funny line “Than you’re as stupid as you’re ugly.” Which I enjoy but it just felt like wrong place wrong time. Arthur went through a serious ordeal and now was not the time to be “joking” about how much Arthur cried. Idk, when Merlin says “I’ve never seen you cry like that before” it’s a BEAUTIFUL LINE but I feel like because it needed it to be lightened up, it felt like Merlin was mocking Arthur and invalidating Arthur’s very toxic damaged view of masculinity even more. What the hell Merlin.
Anyway, its 12:35AM, I have school tomorrow. Despite all my critics, I did really like this episode and I appreciate it fondly.
4th May 2021 @ 3:03 pm
Bradley’s crying face being engraved on your brain sounds incredibly depressing, but also exactly like what that scene deserves!! gosh, he cries well!!
and yes, there are a fair amount of comments highlighting Bradley’s fantastic acting, which again, exactly what he deserves, and I am definitely never going to stop anyone from calling out how good he is, so you comment away! haha
–seeing as he never wanted to be a knight and was really stubborn, so of course he’s more brutal and ‘lad like.’ Hence why he punches Elyan in the face………….–
I don’t have a problem with the punch in regards to it ‘not being very knightly’ and yes, that would be very fitting for Gwaine. I am just hella confused by him being nudged slightly and immediately going from ‘watch it’ to ‘knock out cold’. it just seems to come out of absolutely nowhere. And yes, I guess it’s in line with his over reaction towards Dragoon saying ‘you’re not as you seem’ and he wanted to kill the old man right then and there, too. So maybe it is “in character”, I just don’t like it lol
— SO PLEASE, tell me WHY: WHY DOES MERLIN CRY LOOKING IN THE WELL, BUT NOT AT ARTHURS SPEECH?!–
not sure if you wanted this to be an actual question, but I’m going to give it a go, anyway haha
the well scene, I think Colin does an amazong job (and was clearly heautifully directed to do this, also) in depicting an immersion into the horrible massacra that took place him, that completely takes him over while he is looking in the well, and is so brutal and so heavily emotional, that it makes him weep. But when he pulls back he shakes it off, because it is someone else’s memory that he’s just stepped into, not actually an emotion that is happening to him, so while his tears came from being thrust into the experience and having to live it, as soon as it is over he steps back, and shakes it off, rubbing his hands over his face, and returning to “normal”, and I think that’s beautifully depicted by Colin.
In regards to why he doesn’t cry at Arthur’s speech… to me it comes back to that witness role that we discussed on the podcast. He is there to bear witness to Arthur’s confession, Arthur’s resolution to this problem, and Arthur’s promise for the future. But while the speech is beautiful and the promise means a lot… it hasn’t happened yet. And in this moment, Merlin doesn’t know what this will mean, practically, going forward. Which is also why I think we get Merlin bringing it up again when they are back in Camelot, away from the distressing experience they all just went through, and it remains to be seen if, in the harsh light of day, the promise means anything…
that’s my two cent, anyway.
M Xx
3rd May 2021 @ 3:17 am
I also forgot about this episode and how creepy it was. The acting in this ones is pretty awesome, so much beautiful crying! The plot works well for me, and I enjoy the comedic beats between Arthur and Merlin. I remember the funny bits, but I didn’t realize they came from such a sad and suspenseful episode.
It really astounded me how much head trauma there is in this episode, 3 knock out punches! If something has enough force to leave you unconscious, it should have lasting impacts. But movie magic means that everyone is almost completely fine after a couple minutes, so no long lasting issues.
I really don’t like how this episode normalizes violent aggression, Elyan wails on Merlin with a sword and the knights all laugh it off, Elyan panics and gets punched in the head by Gwaine. The fact that this is shown as ok is very upsetting, the way the knights respond feels like this is a regular occurrence. The knights don’t get angry with Gwaine about knocking out their friend, they just kind of forget about it. Arthur mocks Merlin after being bludgeoned, it’s used as comedy. The violence shown has no consequences, it enforces the idea that it’s ok to hurt other people. I really wish the show writers had thought more about what they were doing. Normalizing aggression and violence in a show that kids watch is damaging.
3rd May 2021 @ 6:12 am
I accidentally didn’t post all of my comment, whoops!
I didn’t realize this right away, but Arthur once again ignores magic. When Elyan is in the council chamber and tries to kill Arthur, Merlin bursts open the doors with magic and Arthur doesn’t question anything! It’s so blatant, maybe he couldn’t notice it in a fight, but after he sure would. Its another one to add to the list.
I really like how Merlin makes all his little jokes and his so proud of them. Seeing him chuckle is so cute! We get to see the happy boy who first came to Camelot. It is annoying that at the end when he suggest a hug to Arthur, Arthur gets mad. Why can’t they have a nice healthy relationship? Hugs are great Arthur, you should try them sometime.
Why be happy when you can be snappy
Ask for a hug Merlin and you get a slappy
4th May 2021 @ 2:46 pm
–It really astounded me how much head trauma there is in this episode–
honestly, the show as a whole. most of merlin’s secrecy is based on head trauma, and no actual harm ever being done. the medieval times were amazing like that!
–. The violence shown has no consequences, it enforces the idea that it’s ok to hurt other people.–
actually I think it goes further than that, and is worse than that, because it’s about violence being perfectly okay, if you are doing it to your friends. same as the bullying. this is why I don’t like stuff like playing keep away with Elyan’s water bottle. it’s a widely accepted form of bullying ‘amongst friends’, and it’s exactly this behaviour that leads to “playful” punches, and “joking” micro aggressions, and as we see in this episode, violence that’s joked about and laughed away. it’s not what the show means to say, I understand that, but I really really dislike it, anyway.
M Xx
2nd May 2021 @ 11:21 pm
I actually really like this episode which surprised me as just like you guys I couldn’t actually remember this episode. But I think that’s just due to the weird placement of this episode in the season, which also is my biggest criticism.
This episode works really well for me. The plot is intriguing, even if it isn’t the most innovative of ideas considering past episodes. The characters (who aren’t Gaius) work for me. There are many great moments between characters, both establishing what their relationship and dynamics look like as well as developing them. I can’t find big issues, just little things (therefore a lot of small notes in my comment), which is such a relief after the past episodes, where there were so many big issues. This is just a nice solid episode.
I like that we see a lot of Elyan even though he is possessed. We see his core and finally the dude has a personality again. The first half of the episode I don’t get the idea that Elyan’s behaviour is different to his personality. Until he starts killing, we see Elyan. A paranoid and scared Elyan, but still Elyan.
