Merlin - "Lancelot and Guinevere"

 Introduction

    In this episode of Merlin, Morgana and Guinevere are captured until Guinevere sacrifices herself in order for Morgana to escape. Guinevere is then taken under the disguise of Morgana to a Hengist (1) who is threatening to kill her if unless paid the ransom by King Uther. Lancelot attempts to save Guinevere, but they are both captured and seemingly at their end, when Arthur and Merlin appear and save the day! Once off the castle grounds, Lancelot figures out that Arthur has feelings for Guinevere and leaves so as not to stand in their way of being together, breaking Guinevere's heart.

Guinevere and Lancelot sharing a loving look. (1)

Medieval Representation

The leader and his captors dressed in period-
relevant armor and clothes, surrounded by parts
of the castle. (2)

    There were many common characters from the Arthurian stories in this episode: Morgana, Guinevere, Merlin, Arthur, and Lancelot. Morgana is portrayed as an intelligent and kind character, as she escapes from her captors and begs for King Uther to save her handmaid, Guinevere, who she refers to as her friend. Guinevere is also shown to be intelligent and loving; she buys herself time during her imprisonment by convincing her captors that she is Morgana, and she shares a relationship with both Arthur and Lancelot, Lancelot's appearing to be love. Merlin is still Arthur's right-hand man and has a keen sense of Arthur's feelings and emotions. The relationship between Merlin and Arthur is very enjoyable to watch as they tease each other, deep down knowing that they are better together. Arthur is portrayed as a selfless and loving character; after learning of Guinevere's capture, he immediately packs his bags and goes on a quest to find her. His deep feelings for her and his desire to protect her shows that he truly cares about her and that he is an emotionally complex character who cares more about love than the crown. Lancelot also makes an appearance in this episode as a selfless and talented swordsman who has feelings for Guinevere as well. He put himself at risk to save Guinevere and was successful in most, but not all, fights. He and Guinevere share many moments together during this episode, expanding on a relationship that may not have fully developed before he left Camelot in an earlier episode. There are other components of this episode that represent the Arthurian world, including the castles, the armor and clothing, and the storylines. The castles are very regal and appear to be made of stone, which is accurate for the time period being represented. The armor and the clothing both have certain attributes that make them appropriate for the time period. The armor is very basic, consisting of mostly chainmail and plate armor covering only some parts of the body. Most of the clothes do not have many colors, unless worn by someone of money and status who can afford nicer things, and are made of leather or a material that resembles burlap (shown above to the right); the women of this time period wore underwear, also known as a chemise, under dresses and if shown, women were considered to be promiscuous (shown below). Finally, the storylines of the romance between Lancelot and Guinevere and the beginnings of Arthur and Guinevere's relationship are represented in this episode.

Morgana pictured in her chemise after asking to
take a bath to outwit her captors. (3)

Contemporary Attitudes and Values

    There are several aspects within this episode that have a more "modern approach," such as the relationships between characters. The relationship that stands out most to me is Merlin and Arthur's relationship; they have a very boyish relationship filled with teasing banter and sarcasm. Arthur is very trusting of Merlin, and Merlin is unconditionally loyal to Arthur. Merlin, who has the lower status, is even able to get Arthur to reveal his feelings for Guinevere in a touching moment by the lake (video shown below). Their relationship being deeper than surface level (i.e., Merlin only serving Arthur), as well as Morgana and Guinevere's relationship being referred to as a friendship, takes on a more contemporary view of relationships of the time, stepping away from servitude and acquiring a deeper connection to pull viewers in and allow them to connect to the characters. Another contemporary value in this episode was Merlin trying to convince Arthur that he could change things and marry Guinevere once he became king. This could have been an acceptable idea of the Medieval Ages, but the ability to choose your own path, including love who you want to love, has definitely become a more modern-day idea that is perpetually growing over time. Merlin's magic could also be considered a current feature adopted for the show since the use of magic is not historically correct, and it adds a whimsical effect to draw in the audience.

