Episode 4 Lady of the Lake

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CAMELOT “Lady of the Lake” Review

CAMELOT “Lady οf thе Lake” Episode 4 – Aftеr Guineviere’s marriage tο Leontes Arthur isn’t іn thе best οf moods. During training wіth Gawain hіѕ sword ends up being ԁеѕtrοуеԁ аnԁ Merlin sets out tο find hіm a sword fit fοr a king. Sο bеɡіnѕ episode four οf CAMELOT.

In “Lady οf thе Lake” Exalibur finally arrives іn Camelot, bυt nοt without a price. Merlin seeks out Caliburn tο сrеаtе a sword fit fοr thе king. Aftеr ѕοmе persuasion Caliburn agrees. Long ѕtοrу short, іn a vision, Merlin sees Caliburn kіƖƖіnɡ Arthur wіth ѕаіԁ sword аnԁ wіƖƖ nοt allow thе swordsmith tο deliver hіѕ sword himself.

Caliburn doesn’t take kindly tο thіѕ, аnԁ refuses tο give Merlin thе sword… аnԁ ѕο bеɡіnѕ a fight. Over a sword. Whеn Caliburn spits out thаt hе wουƖԁ kіƖƖ Merlin’s family іf аnу wеrе left, Merlin gets TICKED аnԁ using hіѕ sorcerer’s powers, hаѕ a fire flare up аnԁ engulf Caliburn.

Thе sword maker’s daughter arrives moments later tο find thе charred body οf hеr father next tο thе sword hе сrеаtеԁ. Merlin assures hеr thаt hіѕ death wаѕ аn accident, bυt thе girl snatches up thе sword telling hіm thаt hе wіƖƖ never ɡеt іt – аnԁ takes іt tο a nearby lake.

Shе paddles out tο thе middle wіth Merlin close behind, аnԁ іѕ аbουt tο dump thе sword іntο thе lake whеn Merlin (using hіѕ powers again) freezes thе lake аnԁ bеɡіnѕ tο walk towards hеr οn thе ice. Unfortunatly thе girl slips іntο thе lake аnԁ іѕ trapped under thе ice – bυt nοt before ѕhе thrusts thе sword through thе ice tο thе surface.

Merlin, іn hіѕ defense, ԁοеѕ try tο ɡеt hеr out οf thе lake, bυt саn’t, аnԁ instead takes thе sword back tο Arthur аnԁ tells thе ѕtοrу οf a Lady οf thе Lake, аnԁ tells Arthur thе name οf hіѕ sword іѕ “Exalibur”, thus naming thе famous blade аftеr Caluburn’s daughter аnԁ beginning thе legend οf Thе Lady οf thе Lake.

Meanwhile, Morgan isn’t doing ѕο well back аt hеr castle. Hеr ԁаrk magic іѕ catching up wіth hеr аnԁ ѕhе doesn’t look ɡrеаt. Shе іѕ unable tο mаkе іt tο Camelot tο meet Guenivere bесаυѕе ѕhе іѕ ѕο ill. Whеn ѕhе returns frοm thе failed trip back tο hеr castle, a nun frοm thе nunnery whеrе Morgan wаѕ raised іѕ waiting fοr hеr.

Thе nun οnƖу аѕkѕ “Whаt hаνе уου done?” аnԁ Morgan hаѕ hеr thrown out… οnƖу tο discover thаt ѕhе іn fact needs hеr аt hеr side tο guide hеr through hеr next lesson – whісh wіƖƖ bе tο die.

Yep, Moran dies bυt never fеаr! Shе іѕ reborn! Anԁ саn now transform іntο Queen Igraine (I thіnk? I wasn’t overly clear οn whаt thе deal wаѕ wіth thаt scene. Morgan саn now become Igraine instead οf a younger version οf herself, сοrrесt?), bυt nοt οnƖу transform – ѕhе саn feel whаt thе Queen іѕ feeling.

Whісh wіƖƖ come іn handy ѕіnсе thе Queen knows οf Arthur’s Ɩονе fοr Guenivere… whісh brings mе tο thе NEXT (аnԁ last) thing thаt happened іn Camelot thіѕ week – Arthur decides tο train аƖƖ οf hіѕ guards аnԁ ends up аƖmοѕt kіƖƖіnɡ Leontes. Fοr a ɡοοԁ minute during thе “training” session I really expected Arthur tο kіƖƖ hіѕ champion; bυt hе doesn’t… instead hе walks away аnԁ goes stomping tο hіѕ rooms.

