MERLIN CLUB: The Witch's Quickening

MERLIN CLUB: THE WITCH'S QUICKENING

Or the One Where Mordred Creeps Jess Out Even More Than He Already Did

Now, last week...was glorious. Vacation with a group of ladies I adore. Including fellow Merlin Clubbers Bron and Jen. As you can see above, Merlin Club wasn't forgotten even if we took the week off. :-) 

We also went on a quest. That's right, my friends, A QUEST. We searched for Camelot...and we found it. Nestled in the sleepy town of Calumet, Michigan. 

After the fabulous week - of talking, laughing so hard I ached, enjoying fabulous wine, and writing like crazy - I came home refreshed and feeling great. Then, things went crazypants, people. So crazypants. I got sick. Something bit me while I was in Michigan. I don't know what as I was sleeping when it happened. But it was NASTY, and my body didn't react well to it, and I ended up in the ER. Long story short, I'm on steroids and antibiotics. Not fun. Especially when on deadline. 

I am feeling MUCH, MUCH better but, alas, there are only so many hours in the day. So, I'm going to apologize for what will probably be my shortest Merlin Club post ever, because something had to give (besides my sanity) :( But I'm not bowing out, because I LOVE MERLIN CLUB! :-D

So...on to the recap...

Remember creepy kid Mordred?

Well, he’s back. Joining him is Alvarr, 

a sorcerer who wants to—*jazz hands* SURPRISE!—destroy Camelot. 

Mordred and Alvarr sneak into Camelot to see Morgana. Merlin hears their mental communication and heads off to figure out what is going on. 

Morgana is happy to see Mordred and agrees to steal the Crystal of Neahtid—which will help Alvarr achieve his goals—from the vaults. She does this using Arthur’s keys.

Uther flips a nut when he finds out that the crystal is gone

No one seems to know much about the crystal other than it’s powerful as hell so Merlin goes to the Great Dragon, who is pissed because he hasn’t been set free, which Merlin promised. Appeased by Merlin’s vow to keep his promise when he knows Camelot is safe, the Dragon tells him that whoever controls the crystal will know the past, present and future. He reminds Merlin of the prophecy that Mordred will be the end of Arthur and he will unite with Morgana and do evil shit. 

Morgana sneaks out of Camelot to bring the crystal to Alvarr, and creeper Merlin follows her. Alvarr says once Mordred learns to control the crystal, they will destroy Uther and Camelot. He turns on the charm and Morgana is pretty well on board with everything and returns to Camelot. 

Merlin tells Gaius what happened, and the physician is worried. Alvarr is a powerful sorcerer and has threatened Camelot before. They go to Uther with a carefully edited version of the story—leaving Morgana’s role in it out. Arthur is sent out to the camp, but Morgana gets there first and warns Alvarr and his people. So when Arthur and his knight’s arrive, they’re ambushed. Big battle. Merlin prevents Mordred from escaping, but Mordred unleashes his magic on the soldiers surrounding him and runs away—not before glaring evilly at Merlin and telling him telepathically that he will never forgive Merlin’s betrayal. 

Arthur and his men triumph, and take Alvarr prisoner. That night, Merlin takes the crystal while the other sleep and sees a vision of the Great Dragon destroying Camelot. 

 

Uther, who looks utterly bored, sentences Alvarr to die, and Morgana yells at him in private. Calls him an arrogant fool who ignores what his people needs. 

Morgana drugs the guards and helps Alvarr escape. Uther is sooooo pissed and though he doesn’t say it, it’s clear he knows it was Morgana who helped Alvarr. 

Merlin tells Gaius what he saw in the crystal. Gaius tries to reassure him that what he saw was just one possible future and it can be changed. That night, while Merlin is bed, the Great Dragon yells in his mind, demanding his freedom.

If I’d written this episode, I would have changed…Okay, so the crystal is supposed to be this hugely powerful magical object. Why didn't Uther destroy it then? You'd think he would...but nope. It's in the vaults - which we all know isn't very secure - sitting on a fucking pillow, for crying out loud. 

It doesn't make sense. I'd have had it better locked away, and provided some kind of reason Uther didn't destroy it like everything else magical in the Great Purge. 

Thing(s) I loved about this episode—It's easier to just share these...

Oh, Merlin in your nightshirt, shadows from the torches dancing over your collarbones…I’ve missed you, darling. #MerlinClub #PardonMe
— Jessica Jarman (@jessjarman) July 1, 2014

Oh my…seriously, Colin Morgan, You are KILLING me tonight. #MerlinClub #SansNeckerchief
— Jessica Jarman (@jessjarman) July 1, 2014

So, what did I love...Merlin/Colin. 

Oh and then there is this little bit...

I have no words. 

Thing(s) I hated about this episode—Arthur was particularly craptastic to Merlin in this episode. Perhaps because grabbing him by the throat and slamming him agains the wall was the most action he got with all the running around Uther had him doing? Maybe.  

Something I never noticed about this episode before—It took Arthur a REALLY long time to let go of Merlin's throat when he had him up against that wall. And he recognized him right away, so that's no excuse. Then, when he releases him, his "Oh, sorry"...the tone... Mm hmmm. 

Favorite costume— I'm fairly certain I'm choosing the same as Bron this week....

Horrible photo but look at him in those trousers, the leather vest and the leather gloves.... 

Oh my.

Here is proof of some head canon I’ve created—There was some hard core Merthur happening in this episode. Seriously. The choking scene... You can't tell me that's the first time Arthur has had Merlin by the neck. Breathplay. Yeah, they've done it before. 

What would Bron steal from Camelot in this episode? The table runner in Morgana's room. Ignore the copious amount of fruit. :-/

What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in this episode? The druid camps always being so close to Camelot. The druids should be smarter than that, yeah? 

Also, Morgana telling Uther he's going to hell, where there's no evidence Camelot has an official religion

Bron’s Merlin Club: The Witch’s Quickening Post

Jen’s Merlin Club: The Witch’s Quickening Post

Until the next episode—The Fires of Idirsholas—which we’ll be watching on 7/7, at 8pm EST. We’ll be on Twitter with the hashtag #MerlinClub