Adaptation Addition

    This adaptation of the story adds to the Arthurian world by expanding on and deepening the characters and their relationships we frequently see in the original stories, as well as bringing the stories to life and introducing a new audience to this amazing world. Many people have most likely heard these names, and maybe know some of their stories and relationships, so this adaptation builds on that foundational information while adding to their stories and allowing them to develop as characters; several of these stories and character developments can serve both the purpose of telling more of the Arthurian stories and connecting the characters to the viewers on a personal level as they navigate their modern-day problems (e.g., the love triangle of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot). The on-screen drama will also bring a large audience to the show, even if most of those people know little about the Arthurian world. This adaptation will present the Arthurian world in a different light that may seem more attractive to viewers than the traditional stories, therefore continuing to pass on these stories and legends for many years to come.

(1) "Recap/Merlin S 02 E 04 Lancelot and Guinevere." TV Tropes, 2012,

       tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/MerlinS02E04LancelotAndGuinevere.

(2) "Lancelot and Guinevere." IMDb, 23 Apr. 2012, www.imdb.com/title/tt1523078/.

(3) Bronwyn. "Merlin Club: Lancelot and Guinevere or The One Where Insta-Love and Martyr-dom

    Are a Thing." Can You Vague That Up For Me?, 16 May 2014,

    bronwyngreenblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/merlin-club-lancelot-and-guinevere-or-the-one-

    where-insta-love-and-martyrdom-are-a-thing/.

Gawain, A Commoner or Nobility?

 The Secret Life of Gawain

Arthurian Characters and Object

The main characters in this episode are Merlin, Prince Arthur, Gawain, Gwenivere, and King Uther.

Merlin's Powers glow in his eyes [1]

Merlin is the servant of Prince Arthur and King Uther still reigns over Camelot. Guinevere and Arthur are not together at this point in the TV show, however, it is obvious that there are feelings between them but they do not directly interact within this episode. Gawain is not shown as a knight as we are used to seeing. In the stories we have read Gawain is a noble knight who serves King Arthur loyally. In this adaptation, Gawain does have ties to a knightly background through his father, but he does not capitalize on it. In fact, he is very against any ties or relationship to the Crown. Gawaine comes to Prince Arthur's defense multiple times in this episode. The first time Gawain does not know who Arthur is, but later after he learns the truth, he still aids in Arthur's defense when two men are trying to kill him. There is an element of magic with Merlin, which is true to the Arthurian stories. When they are being attacked at the pub he is able to move a bench with his eyes, as seen in the picture above. It is important to note that Merlin is more of a servant to the Prince than an advisor. In the stories we have read, Merlin is a strong advisor to the King. In this show, Merlin is a servant and although he does give his advice to the Prince it is not yet valued as much. The attire of the show does have some Arthurian elements. You can see knights and guards wearing silver armor and carrying swords with them, giving a medieval backdrop to the show. People who were not nobles wore simpler outfits, as shown below with Merlin and Gwenivere, whereas the nobles had more regal dresses and armor, as seen with Morgana and Prince Arthur. 

From left to right: Morgana, Gwen, Merlin, and Prince Arthur [1]

Young and Unchallenged

Gawain in Merlin [2]

 In the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain is King   Arthur's nephew. When Gawain takes up the battle of the Green Knight he is seen as young, naive, and inexperienced in battle. He decides to agree to the Green Knight's challenge as a way to gain experience and prove his prowess through his actions. In Merlin, Gawain is roughly the same age or older than Arthur who is not King yet. The image on the left shows Gawain not as an inexperienced boy, but as older. In the TV show, Gawain seems to already be established in his fighting skills and does not feel the need to battle or fight to gain the respect of other townspeople or knights. However, in a similar sense, when Gawain helps defend Arthur, he proves to King Uther that he should not be killed and shows Arthur his fighting skills. I think that this was changed in the TV show very tactically. Depicting Gawain as older already establishes to the audience the expertise of Gawain. The audience is unlikely to question the validity of how good Gawain is in battle because he is not a young boy. I think they also did so because Arthur is young in the TV show. It is King Uther who still reigns over Camelot. If Gawain was even younger than Arthur, he would be a child at this point in the story. This allows the TV writer to introduce the important character of Gawain and keep the story to before Arthur becomes King. It is a more modern take to introduce an older character as a "hero" because it appeals to the trust of the audience and gives Gawain a likable element. He does not appear to be an arrogant boy who is taking on a battle that might be over his head. 