Hе meets Guenivere οn hіѕ way аnԁ ѕhе tells hіm thаt thе each hаνе a duty аnԁ whatever happened before hеr marriage means nothing. Arthur accepts thіѕ (year rіɡht) аnԁ basically surrenders tο Leontes.

PHEW! Dіԁ уου catch аƖƖ οf thаt? A lot wаѕ packed іntο thіѕ episode, bυt I didn’t find іt overly entertaining. I thіnk thеѕе first few epsidoes οf Camelot аrе going tο obviously bе аbουt setting up thе ѕtοrу, establishing characters, etc. bυt I felt Ɩіkе “Lady οf thе Lake” fell a ƖіttƖе flat.

Except whеn Merlin аnԁ Excalibur wеrе οn screen. Thаt ѕtοrу line wаѕ thе one thаt I wаѕ mοѕt interseted іn аnԁ really throught thаt thе way thе writers сrеаtеԁ thаt ѕtοrу wаѕ very, VERY clever.

Whаt ԁіԁ уου thіnk? Hοw аrе уου enjoying Camelot thus far? Arе thеrе аnу particular ѕtοrу lines frοm thе legend thаt уου’re especially excited fοr? Lеt mе know іn thе comments below!

http://www.craveonline.com/tv/reviews/165743-camelot-104-lady-of-the-lake

CAMELOT 1.04 'Lady of the Lake'

Arthur fights dirty in his battle to win Guinevere. Meanwhile, Merlin kills an innocent to gain Excaliber.
By Blair Marnell
Apr 18th, 2011

Episode Title: "Lady of the Lake"

Writers: Louise Fox & Chris Chibnall

Director: Jeremy Podeswa

Previously on "Camelot":

Hoping to gain some insight into Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) and hasten his downfall, Morgan (Eva Green) invited Arthur and Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) to a banquet in his honor. Before Arthur passed out afterwards, Morgan stole some blood from him and she later tricked Merlin into drinking drugged wine. While Merlin struggled to escape being chained to Morgan's bed, Arthur left her castle to rendezvous with Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton). Despite her initial protests, Guinevere gave into Arthur and they had sex on the beach shortly before her wedding.

Meanwhile, Guinevere's betrothed, Leontes (Philip Winchester) and Arthur's adopted brother Kay (Peter Mooney) recruited Gawain (Clive Standen) to train the knights. Later, Merlin escaped from Morgan and he warned her that her magical powers had a price. She ignored his advice and used her abilities to see through Arthur's eyes as he married Guinevere and Leontes. And she quickly realized that Guinevere was Arthur's greatest weakness.

Story:

On the morning after Guinevere's wedding, Arthur sulks in his throne room. Or at least he does until he orders all of his knights to be awakened early as a way to get Leontes away from Guinevere. Having gathered the knights for training, Gawain sees through Arthur's BS and quickly disarms and threatens the inexperienced king. He even destroys the Sword of Mars that Arthur pulled from the stone. The rest of the knights draw swords to confront Gawain, but he releases Arthur without harm. Seeking a new sword for Arthur, Merlin is told by Gawain to find Caliburn (Vincent Regan), a reclusive sword maker.

Across the kingdom, Morgan attempts to visit Camelot with a gift for Guinevere to press Arthur even further. But she is overcome by sickness along the way and forced by her servant Vivian (Chipo Chung) to turn back. Once home, Morgan is enraged that an unnamed Nun is waiting for her within the castle walls and she has her removed by force. Elsewhere, Merlin meets Caliburn and convinces him to create a special sword made just for Arthur. He also meets Caliburn's young daughter, Excaliber (Lauren Coe). Back in Camelot, Arthur corners Guinevere and he has the nerve to ask if Leontes was better than him in bed.

After telling off Arthur again, Arthur's mother, Igraine (Claire Forlani) warns Guinevere to stay true to her husband. Meanwhile, Morgan takes a turn for the worse and she is forced to allow the Nun to treat her. Morgan seemingly dies during her ordeal and she is reborn in the form of Igraine, much to her horror. She eventually recovers and reluctantly allows the Nun to stay within the castle. At the same time, Merlin is haunted by dreams of Caliburn murdering Arthur. When Caliburn insists upon bringing the finished sword to Arthur personally, Merlin refuses.