I was a bit confused by Elyan drinking the water at the shrine as well. However, the way it was shot gives me the impression that the water kind of called to him. That he was pulled there by the spirit.
Why is Gwaine always around when someone gets spooked? First Merlin when he heard something in that village and almost attacked him with a fishing rod and now Elyan. He’s just there to save scared people xD
NOW they need to tell Arthur? Why is this the one time they can’t tell him for no reason? Gaius, are you feeling alright?
It makes all the other times they haven’t told him anything even worse because Arthur just believes Merlin. He trusts him and takes what he says into account and even takes his side with Agravaine. So why the hell don’t they talk any other time???
I just can’t stand listening to Agravaine saying “you’ll appear weak” any longer. Oh my god this is getting old.
Merlin’s tunic and neckerchief are so bright it looks a bit childish on Merlin. That might have worked on s1 Merlin but it looks weird looking at him and seeing how much he (and Colin) have grown. It’s also weird for the tone of the episode. We were used to more faded colours in the past episodes, I don’t understand why we change it here.
“From This day forth the Druid people will be given the respect they deserve” SPOILER good thing we just forget that promise 😀 Fun… I remember getting really upset watching Merlin for the first time and remembering that Arthur said this.
It’s odd that the resolution of this episode is about Arthur learning the same lesson he has before. He basically learned this in the labyrinth of gedref, so why are we doing this again? Why are we extending Arthur’s inner struggle all episode when it’s something that should have come a lot quicker considering his past experiences. Whether we talk about the innocence of a magical child or a magical creature like a unicorn really isn’t that far of a stretch. He already learned to face the consequences of killing an innocent magical being.
Yes, the show isn’t very good at consistent character arching, but this seems kind of extreme, as it is repeating a lesson from an episode of season 1 (ONE!!!)
It’s a strong character beat in the episode itself, but it just looses all impact looking at the whole series.
This episode also adds the theme of magical prosecution as a whole on this, but it still felt extremely similar.
I don’t think anything has felt as much as queerbaiting at this point as the question for a hug at the end of this episode. Especially after we got a hug in a servant of two masters. It might not have felt as uncomfortable if this scene was earlier in the series, but now that we know that Arthur is actually capable of physical intimacy… just why? Why are we doing this?
Just a little random note at the end:
I’m watching Merlin on German Netflix so I get the German titles of the episodes and this one struck me as especially boring. It’s just “the Druid shrine” (Der Druidenschrein). The one time there was a somewhat imaginative original title and they made it the most obvious thing they could have thought of.
4th May 2021 @ 2:22 pm
–I just can’t stand listening to Agravaine saying “you’ll appear weak” any longer. Oh my god this is getting old.–
only three more episodes. you can make it!!! hahaha
–Merlin’s tunic and neckerchief are so bright it looks a bit childish on Merlin. That might have worked on s1 Merlin but it looks weird looking at him and seeing how much he (and Colin) have grown. It’s also weird for the tone of the episode. We were used to more faded colours in the past episodes, I don’t understand why we change it here.–
which is another thing that seems like a throwback, along with the “training” scene, and Merlin’s churlish complaining how Arthur doesn’t listen to him. It’s like they hired the occassional staff writer that had only seen half the show up to this point. except that’s not the case, but it’s certainly how it comes across sometimes
–It’s odd that the resolution of this episode is about Arthur learning the same lesson he has before. He basically learned this in the labyrinth of gedref, so why are we doing this again? Why are we extending Arthur’s inner struggle all episode when it’s something that should have come a lot quicker considering his past experiences. Whether we talk about the innocence of a magical child or a magical creature like a unicorn really isn’t that far of a stretch. He already learned to face the consequences of killing an innocent magical being.–
but that was seasons ago, arthur can’t be expected to remember… especially with how often he is knocked unconcious.
SIGH
–I’m watching Merlin on German Netflix so I get the German titles of the episodes and this one struck me as especially boring. It’s just “the Druid shrine” (Der Druidenschrein). The one time there was a somewhat imaginative original title and they made it the most obvious thing they could have thought of.–
hahahah sometimes german episode titles do go in for the UBER OBVIOUS, don’t they? I remember we talked about it on thinky thoughts in regards to german titles of buffy episodes and how sometimes you absolutely feel sorry for the person who has to translate a really difficult concept. and sometimes it’s just ridiculous how obvious a translation would be, and how far from it and how stupid they’ve managed to make the actual thing… lol
2nd May 2021 @ 10:24 pm
Sorry if I repeat what anyone else has said: I haven’t had the time to read everyone’s comments yet but I will. 😊
I have to admit that this episode is one of my favourites to watch in season 4, despite its despicable lack of women. I guess they were all busy shooting the women-in-the-castle scenes in 4.9.
I think the title, for once, is actually quite clever because it, like the episode itself, keeps us guessing for a long time, who the actual herald of the new age will be. Is it Elyan? The druid boy? Arthur? Even Merlin? I think especially when you don’t know the final twist that Arthur is responsible for the druid massacre, I assume that the herald is the druid/possessed Elyan. Merlin tries to hijack the story for himself at some point. when he rants about Arthur not listening to him that is quickly dismissed by Gaius since the story isn’t Merlin’s. Like you said, he is there to bear witness. It feels a little out of character for Merlin to want to claim the spotlight but then much of Merlin’s teasing and banter and interaction with Arthur jars with the solemn and sincere tone of the rest of the episode.
But, I guess, in the end, the real herald is Arthur himself as he is willing to accept responsibility, apologise and atone for it, even to the point of possibly losing his life to the spirit’s revenge. (Again, that final scene between Arthur and Merlin sadly calls into question his sincerity and truthful motives – why was it included?!) I remember being so shocked at Arthur’s revelation and love re-watching the episode knowing what must being going on in Arthur’s head all this time. If you don’t know, you don’t see it and, like Merlin, might get frustrated because Arthur is so taciturn. But on the second watch, it’s all so obvious and Bradley’s performance throughout is just so moving and remarkable. Obviously, there are connections being drawn between this episode and ‘The Sins of the Father’: Arthur honours his responsibility, nearly loses his head, confronts a spirit, there is even a musical throwback to the theme that played when Arthur met Ygraine. Only this time, Arthur is facing his own sins (in a Merlin-the-show-we-can’t-allow-any-characters-to-be-truly-evil kind of way) and the confrontation with Elyan/spirit in the council chambers harks back to Arthur and Uther’s fight. Only now, Arthur has to take his father’s place. I remember commenting on that episode about generational sin, the younger generation inheriting the burdens of the older and, in some way, taking up the mantle. I think this still applies here: Arthur isn’t solely responsible but he must take on the mantle of whatever the older generation has left for him to deal with.
