Merlin- "Lancelot" Season 1, Episode 5

Lancelot attacking the griffin. 

In the beginning of the episode, you could see that the setting of the story is taking place in the forest, which represents where most of the stories of the Arthurian world take place well. Usually, knights are in the woods at some point in the story throughout their adventure, using swords, traveling by foot or horse and it is the same as is it is shown in different parts of the episode. Lancelot appeared to fight off a giant griffin that was chasing after Merlin and was trying to attack him. It says a lot about Lancelot's character already just by his haste to help Merlin and defeat the griffin, even though it got away.   

Lancelot being sworn in by the King. 

Throughout the episode, the character of Lancelot is reflected in a light that shows his capabilities as well as his desire to be an honorable knight. He was knighted after successfully facing Prince Arthur but was arrested soon after and brought to the King. He was put into jail because he lied about being a fifth son of the lord of Eldered of Northumbria, thus breaking the code of conduct. I think that this part of the episode represents how they took vows seriously in the Arthurian age and punished knights for not being a man of their word. The men who came from noble families usually served as knights, but Lancelot was unable to and lied about his background just so that he could have the ability to serve.

Lancelot using magic to defeat the griffin. 

Once the griffin made an appearance again, Prince Arthur's weapon that he used to attack it broke against the creature's body. He then had to use a torch to defend himself against the griffin until it flew away. Then, knowing that Lancelot had good intentions, he went to release Lancelot from jail because he knew the type of knight that Camelot would need to defeat the creature that the other knights could not. Ultimately, Lancelot did not end up going after the griffin by himself, but with Merlin because it was believed that there would need to be a use of magic in order kill or fully defeat the creature. I believe it is a different way that the use of power/magic is adapted in the episode rather than in the Arthurian stories.

If you would like to know more about what happens or watch the full episode, the link to it will be placed here: (649) Lancelot - YouTube