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Merlin

“Le Morte D’Arthur”
Show:  Merlin
Posted by:   Jessica Verdi
Posted On:  10/13/2009

Season 1, Episode 13

Original UK airdate:  12/13/08

Original US airdate:  8/23/09

Arthur gets bitten by a giant part-snake-part-leopard-part-velociraptor creature and is in poor shape.  Merlin can’t let Arthur die because “they haven’t yet done all the things they are meant to do.”  We know what he’s talking about, of course.  They haven’t even gotten to first base yet! (more…)

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“To Kill the King”
Show:  Merlin
Posted by:   Jessica Verdi
Posted On:  10/13/2009

Season 1, Episode 12

Original UK airdate:  12/6/08

Original US airdate:  8/23/09

This show is getting on my nerves.

So Gwen’s dad gives Gwen a schfancy new dress, but Gwen is suspicious of where he got the money for it.  Cut to Gwen’s daddy in a dungeon, burnin’ the midnight oil, being visited by a mysterious smarmy bloke who pays him for the fancy silver concoction he’s whipped up.  The mysterious dude, who has perfectly slicked back hair, even though he just had his hood on, whips out a special stone, utters abracadabra, makes some gold, Merlin wakes up in the middle of the night, Arthur bursts into the dungeon, mysterious smarmy dude gets away, and Gwen’s dad is arrested on charges of treason.  And all this even before the opening credits!! (more…)

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“The Labyrinth of Gedref”
Show:  Merlin
Posted by:   Jessica Verdi
Posted On:  10/13/2009

Season 1, Episode 11

Original UK airdate:  11/29/08

Original US airdate:  8/16/09

Arthur kills a unicorn.  Merlin is mad.  Also, there’s a food shortage. 

I’m surprised at Arthur.  Doesn’t he know that anyone who slays a unicorn will have a cursed life?  Oh wait, that’s from Harry Potter.  Anyway, after the unicorn is killed, Merlin sees a creepy man in the forest, but no one else sees him.  Later, Merlin and Arthur meet the man in Camelot, and they find out he is Anhora, Keeper of the Unicorns.  He tells them that Arthur brought on Camelot’s draught and famine when he shot down ol’ One Horn, and he will be tested.  If he fails the tests, Camelot will be DAMNED FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!  See, Arthur, none of this would have happened if you’d read your Harry Potter books like every other kid in England. (more…)

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“The Moment of Truth”
Show:  Merlin
Posted by:   Jessica Verdi
Posted On:  10/13/2009

Season 1, Episode 10

Original UK airdate:  11/22/08

Original US airdate:  8/16/09

Best gay subtext episode to date.  Brent Hartinger of AfterElton.com agrees.

Long story short, Merlin’s hometown is in trouble, being attacked and pillaged by some not so nice guys, so Merlin’s mama comes to Camelot to ask for help.  Reminiscent of Princess Lea, she pleads with Uther, “Help us.  You’re our only hope.”  Uther, dickwad that he is, say no dice.  So Merlin leaves Camelot and goes back home to help his town and his mama, accompanied by Gwen and Morgana (Ms. Eyebrows herself), and Arthur soon follows.  Mama pleads with Merlin, “Promise me you’ll be careful—no one can find out about you.”  She’s talking about Merlin being a magician… or is she? (more…)

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“Excalibur”
Show:  Merlin
Posted by:   Jessica Verdi
Posted On:  10/13/2009

Season 1, Episode 9

Original UK airdate:  11/15/08

Original US airdate:  8/2/09

This episode begins with our favorite villainess, Nimueh (played by Michelle Ryan), who looks exactly like a brunette Alicia Silverstone.  I keep on expecting her to put on a Cali accent and turn into Cher Horowitz (“Ok, so, like, right now, for example, the Haiti-ans need to come to America….”)  So anyway, Brunette Alicia starts talkin’ gibberish and waving her hand over a statue and the statue starts to break apart and a hand pops out of it.  Fancy. (more…)

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Introduction
Show:  Merlin
Posted by:   Jessica Verdi
Posted On:  10/13/2009

Ok, let me just start out by saying that I when I heard “Merlin” was going to be turned into a TV show, I was beyond excited.  I’ve always had a weird attachment to the story of Arthur (played here by Bradley James), Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera), Guinevere (Angel Coulby), and their whole posse, and really, what could be better than a primetime drama based on the legend of Arthur told from a modern perspective by none other than the fabulous BBC?  Nothing!  (more…)

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