You know, I’ve got to admit, I’m actually quite … well … possibly impressed is too strong a word, here.
Certain I’ve had my attention held.
And, although I know one or two of my friends will disagree, I’m thoroughly enjoy its take on the old stories.
Tonight’s episode — the penultimate one of the series — sees the return of Emilia Fox as Morgause.
With — and I’ve been desperately trying to avoid this! — a Cunning Plan.
Ooh, I hated using that phrase!
Morgause uses an ancient spell to send the people of Camelot to sleep, and centres it on the one person there who trust her implicitly.
Katy McGrath’s Morgana …
And, while the guards — with the exception of a albeit slowly succumbing Merlin and Arthur — sleep, unleashes her secret weapon, the Knights of Medhir, to kill all with-in Camelot.
Including her real target.
Uther.
Which leads to something of a race against time for Arthur, Morgana and Merlin — who’s slowly working out that, despite he and Morgana’s shared abilities, that she’s not all she seems — drag the comatose Uther to some sort of safety, somewhere.
This episode’s something I’ve found … compelling …
Yes, that’s the word!
Compelling!
Especially as — by the end — it sees Morgana apparently poisoned by Merlin himself, on the advise of the dragon.
Beautifully acted, I think, by Colin Morgan and Katy McGrath, I think; the camera work allows us to see faces, in a way that theatre couldn’t.
Actually, that’s the other thing …
That dragon …
The Dragon — voiced, as ever, by John Hurt, although I’m convinced that Ian Richardson, had he still been alive, would have been a better choice — is now, officially, loose.
Released as a result of the bargain it — he? — made with Merlin, that guaranteed its freedom in exchange for its help.
Given that last week’s episode say Merlin handed a vision of the future in which the Dragon runs rampant, I’m thinking next week’s episode is going to be … weeeelllll …
A bit of a finale …
Ω
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You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve just watched the Sunday night repeat of Episode 12/Series 2 of Merlin.
Sad, huh?
It’s still bewitching stuff.
And there’s probably a whole separate post about it.
I know many complain that they’ve tinkered with the legends: many on the basis that there was never any indications, for starters, that Guinevere was black.
Which strikes me as possibly …
Well, not rascist, per se, but certainly could be looked at as such.
Saying that, I do know there’s legends of Phœnician traders visiting Cornwall — site of Tintagel Castle, where Arthur was supposed to have been born — to trade for tin.
And as far as I know, the Phœnicians were certainly Mediterrenean, if not North African.
•••••
Actually, just as a minor point, I’ve realised something: Katie McGrath — who play’s Morgana — is Irish.
Blatantly Irish, bless her.
But — if I’m right — somebody out there’s going to make a big thing of the fact that we have an (apparently) Irish character having major arguments with an (apparently) English ruler.
There’s probably Doctoral thesis, there …
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