Incensed, Caliburn refuses to give up the sword. In the ensuing confrontation, Merlin kills Caliburn with a burst of flame. Distraught, Excaliber takes the sword and runs out to the lake. She tries to row away in a boat, but Merlin freezes the lake around her. When she tries to escape again, she falls through the ice. She manages to get the sword through the ice, where Merlin claims it. But he is unable to free her before she drowns in the frozen water. Back in Camelot, Arthur continues to act like a spoiled child and he fights dirty with Leontes during training in order to humiliate him.

Finally, Merlin returns to Camelot with the new sword in hand. But he lies and says that Caliburn was dead when he found him. He then spins a tale about meeting a mystical Lady in the Lake who handed him the sword fit for a king... a sword she named Excaliber.

Breakdown:

The story of Camelot has been told so many times over the years that it's understandable when writers try to bring a fresh perspective to it.

However, I've never seen anything take a s*** on the legend the way that "Camelot" has in just four episodes.

Once again, the biggest problem lies with Jamie Campbell Bower as the whiniest King Arthur of all time. When Arthur asked Guinevere if Leontes was better in bed, my jaw literally dropped. For you comic fans out there, it was a verbal miscue on par with "I'm the Goddamn Batman!"

I can live with Starz sexing up the story to a certain extent, but Arthur has become an unlikable twerp. He's not only a mediocre king and a horrendous leader, he's also a self absorbed lover and he's just a bad friend to Leontes for continuing to pursue his wife... the day after he married them!

Then there's Arthur's two training battles, the first of which he loses soundly to Gawain and the second in which he viciously humiliates his "champion," Leontes. In all honesty, why would anyone follow this guy? Especially after that display? This Arthur isn't a riveting speaker and he still has yet to do anything heroic in this series. It's almost amazing to see that the people behind "Camelot" have the audacity to put forth this version of Arthur as England's greatest hero.

As for Merlin, I was enjoying Joseph Fiennes' portrayal of a less magic based Merlin who seemed to at least act with purpose. So to see him losing control and playing with fire (so to speak) felt wildly out of character. And that was before he was responsible for the death of a young girl and her father! Admittedly, the frozen lake thing was a cool visual moment. But the entire situation seemed ridiculously contrived. Merlin had to kill them BOTH to get the sword and save Arthur?

Also, how far down on the names list did Caliburn have to go to name his daughter Excaliber? Not exactly a convincing name for a girl.

I'm sure the intent is to add some darkness to the overall story, but this doesn't fell right for either Merlin or Arthur. At least Morgan is meant to be the villain, so it's not jarring to see her fall prey to her own ambitions. There just isn't a true hero in one of the greatest heroic myths of all time. Nor is there anything here that makes me eager to see the next episode.

From a technical standpoint, "Camelot" is really well done. But the story and some of the performances are really dragging down what could have been an amazing series. The producers will have their hands full trying to dig themselves out of this creative hole for the rest of the season.

And that's if they can even do it at all.

Crave Online Rating: 5 out of 10.

http://www.buzzfocus.com/2011/04/17/camelots-dark-arthurian-tale-more-religious-sinister/

Camelot’s Dark Arthurian Tale Gets More Religious and Sinister

By Bags : April 17, 2011

Starz’ Camelot continues its darker Arthurian tale with a seemingly directionless plot that trumps the “enemy of the weak” arc on BBC’s Merlin. “Lady of the Lake” took the story of King Arthur to a sinister place, filled with religious references and some damned good creative thinking on the part of showrunners Michael Hirst and Chris Chibnall.

One of the caveats in creating a historical fiction tale or an adapted work for the small or large screen is that most viewers already know where the story is heading. Or, at least they think they do.

Merlin decided to flip the King Arthur and Merlin tale on its back by making Merlin the seemingly bumbling sidekick to Arthur (Bradley James). Instead of a wise wizard with a Santa Claus beard, we were given actor Colin Morgan. He was a green wizard in ever sense of the word, with not a trace of facial hair to call his own. This Merlin had yet to become adept at his magical skills, and fell to the bottom of the status pole as Arthur’s squire. He also lived in a kingdom where magical users were persecuted.

arthur camelot

Camelot went in another direction. Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) unknowingly grew up in the care of adopted parents, only to discover he was a king’s son when his birth father was murdered by his half-sister Morgan (Eva Green). Legendary wizard Merlin (Joseph Fiennes), in this story with a five o’clock shadow, sets Arthur on the path to righteousness, while simultaneously ripping away Morgan’s birthright away from her. This Merlin doesn’t want to use his magic because of the “cost.” Unfortunately, Merlin’s good intentions are riddled with less than righteous deeds.

