MERLIN CLUB: The Fires of Idirsholas

MERLIN CLUB: THE FIRES OF IDIRSHOLAS

Or the One Merlin Finally Listens to the Dragon and Breaks Jess' Heart

Before we get to the recap and questions... I'm going to take a moment to squee about If Ever Would I Leave You being released this week. :) 

I can't tell you how excited I am about this book--there just aren't words to adequately describe it. 

I got to write about Arthurian legend and be a part of a collection with Jenny and Bronwyn - two of the most amazing people I know and am lucky enough to call my friends. 

Not only that, but this book made me fall in love with writing all over again. Seriously. How freaking lucky am I? 

So I invite you to buy this book and enjoy three amazing Authurian-inspired stories. 

Surfacing by Bronwyn Green

A Choice Fit for a Queen by Jenny Trout 

and

The Deepest Cut by yours truely. :)

Available NOW on Amazon & Smashwords

And now on to our regularly scheduled Merlin Club post...

RECAP—The episode opens in the ruins of a castle (I think) with Morgause performing magic near seven still figures, and when she is done (Ending with the ominous “Uther Pendragon!” which is never a good thing, yeah?), the figures can now move.

In Camelot, Uther is informed that smoke has been seen from the citadel of Idirsholas. Gaius warns Uther of the legend that says the Knights of Medhir will ride again if the fires of Idirsholas burn. Even though he’s skeptical, Arthur decides to investigate

Gaius tells Merlin what’s what—three hundred years ago, seven of Camelot’s knights were seduced by the sorceress Medhir. They swore to serve her, destroying everything in their path. They only stopped at Medhir’s death, becoming lifeless without her magic.

When Arthur, Merlin and some knights get to Idirsholas, they are met by the Knights of Medhir. 

Merlin uses magic to defend them—secretly, of course—but in the end, it’s only Arthur and him who survive. They decide to go back to Camelot to come up with a plan of attack.

Morgana is contacted by Morgause, and they meet in secret. So much tension between the half-sisters…and not the angry kind. O.o 

They both hate Uther so much that Morgana agrees to help Morgause. The sorceress puts Morgana to sleep and performs some sort of spell over her. When Morgana wakes, back in her bed, she finds that a strange illness is sweeping through Camelot—people become weak, tired, and eventually fall asleep.

When Arthur and Merlin return, everyone is asleep, and the boys can’t wake them. They make their way through the castle. In Morgana’s rooms, they find Morgana hiding. Arthur seems suspicious that Morgana is the only one awake, but Merlin says, Gauis gave her a potion before he fell ill, so that must have made her well.

They hurry to get to Uther and hide him as Morgause and the Knights enter the castle. Things go from bad to worse when Arthur and Merlin begin to fall ill with the magical sickness. Merlin says he’ll go search for the potion Morgana took.

He manages to elude the Knights and ends up down below the castle asking the Great Dragon for help. The dragon, who is pretty pissed at Merlin, finally agrees to help when Merlin swears on his mother’s life that he will release him if he does. The only way to break the spell is to kill the source of the magic—Morgana.

Though hesitant and troubled, Merlin takes a bottle of hemlock from Gaius’ chambers and returns to Morgana and Arthur who are trying to get Uther to a cart outside. They are stopped by the Knights, and Arthur fights with them to give Merlin and Morgana a better chance to get Uther out.

Morgana falls, and Merlin ignores when she calls for help. A Knight nearly kills her but stops, as if recognizing her. He goes after Merlin instead but Arthur saves him. The group ends up in the throne room. While Arthur fights off the knights again, Merlin poisons the water he has and offers it to Morgana. She refuses several times, but finally drinks it. She has trouble breathing, and Merlin apologizes as she begins to die.

Morgause senses her sister’s distress and rushes to her. She demands to know what poison Merlin used, but he says he’ll only tell her if she stops the attack. She threatens to kill him, but he points out Morgana will die with him. She halts the attack and Merlin gives her the empty bottle. Morgause uses magic to escape with Morgana.

