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Merlin on BBC1 (SPOILERS)

I thought that last weekend's episode was the best one yet.

Still not brilliant, but decent enough for a Saturday evening.
 
I enjoyed last night's episode, I think the show is improving slightly with each episode.

Looks like it's holding its own in the ratings against X-Factor, too.

Merlin logged its second best audience last night (Saturday) despite going up against the first live edition of The X Factor.

Episode four of the Arthurian drama pulled in 5.92m (25.6%) for BBC One over 45 minutes from 7.05pm, a rise of 160,000 on last week
 
Also enjoyed this weekend's episode. It was nice to see Arthur get a bit more screentime, too. I'm really enjoying the costuming. Nimway's costume was about as authentic as a tenner spent in Primark, but I thought she looked great. Good all round entertainment, and I don't usually say this about BBC drama (even considering a dvd purchase! :eek:)
 
^ lol moving on.

I noticed John Hurts name on screen but I dont recall seeing the Dragon in this episode, did I miss his voice at some stage, maybe when Merlin was ill and using his magic to help Arthur, was he helped by the Dragon?
 
^ lol moving on.

I noticed John Hurts name on screen but I dont recall seeing the Dragon in this episode, did I miss his voice at some stage, maybe when Merlin was ill and using his magic to help Arthur, was he helped by the Dragon?
He also does the narration at the start of every episode, so he probably gets credited even when the dragon doesn't appear.
 
^ lol moving on.

I noticed John Hurts name on screen but I dont recall seeing the Dragon in this episode, did I miss his voice at some stage, maybe when Merlin was ill and using his magic to help Arthur, was he helped by the Dragon?
He also does the narration at the start of every episode, so he probably gets credited even when the dragon doesn't appear.
yep that will do it, TBH I wonder why he isnt in the main title sequence.

One thing I didnt like about the episode was Nimueh, not killing Arthur because it wasnt his destiny to be killed by her (or her destiny to kill him) yes we know the destiny these characters have ahead of them, but for the characters to use that as an excuse not to kill them, is lazy writing.

There are any number of reasons she might want him to live, but to say that is poor writing, and something I hope we dont see again.
 
Arthur's her son. Not a spoiler, just obvious. ;)
that is not where I was going with it, but its possible.

You know what I find amusing about this, is that Merlin doesn't know his place, he seems to know as little about life as a servant as the average viewer. I guess that helps views see the world from his POV, but whilst we are wondering why Uther would have Merlin taste the wine, or why Nimeuh would know that would happen, when that is what would have happened in the past.
 
Again, harmless fun but not engaging enough to seek out on a regular basis. Tony Head's the best thing in it, and Uther seems to be a complete bastard, willing to make sure Merlin dies just to make a point to his son...
 
but Arthurs rebellion against his farther is what has helped turn his character around since the first episode
 
but Arthurs rebellion against his farther is what has helped turn his character around since the first episode

Yeah, but I mean the fact that Uther outright decides to kill Merlin despite knowing that he was right, just as a spot of familial discipline
 
Last night's was good. Nice to see Arthur take centre stage for a change, and Hollywood's loss is our gain if Michelle Ryan's returning full time to British TV!!

Still light weight fluff but I'm enjoying it.
 
but Arthurs rebellion against his farther is what has helped turn his character around since the first episode

Yeah, but I mean the fact that Uther outright decides to kill Merlin despite knowing that he was right, just as a spot of familial discipline
this is part of what I was saying above, in the past someone like Uther or Author would have a food taster, and alot of the time that duty would come down to there loyal servant, we see it as cruel, but it happened.
 
Arthur's her son. Not a spoiler, just obvious. ;)
that is not where I was going with it, but its possible.

You know what I find amusing about this, is that Merlin doesn't know his place, he seems to know as little about life as a servant as the average viewer. I guess that helps views see the world from his POV, but whilst we are wondering why Uther would have Merlin taste the wine, or why Nimeuh would know that would happen, when that is what would have happened in the past.

Even though Gaius, master of chemistry, was standing right there... ;)
 
Arthur's her son. Not a spoiler, just obvious. ;)
that is not where I was going with it, but its possible.

You know what I find amusing about this, is that Merlin doesn't know his place, he seems to know as little about life as a servant as the average viewer. I guess that helps views see the world from his POV, but whilst we are wondering why Uther would have Merlin taste the wine, or why Nimeuh would know that would happen, when that is what would have happened in the past.

Even though Gaius, master of chemistry, was standing right there... ;)
yeah it crossed my mind that Gaius could run some tests, but then I remembered that this isnt CSI, but the distant past where such tests are probaly "uninvented" (ok that is not a word) and the normal thing to do would to be have your man servant test it.
 
that is not where I was going with it, but its possible.

You know what I find amusing about this, is that Merlin doesn't know his place, he seems to know as little about life as a servant as the average viewer. I guess that helps views see the world from his POV, but whilst we are wondering why Uther would have Merlin taste the wine, or why Nimeuh would know that would happen, when that is what would have happened in the past.

Even though Gaius, master of chemistry, was standing right there... ;)
yeah it crossed my mind that Gaius could run some tests, but then I remembered that this isnt CSI, but the distant past where such tests are probaly "uninvented" (ok that is not a word) and the normal thing to do would to be have your man servant test it.

Well true, professional hazard of mine to think "Bring out the chromatography set" ;) but I just figured that as Gaius has been hyped up as this powerful healer/scientist person he'd at least suggest tests, even if the king over-ruled him because he wanted it settled immediately.

The real reason in universe though seems to be that Uther was just pissed with Merlin and wanted to put him on the spot. Uther's attitude to Merlin seems the single most inconsistent thing in the show. He's his biggest fan when he saves Arthur in episode one, doesn't trust him about the knight's shield in Valiant but then is proved wrong and trusts him again, then in this episode Merlin's just the idiot servant again.
 
it is odd Merlin has gone down form "hero" to servant in Uthers eyes, but I agree he had Merlin test it, because he was annoyed with him.

and yeah Gaius could have suggested it, of course he did get the chance to run tests, and worked out what was in there.
 
Just watched Lancelot. I don't think this show could get any more clichéd at this point. And if you can't afford decent CGI, don't do CGI at all - the attacks by the - well let's face it, its a hippogriff, were appallingly done. The fighting, the actor's eyelines, everything.

Merlin himself got some good stuff this week, as did Gwen. But my biggest gripe was the "first code of camelot" - why is it always the 'frist rule' or 'greatest commandment' or 'prime directive' - why can't it jsut be a rule, is that not dramatic enough?
I would have thought their first rule might be something like 'don't murder the king'.

I'm still trying to put my figner on what it is about this show that makes me watch it every week.
 
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