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thisisjustmefangirling · 10 months

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BBC Merlin rewatch, 1x05 : "Lancelot"

Today, we meet Lancelot !

Why doesn’t Merlin use his magic to protect himself against the griffin ? He didn't even try. Maybe he was too scared... some fics say it's because he was still recovering from being poisoned.

Aaaand from the get go we are introduced to Lancelot as a brave and selfless character, a hero willing to risk his life to save someone else.

It's nice to see Arthur and Uther out in the forest doing kingly things, checking out villages together.

"You could shame the great Arthur himself" awww Merlin you're sweet, acknowledging what a good fighter Arthur already is.

"You face the most feared of all foes, the ultimate killing machine. You face me." This much bragging and ego is giving serious Gilderoy Lockhart vibes and makes me want to laugh but Arthur actually has the skills to support his claim. He took out that Wessex guy in less than 30 seconds. The guy had two swords, and Arthur did not even use his own, he ducked, punched and kneed the guy, and voilà.

I LOVE sword fighting scenes. Especially when they involve Arthur.

Arthur points out he's the third noble to fail the test this month and "How am I meant to defeat Camelot with rubbish like that ?" and I think it nicely sets up the idea that the knights of the Round Table will be coming from elsewhere and deep down he juges them by their skills and honor.

As another post has already pointed out, Arthur rejects the idea of Merlin becoming a knight ("I think I might be able to help") not because Merlin is not noble born but due to what he thinks Merlin lacks for the job. "Courage, fortitude, discipline"

Aaaand Merlin openly lies. "He IS a nobleman".

"Thanks Arthur. You won’t regret it". Merlin doesn’t even bother with "my lord" or "sire" or "your highness" haha.

Merlin suddenly develops a talent for forgery. Congratulations.

Geoffrey of Monmouth's eyebrows are impressive and probably fake.

Gwen highlights Merlin's kindness : "Merlin would do anything for anyone"

Gwen and Lancelot are cute together

Nice music as Merlin and Lancelot walk in the corridor

Did I mention I love to see Arthur training his knights and himself ? Cause I do.

"Lance... lot". Thanks Arthur now I imagine Philomena Cunk going "Lance A Lot" just like she said "King Arthur came a lot, didn't he ?"

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Maybe you think that Arthur slapping Lancelot was a dick move; to me it shows he's fed up with nobles who think their skills are better than what they truly are. He NEEDS good fighters to defend his kingdom. "Sluggish reactions. On the battlefield, you'd be dead by now". Have you already been on the battlefield, Arthur ? I wonder.

Lancelot shows he's tenacious by getting back up and declaring he's ready now.

I think Arthur is amused by Lancelot's eagerness to prove himself, and he likes it, and him. Look at his face... He's smirking :

The real dick move was making Lancelot cleaning the stables.

Lancelot went straight to Merlin's room... do they sleep in the same room ?

"Your magic is not a toy, Merlin. It is not for you to use and abuse as you see fit." Ugh Gaius you're annoying.

Also Lancelot is right on the other side of the door while they talk about Merlin's magic ??? Gaius you keep berating Merlin for his use of magic, for fear he could be found out, but you are not discreet at all !

Great fight scene between Lancelot and Arthur, who seemed eager to test this newcomer.

I love the way Bradley moves. I don't know anything about how much training he got for these fight scenes but there's a great physicality to him, his arms and shoulders seem nicely developed and used to the exercise. He hasn’t lost any of that, he was fantastic in "Vikings : Valhalla", though it felt strange to see him playing a villain.

Arthur is in a rush to have Lancelot be tested and be knighted. He smells potential.

I love that Lancelot bested Arthur by being more clever than him and tricking him. I didn’t think it was in his nature.

Morgana eyeing Lancelot makes me laugh

Oh look, women with wimples.

Morgana looks beautiful in burgundy.

I can't believe Arthur is staring at Morgana and Lancelot is staring at Gwen and they bond over "do you think she's beautiful?" Like... Arthur and Lancelot should have had a strong friendship on this show, aren’t they supposed to be best friends in the original texts and some of the adaptations ? I know a book in which Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot have a threesome to make sure Guinevere gets pregnant. Arthur and Lancelot were close enough for that. Of course here, Merlin is/will be Arthur's best friend... but Arthur deserves to have friends, and to have friends left after being betrayed by so many people by season 5. He was too lonely. Look, he's smiling at him here :

"He [Lancelot] is not really my type".

"Sometimes Guinevere, I wonder if you would know what your type was if he was standing right next to you." Merlin you are standing right next to her...

This episode is so funny for this, all the main characters are looking at someone and their looks are not returned. Arthur is looking at Morgana, who's looking at Lancelot, who's looking at Gwen, while Gwen is looking at Merlin, who is looking at Arthur and Lancelot.

