The darkest hour is always before the dawn, but some nights are never-ending
In the year that has elapsed since Morgana fled after she tried to steal the throne, Camelot has settled into an uneasy routine. But complacency has only allowed Morgana the time to grow stronger and more determined to regain her birthright. Unaided by magic as the patrols search for her, the moment they cross paths the patrol is unprepared, and Camelot is put in the crosshairs once again. By the time they figure out what Morgana and her evil sister Morgause are up to, it is too late. The veil between our world and the nether world is torn and the fearsome Derocha, spirits of the dead, are unleashed. Leaving Arthur and Merlin scrambling to find a way to repair the damage to the veil and vanquish the Derocha.
This time it is different though. This is not a mere spell which Merlin can counter-act or nullify, the spell was made with a blood-sacrifice and it requires another to seal the tear. With this weighty price to be paid, Arthur intends to go to the Isle of the Blessed and offer himself as sacrifice. But, unbeknownst to him, Merlin will never let that happen. Merlin would gladly take Arthur’s place to ensure that destiny is fulfilled and Arthur’s life spared. Yet, even Merlin cannot see all the moving pieces. Similarly determined to protect Arthur and keep Merlin out of harms way, Lancelot has made a promise to the Lady Guinevere that Arthur returns safely. So many noble men willing to give their lives for each other. This is the world that Merlin knows is prophesied — a world where men are equals, magic is welcomed and Camelot is at peace. But that will only come to pass if Arthur remains alive. It is up to Merlin and Lancelot to battle to be the ultimate sacrifice — and worse yet, without his magic, Merlin is defenseless to fight the Derocha.
Yet even without the ability to use magic, Merlin’s heart propels him to do everything he can and, as seen, at the last second Merlin throws himself into the Derocha’s path to save Arthur. As the dreaded “to be continued” words flashed across the screen, we are left wondering, can Merlin recover from the icy touch of the Derocha, which kills a man instantly? Surely the world’s greatest wizard can cheat death one more time. But what if he can’t? Our hearts nearly broken, we hold our breath until next week. . .
What Worked
It is a pure delight to enter back into the fantastical world of Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table and the epic tale of Merlin and Arthur. With only glimpses of the future having been dangled before us, to see each of the characters come into their moments of glory and their rightful destined roles is wondrous and tantalizing. MERLIN asks us to believe in magic and dreams of nobler times. Then woven so cleverly through the stories is the duality of Morgana and Merlin, and their counter-balancing roles in creating the man that Arthur Pendragon is meant to be. The making of king is no easy task, and it is only through much trial and tribulation that Arthur learns his true destiny. He is not meant to simply rule, but to be the greatest ruler of all time. Great men are not born, they are made. Our experiences in life shape us into the people we are born to be, and Arthur is right amidst his journey. It is not enough to be protected by Merlin and guided gently into his kingship; Athur must be tested. And the developing battle between Merlin and Morgan will be that test.
This latest trial tested how much a person is willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals. For Morgause and Morgana, the choice was easy. Morgause was at death’s door and she wanted her death to be her final gift to her sister. She was willing to die to give Morgana a chance at the life they thought she deserved. Morgana ultimately was able to accept Morgause’s gift and took her sister’s life. But it is a moment that she will have to live with for the rest of her life. To take another’s life — the life of someone she loved more than life itself — that is going to haunt her. Simultaneously, by opening the door between the worlds, Morgana was confronted by a prophecy that sent chills down her spine and will give her nightmares every time she closes her eyes. The Caellich foretold that a wizard named Emrys would shadow Morgana and be her ultimate doom. It is never a blessing to hear who will be the person to send you to your grave and that they will stalk you throughout your life. But that is Morgana’s fate, to live in fear of the mysterious Emrys, a powerful wizard lurking in the shadows ready to spring when she least expects it. Power does not come without a price and in Morgana’s case, she paid dearly with the blood of her sister and perhaps with her own sanity as her paranoia and visions shall torment her every day and night. She cannot forget the warning the Cailleach gave her, “You’re right to be afraid, Morgana. Your enemies will rue this day and all the destruction it brings. But you must beware, tearing the veil between the two worlds has created a new world and you will not walk through it alone. The one they call Emrys will walk in your shadow. He is your destiny and he is your doom.”