Anti-Nobility

As seen in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain is very loyal to King Arthur. He is a member of the Round Table and serves the King. In Merlin, Gawain continues to show his disdain for nobles. He

Prince Arthur Defends Gawain to Save His Life [3]

tells Merlin that he would not have saved Prince Arthur if he knew who he was because he believes that none of them are worth dying for. Throughout the episode, it is a common theme that Gawain does not believe that nobility is simply who you are but what you do. Gawain tells Merlin that his father was a knight, but his death left his mother penniless and asking King Uther for help. He turned her away and left the family to struggle for years. As the episode progressed, Prince Arthur defended Gawain, telling the King he is a good man, even though Gawain did not reveal his noble bloodline. The image on the right shows Gawain being held captive by King Uther. I think that the TV writers chose to add this detail about Gawain so that his loyalty to Arthur is established. Because it is established that Gawain does not want to be a part of the noble life, when he later chooses to defend Prince Arthur it is a big deal. It shows that his loyalty to Arthur is genuine because he is perfectly fine staying away from nobility altogether. I think that it also shows the likeability of Arthur. He defends who he thinks is a commoner, showing his true character and how he will be as a King. In today's society a lot of people no longer blindly follow those who lead. Having Gawain not fall at the feet of Arthur is more like today's society where trust is earned not just expected. This allows the audience to connect to Gawain and relate to this idea of not blindly trusting someone in power. 

Some things Stay the Same

Gawain Helps Arthur during Battle [4]

One thing that has stayed the same about the character of Gawain is his humility. In the stories we read it was important for Gawain to not speak ill of the other Knights of the Round Table. Gawain also let his actions speak louder than his words. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain forever wears the green girdle to show that he recognizes his faults and remembers to remain humble. In Merlin, Gawain repeatedly stays humble. When Merlin asks him why he would help defend Prince Arthur when Gawain thought he was a stranger, Gawain says he liked the odds that they would lose. The stories and the TV show depict Gawain as a character of good morals, a defender. Gawain's humility is the root of his character and is essential to keep the same in the TV show. Another element that was the same was the use of unmarked armor. We have seen many times that a character uses armor that is unmarked so they remain unrecognized. This is shown in the show when Gawain helps keep Prince Arthur alive. Gawain does not want to be recognized because King Uther has banished him from Camelot so he uses armor that no one will recognize. This is also coupled with Gawain's loyalty to Arthur being the same. As mentioned before, this episode establishes the report between Gawain and Arthur. However, once both parties have proved themselves to the other, Gawain risks his life to defend Arthur. Previously, Gawain said that nobles weren't worth dying for, but later he thinks that Arthur is the exception. The loyalty Gawain has for Arthur is carried into the show as it is the base for Arthur's ruling. The humility Gawain possess is not necessarily a modern take on his character but the root to why he is loved by audiences in every adaptation and time period this story is presented.  