merlin camelotFirst, the “Sword in the Stone” myth was debunked. In Camelot, Merlin started his own myth, claiming that whoever drew Mars’ sword from the stone would unite the kingdom. Merlin did it, only for Gawain (Clive Standen) to break the mythical weapon like it was a child’s toy. With the legendary sword obliterated, Merlin set about to find a legendary swordsmith. The man created the blade, purportedly his finest work. However, a vision in the night, convinced Merlin that the man had less than admirable intentions. To prevent Arthur’s death, Merlin kills the swordsmith with a magical fire. Sure it may have been an accident, but a legendary wizard who has apparently already lived for more than an ordinary man’s lifetime should have been able to control his power – however rusty.

Merlin’s fall into righteous decay went one step further. The swordsmith’s daughter was named Excalibur. The reference was immediately resonant. After seeing her father die. Excalibur grabbed the sword and ran to a boat to escape via lake. Everyone knew what was going to happen next. In Arthurian myths, the sword came from the Lady in the Lake. However, in this despicable tale, Merlin freezes the lake to chase Excalibur down. She trips into the water and gets frozen, but manages to stick the sword out of the water before it freezes. Myth created.

Instead of telling Arthur the truth, Merlin decides to make up the myth of the Lady in the Lake who mystically presented the sword to him and said it was for Arthur. Needless to say, the superstitious people in Camelot believed the tale.

It’s here where we have our first bastardized religious reference. Merlin walks on water, much like Jesus did in the New Testament. It’s a “savior” reference, calling into question how myths, parables and history are all created by the people who were alive at the time – letting us know that nothing is as it seems if we weren’t there to witness it.

Throughout the first few episodes of Camelot, we heard several references to the nuns that Morgan grew up with. In “Lady in the Lake” we finally met one of those nuns. At first, it appeared as though this nun was a religious figure who was there to cast out whatever demon Morgan had made a deal with. However, we soon learned that this nun is just as wicked as Morgan. Her nunnery mysteriously burned down, leaving only her alive. Did she kill them? And, is she the reason Morgan has her powers? Morgan’s origin will slowly come out, but for now it seems that this nun is just as interested if not more interested in the crown than Morgan.

camelot morgan green

Also, major kudos go out to Green. In “Lady in the Lake,” she exhibited some of the best acting to date on the show. As she writhed in pain, blood dripping out of every pore in her body, we saw several sides to Green’s talent. Morgan also apparently came back from the dead – another “savior” reference.

Where is Camelot heading? Who knows. Right now, the only clear villain is Morgan. However, both Merlin and Arthur have the capacity to be villains on their own. Call it accidental if you’d like, but a death cover up earns you the label of murderer. Who else will die in Merlin’s attempt to create a king.

Tamsin Egerton Guinevere CamelotArthur will undoubtedly coerce Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton) into another unscrupulous situation. Either that, or he will sacrifice Leontes (Philip Winchester) in order to have his woman. We already saw Arthur kick Leontes in an effort to prove a point. He also seems to be learning several dirty tricks from Gawain.

It’s hard to see where this tale can go beyond season 1. Although the story has been compelling, there is so much tension and potential for duplicity, death and corruption that at least one of the characters may have to die for Arthur to ever develop any reasonably admirable or righteous qualities. Will it be Arthur’s adopted brother Kay (Peter Mooney)? Nothing much changed in Arthur’s character when his adopted parents died. He grieved and got over it. This king is a pubescent kid who still puts lust and heart over his kingdom. One romp on the beach does not make for a loving relationship, just problems in your court.

Right now, Arthur is not a king that I would respect, nor is Merlin the best person to look to for advice. So we’ll have to see how Arthur pushes his feelings aside to become a king worth following. Expect a new threat to be introduced so that Arthur can send Leontis away and try to tempt Guinevere to another night of lust in a cave. Or, perhaps this time in a bed? Or, in the bushes? Or, in a latrine? Mark it wait and see.

http://www.medievalarchives.com/2011/04/17/camelot-episode-4-the-lady-of-the-lake-recap

17
Apr
Camelot Episode 4: ‘The Lady of the Lake’ Recap

Synopsis of Camelot:

In the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain. When the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future, he installs the young and impetuous Arthur, Uther’s unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half sister Morgan will fight him to the bitter end, summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown in this epic battle for control. These are dark times indeed for the new king, with Guinevere being the only shining light in Arthur’s harsh world. Faced with profound moral decisions, and the challenge of uniting a kingdom broken by war and steeped in deception, Arthur will be tested beyond imagination. Forget everything you think you know…this is the story of Camelot that has never been told before.

