The Tears of Uther Pendragon

 I don’t think it’s a secret to anyone who has ever visited this fledgling blog that I love the BBC's Merlin. With the SyfY Channel currently showing Season Three I thought I’d take a stab at reviewing the season.

The Tears of Uther Pendragon is a two part episode that takes place one year after last year’s dragon attack and the disappearance of the King’s Ward, Morgana.  Uther, who  doesn’t know that Morgana is a witch who has grown to hate him because she has had to hide her powers or risk being executed under his laws, is desperate to find her and is relieved when she is finally discovered by Arthur in a field outside of Camelot. Morgana claims that she was kidnapped by bandits, but in Season Two she was last seen with her vengeful sister Morgause and it turns out she spent the year with her learning Evil 101, which involves lots of smirking and wearing red lipstick. Morgana gets all Harry Potter on Uther, using a mandrake to drive him insane. Meanwhile, Morgause has seduced a neighboring King Cendred and convinced him they can defeat Camelot. Merlin, who poisoned Morgana last season (it’s a long story), is the only one not happy to see her because you know, he is scared she is going to squeal on him. When she says she forgives him he is relieved, but he quickly comes to realize that she is lying and is back for revenge. With an enemy army approaching and a father who has gone mad, it is up to Arthur to decide if he will take over as Reagent and lead the Knights of Camelot into battle, while Merlin must figure out a way to stop Morgana from destroying Camelot from within.

In Season One and Season Two Merlin seemed like a show on the verge of being something special, in Season Three, it gets there. In a lot of ways this two-parter feels a lot like a really good pilot episode.  Much of that goes to the fact that it is inching towards the legend we all know and love, something that made Smallville finally became the show I thought it could be.

My only complaint about this two-parter is its pilot like nature means the characters fall prey to the reset button.  Why is Arthur treating Merlin, a man he battled a dragon with last season, like a buffoon? I can understand that Arthur does not see Merlin as a warrior and isn’t ready to give him the respect he is due – yet, but this episode walks a fine line between “banter” and “abuse.” I mean throwing a bucket of water on Merlin’s head because he isn’t paying attention? Frankly I found that upsetting and borderline cruel. Sometimes it’s hard to tell that Arthur cares about Merlin at all and I know that’s not what these scenes are trying to convey because their friendship is the heart of this show.

Arthur’s relationship with Gwen also seems to have taken two steps back. In Season Two’s Sweet Dreams Gwen essentially tells Arthur that they can never be, a few episodes later, in the season finale, she gives him a very PUBLIC hug after Arthur (Merlin) returns from vanquishing the dragon. Our two young lovers however are awkward with each other now and seem to have spent very little time together during the missing year. This isn’t the worse thing though because it gives them a strong place to start with the duo. One of my favorite scenes is when Gwen comes to talk to Arthur after he has assumed control of Camelot. Look what Bradley James does with his eyes. He makes you feel Arthur’s longing.  We also see in this scene why Gwen is a good match for Arthur. She is a wise counselor and giving him confidence when he needs it the most.  She is also his link to the people. In traditional Arthurian Lore, Arthur is raised as a commoner and this is why he believes in equality based on personal mert not class. Gwen is given Arthur’s upbringing in this version and it is falling in love with her that starts him down this way of thinking. This scene is also an indication that Gwen will be doing more than arranging flowers this season.

Morgana is not a victim of the reset button, she is a totally different character all together, and while I personally think that Morgana would have been much more sympathetic and interesting if her actions were a bit more nuanced and less cartoon evil, Morgana was kind of annoying to me in Season One and barely relevant in Season Two so I’m glad that her character is getting a chance to shine.

Questions/Comments

Why is Uther willing to risk the life of his only heir, one he suffered greatly to bring into this world, for Morgana? I have seen the entire season so I know the answer to that, but I couldn’t stop wondering that when I first saw it.

Uther was a real monster, drowning babies? Why isn’t there some type of rebellion brewing against him?

Kidnapped by bandits, really? Why is nobody questioning this story? Didn't Arthur see Morgause take Morgana with his own eyes?

Uther sees Ygraine in the well when he is “haunted” by his victims. Is this guilt about Arthur’s birth through magic or did Ygraine die another way? Interesting to contemplate isn’t it?

We are told that madness runs in the Pendragon family, which explains a lot, BUT what if this little tidbit isn’t about setting up Uther’s ultimate fate? I’m pretty sure that they are not doing the Gwen/Lancelot adultery route so what leads to Camelot’s downfall? Do you really need an actual affair when Arthur may be as susceptible to his mind being manipulated the way Uther is? Will this ultimately be his, and Camelot’s  downfall?

Did Merlin and Morgana always have this much chemistry?

Overall, this is an excellent start and I am really excited about where this season will take us.

Four Snaps Up!