It is really interesting how heavily the episode (and previous ones) have leant into moral and religious terminology: The spirit says it forgives Arthur, the only way for his sins to be atoned for if Arthur was not to lose his life. Arthur’s willingness to confess to the spirit and sacrifice his life in atonement also plays into this rhetoric and it is actually a beautiful message we are left with at the (almost) end. SPOILER: I just wish this kind of tonality, the theme of forgiveness conquering hate, violence, wrong or injustice and Arthur’s promise to treat the druidic people with more respect would have any impact whatsoever on future episodes. Sadly, it really doesn’t. We never see Arthur act on this promise by passing a law, visiting with druid elders or even commanding a druid camp discovered by a patrol to be left at peace. The druid people pretty much disappear until later in season 5 when, it appears, Arthur has not respected them as he had promised, causing many to side with Morgana (Ruadan, Kara etc.) I don’t think this was intended by the showmakers who seemed to be really sincere about the message of this episode. But having watched all of Merlin, it calls into question the truthfulness of Arthur’s confession – which is unfortunately seconded by that final scene between Merlin and Arthur.
I think it is really interesting how many unusual pairings we get in this episode with Gwaine, Gaius and Leon having a conversation, just the knights, Merlin and Agravaine speaking to each other as equals. The last time we had something similar was, perhaps, in the Castle of Fyrien where I also noticed it and the number of times the concept of being friends or friendship was discussed. Interestingly, being friends and friendship is also featured very frequently in this second episode giving Elyan a more prominent role: Agravaine says that the knights’ friendship with Elyan has ended when he tried to assassinate Arthur; Percival suggests that they all lower their weapons and sort this out like friends; Agravaine says Merlin only made up the possession narrative because he wants to save his friend Elyan and Arthur says that he doesn’t want to unjustly kill an innocent man, moreover, someone who is a friend. So, perhaps the show is making a clear link between Elyan’s character and friendship through both Fyrien and this episode. I know in fanfictions, many writers are often confused by Elyan. He hasn’t been given a clear character or position or even brawn to be distinctive. But maybe we can take from this that his foremost role is to be a friend to the people he meets and to bring out conversations about friendship in those around him?
Another theory of why friendship is so thematically important in this episode may be to do with a focus on the knights, their lives and relationships. Perhaps this is one of my favourite things about the episode: we learn how they live, what they do after work (arm-wrestle, apparently), that they show real loyalty and understanding to each other not just to Arthur, that they have actual conversations when Merlin or Arthur aren’t present, they question the right or wrong of what they are ordered to do and that, sometimes, for the good of all, they keep things from Arthur. I think this is so fascinating and I wish we had tons more of this in other episodes. After all, the Knights of the Roundtable are so important to the Arthurian legends, many having more adventures than the king himself! Also, all the actors playing the knights have such talents – I wish we had utilised this more. The knights’ friendship, sadly, brings home to me once again how forcefully underdeveloped we keep Merlin and Arthur’s friendship. Why is it they still mock and banter and treat each other quite so callously at times when the knights, in only a year, have managed to form such strong bonds?
Some further musings:
– Arthur seems disproportionately put out by Merlin coming late to serve him and seems to disbelief his story about being lost in the forest. This always strikes me as odd in an episode when we see a more sensitive, thoughtful and sincere Arthur. However, he later orders Merlin to polish his armour to pay for his ‘escapade’ and it made me wonder whether Arthur knows full well that it was Merlin who released Elyan from the dungeon. That would explain a bit of his attitude.
– I think Richard Wilson’s comic genius flourishes beautifully in this episode. He’s so funny when he rejects Gwaine’s medical opinion or stumbles over things in the shrine-that-is-not-to-be-disturbed. I wonder why they have decided to make Gaius the comic relief here but perhaps it is because we don’t need him as exposition machine as he is as much in the dark as anyone else. Helpful feature of a ghost story.
– I LOVE the way Merlin is so pleased with himself when he thought of the little ‘got out of the wrong side of the table’ joke. I could watch that on a loop!
– I think it is both hilarious and apt that Elyan tries to kill Arthur the first time in the same way that he whacked on Merlin’s shield that same morning. Only this time, Arthur is Merlin, holding up a stool as a shield. I bet Arthur regretted training Elyan to whack things really hard!
3rd May 2021 @ 12:44 am
-I remember being so shocked at Arthur’s revelation and love re-watching the episode knowing what must being going on in Arthur’s head all this time.-
Oh yes, me too! I forgot to mention it in my original comment, but I think this episode is only better on re-watch! At first, I was also wondering why Arthur was so passive and what was going on with him being quiet (an obvious explanation at the time being, of course, him still mourning the loss of his relationship with Gwen), but on a re-watch, you can see what Bradley was going for in full glory! I especially liked watching him in the first scene where the knights enter the shrine. He’s not in the focus of that scene, but you could see it all on his face: the sudden realization that he knows the place, and then, he almost freezes with guilt. When he later talks to Gaius and Merlin, I was at first surprised that he asks Gaius “what do you know about this place?”, as if he didn’t know himself – but it then made so much sense to me! Arthur is testing Gaius’ knowledge, trying to figure out if he knows about his own involvement. All in all, Bradley’s great.
-Obviously, there are connections being drawn between this episode and ‘The Sins of the Father’: Arthur honours his responsibility, nearly loses his head, confronts a spirit, there is even a musical throwback to the theme that played when Arthur met Ygraine.-
Ha, I see we simultaneously figured out the soundtrack choice 😀 It’s really neat how they tie the two episodes together, especially so Arthur here pushes away from Uther’s murderous legacy, thus, in a way, choosing Ygraine.
-Another theory of why friendship is so thematically important in this episode may be to do with a focus on the knights, their lives and relationships. –
Yes, this is one of the best episodes for the knights. I wish we had more of that!
4th May 2021 @ 1:41 pm
–I think the title, for once, is actually quite clever because it, like the episode itself, keeps us guessing for a long time, who the actual herald of the new age will be. Is it Elyan? The druid boy? Arthur? Even Merlin?–
I always struggle with this title, not because I don’t think it works, but because I always have to pause and make sure I put the ‘a’ and ‘the’ in the right place, because naturally I want to say ‘the herald of a new age’ and I’m not sure if that’s about me being foreign, but that’s what feels natural to me, so I find it really fascinating that they called it ‘A herald’ (as in, there’s more than one, this is just the first one we’re going to see and deal with’, of ‘THE new age’ (as in we are talking about a very specific age that is being brought in.