Enjoy and thanks to Philip the Dazed for his episode recap.

WARNING:

The recap contains spoilers so if you haven’t watched Episode 4 “The Lady of the Lake” you may want to skip the recap.

~The Archivist
Camelot Episode 4: “The Lady of the Lake”



In keeping with what I established as to the divergences and similarities between Merlin and Camelot, I will continue in this mode to distinguish between the two mythologies. Readers: please let me know if you wish me to drop this comparative construct. Again, it is not meant to function as a recap or review of the series Merlin.

In the mythology of Merlin, the final episode of Season 3 relates how Merlin acquires the sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. This is the version of events that we’re all familiar with. However, the version depicted in Camelot relates a much darker and more tragic chain of events.

And now, on to the recap/review…

Arthur and Guinevere

Still in thrall to his nightly dreams of being with Guinevere, now all the more maddening for having been with her in reality, Arthur fights a losing battle to control his lust. Despite warnings from both Igraine and Merlin to move on because she is now married, Arthur moves to impress Guinevere with his skills as a warrior by challenging his champion, her husband Leontes to an exhibition sword fight. Secretly acknowledging her own longings for Arthur, Guinevere nevertheless resolves to be faithful to her husband, despite Arthur’s entreaties and her true feelings. During a brief conversation with Guinevere, we get an inkling that Igraine might have an agenda of her own, to be revealed in her own time. Meanwhile, Gawain is tasked by Arthur to train the king’s mostly unskilled army in the ways of combat, Gawain having been the legendary champion of other kingdoms in his checkered past. Arthur himself makes the mistake of challenging Gawain himself to combat. He learns quickly enough that he is outmatched in skills and armament, as Gawain shatters Arthur’s sword and bests him with his prowess. Merlin determines that the new king needs a new and special sword, suitable for a king. Gawain tells Merlin of Caliburn, the finest bladesmith in the land.

Merlin

Merlin sets out to find Caliburn and ask him to construct a special sword fit for his king. Caliburn demands that the king be present so that he may fashion a sword suited to Arthur’s attributes alone, but Merlin refuses this request and assures Caliburn that he can answer any question about Arthur that Caliburn might have. Caliburn is familiar with Merlin and his previous exploits. Once again, as with Morgan, Merlin is questioned about not using magic to get what he wants: why not just create a sword himself using magic? But now, in a fit of annoyance and clearly testing himself, we see Merlin call upon his powers to turn a campfire into a raging inferno that he struggles to keep under his control. After she witnesses the display of Merlin’s power, Caliburn introduces Merlin to his young daughter, Fearing for his daughter’s safety, he calls Merlin out on what he thinks is Merlin’s lack of respect for and the safety of Caliburn’s family. At this point, Caliburn presents Merlin with the finished sword, which he says is the finest he has ever forged, and bids Merlin to now leave. Merlin angers at the bladesmith’s suggestion that Merlin knows nothing of the loss of loved ones, and unable to control his rage, he accidentally burns Caliburn to death in the roaring fire, just as Caliburn’s daughter comes into view, only to see her father consumed by the flames. Merlin attempts to console the girl by telling her that it was an accident.

In her anguish, and in retaliation, she grabs the sword from the side of the hut her father worked in, and refuses to relinquish it to Merlin, running down to a nearby lake and climbing into a rowboat moored at its shore. Still caught up in his own guilt and shame over what he’d just done to her father, he pursues the girl to the lake. She paddles out furiously, and by now she’s completely out of his reach. Merlin again uses his powers, this time to freeze the entire surface of the lake so she can paddle no further while he strides out on the ice to her to retrieve the sword. The girl topples over the side of the rowboat with the sword in her hand, crashing through the ice. By now Merlin has caught up to her and stares helplessly at the girl, now floundering under the ice. The girl finds the strength and resolve to desperately thrust the sword upward through the ice, one imagines to end Merlin’s pursuit of her, and Merlin seizes it. Merlin is unable to break the ice and help her out of the lake. The girl cannot find her way to the spot where she fell in, and she finally drowns. We now see why Merlin avoids using his powers, because they appear to overwhelm his emotions to such a degree that he loses control over them.