Uther thanks Arthur, but Arthur feels he failed because he didn't protect Morgana. Uther says it is his fault.  He insists Morgause can’t be allowed to get away with what she has done.

In Gaius’ chambers, the physician tries to comfort Merlin, telling him he did the right thing. He says that Morgana chose to use her gift for evil. Merlin leaves, saying he has to do something. He gets a sword he took from a Knight—crafted in the Old Religion—and goes down to the Great Dragon. He asks what the dragon’s intention are. His response: there is only one road he can take.  When Merlin begs him not to harm Camelot, the dragon says enough bargains have been made. Merlin breaks the chain with the sword and the dragon is free.

If I’d written this episode, I would have changed…I don't know that I'd change anything about this episode specifically. I've already talked about things I'd change about events leading to this, but things being what they are...I don't see anything I'd change, really. 

Thing(s) I loved about this episode—The Merthur moments, of course--Arthur protecting Merlin, treating his "first battle wound". 

The slap, when Arthur starts to fall asleep. 

And freaking A, Colin Morgan. The guy can act. When Merlin poisons Morgana...damn, he's good. 

Thing(s) I hated about this episode—Gauis saying Morgana chose not to use her gift for good. Pisses me off because it was the lies and everything Gaius kept from her that drove Morgana to do what she did (helping Morgause etc). She was desperate for acceptance and love, and didn't have that in Camelot. She was alone. 

Something I never noticed about this episode before—Jen pointed this out when we were watching... When Arthur goes to fight off the Knights, he says "Protect the king." Not "my father", but "the king". Shows how, in that moment, Arthur is all about duty to his king and his people. He's not thinking as a son. 

Here is proof of some head canon I’ve created—The tension between the sisters...there's something there. Seriously. The incest-y vibe, I can't be the only one feeling it. 

Also this is where Morgana's character turns completely. She hates Uther, yes, but after this episode and being with Morgause, she becomes completely different when we next see her. I'm convinced Morgause does more than just take care of her; she uses magic to gain Morgana's full allegience. 

Favorite costume—

This pic shows my fave costume--the green cloak--and my least favorite--Morgause's dress. I hate it. 

What would Bron steal from Camelot in this episode? Morgana's cloak. 

What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in this episode? Oh this is a tough one this week. I'd say Uther lounging on his throne at the beginning of the episode...he's all lazy and smug...

Bron’s Merlin Club: The Fires of IdirsholasPost

Jen’s Merlin Club: The Fires of Idirsholas Post

Next week, 7/14 at 8pm EST, we wrap up season two with The Last Dragonlord.

Get your tissues ready.There will be crying, my friends.

 We’ll be on Twitter with the hashtag #MerlinClub

MERLIN CLUB: The Lady of the Lake

MERLIN CLUB: THE LADY OF THE LAKE

Or Another One Where Colin Morgan Breaks My Heart

RECAP—It was a dark and stormy night…in Camelot. A bounty hunter, Halig, comes into town with a girl in a cage. 

Gaius and Merlin are walking home from treating a patient and see her. Gauis tells Merlin that Uther pays a reward to those who capture magic users, and warns Merlin not to interfere. 

But our young warlock doesn’t heed this warning, of course, and comes back later to free the girl. As they are escaping, Halig notices she is gone, but Merlin uses magic to knock the bounty hunter down by dropping the tavern sign on his head, but the blow doesn’t knock him out. Halig sees two figures running away. 

Merlin leads the girl to the caves beneath the city and promises to take care of her. She wants to know why he helped her. He says it could have easily been him in that cage. He tells her his name and learns hers—Freya. 

Halig goes to Uther and tells him of the girls’ escape. Gaius is surprised when the bounty hunter says the druids fear her and cast her out—it goes against what he knows of the druids and their desire to help those in need. Uther orders her found, along with the accomplice Halig mentions seeing. A search begins. 