As I say, I’m really not sure if I am making more of this than there is, due to the fact that English isn’t my first language, but I’ve kept coming back to that this week, for some reason.
–We never see Arthur act on this promise by passing a law, visiting with druid elders or even commanding a druid camp discovered by a patrol to be left at peace. The druid people pretty much disappear until later in season 5 when, it appears, Arthur has not respected them as he had promised, causing many to side with Morgana (Ruadan, Kara etc.) I don’t think this was intended by the showmakers who seemed to be really sincere about the message of this episode. But having watched all of Merlin, it calls into question the truthfulness of Arthur’s confession – which is unfortunately seconded by that final scene between Merlin and Arthur.–
unintentional implications, and unintended consequences/conclusions, I agree, but majorly heartbreaking never the less. just why show, why??? We talk about it in this week’s podcast… all we ask is for the people writing the show to be at least tangentially aware of what they said in the last episode, and what they are planning to say in the next few episodes coming up. it’s really not that much to ask!
–But maybe we can take from this that his foremost role is to be a friend to the people he meets and to bring out conversations about friendship in those around him?–
I think that’s really lovely! I also think this highlights the episodes in which we get the knights featured more heavily and done well (or at least mostly well) and putting focus on the expanding world around merlin & arthur. largely, they do forget the knights exist, sadly, but when they manage to integrate them into episodes in a way that makes sense we remember that these are the people that were largely brought to arthur’s cause through their links with merlin, their friendships with merlin or each other, and how all of that transferred into loyalty to camelot. And I guess it did all start with Elyan (if you accept that Lancelot was always a bit weird and separate).
–Another theory of why friendship is so thematically important in this episode may be to do with a focus on the knights, their lives and relationships.–
hahahah wow, that’s what I get for responding to comments one paragraph at a time lol it’s something that I nearly talked about in the live yesterday, but don’t think I did, but Ruth is so much better at reading the entire comments page and pulling out things for discussion, whereas I very much process thoughts one paragraph at a time, and respond to things the same way. so yes, friendship and knights! I agree!! hahaha
-– I LOVE the way Merlin is so pleased with himself when he thought of the little ‘got out of the wrong side of the table’ joke. I could watch that on a loop!–
haha he is utterly ridiculous, and I love him!!
5th May 2021 @ 6:50 pm
As I say, I’m really not sure if I am making more of this than there is, due to the fact that English isn’t my first language, but I’ve kept coming back to that this week, for some reason. –
No, I don’t think it has anything to do with your specific mothertongue. I guess it is just your expectation that influences your confusion. And, to be fair, the correct order of direct and indirect article in this title IS confusing because both would make sense. I had the same problem and defintely had to look it up before posting my comment. 🙂
just why show, why??? –
Season 4 tagline? (Although, might want to keep that for season 5.)
hahahah wow, that’s what I get for responding to comments one paragraph at a time lol it’s something that I nearly talked about in the live yesterday, but don’t think I did, but Ruth is so much better at reading the entire comments page and pulling out things for discussion, whereas I very much process thoughts one paragraph at a time, and respond to things the same way. –
For me, this varies. Mostly, I do it like you, I think. But then, I find that some comments pull me along like there is a red thread going through and I have to finish reading it first before responding.
2nd May 2021 @ 9:56 am
I love how Arthur’s silence -like the moment where he’s just staring, with his food sitting in front of him- is so powerful in portraying his depression over Gwen. I really wish this didn’t get turned into the stew joke. I totally agree Merlin should have been joking about other things and not those that represents Arthur’s repressed breakdown.
What I don’t appreciate about this episode is that this is not actually an Elyan episode; he is only a vessel for the ghost, while the whole episode is a vessel for an Arthur story. I think Arthur’s silence on Gwen makes perfect sense, but the episode should have directly mentioned it and made it a point of tension between him and Elyan. That way their emotional reconciliation would have worked on two levels and could have given Elyan more development. Though can I just say, Howard and Bradley are awesome every time they take Arthur on an emotional journey. : )
Quick theory about why Team Morgana doesn’t simply let Arthur die: Morgana wants Arthur to die emotionally first, feel the isolation she felt and lose faith in everything he believed in. If only she was that deep…
3rd May 2021 @ 3:52 pm
I completely agree with everything you’re saying. My only thing is that I always wondered whether when Merlin brung up Gwen, do you think Arthur’s just depressed about Gwen or he is recollecting his memories on killing all the druids and making the possible connections between the two. Not sure, I think the Gwen aspect is more eligible but I did consider and question that when rewatching.
4th May 2021 @ 1:21 pm
–Though can I just say, Howard and Bradley are awesome every time they take Arthur on an emotional journey. : )–
took me an unreasonably long time to realise that you weren;t talking about Howard the cat… hahaha
1st May 2021 @ 11:26 pm
I remember really appreciating this episode the first time I saw it and that held up during the rewatch. The theme absolutely deserves more time. I would have liked an entire season dedicated to this kind of reckoning with magic, magical people, the fallout of Uther’s reign of terror, etc. It would have fit in with other related themes brought up in His Father’s Son and even Arthur’s decision to marry Gwen.
That being said, it’s nice that the episode is so contained and clearly executed. It’s much tidier than most episodes in this season. We also get more knights! That always makes an episode feel somehow bigger or more spacious to me. (I was cracking up about Ruth shipping Leon and Percival 😂 #tallknightsforthewin)
Before this we’ve seen Arthur’s character become nearly unrecognizable for the sake of the episode, and this week turned that around. The way the ultimate “twist” unfolds, that Arthur is the one who led the raid on the Druid camp, felt like it came logically from the rest of the episode. Arthur’s behavior makes sense throughout, from the way he brushes off his disturbance at the shrine, to his cold behavior towards Merlin and his reluctance to be honest about this awful part of his history (and yes, love that role reversal! Great point!).
It felt SO satisfying to have an episode where Merlin tells Arthur something and Arthur actually comes up with a better solution than magic. One thing I seriously dislike about how often Merlin withholds information and tries to solve every problem on his own and only with his magic is that it completely cancels out Arthur’s agency. It often makes me feel like Arthur is being strangely infantilized.
I think it’s interesting that the episode set up the possibility of Merlin learning some “powerful magic” to exorcise Elyan but then, when Arthur got the information and was completely on board with the idea of Elyan being possessed, the story took a different turn that ended up providing some beautiful character development. Imagine that!
The acting in this episode is fantastic. The fact that Tomiwa, Colin and Bradley can completely convince me of the reality of possession, haunting, visions of genocide and magically sensed curses – very little of which can be depicted on screen, soggy child ghost aside – is pretty damn impressive.