Upon his return to Camelot with the sword, in his shame and sorrow over the events that had just occurred, he decides to tell Arthur’s court a completely different version of what happened; and thus is born the legend of “The Lady of the Lake”. In his telling of the story, he decides to name the sword Excalibur, after the young girl, who was named so by her father.

Morgan and Vivian

Morgan sets out to deliver a wedding gift to Guinevere in Camelot (probably something enchanted, and not in a good way!), accompanied by Vivian. Vivian, as mentioned earlier, is a descendant of slaves brought over from Africa hundreds of years earlier, and she proudly wears the markings of her tribe as drawings along the sides of her face and neck. These seem to be of particular interest to Morgan, though it’s not clear why just yet. While preparing to debark for Camelot, Morgan falls ill, and Vivian, concerned for Morgan’s safety, finally convinces Morgan to delay the trip and get some much needed rest. Vivian gives Morgan a protective, but concerned hug that somehow suggests her interest in Morgan goes deeper than just as her lady-in-waiting. While returning to her castle, Morgan is surprised and angered by the sudden, unwelcomed appearance of a member of the nunnery to which Uther banished her from his court. It seems the nunnery came under attack, and this nun was the only survivor.

Her body now under constant siege, Morgan becomes ravenous, cannot stay warm (even with a huge fire burning), has violent mood swings and has to rely more and more on Vivian to help her through these moments when she loses control. It’s clear that the use of dark magic is taking a terrible physical toll on Morgan when Vivian informs her that she blood is dripping down her face from her eyes! Morgan refuses to acknowledge the nun at first, but eventually relents. We learn that the nun was completely aware of Morgan’s aspirations to win Uther’s crown, even so far as appearing to encourage it herself! The nun is clearly familiar with whatever Morgan is going through, because Morgan gives her care completely over to the nun, who then dismisses Vivian from their presence. The nun determines that Morgan has performed a “summoning” to get what she wants, and her body is now under attack by dark spirits. She then reminds Morgan that she was warned by her earlier that her arrogance would be the death of her. Under the spell of these malevolent spirits, Morgan sees the reflections in mirrors of those she’s dispatched through her machinations, King Uther and King Lot. She also somehow summons the appearance of Queen Igraine in a mirror, and this image is seen by the nun. Apparently nursed back to health by the nun, she tells Morgan “You were reborn”. After which, Morgan physically morphs into Igraine, pronouncing she can now feel what Igraine feels. She eventually returns to her own form again, at which time the nun makes it clear to Morgan that the nun’s help will be needed for Morgan later to wrest the crown from Arthur.

http://fandomania.com/tv-review-camelot-1-04-lady-of-the-lake/

TV Review: Camelot 1.04 – “Lady of the Lake”
Posted by Summer Suzuki

Episode: Camelot 1.04 – “Lady of the Lake”
Original Air Date: April 15, 2011

Arthur’s sword is broken during a sparring session with Gawain, so Merlin journeys off to find the legendary sword maker Caliburn for a more suitable sword for the young king. In what used to be Uther’s castle, Morgan is experiencing some side effects to the magical dealings she’s been making lately. After a conversation with Merlin, Igraine, Guinevere, and Gawain, Arthur decides he needs to make a spectacle of himself by trying a little too hard to beat Leontes in what is supposed to be a practice fight.

Okay, first let’s talk about the things I liked about this episode. That being the two characters who use magic and really the only reason I’ve been coming back every week. First up, Morgan. It is always said that there is a price to pay or that there’s some kind of effect using magic will have. Merlin tried to warn Morgan of this in the previous episode where she was making me gag by collecting his toenails. In this ep, she’s starting to feel it but I don’t think it’s going to make much of a difference or deter her from using her magic any time soon. She has this plan to take a piece of jewelry to Guinevere (since she knows that Guinevere is important to Arthur), but that’s derailed when Vivian convinces her she’s too sick to travel to Camelot. They head back, and there’s this nun waiting for Morgan upon their return. This is the nun who taught Morgan all about magic while she was growing up in the convent. At first, Morgan tries to get rid of her, but when her condition worsens she allows Sybil to help her. They do some kind of ritual, Morgan dies, and then she comes back to life. Not completely out of the woods just yet, she briefly turns into Igraine and feels what she feels (pain) and enjoys it. Sybil seems disturbed by this, which leaves me to wonder why she’s helping Morgan. She doesn’t seem to want Morgan to use magic the way she has been, but she’s not stopping it.

