MERLIN Episode Review: Unicorns, Labyrinths, and Gay Subtext!

Posted on 16 August 2009 by Brent Hartinger, Editor

Warning: This review contains plot-spoilers for “The Moment of Truth” and  “The Labyrinth of  Gedref” episodes of Merlin.

Two episodes of Merlin last night, both decent, neither extraordinary. Let’s look at each in turn, shall we?

The Moment of Truth


Four Torches (Out of Five)

Merlin’s home village is threatened by a warlord, but when his mother comes to Camelot asking Uther for help, he turns her down. So Merlin decides he must go back to the village.

What about all of Merlin’s vows in earlier episodes to protect Arthur — his answering of the dragon’s call, and that their destinies are completely intertwined, etc. etc.? Apparently, that’s completely forgotten, at least for this episode.

The most notable thing about the episode is the rather shocking amount of “hoyay” (or would-be gay subtext) in it. People have been telling me for weeks that this show can be read on two levels, and after last night’s episode, I’m never going to deny it again.

  • Why did Merlin leave this village in the first place? “I just didn’t fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere where I do.”
  • When Merlin talks to the former village bully, the bully says, “Why did you leave? I wouldn’t have told anyone.”
  • Later, Merlin says, “If Arthur doesn’t accept me for who I really am, he’s not the friend I hoped he was.”

Yes, yes, Merlin is talking about his ability to do magic. But you’d have to be an idiot not to see it on another level too.

“The moment of truth” from the title is the moment when Merlin decides to use his magic to save his village — despite the fact that Arthur will then know the truth.

Basically, Merlin decides to “come out” to Arthur.

The problem is, when Merlin finally does use his magic, he conjures a wind that sort of blows the warriors away. Seriously? Wind?

Then, before Merlin can admit the truth to Arthur, the dying warlord tries to shoot him with an arrow, and the former village bully throws himself in front of it, not only saving Arthur’s life, but also declaring, in his final breath, that he, not Merlin, is the sorcerer.

Um, why doesn’t Merlin use his magic — the magic that he just used — to save him?

A series of seriously clunky plot contrivances in an otherwise enjoyable episode.

The Labyrinth of Gedref


Four Torches (Out of Five)

In the night’s second episode, Arthur and Merlin are out hunting, and Arthur, over Merlin’s objections, kills a unicorn.

Bad idea.

Gaius says that there’s a legend that anyone who kills a unicorn is cursed and will be beset by misfortune — which I actually wish was a component of the Endangered Species Act.

Anyway, sure enough, the kingdom undergoes a series of plagues. But this brings up an interesting issue: the Keeper of the Unicorn spends a lot of the episode talking about how unicorns are “pure of heart” and Arthur must prove that he is “pure” if he wants to stop the curse.

But if this all about being “pure,” how come it involves all the innocent people of the kingdom? They didn’t kill the unicorn!

(I confess it’s a pet-peeve of mine how often in fantasy the lives of the non-central characters don’t matter at all.)

Anyway, Merlin is mystified by the curse. “If it’s magic, it must be more powerful magic than I possess,” he says, which is saying something, given that he’s done some pretty amazing things so far in this series (not counting the lame “wind” spell in the previous episode).

Eventually, Arthur ends up in a labyrinth quite similar to the one in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire where he must pass one final test — or the kingdom will be destroyed (again with the poor subjects of Camelot!).

The “riddle” that Arthur and Merlin must solve is a little underwhelming, but as anyone who reads this site knows, I absolutely love all manner of labyrinths and riddles, so I’m willing to go with the flow.

In addition to four torches, I give the episode an “up” unicorn arrow.


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2 Responses to “MERLIN Episode Review: Unicorns, Labyrinths, and Gay Subtext!”

  1. Angela says:
    August 17, 2009 at 4:11 PM

    I loved the reference to The Princess Bride in Arthur’s final trial in the Labyrinth episode. Intentional or not, it was cool. I kept flashing to the image of Wallace Shawn laughing hysterically before he keeled over in PB.

    Reply
  2. Mendylew says:
    August 20, 2009 at 10:21 PM

    Sub-text can be read in anywhere…I can see it a little, but not like you would see the “wink wink” in Xena, even in the first season you could see it. I think the show is too geared to a softer tone to be overly sub-texted no matter how close Arthur and Merlin get. The violence is even soft and hardly no blood. Anyway, on another subject I think any episode with more of Morgana in it is a good episode for me. She actually was fighting with a sword and dressed in something besides a dress, that was great. And on the unicorn episode…killing a unicorn that was a bit harsh don’t you think? And just when I was starting to like Arthur. Arthur is such a contradiction for me. One minute he’s killing a beautiful horse and the next he’s merciful to someone stealing grain to feed his family, only to have pride ruin things for him again when he realizes the man he let go will test him again, then he switches again when he argues with his father. Anyway both episodes were good not the best but they’ll do and I’m looking forward to more adventures.

    Reply

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