Unfortunately, now every time Merlin fails to sense something obviously magical I will think of this episode and how often he mentioned his ability to sense the vibes at the shrine…
Lastly, Sassy Merlin is my favorite Merlin. I agree that he felt like a throwback to season 1-2 in this episode but I just adore it when he claps back at Arthur 👏🏻 👏🏻
4th May 2021 @ 1:19 pm
— It often makes me feel like Arthur is being strangely infantilized.–
agreed. and I think also that we have to seriously question (and certainly if arthur ever find out, he should be seriously questioning) how much Arthur actually would be able to achieve on his own… it’s just not what I want this story to be 🙁
1st May 2021 @ 1:20 pm
Pleasantly surprised this week! It is not one I’d be rushing to rewatch, but actually I really quite enjoyed it. I really want to watch the RSC production of Romeo and Juliet that Adetomiwa was init the globe! He is really captivating and beautiful.
I am totally ashamed as when Gwaine or someone mentioned Gwen having been banished, I had completely forgotten. This is really my fault (I am not known for my incredible memory or organisation), but I do wish that this storyline felt more integrated. I would have kind of loved a conversation between ELyan and Arthur, but obviously that is a difficult one- a) you have to make Arthur face up to his dubious actions again and b) you do risk making Elyan look like a bad person if you have him voice support for Arthur’s decision or whatever he says.
I have been doing research on medieval fabrics and dyes all week (building up to making my own 15th century dress!) and so the druid shrine was very kind in offering me so many fabric samples! On the historical note, I too would love to attend Mark Allan’s classes! I loved your comment (I think it was you?) about how Lancelot takes the place of Elaine of Astolat- what a lovely idea. I would love to look into Arthurian legend more, and ‘The Lady of Shalott’ by Tennyson is one of my favourite poems.
There were a few lines from Merlin this episode that didn’t sit right with me:
-to Gaius he says “and for once I’m not lying to you”, which is like huh??? It makes him sound really bad, and Merlin doesn’t lie to Gaius that often? Merlin lies so much- he has to sometimes- but when he lies to Gaius it usually is more significant, as Gaius knows his big secret, so to brush it off like that doesn’t seem right.
-to Arthur he asks “why else would (Elyan) attack you” which is also pretty odd since Elyan has quite a clear motive. Perhaps Merlin is encouraging Arthur to trust Elyan and look past that, but that wasn’t overly clear
-the final conversation is not quite what I want it to be, I wish the Merlin had shown his shock from the night before, and perhaps ask if Arthur meant it in regards to his treatment of magic users- is Arthur’s handling of it finally going to change from Uthers as king?
I am soooo looking forward to next week! Not only is Gwen pretty cool, but- as Danuta says- I can’t wait to swoon over Mithian again! I watched Skins recently, and I’m pretty sure she was in one episode- add her to the list! I also enjoyed spotting Merlin’s friend as the lovely Chris :’) and the amazing Mackenzie Crook of course!
4th May 2021 @ 1:15 pm
–I really want to watch the RSC production of Romeo and Juliet that Adetomiwa was init the globe! He is really captivating and beautiful.–
oooooh. thanks for actually making me do the research on this (cause I’m lazy and that had also been in the back of my mind for a very long time…)
https://globeplayer.tv/videos/romeo-juliet
available to rent and stream online for £5.99 at the globe. yay!
–I do wish that this storyline felt more integrated. I would have kind of loved a conversation between ELyan and Arthur, but obviously that is a difficult one–
I think very much like wanting to do the lance/gwen betrayal but having written themselves into a corner where all the characters are too perfect, and too in love, and too nobel to actually do it (not to mention one of the chracters being dead at the time!! lol), this is very much the same thing. you really can’t have arthur and elyan talk about it without re-writing what happened or have one or both of them look really really bad. and the show is too scared of doing that, so they just balk at the sheer notion of doing it at all, and stick their head in the sand instead lol
5th May 2021 @ 7:00 pm
I LOVE the Globe Romeo and Juliet with Adetomiwa! I teach R&J to year 8th and showed them this version last year. That’s when I realised that he was actually an incredible actor. Oh, and if you’ve gotten a taste, you may as well go and watch ‘Translations’ which is on the National Theatre subscription, I think. Colin Morgan is also in it.
5th May 2021 @ 8:38 pm
very odd play, but gosh were they both fantastic in it!!!
5th May 2021 @ 9:05 pm
Translations? Yeah, I think there is a level of cultural meaning and significance that the non – Irish audience simply doesn’t get. When I saw it, I thought it was a very clever meta way of relating the audience’s experience to the title and the plot itself. Things in the story will leave us baffled as they are ‘lost’ in translation just as much history or story was lost when Irish names were translated into English.
What did you think about it?
30th April 2021 @ 8:00 pm
So, this is the source for all those fics retelling Arthur’s trauma. I was considering this event being “just” fanon by now because I really couldn’t remember where to place it in the series. I remembered only the very creepy ghostchild and now I also know, why I never ever watch horror movies. Little me spent the whole scene with Elyan in his gigantic chambers looking for the source of the dripping behind a pillow 😀
Rewatching the episode now gave me a very different focus though. I was appalled and fascinated by the way, Arthur pushes Merlin away in this very cold and almost cruel manner and I was wondering if I was reading too much fanfiction to recognize that the both of them aren’t as close in the show as they are in fandom (and yes, I do, and no, they aren’t), but this is not it in this episode. In every scene in which Arthur pushes Merlin away, we can see at his face that he knows what he is doing, that he is hurting Merlin and that he really is not comfortable with it. Like Merlin we can see Arthur is hiding something and we as the audience see also the way Arthur is hurting too because of his own behaviour. On the one hand he really does want to tell Merlin, but on the other he has been told by Merlin (and Gwen) over and over what a great King he will be and what a phantastic person he is and how he has the best heart anybody on earth could ever have and I think there could be a teeny tiny bit (and when I say this, I mean A LOT) of pressure in it, even not considering this resurfacing trauma from his adolescence. So now he is king and despite all character development somehow the princely prat not miraculously turned into the child of Alexander the Great and Mother Theresa but is spending his time right now with banishing his ex and being remembered how he led a little army in the woods to cruelly kill some innocent civilians, including drowning some kids. He feels that he isn’t living up to the expectations. He really wants to tell Merlin about the raid, I think, but he is afraid, how it would change the way, Merlin sees him. Whether he could lose Merlin’s loyalty and trust and friendship. And isn’t this not a nice little role reversal? Arthur being afraid of Merlin learning the truth about him and therefore not wanting to be at his side anymore? Considering the previous episode this would mean for Arthur to lose the last person he has a strong personal bond with, the last person who acts like he is a person and a man and not only THE KING. And seeing it like this I am heartbroken for both of them.
