Merlin Episode 8 Series 4: Lamia.

You know, I’m going to be frank, here.

There are times when Merlin’s fourth season has had both it’s ups and down.

More up than down, I’ve thought, over these past few weeks.

And I’ll confess, tonight’s eighth episode — Lamia — is definitely an up.

And a very riveting one, at that … !

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Lamia sees Mary Howden*, an old friend of Gwenª’s, turning up on Gwen’s doorstep to ask for her help in dealing with an especially nasty form of plague that’s crippling Mary’s village.

And, as court physical, Gaius — Richard Wilson — is dealing with an outbreak of what he calls Sweating Fever‡, he suggests that King Arthur^ send Merlin† in his place: Gaius feels Merlin’s experience trailing him in Camelot’s surgery will be well within Merlin’s abilities.

Merlin, soon works out that the village is being plagued, not by disease, but by some form of sorcery: something he feels would be best dealt with by the more experienced Gaius.

The problems only get started when Merlin and Gwen — accompanied by the knights who’ve been guarding them — come across a bandit camp on the way back to Camelot.

The bandits have a captive called Lamia: a captive who is inevitably rescued by the the knights.

And who proves to be much more than she seemsº …

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Now …

Did I tell you I was riveted by this episode of Merlin … ?

I certainly meant to.

I’ve come away from Lamia having been both entertained.

AND quite happily glued to my chair.

FORGET anything I may have said, previously: Lamia is, quite frankly, the most watchable episode of series 4, to date.

Go glue yourself to a chair and watch … !

* Played by Melanie Hill.

^ Series regular, Bradley James.

ª Series regular, Angel Coulby.

† Series regular, Colin Morgan.

º Yep, you’ve got it, BANG on the money, Shine Production’s have been raiding the Mythology cupboard, again: Greek ones, this week. Unless someone’s read the entry in the Monster Manual …

‡ I’ve a feeling, here, that writer, Jake Michie, who’s penned Lamia has managed to avoid too much research … and made something up that sounds feasibly medieval …

[Rec] and [Rec2]: Blood, Guts, and Camera Lenses …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve had a wonderfully pleasant weekend, I really have …

Bless, after recent times … ?

A much needed one, at that.

Ever met an old friend of mine, called Gwen … ?

Well, her and her partner, Stefen, are both old friends, and semi-regulars at the movie nights.

Which is sort of why Gwen phoned me, on Thursday last.

Her and Stef had none I’ve had a bit of a rough time, recently, and gave me a quick call to invite me over to theirs, this weekend, as they were planning to catch a couple of films with friends, and wondered if I’d like to join them.

Didn’t I just … !

After all, a day or two out of town, plus a film would do me the world of good.

And didn’t it just … ?

After all, I got to met Stef and Gwen one year, Harvey — who’s going to turn Gwen and Stef into grandparents by the time he’s 18, if I’m any judge — and their friends, Peppa and Aharon, as well.

And we managed to stay up for not one, but two films.

The 2007 Spanish horror film, [Rec] and its 2009 sequel, [Rec2]*.

Fantastic stuff, I know that …

The original, [Rec]º, sees Maneula Valasco as Angelo, a young TV reporter on an assignment for Barcelona TV show, While You’re Asleep, filming at a local fire-station.

The seemingly uneventful evening turns nasty when the crew that Angela’s covering are called to help an old lady, seemingly trapped in her apartment, in a block of flats in the centre of the city.

An old lady who, almost immediately bites one of the policemen also at the scene.

A scene that rapidly goes downhill, when the building is sealed off by the Spanish equivalent of a SWAT team.

And by health officials in Hazmat suits.

Seemingly …

There’s isn’t just a maddened pensioner to deal with.

Seemingly, the Vatican has found out the exact biological cause for all of the stories one hears about possesion …

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[Rec2] follows on directly from [Rec], as it follows a SWAT team — seemingly, the Spanish term is Grupo Especial de Operaciones — along with Father Owen, a Barcelona Health official, who — in his day job — is a Roman Catholic priest, tasked by HQ to find the blood of the young woman identified by them to have started the outbreak in the apartment building.

Complicated by the fact the the SWAT team members are both sceptical …

And slowly infected, one by one, by the already infected residents of the building.

And by the fact that he and the team have to try and protect both a group of teenagers who’ve sneaked into the building with camera-phones, and Angela, the only apparent survivor of the fire-crew and documentary-makers who went in first.