I find Eva Green in this role to be fantastic. She is so brilliantly arrogant and, I don’t want to say evil because I don’t think that’s actually what she is. I guess I’d say very willing to do whatever it takes to get what she feels is rightfully hers. And it’s great to watch because she’s supposed to be the villain but I still feel for her. I don’t think the means by which she is trying to succeed are good ones, but part of me wants her to succeed in taking out Arthur sooner rather than later.

The other great part of this episode was Merlin getting Excalibur. Now, if you’re like me, you were probably confused by this. I guess I didn’t remember Arthurian Legend as well as I thought or I’ve been relying on Disney’s The Sword in the Stone too much as a touchstone for it, but I thought the sword Arthur pulls from the stone was Excalibur. Either way, having them be two separate swords set up a good bit of story telling for Merlin’s plot. Arthur and Gawain are training and Gawain breaks the sword Arthur had been using (I’m not sure if it was the sword in the stone or not just because that sword looked like an actual great sword while the broken one didn’t to me). This prompts Merlin to want to get him a sword more suitable for a king. Gawain suggests the great sword maker Caliburn and tells Merlin where to find him. Merlin does, Caliburn is somewhat grouchy, but he ends up making the sword in record time (I know, I know, it’s just TV, but give me a break). We also meet Caliburn’s daughter, Excalibur. Things go awry, as they usually do, when Caliburn wants to take the sword to Arthur personally. Merlin, being a magic man, had a vision of a possible future where Caliburn kills Arthur with the sword. So they fight because Merlin refuses to let Caliburn deliver the sword personally, and we find out why Merlin doesn’t use magic — because it kills people around him. Caliburn is a toasted husk and Excalibur runs off with the sword to the middle of the lake. Again, Merlin uses magic to reach her (he freezes the lake) and Excalibur ends up falling into the lake with the sword. Bet you can guess which one of them made it out.

When he makes it back to Camelot, he spins the tale we’ve all heard of the Lady of the Lake and says the sword’s name is Excalibur. This made me pause as he’s telling this story in front of Gawain. Now, Gawain knew Caliburn and that he had a daughter. I’m suspicious that he wouldn’t have picked up on this and thought something smelled fishy with the story Merlin told.

So the thing I didn’t like about this episode is the same thing I didn’t like the previous three episodes: Arthur. This character is Anakin Skywalker in a tunic. He spent a majority of this episode being butt-hurt about Guinevere marrying Leontes, and when he wasn’t moping around like a petulant child he was trying to — you know, I’m not sure what he was trying to do, maybe make a fool out of his best and most loyal knight. Merlin tells him to let Guinevere go because it will just end badly. Doesn’t listen. Igraine, a perfect example of what will happen when a king takes whatever he wants without concern for the people it effects, talks to him. Doesn’t listen. What does he listen to? Gawain’s opinions on how a warrior would behave when he comes up against defeat. There was no subtlety in that exchange at all. Gawain is talking about battle, and Arthur is talking about how he wants to steal the wife of the man who probably got just about every knight except Kay to follow him. It was just flat on the nose and you knew exactly where that was heading as soon as Gawain finished what he had to say. Stay classy, Arthur.

After doing whatever it was he thought he was accomplishing by “sparring” with Leontes, he catches up with Guinevere (and how this little relationship is such a secret when all these hushed meetings are happening in the halls of a RUIN is beyond me) and again tries to get her to be with him. She tells him she’s happy and it’s obviously a lie, but she knows they all have a duty to fulfill at this point and they should do it. I’m still not getting what her attraction is to Arthur. This character is completely unlikeable at this point and he’s been a crap king so far. On the one hand, we’ve got Leontes who is an honorable, trusting, faithful man who believes that Arthur is the king who can make their world a better place and is more than willing to serve him and protect him and give his life for him. On the other hand, we’ve got Arthur who so far has done nothing but pout, think with Little Arthur instead of his brain, and has just parroted out what Merlin has told him to say, not to mention is more than willing to betray the trust of those closest to him. I can’t speak for everyone, but I would go with the more honorable guy here.