But Arthur’s secret is not like Merlin’s, he isn’t entangled in more lies he can possibly remember and he didn’t lie about this for the entire time both of them know each other (and he really can’t be worried about Merlin chopping his head off, but I don’t think Merlin can use this excuse at this point in their relationship either), so there is a way out for Arthur: He can kill two birds with one stone by atoning for his deeds, giving the spirit peace and so releasing Elyan and at the same time showing Merlin what’s up with him and that he is a better person now than he was then. In my head this is the reason he makes Merlin work in his vicinity while sneaking out of the castle in the evening, knowing Merlin will follow him, and when Merlin catches up with him, he says “you’re free to go back to Camelot, anytime you like”, and there really is not much difference to “I won’t force you to go with me” or “here you are, let’s go”. So basically, he makes sure, Merlin knows, without having the difficult and awkward part with a real conversation, and Merlin learns in a way, where he is forced to listen to him and what he has to say. I like it, it is so very Arthur, I think, to sneak his way out of this problem, and he ends actually in a spot, where Merlin is proud of him instead of never wanting to speak to him again.
The last scene leaves me a bit puzzled though. Arthur is obviously interested in Merlin’s opinion, but reacts to the compliment (and I can’t interpret Merlin any other way) – with a really harsh insult? With another compliment?! “Then you’re stupid as you are ugly.” I can’t remember Arthur calling Merlin ugly and I would find it unforgivable and far beyond the usual banter, and surely, he doesn’t find Merlin stupid, so he could be calling him here beautiful? I mean, he is, and as much I would like it, it would be totally out of character for Arthur and for the whole show, to be honest. So, I’m scratching my head over this last scene.
1st May 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Oh I love that idea! That the roles are reversed, and Arthur has a secret that he wants to share but fears it will change the way Merlin sees him! I feel like often, Arthur doesn’t realise how much he needs Merlin- in that Merlin’s purpose is to kind of protect Arthur without him knowing, but the idea that Arthur needs him even regardless of that is so sweet. And I feel the same way about the last scene too- it should have emotional significance for them both still, but I suppose the writers were contented that they had processed all that the night it happened.
2nd May 2021 @ 8:35 pm
Oh my god you said this so beautifully. I had similar thoughts, especially about the later scene with them in the woods and Arthur basically asking Merlin to come with him without actually saying it. It makes me so soft, especially the way Arthur looks at Merlin. There is so much vulnerability there.
But you said it all so much better than I ever could.
4th May 2021 @ 12:34 pm
I also do not in any way enjoy horror stories, ghost stories, jump scares, or even the standard ‘kids around the campfire trying to scare each other’ hijinx. just not for me. So while I don’t find the ghost child terrifying, I also really coould do without all creepy ghost children in television, always.
–I was wondering if I was reading too much fanfiction to recognize that the both of them aren’t as close in the show as they are in fandom (and yes, I do, and no, they aren’t)–
lol reading fanfic does make things very weird, because I think good fanfic absolutely has to be based on stuff you see in canon, it has to be very fimly ankered in an existing relationship, with real emotions as a jumping off point. but then you jump, and yes, I find myself all the time trying to remember whether a specific thing happens on the show, or whether it is just such a stable go to in fanfic, because it’s obvious, and it should be in the show, and if they’d thought about it for five minutes they would have put it in the show… but is it actually in the show, or am I making it up?? lol and yeah, I think there are certain fanons, that are so so widely accepted because they are so obvious, that of course the show just assumed you would assume it’s fact, so much that they didn’t bother to put it in, but that does mean they didn’t put it in, and therefore it’s not actually canon!
and then that goes round and round in my head for a long time lol
–He really wants to tell Merlin about the raid, I think, but he is afraid, how it would change the way, Merlin sees him. Whether he could lose Merlin’s loyalty and trust and friendship. And isn’t this not a nice little role reversal? —
that’s a really nice thought, and also the first justification I have come across for why this episode not just exists, but why it exists in this point in the story.
I don’t think it’s enough to justidy this weird insert episode in the gwen / S4 finale arc we’ve got going on here, but I do absolutely agree that if you theorise not loosing merlin is part of Arthur’s motivation in not confiding in him, then putting it here, where he’s just lost Gwen, and just before he’s going to loose everything else (again), is a very poigniant placement.
I don’t think it justifies having this episode here, written the way it is, but it does at least put a tick in the pro collumn which up to this point was looking a bit empty, so thanks for that!! lol and I also appreciate that you wrapped up an explanation for Arthur’s really dumb and utterly pointless “ruse” in getting rid of merlin, that utterly fails to get rid of merlin, because it was meant to fail!
nice. I like it.
M Xx
29th April 2021 @ 11:51 pm
I like this episode much more for the themes and ideas its trying to get across rather than what we got, which unfortunately is one of the tag lines for this show lol.
I didn’t give Gwaine in this episode much thought before but after rewatching, I paid more attention and I actually can let off Gwaine a little. His behaviour was, like you guys said, a strange mixture of both and neither sides of Gwaine we have seen before. Throughout series 4 I always get the feeling he’s been involved in a personal storyline that was scrapped. In previous episodes we see that behind all the humour and flirting and thirst for adventure, we catch him looking VERY serious and zoned out at times, other times he gets angry at the smallest triggers. Example of this in the ‘Servant of two Masters’ where he gets particularly riled up at Emrys saying ‘he is not what he seems’. Or in the series 3 finale when Merlin is trying to get Gwaine to leave so he can heal Arthur, and Gwaine is staring into space before joking with him.
Gwaine also never gave me the vibes he was a skeptic, rather that just anything supernatural, spiritual or unexplainably eerie makes him uncomfortable and he goes to his default Gwaine mode of covering over his or anyone else’s angst with jokes to ease the tension. He doesn’t express real opinion or offence, or ruthlessly insult anyone’s beliefs. I would have disliked Gwaine more if he started to encourage Elyan to touch stuff in a sacred place, or out-right scoffed at the idea of spirits just after Merlin looks so terrified explaining its basically a graveyard. Gwaine is supposedly a well-travelled man, maybe the most accepting of anything that exists in this universe. He doesn’t even bat an eye at magic. Spirits and superstitions shouldn’t be the cut off point.
