It’s been forever since I watched Meeeerlin, so let’s finish season 2.
Sweet Dreams
In this episode a fire-breathing jester servant sorcerer does a love spell on Arthur so that he will fall in love with a rude princess and this will start a war. Hijinks ensue. Merlin/Arthur snark abounds, as does Arthur x Gwen stuff (it’s an Arthur x Gwen episode).
The misunderstandings and miscommunications are all well done, funny, cringey, and so on, as they’re supposed to be. There’s even a point where today’s villain, King Something-or-another, complains because the rude princess isn’t interested in Arthur and this somehow ruins his war plans. He says, “every woman everywhere is attracted to him, I’m almost attracted to him.” And then that fire-breathing jester laughs but the evil king shoots him a glare so you know what, the evil king is attracted to Arthur, full stop.
I do think it’s refreshing that the love spell is being used to start a war. Usually it’s to take over Camelot or some such.
Anyway Merlin/Arthur anything is always good and the Arthur/Gwen romance is strong, so this is a quality episode.
The Witch’s Quickening
A lot happens in this one, so here’s a list:
- Morgana is mean to Gwen for, I think, the first time
- Then she’s nice to her again but gives her evil looks while she’s not looking – this came out of nowhere, I think
- Arthur is pretty mean to Merlin too, throughout
- Morgana disowns Uther for the millionth time but seems to mean it
- Merlin trips Mordred and he’s like “I’ll never forget or forgive!” Kid you just tripped on a stick, get over it
- Merlin sees a vision of himself freeing the dragon and the dragon burning Camelot, and he’s sad about it
- Also Merlin helps Arthur and co destroy a sorcerer’s camp and kill a bunch of people on Uther’s orders. Are we ever really going to deal with how bizarre it is that Merlin is on this side of the conflict?
- Morgana gets seduced by an insufferable liar named Alvarr, but I think he’s also Tristan of Tristan and Isolde. Either that or he looks a lot like him and his girlfriend looks sort of like her. Or my memory is flawed. However, they’re annoying, and whether these two are the same people or not, I know Tristan and Isolde were also annoying, so I’m kind of right even if I turn out to be wrong.
- Morgana helps Alvarr escape even though it would have been nice if he died (but also he’s technically in the right in this stupid conflict; he’s just annoying)
- How does Uther not realize it’s Morgana betraying him? What a thick skull he has.
- The dragon is VERY insistent.
The Fires of Idirsholas
Morgause is back!
This episode is similarly dark as the last one, and is about the same things. I like this one better because it places Morgana close to Arthur and Merlin, and she has to face what her betrayal is doing to them (as in, she’s watching them slowly die of a sleep plague caused by her). She’s still conflicted, despite declaring to Morgause that she isn’t. Merlin is also close to Morgana when he decides, after a lot of angsting, to kill (or almost kill) Morgana. Morgause saves her because unlike Alvarr, Morgause actually cares about Morgana.
Gaius tells Merlin that he made the right choice in killing/almost killing Morgana because Morgana didn’t choose to use her gift for good, which is apparently what Merlin is doing.
So. Merlin choosing not to kill Uther or to not let Uther die, letting the more just and less bigoted Arthur take over is good, and so killing/almost killing magical women in service to that is also good. Cool.
This episode features a “I think I’m about to die” Arthur joking with Merlin about needing a servant in the next life.
Also. The dragon is freed. So the stupidity of the ethics in this show can slide this time around. I had a good time.
The Last Dragonlord
The dragon is PISSED.
Merlin’s father is in this episode. He doesn’t know he is Merlin’s father. Merlin tells him, they bond, then that guy dies.
Then Merlin inherits his dragon-entrapment abilities and Merlin is merciful. The dragon flies away and Arthur is told he killed it. Before that, they do a “I think I’m about to die” Arthur and Merlin banter again which I like.
2 down, 3 to go.