Love blinds us against all reason and leads us into folly, so much so that even kings are not immune
In what was one of the more distasteful episodes of this series, this week focused on a greedy troll seeking to manipulate King Uther (Anthony Head) into marrying her. With the aid of potions and magic, she succeeded, much to Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Gaius’ (Richard Wilson) horror. It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So if King Uther found the false Lady Katrina (Sarah Parish) beautiful and worthy of his love, who should stand in their way? But, in this case, it was only through the use of illusion, magic and tricky that Uther’s love was obtained — and in the end, as he resisted her first kiss, a potion was used to infuse a spell on a charm that compelled him to love Lady Katrina. It was against his will and reason and false to the core. It was also his own folly not heeding Gaius’ warning that Lady Katrina may not in fact be Lady Katrina.
So it was ultimately pride that was Uther’s undoing. He was too proud to believe that he had been fooled and it made him the perfect target for such a honey-trap. Love and pride are but two of the emotions that have led to the downfall of many great men and kingdoms.
What Worked
It is always fascinating to see the relationship between Uther and Gaius and how they challenge each other as old friends, more so than mere sovereign and servant. Anthony Head and Richard Wilson are a delight on screen and bring much to their roles such that you feel the friendship of their characters rather than their stations. It is also to their credit that you feel the weight of time and familiarity in their discourses. Their conversations and body posture speak of years working together and that there are multiple layers to their relationship. It would be interesting to see how they first met and Gaius became such a trusted confidante. The secrets that lie between them are sure to be extraordinary.
Also nicely done was seeing Gaius finally acknowledge that Merlin needs to be unleashed with his magical abilities if he is to truly aid Camelot. Watching Merlin get the green-light from Gaius to use his magic made one feel like cheering. Merlin’s time of hiding his abilities needs to end at some point and being given more free rein to use his magic made him feel more useful and purpose-filled. He is powerful and needs to be allowed to use his magic more freely. Camelot is constantly under attack from one form or another by many enemies. Surely a powerful magician is just what it needs.
While revolting in troll-form, Sarah Parish’s portrayal of Lady Katrina was flawless. She was able to switch between the two personas effortlessly. She also constantly remind the audience that beneath that beautiful exterior lie a deceiving, ugly troll. It was a clever and deft performance that deserves recognition — no matter how repulsive the character may have been.
It was also nice that Arthur thought his father deserved to be happy, as despite being a hard man, Uther tries to do what he feels is right for his kingdom. For Arthur to see past Uther’s harsh and rigid exterior and appreciate that his father deserved to be loved and to be allowed to love in return was gracious and generous. One would have thought Arthur would have felt threatened and petty about the attentions his father bestowed so willingly and suddenly upon Lady Katrina. But, surprisingly, Arthur showed undue grace and allowed the romance to blossom. As noble as this gesture was, it was also foolish. But, despite that, it was a lovely gesture.
What Didn’t Work
There was very little focus on Arthur (Bradley James), Morgana (Katie McGrath) and Gwen (Angel Coulby) in this episode and the episode suffered for it. The greatest strength of this series is their interactions with Merlin. So to not utilize them and showcase them more prominently was folly on part of the writers. As a result the episode felt limp and lacking of anything to grab the viewer’s interest.
Also, too much emphasis was given to displaying the fake Lady Katrina in her troll form and her need to eat rotten food and to live in squalor. It was off-putting and revolting and nearly inspired this viewer to turn off the television. It is weak writing to over-emphasize elements that will dis-engage a viewer. The writers need to work on embracing the show’s stronger elements that hold more appeal and interest for the viewer.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
‘Beauty and the Beast’ was written by Jake Michie and directed by David Moore. “Merlin” stars Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Richard Wilson and Anthony Head. “Merlin” airs Fridays at 10 pm on Syfy.