Continuing the Legacy

It is clear that the life of King Arthur has stood the test of time. However, with a modern adaptation

Gwen in Merlin [5]

come modern changes. It is important to keep changing and modernizing the story to keep it cycling through. Although not a key player in this episode it is important to note the appearance of Gwenivere, she is represented as a Black Woman. This is an expansion of the white characters we are used to associating this time period with. Another thing is the interaction with Gawain and Guinevere. He is polite, flirting with her, but when she shuts down his advances, he respects her. The stories we have read have depicted women as men's property, however, this interaction is far more modern. I would like to think that in the 21st century, men are more inclined to respect when women say no. It is also noteworthy that just this one interaction with Guinevere shows her as a strong female character whose sole purpose is not to be the object of Gawain's gaze. This addition of female strength adds another element to the Arthurian stories and helps appeal to modern women who love to see a story with a strong feminine character. Updating the representation in Merlin is essential to connect to modern society. The world around us is not as white as the Arthurian stories depicted and representing all backgrounds allows the story to adapt and change with the times, giving the stories a new audience although it has a long way to go. 

Modern Arthurian World

One episode can not encapsulate the knight and person that Gwaine was. Below is a video of highlights of Gwaine throughout his stint on "Merlin". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC9smra5t5Y

As discussed, the continuation of modernizing the Arthurian story and gaining a new perspective is imperative for the continuation and success of these stories. One of the most modern stories is "Legendborn" by Tracy Devonn. Here we will continue to see the growth and evolution of the premise of King Arthur through minority perspectives. 

Legendborn [6]

Work Cited

[1] Wiki, Contributors to Merlin. “Magic.” Merlin Wiki, Fandom, Inc., merlin.fandom.com/wiki/Magic. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

[2] “Gwaine by Twilightxgirl on Deviantart: Gwaine Merlin, Merlin, Actors.” Pinterest, 26 Aug. 2013, www.pinterest.com/pin/242138917438626443/.

[3] Wiki, Contributors to Merlin. “Gwaine.” Merlin Wiki, Fandom, Inc., merlin.fandom.com/wiki/Gwaine. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

[4] YouTube, YouTube, 19 Oct. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uy2cDd0k-Y&t=2246s. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

[5] “Merlin - Gwen: Merlin, Merlin Gwen, Merlin Characters.” Pinterest, 19 Dec. 2016, www.pinterest.com/pin/565272190714176965/.

[6] “Legendborn.” Tracy Deonn, www.tracydeonn.com/legendborn. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

"The Once and Future Queen" Season 2 Episode 2 of Merlin

 BBC's Merlin is a modern adaptation of the Arthurian stories from medieval times. The series follows the main character, Merlin, and his adventures while serving as Prince Arthur's manservant. Merlin is however not a normal human as he possess the power to move objects with his mind. With the help of his host, Gaius, Merlin must keep his powers a secret while also doing everything possible to protect the future king. 

In this weeks episode...

King Odin of Albion hires an assassin named Myror to kill Prince Arthur because Arthur killed Odin's son. Meanwhile, Arthur learns that people treat him differently and "go easy" on him during jousts because he is the future king. There is a tournament the following day and Arthur enlists the help of Merlin and Guinevere to help him prove that he is not just the king's son, but he deserves to be respected because of his talents. To do this, Merlin finds a farmer that no one in Camelot would recognize, and the group turns this farmer into someone who could pass as a knight. At the tournament, after Arthur succeeds in defeating his opponents he goes into a tent and switches places with the farmer. The farmer then exits the tent without a helmet pretending he was the jouster who just won. All is going very well until the final day of the tournament when Myror learns of Arthur's identity and kills the opponent who was supposed to joust against Arthur in the final round. Myror takes this knight's place and then uses a special lance with a blade at the end of it to puncture Arthur. Luckily, Merlin takes notice of this special blade and uses magic to make Myror fall off his horse. Prince Arthur proceeds to win the jousting tournament but lets the farmer take all the credit. King Uther learns of the assassin and says that they must strike back at Odin, but Arthur says that is foolish because there has been enough bloodshed.

