Merlin Episode 6 Series 4: Servant of Two Masters.

Hmmm …

You know, I THINK I’m starting to see a theme, here.

Well …

If not a theme, then certainly a tone.

Hmmm …

I’m confusing you, aren’t I … ?

You’ve probably — over the course of the last few years — worked out I like me genre TV, have you … ? I mean, that’s the whole point of some of the posts I’ve put up both here, and over onNik Nak & Grub’s Who Peculiar.

And something I know that I’ve been following, for many years, as you’ve possibly also noticed … ?

Is the BBC update of the myths and legends of the King Arthur stories that is Merlin.

Now in it’s fourth series, I’ve just sat through tonight’s episode — episode 6 A Servant of Two Masters — and thoroughly enjoyed the experience … !

A Servant of Two Masters sees Arthur, Merlin and the knights ambushed on their way back from signing a treaty.

And as a result … ?

Sees Merlin — Colin Morgan, as ever — captured by the evil Morgana*.

And Morgana is determined to NOT use Merlin as a source of information about Castle Camelot.

Instead … ?

Instead, she’s going to a creature called a Fomorianº to enchant Merlin with orders to kill Arthur, when he gets back to Camelot. (As you’ll have seen from the footnotes, this version of the Fomori is something like the old Greek legends of the Hydra: chop of a head, and another grows in its placeª.)

The only way for Merlin to be free of the Fomori curse place on him by Morgana … ?

Is for him to kill the Fomori that the head has been taken from …

««†»»

Now, back to what I was saying about tone, earlier … ?

Im thinking that writer Lucy Watkins and — in particular — director, Alex Pillai, have managed to both keep to some of the darker elements of Merlin, series 4. Whilst ALSO maintaining the darker tones that we’ve seen in series four, they’s ALSO managed to keep the comedy elements that I personally have always felt were an essential part of the show.

From where I’m sitting … ?

I think I’d be doing this, for Episode 5, if it were a movie …

Merlin Episode 6 Series 4: A Servant of Two Masters.

★★★★

* Did I tell you I have a thing about Katy McGrath, who plays Morgana … ? She’s quite definitely, definitely, extremely … Yeah … Feel free to shove whatever word you think’s appropriate, in there. Yeah, I LIKE your word. It’s politer, for STARTERS … !

º There’s been some chopping and changing to bring assorted elements of Celtic mythology into the Arthurian legands. In this case, the Fomori are an ancient semi-divine race of giants — I think, so don’t quote me — from Ancient Irish myth: and an ancient race that were kicked out of Ireland by the Tuatha De Danaan, the old Irish gods. On top of that, the version presented in tonight’s episode … ? Looks distinctly like the ancient Greek myths of the Hydra: like the Greek monster it resembles, cutting off this Fomors head makes it grow another. On top of THAT, the production crew have managed to come up with a Merlinesque version of The Wrath Of Khan’s Ceti Eel.

ª Awkward, if you’re Gaius and Gwen, who are trying to remove the Fomori head that’s been placed in the back of Merlin’s neck: it immediately regrows. (Actually, that has lead to some seriously funny moments involving Gwen — played, as ever, by Angel Coulby^ — thumping Merlin with a pewter jug.)

^ Who, in the interest of fair play, is ALSO gorgeous! Hmmm … I’m watching a series with two of the most beautiful woman in it. On top of THAT, I know I’ve heard one or two of my female friends make ALL sorts of comments about both Bradley James — King Arthur — and Sir Gwaine, played by Eion Macken.