Merlin: Episode 5 - Lancelot

Image via Wikipedia

Merlin meets Lancelot, who saves Merlin's life.  Merlin brings Lancelot to Camelot to clean his wound, and Lancelot tells Merlin his dream of becoming a knight.  Of course Lancelot cannot serve unless he is of noble blood.  So Merlin makes him a seal and Lancelot is forced to clean the stables.  Not too impressive for someone who wants to be a knight.  There is a creature making its way to Camelot, killing the people as it goes.  Lancelot must face Arthur to become a knight.  Predictably, Lancelot wins and becomes knighted.  Uther finds out that Lancelot lied about his nobility and throws him in jail.  They find out that the creature is a griffin and that its made from magic, so of course only Merlin can defeat it.  Merlin, predictably, isn't amused.  Arthur lets Lancelot go, but Lancelot plans on doing his duty by Arthur.  Merlin kills the griffin with Lancelot's help and Lancelot leaves because of conflict between Uther and Arthur.

Well, they chose a rather attractive Lancelot, but I have really high standards for this character, as he was always my favorite!  And seriously, Gwen a handmaiden?  At least the griffin was semi-realistic, and they at least blended it in and created shadows.  Seriously, is this show for real?  Its so far entirely too predictable, cheesy, and rather childish.  Granted, it is difficult when you have to deal with a story most of the known world is familiar with, and I'll continue watching just for that.  But it has very little believability so far.

Technorati Tags: Merlin,Drama,Action,Adventure,Television Shows

Merlin: Episode 4 – The Poisoned Chalice

Technorati Tags: Merlin,Drama,Action,Adventure,Television Shows,NBC

Image via Wikipedia

Merlin meets Kara, and is attracted to her.  But she's poisoned the chalice that now Arthur has to drink from.  She blames it on the guest.(Bayard)  Merlin ends up poisoned by the morteous flower.  Morganna convinces Arthur to go after the antidote, against Uther's wishes.  Merlin starts muttering in another tongue, and they realize that something has hastened the flower's potency.  Kara sets a trap for Arthur, while at the castle they realize that she's the one who poisoned Merlin.  Kara leads Arthur into the caves to look for the morteous flower.  After Kara tricks Arthur, Merlin steps in and helps him get out, even while under the effects of the poison.  Arthur brings the antidote, but Uthur doesn't allow him to bring the antidote to Merlin.  Gwen sneaks in and gets the leaves from Arthur and nearly gets caught.  The old man uses magic to create the antidote, even though magic is forbidden.  Merlin's heart stops as soon as the antidote is given.  But Merlin survives.  The old man goes to Uthur and tells him that the poisoning was the work of Nimue, apparently known to both.  Arthur tells Morganna the story of how he was rescued, and Urthur asks Arthur about what happened and what Nimueh had said.

Since I'm rather jumping into the middle of the series with what's available on Hulu, I'm going to have to see if NBC has the rest of the episodes available.  Right now its not a very believable world, and I think the lack of realism is due to the fact that I haven't seen the first three episodes.  I'll watch those before I watch any past #4, so I can give a much better review then I have.  I do have to give Nimueh props for not doing the "evil villian" usual: spilling the beans about the whole evil plot as soon as she had Arthur trapped.  I'm a huge fan of the story of Merlin and Camelot, and am really hoping to not be disappointed.  NBC doesn't have any prior episodes either, so I'm just going to have to jump in where I am.