Myror and his bladed lance (3)

Characters

The main characters of the episode, from
left to right, Guinevere, Prince
Arthur, Merlin, Myror (1)

Merlin represents many of the Arthurian Legend characters, such as Guinevere, Arthur, and then Merlin himself. In this adaptation, Guinevere is a maid to lady Morgana, Merlin is a servant, and Arthur is a prince. While the roles of the characters are not the same as the legend, the episode shows values and traits of the characters that are similar to the original stories. Season 2, episode 2 proves this point. Guinevere is both kind and giving in the original literature and Merlin. In this episode, she allows Arthur to stay at her house and keeps it a secret so Arthur can prove he is more than just the king's son. Guinevere's actions represent the importance of hospitality in the medieval period. After Prince Arthur wins the joust, he allows the farmer, who pretended to be him, to take the credit. Arthur says he did this to show humility. Humility was a characteristic of good knight and good king in the Arthurian legends. Merlin also shows the medieval values of trust and doing anything for royalty. Despite Merlin's stress at home trying to balance doing his chores and hiding his powers, Merlin manages to keep Arthur's identity hidden as well has find the assassin that is trying to kill Arthur.

Storyline

This episode centers around a joust to crown a champion. Prince Arthur goes undercover so that no one would recognize him to win and gain respect. This is similar to how Lancelot disguised himself and entered a tournament in Le Morte d'Arthur (2). Their reasons for entering the tournaments were different in each story, but it is obvious how the writers of Merlin might have drew an aspect of Le Morte d'Arthur and put it into Merlin.                

 

Contemporary Elements

In Merlin, Prince Arthur is a selfish "prat." In the original literature, characters who are often evil stay evil throughout the story and characters that were humble and kind, stayed humble and kind. However in Merlin, Prince Arthur starts out the episode as being clearly annoying and selfish. When he learns that people treat him differently because he is a prince, he decides he wants to change that. He enters a jousting tournament and hides his identity. Once he won the tournament, he would take off his helmet and show that it was really him who deserved the glory and respect. However, once Arthur defeated his final opponent, he chose to be humble and let the farmer take the credit for winning the joust. This quick change of character was not a component of Arthurian literature in the medieval times, but it is common for storylines of today. Media of today loves to show how people with character flaws can change to become better, such as Darth Vader saving Luke, or the Grinch saving Christmas. Prince Arthur's change of character is truly representative of current plotlines in media today.

Before                                 After
The farmer's transformation (3)

The writers of Merlin also added a comedic element to the story. Arthur and Merlin loved to tease each other and their banter was funny. Also, when the farmer was introduced, Arthur asked if he looked like a knight and then the scene cuts to a funny looking guy in desperate need of a makeover. Nothing like that would ever happen in medieval literature. Another example of the comedic element would be when King Uther asks the nature of the beast that Arthur is going to go kill at the northern border. Arthur responds, "It is said to have the body of lion, wings of and eagle... and the face of a... bear." The comedic timing was perfect and was sure to make viewers chuckle. Even Merlin agrees! (see image below). None of these purposeful comedic elements would be found in the original stories. 

Prince Arthur (top) and 
Merlin (bottom) (3)

Impact of Merlin

Merlin is a fascinating show with components of original Arthurian stories with a modern twist. By adding interesting plotlines that are relatable to people in the 21st century, the show introduces Arthurian elements to people who may not have read the Arthurian legends of the medieval times. Adding contemporary components peak interests of new viewers which, in turn, brings
more attention to medieval literature. This broadened awareness brings new values, new perspectives, and awareness of past literature which helps create a more knowledgeable population. 

Works Cited

(1) Gadgets, CHAE(LLA) - Widgets &. “Merlin 2 - 2: The Once and Future Queen.” Widgets & Gadgets, 30 Dec. 2010, widget-and-gadget.blogspot.com/2010/12/merlin-2-2-once-and-future-queen.html.

(2) Malory, Thomas, and Helen Cooper. Le Morte d’arthur: The Winchester Manuscript. Oxford University Press, 1998. 

(3) Overman, Howard. “The Once and Future Queen.” Season 2, episode 2, BBC, 2009.

Lancelot and Guinevere (Season 2, Episode 4) of BBC's Merlin

    In season 2, episode 4 of the television show Merlin, love as well as action is depicted throughout.  Guinevere, who is mistaken as Lady Morgana, is captured by enemies, and held captive. Due to this occurring, Lancelot, Arthur, and Merlin come to her aid, which results in an action-packed episode. 