There’s a twist in the tale.

But I think I’ll leave that to you to find out …

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Because, to be frank … ?

Both [Rec] and [Rec2] are very watchable films … !

Now, I know sub-titled horror films are not going to be to everyone’s taste.

But I’m pretty convinced that both films are very watchable movies, providing enough shock moments to make sure people jump out of their seats at least once.

And plenty of pace and drama to keep people glued to their seats for the duration of two — two — films.

That was confirmed by both Stef and Gwen, who both seen the remake, Quarantine, and later, by Movie Night resident maven, Kevin D: all of whom agreed that the original was definitely the superior.

All told … ?

I’ll leave you with thoughts …

[Rec]

Paul: ★★★★

Stef: ★★★★

Gwen: ★★★★

Aharon: ★★★★

Kevin D: ★★★☆

Peppa: ★★★★

Average: 3.8★

[Rec2]

Paul: ★★★★

Stef: ★★★★

Gwen: ★★★★

Aharon: ★★★★

Peppa: ★★★☆

Average: 3.8★

Quarantine

Kevin D: ★★☆☆

Gwen: ★★★☆

Stef: ★★★☆

Average: ★★⅔☆☆

* Which isn’t the most imaginative name, I know, but does get the idea, across …

º Remade for the US market as Quarantine.

Merlin: Episode 4’s Got Gwaine

You know, I’ve got to admit, it’s actually not — surprisingly — a Saturday Night Movie night, tonight.

With practically everybody being busy …

Which meant, with little money to actually head out, I’m stuck indoors with little to do.

Saying that, though, it has meant I’ve a touch more time to transfer over the last few widgets I needed from the previous version of my User account.

Mostly games, I should add.

Although the Clock and the CharacterPal one both come in handy, in their own separate ways …

Actually, I’d recommend any of us with Mac’s to get hold of the CharacterPal Widget: it’s free, still on the Apple site, and does cömé în handy when you want some of the öddèr aççents …

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And little symbols that nobody else knows about …

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Ör really ûnderstands …

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Or know’s the exact point of …

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¿Now I’m showing off, aren’t I … ?

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Sorry, could never resist that …

But, at any rate, I’ve got to admit, one thing I have done, tonight, though … ?

Is — as you’ve probably guessed — watch tonight’s fourth episode of series three of the BBC series, Merlin.

Which I’ve got on again, in the background …

Ahem!

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Do you remember me saying that I found last week’s episode a little too light-weight … ?

Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just — as I think I said — I wasn’t necessarily in the mood for comedy.

Tonight’s episode, though, the Julian Jones penned Gwaine?

Much nearer the mark, I’m thinking … !

Gwaine sees Merlin and Arthur — after a hunt — stopping off at a local tavern.

And managing to get themselves into trouble, by helping out with a robbery that happens, while they’re there.

But not directly, though.

Oh, no.

Because the bandit leader, along with his second-in-command, manage to hit upon a way to magically disguise themselves as two knights heading for the next Mêlée being held at Camelot: with the intention of getting revenge.

The twist in the plot … ?

Is that the BBC/Shine Productions updating of the series introduces us to Gwaine: its take on the ancient Arthurian figure, Gawaine.

A man who, unlike the updates series’ version of Lancelot, is of noble blood, and seriously doesn’t like showing it.

Is left wing enough to admit he really doesn’t like nobles and yet is the son of a knight …

And one that is not too proud to admit, by the end of the episode, he’s come to respect Arthur.

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Now, so far … ?

So far, I’ve got to confess, I’m still enjoying Series three of Merlin.

And, while Gwaine may not be the high-light of the series so far — that goes to the two-part opening episodes, The Tears Of Uther Pendragon, Part 1 and Part 2 — it does contribute nicely to the other-all story-arc: and has enough light moments to keep us happy, before throwing us back into the deep end.

The fact that Guinevere is deeply attached to Arthur? That’s covered, and nicely so: if this re-telling of the story does eventually cover the affair between her and Lancelot, this is building a lot more potential tragedy in, ahead of time.

It introduces us to another of the Round Table, in the shape of Gwain. The old stories tell us he could be both reckless and the greatest knight of all. And Eion Macken’s performance in the rôle is nicely done, I think: a deftly scripted and acted mix of Han Solo-esque charm, and seriously competent fighter.

On the whole … ?

Gwaine is a good episode.

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