In the morning, Merlin steals some food from Arthur’s breakfast

(and the series’ continuing joke about Arthur getting fat begins) and brings it to Freya. They share some moments and grow closer (omg, if i was in a dark cave with freaking Colin Morgan, we’d be sharing more than moments…oh, sorry, back to the recap).  So the next day, Merlin steals more food from Arthur, but on his way to Freya, Merlin is taken by Halig. The bounty hunter questions Merlin and doesn’t believe Merlin’s claims of not knowing anything. Arthur comes on before Halig can rough Merlin up, and says that his manservant has his complete trust. Gaius also questions Merlin about his involvement in the girl’s escape but Merlin denies everything. 

That night, at midnight, two lovers are attacked and killed. When examining the bodies the next day, Gaius finds the evidence conflicting—the wounds were clearly made by an animal, but there are human footprints leading away from the bodies. Uther says it must be a magical creature. 

Merlin is spending more time with Freya, and there is sweet, sweet romance in the air. 

He decides that he’s going to get her out of Camelot, and he’s going to stay with her. She protests but is clearly pleased with the suggestion. Merlin goes to Morgana’s chambers to steal a dress for Freya, and is caught by Gwen, using some BS story about moth holes to make a quick getaway. He runs into Arthur on his way, and the prince clearly thinks Merlin’s cross dressing. 

The next time midnight rolls around, two guards are killed and the same evidence is found along with an eye witness account of a gigantic cat with wings. Gaius does his research thing and goes to Merlin with his findings. He say that Freya is cursed—every night at midnight she becomes a Bastet and must kill. 

She has no control over it. Merlin confesses that he helped Freya but doesn’t believe what Gaius is telling him. The bells begin to toll and Merlin runs out of their chambers. 

Freya, who was trying to escape Camelot, is cornered by Halig, Arthur and a group of knights. Unfortunately, it’s midnight so Freya transforms and tears Halig apart before attacking Arthur and his men. The prince manages to wound the Bastet and it makes its way into the courtyards. Merlin comes running onto the scene, and it seems like the beast recognizes him. Merlin uses magic to make a gargoyle fall, distracting the men long enough for the Bastet to escape. Merlin runs after her into the caves. Even in Bastet form, Freya allows Merlin to pet her before she retreats farther into the cave. He finds her back in human form, clearly dying from the wounds. She tells him her story—she was cursed by a sorceress after accidentally killing the sorceress’s son in self-defense. 

Merlin takes Freya to a lake. She says she is grateful to him for making her feel loved. She thanks him and vows someday to repay him. He places her body on a boat and using magic, sends it out on the water and sets it ablaze. 

This kills me. Every time. Damn you, Colin Morgan, for doing what you do so well. 

When he returns to Camelot. Gaius consoles him. Later, Arthur finds him doing his chores. He knows Merlin’s been upset and asks about it. And there's this sweet Merthur moment to end the episode. 

If I’d written this episode, I would have changed… Bron brought this up while we were watching… How could Halig NOT know Freya transformed into the Bastet. She said she was in the cage for several days/nights. She transforms at midnight. WTF? He seems so shocked when she transforms, and that just doesn’t make sense. So I’d have her not be in the cage that long or have a reasonable explanation for him not knowing. 

Thing(s) I loved about this episode—Motherfreaking Colin Morgan. Dear GOD, I cry every time I see this episode. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Because of HIM!! Last episode, I said Bradley James knocked it out of the park with his Angry Arthur. Well, Colin killed it in this episode. His connection with Freya… When he says Gaius doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a monster and fearing what you are… (and we know he’s not just talking Freya here) His devastation at losing Freay… *sigh* Brilliantly done. 