I give this episode a point for the continuity of mentioning Gwen once or twice, and another point for including more of the knights, even though despite first glances, it isn’t really an Elyan focused plot. We don’t get to know Elyan ‘the man’, his past, his likes or dislikes, or his opinion of Gwen being banished. I can get why he’s quiet and not up for the teasing from his friends, so I dunno why they even try if they can see Elyan really just wants a sodding drink. If I were parched and my friends kept playing ‘keep away’ with something I really needed, regardless of past grievances, I would be so wound up and could not be blamed for being moody. Elyan keeps his cool and I like that, but yeah, weird that he was just that desperate, he would drink stagnant rain water from a well in a spooky part of the woods.
After re-watching ‘the Nightmare begins’ in series 2 with this episode in mind, I think the show unintentionally made it work well, since now I can see just how uncomfortable Arthur is when he stands on the cliff near the druid camp Morgana’s in and tensely says ‘remember the king’s orders; no prisoners.’ I can headcanon-ly connect the two moments now, that Arthur is haunted by his first druid raid and hates that history is going to repeat itself. I know that I am trying to see things that aren’t there because this part of Arthur’s past didn’t exist until ‘Herald of a new age’, but at least its one moment that nearly can be visible if you squint at other episodes to make the writers go ‘oh yeah I totally meant to do that’, happy coincidence.
Druids and Druid lore in this universe is fascinating to me, even though we barely get them. Any times the druids come in and just give Merlin vague warnings or don’t show much magical connection is a real waste, but in this episode I feel we got a little more on their beliefs and we are reminded they are still a thing. Wasn’t the last appearance of the druids and Iseldir in ‘Aithusa’? Because this time the episode tries to balance Arthur’s past and giving Elyan his own episode and the undertones of Gwen’s absence (but yay no Morgana), I feel it has left out another big plot point that is kinda the one that the show runs on, and that is Merlin helping Arthur accept magic one step at a time. Its a shame we got no insight into what Merlin was thinking when Arthur was talking about his past killing druids or how from now on he would treat them kindly.
Never got why Elyan made such a tiny circle of salt under the bed. I found it so funny, the point is to make a circle of salt big enough for your entire person to fit inside to be protected, mate XD
I loved seeing Merlin stand with Arthur in the hall and talking to him like he’s already court advisor and arguing with Agravaine like they are on equal status. Arthur patiently listens to both of them, but by his tone and body language, he clearly favours Merlin’s words and I get the vibe he’s starting to get exasperated at Agravaine’s constant ‘the law says they must die’ drawl. This is like we have had a glimpse at a possible future. We see another few scenes like this in s5, and though they are few and far between, they are still nice to see.
Once again, ‘They’ is coined when associated with Agravaine. When Merlin breaks Elyan out he says ‘I had to, THEY were going to execute you.’ Like in the last episode when Arthur says to Gwen ‘THEY are saying in my father’s time, you’d be put to death.’ The only person who brings up execution every time is Agravaine! Yet he represents the entire council apparently. Merlin can’t think Arthur would have actually executed Elyan without trial, surely.
An unintentionally funny moment I like is when Gaius and Merlin arrive at the shrine and Gaius says ‘don’t disturb or touch anything’, then after Merlin has looked into the well and says something horrible happened there, Gaius just holds up an arrow and says ‘yeah there are several of these scattered around the place too’! That counts as disturbing stuff, dude! What the hell, you might have just released more druid ghosties!
I’m conflicted on whether I prefer if we got to see shaky cam flashbacks of the actual attack as if we are seeing and feeling everything that happened through a druid’s POV that Merlin briefly observed via the well, but it was so eerie just seeing Merlin’s reaction and hearing the screams, we can imagine the vision ourselves.
I didn’t like the shot of Arthur’s plate of food hitting the floor when Merlin saw the fallen guard. I’ve never liked shots like that, they can be over-used. Unless something so horrific has happened that causes the person to realistically go into shock or forget they are holding the thing, they don’t need to drop it to the floor with a smash or slow motion just for the drama. We could have just seen Merlin scared face and look back in the direction of the hall.
Did the druid boy die from having his head forced into the well and drowned? They don’t really explain how he died but it seems all ghosts and visions of dead people drip with water. If the boy had been impaled with a spear and had a massive hole in his stomach, would possessed Elyan later had looked the same when attacking Arthur..? 🤔
Merlin took forever polishing Arthur’s armour and when on his way back, only THEN did a cloaked Arthur decide to leave his rooms so that Merlin would see and follow him. What was the point of waiting til Merlin did the chore before carrying on the plot?
From the title, I’m guessing this episode was implying this was important to furthering Arthur’s acceptance of magic, or at least druids into the city, as a starting point. Yet (Spoilers) even three years later, nothing has changed. ‘Showing the druids the respect they deserve’ and continuing to ignore them and segregate them are two different things. No wonder later magical people don’t think Arthur’s made any progress and would still execute them, he doesn’t make his truce with druids public, he tells one dead druid who then ascends seconds later.
I remember watching this episode at the time and thinking ‘but all the other poor dead druid spirits are still trapped in the arrows and rocks and stuff.’ I was expecting the entire place to glow and all the spirits rise up when hearing Arthur’s promise. Only the one boy got peace 🙁
Why did Merlin and Arthur have to end the episode with humour, I don’t really get Merlin teasing Arthur about him crying. Don’t make the guy bury his feeling because it isn’t manly, Merlin’s cried a few times, let Arthur do so without pointing it out, even just to make everything lighthearted again. It could have ended with them calmly talking about the events previous and Merlin hearing confirmation from Arthur that he would make the effort with the druid people. Then Merlin could have thrown in light banter about something else.
4th May 2021 @ 12:17 pm
–After re-watching ‘the Nightmare begins’ in series 2 with this episode in mind–
oooooh, I haven’t actually done that, but that’s an interesting experiment that I’m going to have to do, just to see how much accidental continuity the show unentionally lucked into hahaha thanks for the heads up on that, and the suggestion!
–Never got why Elyan made such a tiny circle of salt under the bed. I found it so funny, the point is to make a circle of salt big enough for your entire person to fit inside to be protected, mate XD–
lol same! also every time people draw salt circles around beds that are pressed right up against a wall, and don’t bother to pull the bed out, but just draw the circle from the wall on one side of the bed, to the wall on the other side of the bed… I like logic in my magical circles and yes, they act as barriers, that only work if they are complete, and only work if they either enclose the spirit, or enclose yourself/a thing. But I guess this episode didn’t actually tell us whether salt circles worked, and what they are meant to do. Gaius dismisses it completely, and Elyan only does it cause he over heard, not cause he understands how it functions… so I kind of like that. that he has no clue what he’s doing, basically lol
— Gaius just holds up an arrow and says ‘yeah there are several of these scattered around the place too’! That counts as disturbing stuff, dude!–
lol good catch!
