Merlin club is a weekly feature in which Jessica Jarman, Bronwyn Green, and myself gather at 8pm EST to watch an episode of the amazing BBC series Merlin, starring Colin Morgan and literally nobody else I care about except Colin Morgan.
Okay, I lie. A lot of other really cool people are in it, too.
Anyway, we watch the show, we tweet to the hashtag #MerlinClub, and on Fridays we share our thoughts about the episode we watched earlier in the week.
So, here’s a quick rundown of episode ten: These guys who don’t really understand how the feudal system works attack the village where Merlin’s mother and Gendry from Game of Thrones live. They demand all the grain or whatever these peasants are growing, and when the villagers try to hold some in reserve for their survival, the raiders are like, “yeah, no, that’s not going to work,” and the raider dude slaps Merlin’s mom. She goes to Camelot for help, but Uther won’t help because the village is in a different kingdom, and despite Uther’s stunning personality, the king there doesn’t care for him. In order to help the village and avert war, Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, and Gwen go there. While Arthur assembles a dubious army, Gendry wants to know why Merlin won’t just magic the problem away. But Merlin can’t, because he doesn’t want his new friends to know that he’s a sorcerer. In the end, Merlin does use magic, Gendry dies, and Arthur thinks Gendry was the sorcerer. And he’s not pleased that Merlin didn’t tell him, which confirms Merlin’s fear that Arthur would not be as chill with him if he knew the truth.
If I had written this episode, I would have changed: In episodes like these– and almost every adventure show has an episode like this– there is always the one character who is like, “We don’t need help! Despite the fact that we clearly need help.” And this one has the added side flavor of, “We don’t need help! Despite the fact that we clearly need help. And you’ve changed, man! You’ve changed!” It worked that he was there, so they could blame the sorcery on someone, but I don’t know. The guy out of Game of Thrones was so annoying.
The thing I loved most about this episode: I love the way they treated the thing between Merlin and Arthur re: magic. The fact that Merlin was tempted to tell Arthur, and then realized he couldn’t. It makes me think of all the little prejudices people advertise as though they were totally okay things to say, and how much they break people’s trust without ever even knowing. This has come up a lot in discussions about rape, and how casual comments can prevent a loved one from sharing their experiences. For better or for worse, magic is clearly an allegory for prejudices people experience, and this is a very clear example of stuff that actually happens when our careless words ultimately silence people.
The thing I hated most about this episode: I’m not a fan of Merlin’s mom. In this episode, we learn that Merlin’s village isn’t even in Camelot. So, his mom sent him out of a kingdom that, I guess doesn’t have a problem with magic, based on what we learn in future episodes. So, why? Why would she send her son off somewhere deathy? And at the end, when he was going to stay with her, she’s like, “You have to go back” or some shit. Back where? To the place where he’ll almost certainly die?
I also hate the plot– which is common to medieval-esque fantasy– where some random raider guys or power mad lord is like, “Give me all the grain and shit! I don’t care if you need it for planting or survival!” Well, this is the fucking feudal system, right? So just off the top of my head, if you like raiding a particular village, you can get more mileage out of said village if the villagers all live, right? Don’t steal EVERYTHING they have, especially once you see that their king doesn’t give a shit about protecting them. Charge them “protection” money. Take a percentage of their harvest, fuck up any rival raiders, start a mob. This isn’t hard to figure out. They had a mob in the actual middle ages, because it was a good scam.
Something I never noticed before: That that dude was Gendry.
Favorite Costume: Morgana and Gwen in their warrior outfits. Hands down:
Here is proof of some random headcanon I created:
Merlin’s mom: “They shouldn’t be here. Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn’t she the king’s ward?”
Merlin: “Not that you’d know it. She’s the only person I know who isn’t frightened of him.”
Eh, I contend that she is frightened of him, but she’s definitely the least frightened of him. But I agree, Merlin. You wouldn’t know it.
What object would Bronwyn steal from this episode? Morgana and Gwen’s warrior outfits.
What Merthur moment did Jess have the naughtiest thoughts about? There are so many, but I think her favorite one would be when Merlin’s mom totally ships her son and Arthur. Totally ships it.
Check out Jessica Jarman’s take on the episode here
Check out Bronwyn Green’s take on the episode here
Or check out The Merlin Club drinking game, which, you know. I’m sober, so I can’t endorse it. But it’s still funny. Also, there’s a banner that shows you what I’m like when I’m not sober, which I never will be again, so enjoy the snapshot of an era gone by.
That’s it for this week. Join us on Monday as we watch S01E11, “The Labyrinth of Gedref” at 8pm EST on the hashtag #MerlinClub.
I would totally take both those outfits.
Yeah…what the hell with the killing off an entire village they could all benefit from indefinitely?
” It makes me think of all the little prejudices people advertise as though they were totally okay things to say, and how much they break people’s trust without ever even knowing. This has come up a lot in discussions about rape, and how casual comments can prevent a loved one from sharing their experiences. For better or for worse, magic is clearly an allegory for prejudices people experience, and this is a very clear example of stuff that actually happens when our careless words ultimately silence people.”
YES! That’s it! I’ve always wondered why I stuck with Merlin so determinedly when it disappointed me quite frequently, but you’ve put your finger on it. I’d heard the LGBT allegory, but I’m not LGBT myself so while I appreciate the issues they don’t provoke that gut reaction, whereas talk of abuse of any kind, including sexual abuse, totally does because such experiences are at the core of my being. One more little mystery solved, thank you!
Also, the raider guy is Dr. Bashir from Deep Space Nine! So I’m going to assume the entire “Merlin” universe is one of Bashir’s elaborate holosuite fantasies and that’s why the plots never make any goddamn sense.
chiming in late since I was out of town…
omg why didn’t I remember the complete fail at feudalism when I was writing mine. I KNEW that would make you nuts! OY.
And YES! Hunith ships the SHIT out of Merlin and her son. Mama ain’t blind; she’s knows what’s going on…and how it should be!
I actually LOVED this episode, all because of Arthur. Arthur is the ultimate king and warrior, right? And anytime they put Arthur in a situation where he is in command, he SHINES. There is a moment when I almost cried.
He’s training the villagers, and one of them is obviously completely hopeless. So Arthur sends him to keep watch and give warning. The audience can hear the unspoken “so you don’t hurt yourself with that sword” after the “I need you to keep watch,” but the villager can’t. Arthur finds him a job to do that is necessary and lets him keep his dignity. And even says “don’t try to fight them” in such a way that there is no feeling of “because you are hopeless at fighting.” It’s “don’t try to fight them BECAUSE WE NEED THE ALARM RAISED.”
It’s moments like this, scattered through the series, that make me REALLY appreciate the actor and are the bits that show WHY Arthur is the ultimate king (commander).
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