Thing(s) I hated about this episode—Uther seemed out of character. It was weird. A magical girl is on the loose and he’s so casual and laid back about it. It doesn’t fit his usual overly zealous attitude about catching sorcerers. Not that I like Uther that way, but him NOT being that way was just odd and made me uneasy. LOL 

Something I never noticed about this episode before— This is the first time we’ve seen a gargoyle around the castle since Sigan made them all fly and stuff. Now, I really have to go back to early episodes to see if they’re ever shown. I suspect, there are only gargoyles when it is needed for the plot. 

Favorite costume—Oh this episode…. I got to see Merlin sans neckerchief, by fire/candlelight AND soaking wet. It was lovely. Add this—my favorite “costume” courtesy of Arthur—and seriously I was in HEAVEN. 

Here is proof of some random head canon I’ve created— When Halig is questioning Merlin, Arthur shows up awfully quickly. Especially since Merlin just left him eating breakfast. It’s like he knew Merlin was in danger (and needed his man. ROWR). More proof of the connection they have? Not much, but it’s all I have this episode. 

What would Bron steal from Camelot in this episode?

I TOTALLY meant the tub, not hot Bradley James in a towel... ;-) Maybe. 

What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in this episode? That Merlin was willing to do all of this for Freya—a stranger—but continues to lie to and doesn’t help Morgana, his friend. 

Bron’s Merlin Club: The Lady of the Lake Post

Jen’s Merlin Club: The Lady of the Lake Post

Until the next episode—Sweet Dreams—which we’ll be watching, 6/16, at 8pm EST. We’ll be on Twitter with the hashtag #MerlinClub

MERLIN CLUB: The Sins of the Father

MERLIN CLUB: THE SINS OF THE FATHER

Or the Time Arthur Learns Some of the Truth But Then It's Buried in LIES Again!

RECAP - In the ruins of a castle, we see a sorceress using magic to watch Arthur in a crystal. A bit reminiscent of Nimueh…bless her barbecued via lightning soul. This new lady says that Arthur has a great destiny and the battle for his soul is about to begin. 

In Camelot, a group of men are being knighted and Uther is talking about his favorite subject—the knight’s code. A figure in armor enters Camelot, killing guards and entering the Great Hall. A gauntlet is thrown down in challenge and Arthur accepts. He asks to know who his is fighting against. Once the helmet is removed, we see it’s the sorceress; she says her name is Morgause. 

Uther brings in our favorite Guess Who librarian, Geoffrey of Monmouth to check the rules of challenges, I guess. But poor Geoffrey cannot come through for our king this time. There are no rules preventing a woman from issuing a challenge, and by the knight’s code, Arthur has to fight. Uther warns him not to underestimate her because she’s a woman. 

Later that evening, Arthur sends Merlin to ask Morgause to withdraw, since he doesn’t want to kill a woman, but she refuses. So Arthur is stuck, because he can’t withdrawal without looking like a coward. 

The duel happens. Arthur manages to wound Morgause’s arm but she eventually wins. On the ground, with her blade to his throat, she offers to spare his life if he agrees to meet her outside of Camelot in three days and accept whatever challenge she gives him. He accepts. 

After, Gaius is treating Morgause’s wound and he recognizes the bracelet she wears. When he asks her, she says she’s only been to Camelot once, when she was a baby, so he wouldn’t remember her. She thanks him and leaves. 

Morgana goes to Morgause’s chambers and introduces herself. Morgause notes that Morgana seems tired. Morgana says she has trouble sleeping, then asks if they had ever met. Morgause says no and asks Morgana to remember her fondly. She offers her her bracelet as a gift, saying it has healing powers and will help her sleep. Morgana refuses. That night, Morgause is Morgana’s chambers as the other woman sleeps and leaves the bracelet by the bed, casting a spell. 

When Morgana wakes the next day, she has slept better and later than she has in a long time, and notices the bracelet. 

As Morgause prepares to leave Camelot, she reminds Arthur of his promise and tells him he’s a man of honor. A trait he clearly inherited from his mother. Arthur asks if Morgause knew her, and she confirms this but rides away before he can question her further. 