–I remember watching this episode at the time and thinking ‘but all the other poor dead druid spirits are still trapped in the arrows and rocks and stuff.’ I was expecting the entire place to glow and all the spirits rise up when hearing Arthur’s promise. Only the one boy got peace 🙁–
Isn’t that what the flags and wimples are for? to stop people from disturbing and thereby calling back spirits? I think the people that have died here are at peace, however because their death was so traumatic, it’s very easy to disturb them and recall them to earth to haunt the place? and that’s why the shrine was created?
just a theory…
M Xx
29th April 2021 @ 2:29 pm
Thank you for the point 🙂 Sorry for the crying factor, but that’s the show’s fault 😛 Love listening to you as always, and may I just mention, the cover picture this week is really beautiful <3
I really like this episode, some mild weirdness aside, and I liked it more than I remembered!
I have a musical discovery this week that I'm really excited about 😀 I couldn't place the soundtrack playing in the pivotal scene when Arthur begs for forgiveness and makes peace with the druids, until it struck me – it's a variation of Ygraine's Theme from The Sins of the Father. Unlike some of the musical choices this season that you also commented about, I find this one REALLY beautiful and powerful. It's like Arthur is choosing the Ygraine part of himself over Uther part <3 And it also ties up to what you mentioned about this scene being similarly structured to the moment when Arthur saw Ygraine, in that it's also a moment of vulnerability for him that Merlin witnesses. Whoever decided to put that music there – kudos! <3
This is one of the episodes that make me cry. Bradley makes me cry in the climactic scene, Colin makes me cry when he cries at the well (one of the many aspects of the absolute genius of his performance is that he's so well fitted to the shows that need to suggest horrible things happening, but can't really show them. I can believe in the massacre just from watching Colin's face). Tomiwa almost makes me cry when he makes that great shift from "leave me alone, scary ghost" to "oh my god, he's just a child, I need to comfort him". Great acting all the way this week.
I know that some people don't like this episode because it was supposed to be Elyan-centric, but for the majority of it, Elyan's not himself, and the episode turns out to be more about Arthur. While I see where they're coming from, the possession problem isn't only a problem of this episode, as this show quite often wastes some time for people who we don't know enough getting possessed – and also, I like that we still see actually quite many glimpses of Elyan's true character in the early stages of the possession, especially when he's comforting the child ghost. And yes, as you mentioned, I really like how in the climax, there is a transition from Arthur hugging and holding the ghost to Arthur holding and comforting Elyan, and it somehow doesn't feel just accidental.
I also got the feeling that Merlin in this episode lives somewhere in season 2, especially with the training/beating up bit, and with him complaining about not getting any thanks from Arthur. But Merlin laughing at his own daddy joke is the most precious thing in the world <3 I want a Merlin!
And I'm also puzzled by the last scene. Actually, I think that the emotional constipation is another thing that differentiates Arthur from Merlin. Arthur does cry, but much less often, and we see Merlin display more emotions than Arthur all throughout the show – and the moments where he has to hide his emotions don't come for him from a place of emotional constipation, but from a need for secrecy. So, Merlin comes out in this scene as even more insensitive, really. If someone is emotionally constipated, you don't tease them when they finally managed to let their emotions to the surface, that can do damage! On one hand, I can see how a much more emotionally healthy Merlin could not realize how difficult it must be for Arthur to actually channel his emotions into tears, not anger – but on the other hand, hello Merlin, you've known him for some time already, you should know how to deal with your broken friend!
And yes, the hug… well, Arthur didn't have a problem with that in The Servant of Two Masters… and the sound he makes does make me question whether he's being beaten up, or rather crushed in a bear hug. Or something else 😛
SO looking forward to the next week. I want to swoon over Mithian all over again <3
30th April 2021 @ 8:17 pm
– Arthur does cry, but much less often, and we see Merlin display more emotions than Arthur all throughout the show – and the moments where he has to hide his emotions don’t come for him from a place of emotional constipation, but from a need for secrecy. So, Merlin comes out in this scene as even more insensitive, really.
Hmmmm, I really don’t see it this way. For me Merlin is not teasing Arthur, but giving him a real compliment for not being a victim of toxic masculinity for once. He is moved and he says he likes seeing Arthur’s emotional side. So it may be a bit clumsy, but I can’t find anything malicious in it. But the whole scene makes no sense to me either, so I can’t defend anybody really.
I interpret the noise at the end like the hug Arthur and Merlin are describing in “Arthur enchanted” from platonic_boner, where Percival ist hugging someone to death 😀
2nd May 2021 @ 3:52 am
Oh, great catch with the music! That’s beautiful, and I agree, a good choice for the emotions in the scene and relating it to Sins of the Father.
4th May 2021 @ 11:41 am
— may I just mention, the cover picture this week is really beautiful <3--
you may indeed! 😀 seriously, thank you so much. Not sure why but that cover took me about three days and was frustrating the hell out of me, and I kept trying to take short cuts, and then having to admit that no, just do it properly, it'll be worth it! so getting this as the first comment on this episode really made me smile 🙂 🙂
--I know that some people don't like this episode because it was supposed to be Elyan-centric, but for the majority of it, Elyan's not himself, and the episode turns out to be more about Arthur. --
I hadn't actually realised that was people's critism, but yes, in my head this is always "that elyan episode" and no, it's not really about Elyan, but you're totally right, the fact that it's someone being possessed who we know, and the fact that Elyan takes a really long time to transition from 'seeing ghost' to 'believing ghost' to 'acting on ghost's behest' to finally in the end 'actually possessed by ghost' does totally make it quite a lot of an Elyan episode. Also, he's still doing better than Percival (and even poor old Leon) in terms of getting episodes, and things to do, and backstories and all that. So mostly I think the problem with this being 'that elyan episode' is actually in the placement. The fact that he doesn't get to react to Gwen being banished last week, and then this week still doesn't get to react to it, and just has other people ascribe feelings about her banishment to him (which we know aren't true, because he's possessed, that's why he's acting like that, not because gwen was banished)... all of that makes it "problematic" for me that the episode isn't about Elyan. Which isn't actually a problem of this episode, or its structure.
--but on the other hand, hello Merlin, you've known him for some time already, you should know how to deal with your broken friend!--
exactly! and you've proven to us just how good you are at dealing with Arthur and all of his hang ups. so what in the world was this about?
I've still got nothing... sigh
MITHIAN IS THE LOVELIEST!!!!!