Arthur, Gwen, and Lancelot from the television show Merlin (1).

Merlin VS. The Original Medieval World

    The television show Merlin puts an interesting spin on the medieval world. The storyline of this episode has aspects that do follow original medieval world content. For example, Arthur is visibly in love with Guinevere, but she has great feelings towards Lancelot. This love triangle is also illustrated in Thomas Malory's, "The Tale of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere".  A major difference between Merlin and the original stories of the medieval era is that in the television show is how greatly magical elements play a key role in the storyline. One of the main characters, Merlin, possess a type of mind control. This allows him to manipulate objects. Although in Arthurian legends magic is presented, the show takes this component to the next level.  Also, in the television show there are abnormally large beasts, which are used as weapons against humans. A creature named "The Wilddeoren" is released on Gwen and Lancelot when they are being held captive. This is an element that also did not play a part in the original Arthurian stories.   

"The Wilddeoren" is used as an attempt to kill Lancelot and Gwen in Season 2, Episode 4 of Merlin (2).

Merlin modernizes the Medieval World

    The television show Merlin was able to take the medieval world and create a more modernized version of the medieval time period stories. The magical elements introduced into the show made the story even more action packed and kept the viewer intrigued to watch more. Another contemporary component in Merlin was the way in which the actors spoke. Reading medieval works at times can be intimidating due to the type of language that is presented. In the television show, the writers did an excellent job of modernizing the language, but still making the actors sound as if they were from another time. Another aspect introduced was Guinevere is given the nickname "Gwen" in the television show. This updated element greatly shows how the writers of the Merlin have put a modernized twist on Arthurian stories. 

How the Contemporary Style Adds to the Arthurian World

    The modernized pieces of Merlin add much to the medieval world. The television show was able to change the storylines in an interesting manner but keep the original plot present. This allows the viewer to make connections to the original Arthurian stories, but also get introduced to new elements. In this episode the new components introduced were things such as the magic and unrealistic sized beasts. This adds more action into the stories and invokes curiosity into the viewer. 

Season 2, Episode 4 of Merlin

Works Cited

1.) "Arthur, Gwen and Lancelot." BBC, Oct. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk./programmes/p00q6qjw.

2.) Knight, Tim. Merlin'S Miscellany: Part Eight [UPDATED]. heropresstwo.blogspot.com/2012/02/

            merlin-miscellany-part-eight-updated.html.

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

 

 Lancelot

In the show Merlin, Season 1 episode 5 "Lancelot" shows several relations and portrayals of the medieval times. Lancelot is an unknown man wanting to become a knight. He uses his skills and bravery to prove himself to the nobility. He starts off by saving Merlin from the Griffin. Merlin then helps him become a knight by faking his nobility. After they realize what Lancelot did, they threw him in jail. He was released by prince Arthur and set out to defeat the Griffin because he knew that they were going to fight it even though their weapons have no use. Merlin used his magic to help Lancelot destroy the Griffin. Lancelot leaves Camelot because he doesn't want to start off with another lie which was how he killed the Griffin all by himself. 

Strong features in Merlin

Castle in Camelot

Some characteristics of objects and characters are portrayed very well in the episode of "Lancelot". The main one that stood out to a viewer like me was Lancelot specifically. He first was seen in the show saving Merlin. It starts off by showing his bravery and talent and as the episode moves forward, how he works hard to become a knight and shows no fear when it comes to others. The setting also gives a good representation of the time period. Knights riding horses, unknown creatures that need to be fought off, knights and kings, castles different than the buildings we see today are just a few examples of how the medieval setting is shown off. It also shows the part of romance. How the love for someone can be so strong that it overtakes everything. In most of the readings, the knights are set off to protect their people and that is exactly what is done in this show. The knights had to go on a quest to defeat the Griffin. 