When Arthur tells Uther of his promise and plan to meet Morgause, Uther flips his shit. Obviously, Morgause is a sorceress and is luring him into a trap. And that was probably why she won in the duel. Now, in this instance Uther is right—she’s a sorceress—but he has no reason to think this. No evidence. But it’s his fall back…SORCERY. He’s obviously just worried his secrets are going to be revealed. Arthur argues that he’s honor bound to meet her. Uther, though, is having none of that. Screw the precious knight’s code now. He confines Arthur to his chambers. 

Merlin helps Arthur escape so he can be all honorable and shit…and find out something about his mama. The next morning, Gaius finds Merlin missing and quickly figures out what is going on. Uther is pissed off and sends search parties after Arthur. 

When the physician goes to give Morgana her sleeping draught, she tells him that she doesn’t need it thanks to Morgause’s bracelet. He goes right to Uther, informs him that the bracelet hast the emblem of the House of Gorlois. The only reason Morgause would have it is she is Morgan’s half-sister. Uther says he was told the child died, and Gauis confesses that he got her out of Camelot as a baby and gave her to the High Priestess of the Old Religion. He never spoke of it because he made an oath, and only breaks that know because he fears her intentions—and she would have been trained in very powerful magic. Uther says Morgana can never learn Morgana has a half sister; he won’t have her loyalties divided. 

On their journey, Arthur tells Merlin he knows nothing of his mother, that she died right after he was born and Uther never speaks of her. Merlin shares that he never knew his father and they bond and stuff. 

They eventually come to a lake—guided by Arthur’s horse which has been enchanted by Morgause. The horse takes Arthur into the lake. They boys cross and enter a cave. Once out of the cave, they see the ruins of a castle. Once inside, they find Morgause who tells him to put his head on an executioner’s block. Even though Merlin protests, Arthur does it. 

Luckily, he doesn’t lose his head. Morgause was testing him. She offers him a reward and he requests information on his mother. Merlin protests again, but Arthur says she hasn’t harmed them so far and perhaps his father’s belief that all magic is evil is wrong. 

Morgause magically brings forth Ygraine and Arthur is able to talk to his mother. He speaks of how sorry he is that she died because of him and she tells him he has nothing to be sorry for; it is Uther who takes the blame for her death. Arthur then finds out that when Ygraine was unable to conceive, Uther went to Nimueh to beg her to give him a son through magic. Desperate to have an heir, he sacrificed his wife without her knowledge. 

To say Arthur is upset is an understatement. When they return to Camelot, he goes immediately to confront his father. He yells at Uther, calling him a hypocrite and a liar. He throws his gauntlet down and they fight—Uther reluctantly. Just as Arthur has his father down and his sword to his throat, Merlin and Gaius rush in. Merlin says what they saw wasn’t Arthur’s mother. It was an illusion of Morgause’s meant to turn Arthur against his father and destroy Camelot. 

After making Uther swear it is a lie, Arthur lowers his sword and is in tears, apologizing. Father and son embrace. 

Later, in Gauis’ chambers, Uther thanks Merlin and calls him a trusted ally in the fight against magic. He tells Merlin he has to vigilant against those who would exploit and harm Arthur. He also says that if Merlin ever tells of what happened between Uther and Arthur, he would be killed. 

After Uther leaves and Gauis returns, the physician says it must have tempting to just let Uther die. Merlin says it was but he knows Arthur would never have forgiven himself if he’d killed his father. 

Back at the castle ruins, Morgause smugly looks into her crystal, but becomes angry when she sees father and son sitting together laughing. 

If I had written this episode, I would have changed….They could have been more original with the opening, introducing Morgause. It was just way to similar to how they did it with Nimueh. Mysterious sorceress in an isolated place encanting spells. And the ending as well, looking to see how their plan worked (Morgause looking into the crystal, and Nimueh scrying into the pool of water) only to then be pissed off when it didn't work out in their favor. Just wish they'd varied it up a little bit. 

