Karolina_Avalon
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« on: October 13, 2010, 02:06:33 AM » |
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Written by: Julian Jones
Directed by : David Moore
Special Guests:Eoin Macken as Gwaine, Sarah Counsell as Mary, Andrew Vincent as Dagr, John Hopkins as Sir Oswald, Philip Brodie as Sir Ethan
Merlin and Arthur ride through the forest, only to stop just on the outskirts of a small village. Arthur proclaims (after ignoring Merlin’s suggestion of sleep) that what is needed after a days hunt is a tankard of mead (The way Bradley James delivers this line is adorable - I was half expecting it to become an advertisement for “Prince’s Choice Mead.”) They make their way to the town. As they tie up their horses, Merlin asks Arthur whether this is one of the times that he tells him that something is a bad idea, and Arthur ignores him. Arthur tells Merlin that he is learning - and that once they enter the tavern, Arthur is no longer the Prince, just a ‘simple servant’. Merlin and Arthur amiably bicker as they enter the tavern.
Once they enter and are seated, they are approached by the bar maid, who pronounces that one of them is handsome. Arthur, being Arthur, assumes she is talking about him and says that she’s not the first to notice. She lets him know, much to his chagrin (and to Merlin’s delight) she was talking about ‘his friend’. Arthur orders a tankard of mead for them both, and just as they start to drink, a man enters. He approaches the bar maid, referring to her as ‘Mary’ and asks for his share of the profit she has made, as the tavern is quite full. Mary reluctantly throws a few gold coins on the counter, and the man pulls out a knife and holds it to Mary’s throat, demanding the rest. Arthur stands up and challenges the man. The man tells Arthur that he’ll make Arthur pay - Merlin laughingly comments that he’d like to see him try. The man whistles, and he is joined by a group of other thugs. Merlin and Arthur stand together - only to be joined by another man (Gwaine) who begins the bar fight. Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine and Mary proceed to fight the thugs, Gwaine only stopping to introduce himself to Merlin, and drink some mead. Arthur finds himself knocked to the ground, with the original thug standing over him, with a knife. Gwaine throws himself onto the man, getting stabbed in the leg in the process. When he tries to stand, he falls to the ground again - hitting his head on the way down. Arthur and Merlin rush to his side, and Merlin ties a piece of cloth around Gwaine’s leg above the wound, telling a worried looking Arthur that he has lost a lot of blood.
The thug is put in stocks, and Mary and her patrons pummel him with fruit and vegetables. Arthur tells them that if he ever bothers them again, to send word to Camelot and guards would be there within a day. Mary asks how Arthur can promise such a thing, and Arthur reveals who he is.
Once back at Camelot, Arthur and Merlin take the still unconscious Gwaine to Merlin’s room and Merlin helps Gaius tend to his wounds, as Arthur tells Gaius of Gwaine’s good deed. The next morning, Gwaine wakes in Merlin’s bed, to Merlin delivering breakfast to him. When he finds out that it was Prince Arthur’s life he saved, Gwaine states that he wouldn’t have bothered. He tells Merlin of his hate for noble men, even though his father was one (his father has passed away). Merlin tries to tell Gwaine that Arthur is a good man, but Gwaine doesn’t really listen.
Merlin is in Arthur’s chambers, with Arthur inquiring after Gwaine’s well being, when he and Arthur observe knights arriving at the castle. Arthur tells Merlin that is is for the melee - which Merlin mocks as a bunch of knights trying to hit each other with swords. Arthur tries to defend it, but gives in to childish frustration and throws a gauntlet (it looks like a gauntlet, anyway) at Merlin’s back.
Dagr (the bully from the tavern at the beginning of this episode) and one of his goons devise a plan to exact revenge on Arthur by murdering two other knights and taking on the form (with a little help from some magic crystals- obtained from an old man they kill) of Sir Oswald and Sir Ethan.
Back in Camelot, Gwaine sees Gwen walking through the courtyard, and attempts to woo her with soft words and a flower, but Gwen won’t be swayed, and sends Gwaine on his way (reference to the legend, Gwaine refers to Gwen as a ‘Princess’, to which our Gwen laughs).
That night, Gwen approaches Merlin to help her with Gwaine - who has got drunk in a tavern but does not have the money to pay. Merlin tells the bar owner to bill Arthur, and takes a very inebriated Gwaine back to his room. The next morning, an angry Arthur confronts Merlin about the tavern bill, and commands Merlin and Gwaine to clean all his and the knights boots. Merlin tells him the punishment is deserved. They talk as they clean, and the subject of fathers arises - and Merlin tells Gwaine a little of meeting his father (Merlin S2 :The Last Dragonlord),
Dagr and his friend arrive in Camelot in the guise of Sir Oswald and Sir Ethan, and Arthur greets them as old friends, and tells them that Merlin is at their service. They subject Merlin to horrific servitude and humiliate him, when he discovers their secrets one night, as well as finding out that only blunt swords can be used during the tournament, but Dagr's swords are razor sharp, so Merlin must find a way to prevent them from skewering Arthur.. Dagr (as Oswald) and his friend threaten Merlin. They nearly kill him before Gwaine intervenes and rescues the boy, and is shackled when Sir Oswald demands an audience with the king. Of course, Uther is unconvinced of Gwaine's innocence and banishes him from Camelot , but warns him, should he ever return, he will pay with his life. Arthur tries to make his father see reason, much to Gwaine’s surprise, but he is still told to leave. Before he does, he tells Merlin that Arthur has proven himself. He tells Gwen the same as they meet in the hallway and she speaks well of Arthur, too.
Before the melee, Merlin is preparing Arthur for battle. He tells him to remember the times that Merlin has told him that something is a bad idea, and Arthur quickly adds that he then ignores Merlin, and Merlin counters that he is then proven right. He implores Arthur not to fight in the Melee. Instead of fobbing Merlin off (although he tries) Arthur answers him honestly - that the melee is more than just a fight - but a way to prove to his people he is worthy of the crown.
The melee takes place, and there is much frantic fighting. Due to some foul play by Dagr and his accomplice, all but Arthur is left standing and at the mercy of Dagr, another knight materialises and saves him . After a long battle, the knight is revealed as Gwaine. Uther has him seized and immediately wants to see him executed until Gaius conveniently reveals Sir Oswald and Sir Ethan are imposters. Arthur appeals to his father to allow Gwaine to stay, but Uther is stubborn, refusing to rescind his former ruling and Gwaine is still banished. However, he parts with Arthur and Merlin on good terms. They watch as he leaves, and is stopped by Gwen. They flirt a little , much to Arthur’s outrage, and Merlin teases Arthur about his indecisiveness when it comes to Gwen. The episode ends on the boys chasing each other through the yard.
This episode definitely had a “Lancelot” and “Once and Future Queen” feel to it, but it was still cute and fun. I liked that Gwaine was quite carefree and rowdy, but loyal to a fault - especially with how loyal he is to Arthur in the legend. I loved both Arthur and Merlin recognising Gwaine by his fighting style at the end. I also really loved the camaraderie between the three of them, and the talk between Merlin and Arthur before the Melee. I liked the repeat line there, and that Arthur took Merlin seriously.
What did you think of this ep?
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