The building of the war between Merlin and Morgan, the fracturing of Morgana’s mind, and the rise of Arthur are all glorious to behold. Teens no more, these young men and woman have come a long way. Their journey is not close to over, but it is still fascinating to watch unfold. It is not only destiny drawing them into their roles and down their perilous paths, but the strains to their friendships. Morgana is forever asunder from her former friends and she must adjust to that loneliness and isolation; and Merlin and Arthur must find a way to be friends beyond their tentative overtures in times past. That each of them will be great, no one has any doubt. But can their relationships grow and blossom or shall those fall by the wayside?
In addition, it is obvious that Arthur and Gwen are growing closer with each passing episode. Their love is undeniable and nearly exclusive to anyone else. Gwen even aids in Uther’s care because it pleases Arthur. When Gaius noted that Uther’s heart was broken and his spirit gone, and to her, “You’re very good to him, Gwen,” Gwen only absent-mindedly replied, “I don’t do it for him. I do it for Arthur.” It was also evident again when Gwen went to see Lancelot before the journey to the Isle of the Blessed. She knew that for any man making such a treacherous journey that the chances of returning safely were slim. Yet instead of wishing Lancelot well and to take care, Gwen could only think of Arthur. She asked Lancelot, “Will you grant me a favor?” As he ruefully said, “Anything,” Gwen determinedly said, “Look after [Arthur]. Bring him home.” Knowing the full weight of the task she had given him, Lancelot replied, “I will protect him with my life. You have my promise.” Even as Gwen quietly said, “Thank you,” we knew that she was not really thinking of him. Her thoughts were only of Arthur and, while Lancelot knows that she can never be his, he will still do anything for her to make her happy, even if it means his life for Arthur’s.
Finally, when Arthur came to say goodbye to Uther, he told Gwen, “Promise me you’ll look after him after I’m gone.” Sensing that this journey was going to be more dangerous than Arthur was revealing, Gwen told him, “What is it? You don’t have to go.” As Arthur firmly replied, “I do,” Gwen pleaded urgently, “Please, Arthur, take care. You are precious — not just the kingdom.” Seeking a way to ease her anguish and his own pained heart, Arthur gently implored, “Smile.” When Gwen sadly said, “I can’t,” he reminded her, “Do you remember the first time I kissed you,” and as she smiled, he good-humoredly said, “There, that’s the memory I want to take with me.” As they embraced, one sensed that both knew this could be a final goodbye, but didn’t dare voice it. It was like Arthur had said once he learned about the required blood-sacrifice, “If laying down my life will spare the people of Camelot, then that is what I must do.”
Arthur may be willing to sacrifice his life for his people, but Merlin knows that Arthur cannot be allowed to give up his own life. Merlin must save him. He explained to Gaius, “Then I must sacrifice myself in his place. . . My life has always been marked out by destiny, if this is meant to be — I am not afraid. I will gladly die, that one day Albion will live.” So even when Lancelot confronted Merlin and reminded him, “You have no power, you should not be here,” Merlin only retorted, “Doesn’t matter.” Then as Lancelot tried to reason with him by saying, “You’re not a warrior, Merlin. I don’t want to see you hurt,” Merlin only stubbornly said, “It’s your duty to protect Camelot, no matter what the cost. Well, it’s my duty to protect Arthur. Surely, you can understand that.” With a heavy sigh, Lancelot acknowledged, “I can understand that very well.”