MERLIN MAKING GWEN CHOOSE BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LANCELOT WHEN SHE'S NOT INTERESTED IN ANY OF THEM YET OMG. "Just for the sake of the argument".

This is another one of these occasions when Arthur and his knights are wearing CHAINMAIL, something you wear for PROTECTION in BATTLE, at a feast. Yes, you're knights, we get it. You're also the Prince, Arthur. Wear something fancy.

I never get tired of seeing Pierrefonds from afar.

You are wearing your fancy vest this morning Arthur, so why couldn’t you wear something similar last night ?

Uther doesn’t need chainmail either but it could go with his paranoid personality so I'll let it slide, especially since he's wearing a nice dark... surcoat ? I love that Arthur wears bright reds and Uther and Morgana wear darker tones of red.

"How can you trust a man who's lied to you?" asks Uther, and the scene cuts to show Merlin.

Gaius and his books remind me of Giles.

The griffin attacks. Arthur leads his knights. "ON ME ! ON MEEEE". The show does a good job at establishing Arthur's skills as a fighter and leader of his knights, and his qualities such as his bravoury and sense of self-sacrifice.

I wish the show wouldn’t use so much slow motion during fight scenes...

"You said your knights were the best in the land, and you proved that today". So once again it goes to show that Arthur expects a high level of skills from his knights, but for a good reason.

Uther refusing to listen to reason even though it could cost him his son's life is sending me. Arthur will ride out against the creature because it is his duty to protect Camelot but also because his father ordered him to and he yearns for his father's approval and fears his disappointment.

"Merlin you are the only thing I care about in all this world. I would give my life for you without a thought", says Gaius, while obviously still being loyal to Uther somehow.

Arthur thinks he's been "so stupid" for believing in Lancelot and Merlin's lie. It's just the beginning...

"I need... Camelot needs" yeah Arthur just admit you like Lancelot and admire him, it's alright.

"It doesn't matter what I believe. The use of magic is not permitted".

Arthur gives Lancelot his freedom, in his father's back.

Sweet moment between Gwen and Lancelot. She might be developing her crush.

Ooooh right, Arthur and his knights were still wearing helmets that season.

They found a good option for Arthur, because helmets and filmmaking don't really go together (unless it's The Mandalorian), and this helmet protects the head but shows enough of the actor's face to let the viewer enjoy the acting and see the character's emotions.

"I'm failing, and if Arthur dies because I am not good enough..." Merlin's biggest fear.

How come both of Lancelot's shoulders are protected when Arthur is only protected on his right side ? ...it's purely decorative, isn’t it ?

Oh I didn’t expect the forest scene to be so close to the castle.

That's a nice horse Lancelot has. Totally epic sequence.

Arthur is so happy Lancelot managed to kill the griffin, oooooh.

Aw and Gaius is proud of Merlin... That's sweet. Also interesting to note he struggled to enchant a weapon now in season 1 but in the pilot he could stop time without thinking and in season 5 he can accomplish feats of magic like no one else can.

Who are these random people in the room with Uther, Arthur and the guards ? They are useless and shouldn't be here.

"He laid down his life for me ! He served with honour".

"The law is the law. The code bends for no man". "Then the code is wrong !" Arthur, my darling, I love to see you make your own conclusions and realise that your father is not right about everything. Keep turning into the great King you will be ❤️

Lancelot knows about Merlin's magic and accepts him.

Lancelot barging in to say goodbye... Dude, Arthur was fighting for you to be pardoned and reinstated as a knight. He liked you and wanted you to stay and he basically told you so. You don't have to sacrifice yourself all the damn time. Fight for what you want. You are too noble for your own good. YOU killed the griffin. You were the one who fought it and won. Merlin helped, but it doesn't mean that it is his accomplishment alone. It was team work.

Morgana's voice is softer this season than later. She and Gwen are sweet together.

Byyye Lancelot, see you later !

Okay, my conclusions :

Merlin is learning not to mess with other people's destiny, and learning new spells.

Arthur's skills and sense of honor were nicely shown, and he wasn't very prattish in this episode

Arthur is amused by people who defy him, like Merlin or Lancelot. Let him have real friends, pleaaaase.

So many ships were created by that episode.

Lancelot is too noble for his own good and I'm afraid that's what made him a bit boring to my eyes in later seasons.

Arthur is not afraid to go against his father and stand for what is right, he did it at least twice if not three times : by telling his father in denial that he thinks Gaius is right, by freeing Lancelot behind his father's back, and by going to see his father to demand to have Lancelot pardoned and restaured as a knight.

I don't expect perfect costuming (or even historical accuracy) from this show but a tiny bit more consistency and logic wouldn't have hurt. Fan artists and fashion historians, if you ever come this way... I'll take all the art of Merlin and Arthur and Morgana in the BEST outfits.

They've really pulled the knight/chivalry card in this ep and I loved it.

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