Thing(s) I loved about this episode—Let's face it, Bradley freaking James...he acted HIS ASS OFF in this episode. From the desire Arthur feels to learn about his mother, to the scene WITH his mother, and finally the showdown with Uther. OMG, angry Arthur...it was a sight to behold and just lovely. That was my favorite part of the episode. 

The boys bonding over their absent parents was nice. 

And finally, Merlin lying to Arthur to save Uther. He could have let Uther die; it would have been so easy, but he knew Arthur would hate himself, wouldn't be able to live with the fact he killed his father. It's clear that Arthur means more to Merlin than anything. Think about it--Arthur's attitude toward magic was definitely changing/softening, Uther is a huge obstacle to the destiny the two younger men share. By all rights, Uther's death would have taken them one step closer to what Merlin is working so hard to acheive. But Arthur and his emotional wellbeing totally trumps that. 

Thing(s) I hated about this episode—This was hard for me this week. So here goes nothing...

All the freaking...

Seriously, all the lying is maddening. And at least right now, poor Morgana is the one most lied to. Gauis lies to her about her powers. Uther lies about a whole lot, but makes of hiding the fact that she has a half-sister.

And, I feel like a broken record saying Uther again. But come on, Uther! People can read fatherly concern into his actions and that he is so worried about Arthur. But that's not it at all. His concern is his lies and secrets being revealed. When he finds that Morgause has spoken to Arthur about knowing Ygraine, WHAM, he's suddenly calling her an enchantress. 

Hell, he even says Morgause knowing the circumstances of Arthur's birth and telling him is what he fears most in the world. That is your worst fear? Not that perhaps your son is going to be killed or something horrible like that? Nope, Arthur and others learning his secrets, that's the worst thing that can happen. 

Hey, Uther...

Something I never noticed about this episode before—A continuity error in Merlin's costume. When he's running to go stop Arthur from killing Uther, on the stairway, he's wearing red shirt and blue neckerchief. The next shot of him running in the hallway, he is wearing the red shirt but no neckerchief. Then when he's in the council chambers, pleading with Arthur, he's suddenly wearing a blue shirt and red neckerchief. 

I rewinded it a couple times to make sure I wasn't seeing things. LOL I tried to find good screen shots of it but failed. Then I was rewatching again when I was writing up this post and watched with commentary, for shit's and giggles. And Colin Morgan totally pointed it out. :D 

That's why it took Merlin so long to get there, he was changing along the way. :D

Favorite costume—Merlin in leather gloves. Does that count as a costume? I have a thing for his hands already...now leather gloves? Le sigh

Here is proof of some random head canon I’ve created—There is more than sisterly love going on with Morgana and Morgause. I could go on about the incest-y vibe this family show throws at us, but I won't. I'll just say that from the beginning there is more than platonic love between siblings between these two. I stand by this theory and will tell you why as the series considers. From this episode...

Morgana seems enamored with her from the beginning. Watching her from the window etc. During the duel, Morgana is clearly more concerned when the hot chick she barely knows is wounded in the arm then when Arthur, who she's grown up with, is clearly losing

The exchange in Morgause's chambers. Holy sexual tension! Seriously, it was THICK. Morgana was totally checking out Morgause in her see through top. 

She can't keep her eyes off of their gloriousness. 

Morgause was intense as hell. And not in a omg-you're-my-long-lost-sister way. In a definite I'm-digging-you way. 

And the soulful, longing looks as they part...with Morgause asking Morgana to remember her fondly.

What would Bron steal from Camelot in this episode? Morgana's bed spread

What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in this episode? I don't know!! I would have to say the continued lying to Morgana from Gauis and Uther. 

Bron’s Merlin Club: The Sins of the Father Post

Jen’s Merlin Club: The Sins of the Father Post

Until the next episode - The Lady of the Lake - which we’ll be watching, 6/9, at 8pm EST. We’ll be on Twitter with the hashtag #MerlinClub