Lancelot in two ways

The knights of Camelot

Lancelot's story was told in different but yet the same type of way. He first started off both story as someone who was unknown. He traveled long and hard and finally made it to Camelot. He showed his knighthood and grit throughout everything he does. He didn't even know Merlin but yet he risked his life to save him from the Griffin. He didn't know any of these people but yet he was determined to be a knight and protect them so that what happened to his parents wouldn't happen to the place he was from now. 

In writings, his love for Guinevere is immense. He set off on quest to save her and they went through so much together, including an affair. At first she pushed him off, but that didn't stop Lancelot. They were in a love triangle at one point with King Arthur. But then, in the show, they don't put as much light on their romance. They show how they definitely have a connection and have feelings for each other, but they portray Merlin and Lancelot's friendship almost even more in this episode. I'm sure they show more about them in later episodes but yet it's almost like when they are both mentioned in the reading, they are almost always the main point and story outline because their relationship was intense. 

They also characterized the knights in a great way. They say in the show how they are the best in the land and that is right on. That's how they should be told, as strong, brave, and great leaders to defend the place they love, just like in the stories we read. They followed King Arthur and used everything they had to protect their people. Even when the Griffin came and they could not use their steel weapons to defeat it, they still went out on a quest to destroy it using all they had. This is exactly how they are portrayed in every story I have read.

New thoughts of the medieval times

Lancelot fighting Griffin

By watching the show, it adds a new idea to the way I saw this time period. It gave a sense of modern times to draw me in. It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter and how that series was shown with the character Merlin and his powers and the Griffin having the body of a lion which is the Gryffindor lion in the house of Hogwarts as some examples. The writings always had a good storyline and included scandals and intense scenes that would draw a reader in, but by watching it, it added to the entertainment. The reading had more language from that period that was hard to follow, but by seeing facial reactions and the plot unfold while the characters still talking with that time periods language, it was easier to follow and stay connected. By adding in little moments of mischief like Lancelot not actually being nobility but they faked it, this caused more entertainment to the viewers. I liked the way they showed Lancelot's story through a different take but still showed who he is as a character, how he's brave, loyal, and a great knight.

“Merlin: Lancelot Season 1 Episode 5.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Oct. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5du8dZ6SYY. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

Nick Gelardi, "Merlin" - Lancelot du lac Season 4 Episode 9

This episode covered the events in the final section of Le Morte De Arthur, where King Arthur's kingdom crumbles as Lancelot betrays him. "Merlin," however, retold the classic story with different characters and plot details that made the situation much more cinema-like and dramatic. The television series contains a mixture of medieval-world elements with pop culture to recreate the Arthurian Legend in a modern way. It definitely kept the main idea of there being tension between Lancelot and King Arthur because of Gwenevere's relationship with Arthur, but most details were altered. The link to the episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZV6OUolrog&t=437s. 

The episode starts with Arthur explaining to Agravaine that he wants to marry Gwenevere, which is right off the bat different from the original adaptations of the Arthurian World because they would have been married already by this point. "Merlin" portrays Arthur as a young king rather than an older, wiser and more mature one. This was done to create some character flaws in King Arthur that will be revealed as this episode ends, as King Arthur was mostly known as a well-respected and near-perfect king in previous reiterations of the tale. Agravaine is not keen on this idea and turns to Morgana for help. Morgana plays an important role in this episode, using her evil magical powers to destroy Arthur's kingdom. She is better known as Morgan le Fay in Arthurian literature, and this name change could be justified by the idea that the creators of the show wanted a more dark and devious name for the character. Morgana uses her powers to resurrect Lancelot, who has already died in this version of events by sacrificing himself. However, this Lancelot is not quite the same Lancelot who had previously lived, and this concept was called a "shade." Shades were not a part of the Arthurian World before this series despite there being many mythical and magical elements of the story, and the show wanted to take magical elements to a new level by introducing a more outrageous idea that also somewhat preserves Lancelot's innocence by the end of the episode. Morgana tells this Lancelot that Gwenevere has married the king, which obviously upsets him as he and Gwenevere are courtly lovers, something that remains consistent with the real Arthurian timeline. 