I’m not sure how anyone could have thought that sparring session was just sparring. Clearly there was something else going on there that the characters (besides Guinevere’s lady in waiting) should have picked up on. Hell, Arthur mooning over Guinevere every time they’re in the same vicinity should have started tripping alarm bells with everyone in Camelot. I know these two characters are supposed to be together eventually, it’s just really not interesting to watch at this point. In fact, for me, it’s downright aggravating to have to sit through this love triangle because there’s one person in it who’s worth a damn and that’s the person that’s going to get shafted. I’m hoping that eventually, Arthur will become a more likable character because he’s the main character of the story! It’s not called the Merlin Legend or Morgan Legend. This is the Arthurian Legend and Arthur needs to be a character you like and want to succeed. He’s supposed to be the once and future king, not the once and future crybaby.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/camelot-recap-lady-lake-04-16-2011

Camelot’ recap: Lady of the Lake
4/16/2011
Anthony Feole

King Arthur behaves erratically after the wedding of Leontes and Guinevere. He can’t get over his tryst with Guinevere and he truly believes his feelings mean something. Arthur is glum for the majority of this episode, but he releases some rage upon Leontes and defeats him via sparring.

Gawain begins training Arthur’s men, and he even spars with the king himself (much to the dismay of Arthur’s followers). Although Gawain hardly fits Arthur’s “honorable instructor” requirement, he is a terrific fighter, and he teaches the men a few dirty tricks. For instance, he tells them to place a dagger at the edge of their shield so it can be used as a means of attack or defense.

Meanwhile, Gawain tells Merlin where to find the best blacksmith in the land, and the wizard travels to the lair of Caliburn, a reclusive man. Caliburn initially refuses to accept Merlin’s task and craft a sword for King Arthur. He claims he needs to see the King in action so that he can create a suitable sword. Interestingly, Merlin knows all the important details about Arthur, and he gives the information to Caliburn, who creates an epic weapon.

During the night, Merlin is plagued by a premonition that shows Caliburn killing King Arthur. Thus, he kindly asks Caliburn to give him the sword, which he will present to the king. However, Caliburn refuses and says he wants to give it to the king himself. A fight ensues between the two, and the sorcerer ultimately burns Caliburn to cinders.

Caliburn’s only companion, his daughter, Excalibur, runs to the aid of her father. She is so grieved by his death that she takes the sword he made for Arthur and runs into the forest. She thinks she is safe from the wizard when she reaches a boat and paddles deeper into a lake. Yet, Merlin will not quickly admit defeat, and he uses his magic to freeze the water and halt Excalibur’s escape. Sadly, Excalibur is in such a state that she jumps into the lake and is trapped beneath the ice. She lifts the sword over the surface of the lake before the ice freezes over her body. Merlin grabs the sword and tries to break the ice but he cannot. He is extremely saddened by the death of the blacksmith and his daughter, and he names the sword Excalibur in honor of the girl.

Morgan wants to give Guinevere a wedding present, but the effects of her dabbling in sorcery have caught up with her. In fact, her servant, Vivian, is forced to return her to her own castle to recuperate. Strangely, a nun waits for Morgan at her castle, but the sorceress initially sends her away. Apparently, the nun serves a twisted power, as she helps Morgan recover from her sickness.

Morgan dies during her sickness but she is reborn and takes the form of Igraine. Her dark intentions are currently unclear, but they will be revealed during next week’s episode. Don’t miss it next Friday, April 22, at 10pm on Starz.

http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/camelot-the-battle-of-bardon-pass-on-channel-4-tonight/

CAMELOT: The Battle of Bardon Pass on Channel 4 tonight

July 30th, 2011 by Lisa McGarry.

The drama continues. Igraine (Claire Forlani) is confused when she comes face to face with Morgan (Eva Green), who has shapeshifted into Igraine in the Great Hall of Camelot. Meanwhile, Harwel has attacked one of Arthur’s outposts, Bardon Pass, with the intention of drawing Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) out from Camelot to defend it. Leontes (Philip Winchester) is furious with Arthur after confronting Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton) about her feelings for him. However when Albion, the son of the family at Bardon Pass, requests the king’s help, Leontes puts his differences to one side and joins the other men. After realising who is behind the deception, Merlin and Igraine head for Castle Pendragon to arrest Morgan for witchcraft, treason and kidnapping. They find the castle full of dispossessed people who have come to Morgan for safety and protection. But with news of Arthur’s disloyalty to Leontes spreading across the kingdom, people begin to trust Morgan over him.

30th July 2011, 9pm, Channel 4