Merlin: Episode 5, Lancelot

Merlin: A Twist on the Iconic Tales of the Arthurian World

Merlin is a live adaptation of the age-old story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It was first aired in 2008 and concluded in 2013. This fantasy drama retells the stories that many know and love, but there is much to be said about the similarities and differences between this modern take on a centuries-old story and the real deal. 

Merlin Characters

Representation of Characters, Storyline, and Medieval Concepts

Regarding season one, episode 5 of Merlin, it is focused on Lancelot and his aspirations to be a knight. Much like Lancelot in the original texts, the character in the show displays great courage and tenacity. He is determined to become a knight and he tries to prove himself through the display of his strength and power. A few things that are different about this version of Lancelot is that his backstory is quite contrasting. For example, this Lancelot is not of any nobility, and he comes from a village that was attacked, resulting in all of his family dying. This event is what inspired him to want to become a knight. The issue with this is that in Camelot, the number one rule to becoming a Knight of the Roundtable is that one must be of nobility. Due to this fact, Lancelot doesn't meet the requirements to serve as a knight, but Merlin feels that he is worthy of being one, given that Lancelot saved his life previously. As a result, Merlin faked a nobility seal for Lancelot so that he would be able to try out to be a knight and after some reluctance, Lancelot agreed to lie. This is a bit uncharacteristic of Lancelot from the texts because he is big on honor, fairness, and honesty when it comes to knighthood. The only time he really lied or hid the truth was when it related to his and Guinevere's relationship.  The struggle that Lancelot faced due to not being of nobility connects to the medieval hierarchy system that was in place during those times. This later brings about a call to change the laws of knighthood, which will be discussed further. Reverting back to Guinevere, her storyline and character type are quite different as well. In this adaptation, she's a seamstress and

Gwen and Lancelot's First Meeting

doesn't seem to have any interest in Prince Arthur. She's independent and likes her freedom, but of course, even in this modern adaptation, she and Lancelot appear to be instantly drawn to each other. Although Lancelot seems to be more infatuated than Guinevere, she still shows great interest in him immediately. At least this is one thing that's consistent across most interpretations of their story. On the side of medieval concepts and objects, magic is a strong component of this adaptation. For example, there is a bestiary that's later revealed to be a Griffin, a beast that was made by magic. The kicker is that magic is prohibited in the show and magic is the only thing that can kill another magical being. It's a good thing Merlin's a practicing magician who was able to help Lancelot take down the beast. This component of the show replicates the fantastical elements displayed in medieval literature. 

Representing Contemporary Values 

This modern rendition of an old story pays homage to its source material, however, it also adds its own contemporary twists and values that give the show a refreshing touch. For example, Guinevere is an independent woman and is happy in what she does as a seamstress. She's regarded as one of the best seamstresses and these factors convey the idea that women can do as they please and that they don't have to depend on anyone to be successful. This pivots from the original Arthurian texts because women were portrayed as "damsels in distress" and objects solely for men's appeal and ego. Another contemporary touch to Guinevere's character is that she is played by a woman of color, which exhibits inclusivity in a white-dominated storyline. Allowing a woman of color to play one of the main female leads in such an iconic story lets viewers, mainly people of color, know that they can be anything and can accomplish things that their white counterparts can. Another contemporary value displayed in the show is the challenge of authority or rules. This is shown when Lancelot is revealed to not be of any nobility and his knighthood is revoked. At first, Arthur was very disappointed because Lancelot was a great knight, but the number one rule is that a knight must be of noble status.

Lancelot in a Jail Cell

King Uther had locked up Lancelot due to him lying about his status but, Arthur let him go and told him to never return.  In the midst of all this, the Griffin previously mentioned is terrorizing Camelot, and Lancelot being the person he is, goes out to help Arthur and the other knights defeat it. Long story short, Merlin helps Lancelot kill it, and Arthur's life is saved. With that, Arthur believes that the old rule about nobility should no longer be in place because Lancelot is clearly worthy to be a knight regardless of his status. Arthur challenges his father to vanquish this old rule but his father is set in his decision that tradition is tradition and the law does not bend for any man. The pushback on old legislation is representative of contemporary values because the freedoms we have now are because people fought for their beliefs and rights. It is encouraged that one should advocate for what they feel is wrong and make efforts to right those wrongs. 

What this Adaptation Contributes to the Arthurian World

This adaptation of Arthur's story contributes to the Arthurian World because it provides another version or perspective of a story that is so well-known and timeless.  Every retelling of this story is like an alternate universe type of construct that allows the characters to be whatever they want to be, regardless of the source material that inspired these new versions. Newer reproductions of this story also build on to the idea that King Arthur is "The Once and Future King." This means that even in his death, it's believed that he will come back and still be the ruler of Camelot. This concept in a broader scope can be tied to the fact that King Arthur's story is still being told to this day through different interpretations and adaptations, like Merlin. King Arthur and the characters surrounding his story can exist in many different forms of media and as any character in any timeline. For instance, Guinevere is a Black woman in Merlin but she can also be a mixed woman who is of Italian, French, Argentine, and Chinese descent, as seen in the show Once Upon a Time.  Similar to how Arthur is a young prince in Merlin, but can also be a ditzy comedic man in the movie Monty Python. All portrayals of this story and its characters further solidify the prominence of the Arthurian World and these newer renditions can be used to convey modern ideas and inspire viewers to delve into the wonders of the Arthurian World. 

Different Versions of King Arthur Across the Media

                                                               Works Cited (for images)

“BBC One - Merlin.” BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjlxv. Accessed 5 November 2023.

Harris, Mandi. “Fandomania » Top 5 Best King Arthur Portrayals.” Fandomania, 17 September 2014, https://fandomania.com/top-5-best-king-arthur-portrayals/. Accessed 5 November 2023.

“Lancelot and Guinevere.” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://e10.homes/lancelot-y-guinevere-merl%C3%ADn. Accessed 5 November 2023.

Murphy, Julian, and Johhny Capps. “Merlin — Dale Elena McCready BSC NZCS Cinematographer.” Dale Elena McCready BSC NZCS Cinematographer, https://www.dalemccready.com/merlin. Accessed 5 November 2023.