A jousting tournament is held to celebrate the eventual marriage of King Arthur and Gwenevere and a mysterious wild card knight enters the tournament, Lancelot. This is similar to Arthurian texts, as Lancelot does compete in a tournament anonymously and tournaments between knights were a common tradition. However, Lancelot does not stay incognito for long and gets invited to a dinner by King Arthur with the Knights of the Roundtable and Gwenevere, which showcases hospitality, another important element of Arthurian Literature. Gwenevere seems to be over Lancelot however, and is more than ready to marry King Arthur, and this causes Morgana to create a magical bracelet that will make Gwenevere fall in love with Lancelot. This is another example of a magical element not originally included in the medieval world being used to add a more modern feel to the Arthurian legend. Also, even the slightest idea that Gwenevere would not want to be in love with Lancelot would be shocking considering how previous Arthurian texts have emphasized their courtly love to the highest degree. Lancelot gives Gwenevere the bracelet, and during the second day of the tournament, she sneaks into Lancelot's tent before coming to her senses and leaving. An interesting detail of this tournament is that Arthur actually competes in it, which was done to add more tension between him and Lancelot before the end of the episode. They duel as they are the only two left in the tournament, and Lancelot spares him despite having him beaten. This trait of Lancelot is consistent with Arthurian literature except the only difference being that Lancelot was fighting Gawain instead of Arthur. 

Merlin discovers Lancelot meeting with Agravaine and tries to attack Lancelot with magic before being easily swept aside by Lancelot. This detail is in accordance with Arthurian literature as Lancelot was always known for being the best knight who dispatched his opponents quite easily. Later in the night Lancelot and Gwenevere meet up and start kissing, before being interrupted by a furious King Arthur. Merlin arrives at the scene a little late, as Arthur and Lancelot begin to brawl. Gwenevere begs them to stop, but Arthur regains control and then throws both Lancelot and Gwenevere in jail. It is interesting to note that Arthur was able to best Lancelot here, even if Merlin used his magical powers on his behalf, as Lancelot is traditionally known as an unbeatable knight and the best knight of the roundtable. Also, although King Arthur was upset with Lancelot in Arthurian texts,  there is genuine hostility between the two in this episode. Lancelot still had respect for King Arthur in literary versions of the story, but he fights King Arthur in this episode, presumably to add extra drama and conflict for a modern audience. Gwenevere also throws the bracelet off during this scene, freeing her from its magical influence on her that made her love Lancelot again. 

King Arthur completely turns his back on Gwenevere, telling her that she will be banished from Camelot. This was a nice aspect of the episode because in Le Morte de Arthur, King Arthur's feelings toward Gwenevere were not this angry and were relatively unknown as Arthur was killed in battle. Arthur is seen screaming at Gwenevere and shaking her during this scene as well. Merlin tries to convince Arthur to not do this, explaining that Agravaine is the reason for the situation, but it is to no avail as Arthur is too heartbroken to change his mind. The ending scene of the episode shows Lancelot dead in his cell because he took his own life in his grief. Lancelot dying due to grief is no original idea here, as Lancelot dies in a similar fashion in Arthurian text, but starves himself instead. Merlin takes Lancelot's body to a lake and revives him one last time to say goodbye, but instead of the "shade" arising, it is the real Lancelot, who thanks Merlin before closing his eyes again and being sent out into the lake on a raft. The image of a dead corpse on a raft, floating out with numerous decorations and lights on it is a very significant work of art from the medieval world. Many different artists portrayed this with "Elaine of Astolat," as this was her fate after being rejected by Lancelot in Le Morte de Arthur. This image was considered very powerful by medieval world enthusiasts, and the detail of the episode ending with this image with Lancelot as the center of it creates a very majestic and sad ending that hits the audience right in their emotions.