Adding to the pressure on Merlin to prevent Arthur from making a sacrifice of himself, is the worry that he may not be able to protect Arthur all the way to the Isles of the Blessed now that his magic is powerless against the Derocha. For the first time ever, Merlin has to feel like a mortal man, using only his wits and bravery in the face of a terrifying threat. So when Merlin confessed to Gaius, “My magic is useless against them. I know, I’ve tried. I’ve never felt so powerless. Something deep inside, and when it came for me, I felt this emptiness. Couldn’t breathe. I’m scared,” that revelation was deep from within his soul. Merlin has never had to live without magic before. It is all he knows and he relies upon it to protect Arthur. It was startling to see Merlin nearly incapacitated by his fear as the candle rolled underneath Arthur’s desk, forcing Arthur to fetch it because Merlin was too petrified to move towards the shadows and away from the light. Watching with dismay, Merlin asked Arthur, “Are you not scared?” Arthur could only sigh and replied, “Oh I am, Merlin. Maybe more than you.” Arthur has learned to live with fear. He faces it nearly every day of his life — without magic. Merlin can learn a lot from his friend about how to face his fears when powerless. It also says a lot that Arthur confessed his fear to Merlin. He still views Merlin as more a peer and friend than he even realizes.
On their journey to the Isle of the Blessed, their strong friendship is revealed again when Arthur volunteers to fetch more firewood and Merlin quickly offers to go with him, prompting Arthur to inquisitively ask, “Are you sure you’re the right person?” To which Merlin impishly replied, “Since when do you know how to collect firewood?” The moment of levity deservedly brought laughter from everyone. But that moment was all too brief as Merlin and Arthur found themselves pinned by Derocha. As the coldness of the night seeped into their very bones and set their teeth rattling, Merlin did his best to emulate his friend and put on a brave and cheerful face. Alone and defenseless until the other knights find them, Merlin’s firm belief that they would safely survive surprised Arthur who told him, “Really, Merlin, you’re braver than I give you credit for.” When Merlin inquisitively asked, “Is that a compliment?” Arthur merely replied, “Of all the things I’ve faced, I’ve never worried about dying,” and as Merlin tried to reassure him, “I don’t think you should now,” Arthur curiously said, “Sometimes you puzzle me.” To which Merlin disarmingly said, “You never found me out? I always thought if things had been different, we’d have been good friends.” Even as Arthur thoughtfully said, “Yeah,” Merlin reassured him again saying, “We will defeat the Derocha. We will, together, Arthur.” It may have sounded like just brave words to Arthur, but he still acknowledged, “I appreciate that. You know, you’re a brave man, Merlin.” He then added with a smile, “Between battles.” Merlin laughed in reply, “You don’t know how many times I saved your life!” Unbelieving this seemingly absurd statement, Arthur bemusedly replied, “If I am ever made king, I’m going to have you made court jester.” But this moment of light banter was soon interrupted as the Derocha screams began again. As Arthur quietly observed, “They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn,” Merlin said. “It’s pretty dark right now.” Then as the Derocha approached, before Arthur could make a move, Merlin flung himself at the Derocha as Arthur yelled, “Merlin, no!” It again speaks volumes that the prince of Camelot would have rather risked his own life to save his servant than watch his servant die for him. It also speaks to the strength of Arthur and Merlin’s friendship. Arthur does not know all the times that Merlin has saved him, but this time, Merlin has sacrificed himself for him. Merlin is no longer acting in the shadows, but openly to save Arthur. That act will forever resonate in Arthur’s soul.
‘The Darkest Hour’ is not an episode that rests easy in our hearts or our heroes. From virtually the first moment we find out that there must be a second blood-sacrifice to seal the tear between the worlds, we know that someone we know and love is going to die. Unfortunately, as this is Part 1, we do not yet know who that sacrifice will be. Instead, we are left with the vision of Merlin icy-cold and perhaps dead already. If Merlin is not to be the blood-sacrifice, then who will it be? Who else shall we have to weep for?
What Didn’t Work
All those horses and no one thought to bring one more with firewood on the journey to the Isle of the Blessed? Surely because they knew that only fire would keep the Derocha away that they would have had the foresight to bring a few more torches and wood to ensure their safe passage. Thinking that wood would be plentiful all along the way seems short-sighted.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
‘The Darkest Hour, part 1’ was written Julian Jones and directed by Alice Troughton. “Merlin” stars Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Richard Wilson and Anthony Head. “Merlin” airs Fridays at 10 pm on Syfy.
