Grade: A-
First of all, let me say that looking back on the series, I didn't remember liking this episode all that much; it grew on me as I re-watched it, but I doubt it'll ever make the list of my favorites. Looking at it objectively, it's a perfectly fine installment, and I've graded it accordingly, but it simply doesn't appeal to me. More on that later.
We open with Merlin dallying about in the woods around Camelot, ostensibly gathering mushrooms, but probably just enjoying his time away from being at Arthur's beck-and-call. He hears a growl, and, looking up, sees a fantastical winged creature menacing him. Just before it attacks, however, a young man jumps between Merlin and the beast, and briefly holds it off before breaking his sword against it. He and Merlin run, and, huddling under a log, the stranger introduces himself as Lancelot before passing out. Merlin notices blood staining his shirt, and brings the unconscious man to Gaius.
Reasonably recovered by the next day, Lancelot confides in Merlin that, ever since he saw his family killed by bandits, he's dreamed of becoming a knight of Camelot in order to help fight evil. He's trained on his own for years, and, believing himself to be prepared, has come to Camelot with that end in mind. He's astonished to hear that Merlin knows Prince Arthur personally, and Merlin, grateful to Lancelot for saving his life, promises to speak to Arthur on his behalf. Meanwhile, Arthur and Uther track the progress of the winged beast's reported attacks, and fear it is heading for Camelot.
Merlin and Lancelot watch the final test of a would-be knight: one minute to fight Arthur and hold one's own against the prince. The man they watch fails miserably, leading Arthur to complain to Merlin that no one half-decent has tried out for the knights in years. Merlin mentions Lancelot to Arthur, and Arthur promises to meet him, providing he's of noble blood. Taken aback, Merlin learns from Gaius that only nobles are allowed to join the knights, as they are regarded to be the only men trustworthy enough to maintain their loyalty to the king. Lancelot despairs of ever achieving his goal, but Merlin determines not to give up so easily. Looking up a book of royal genealogical seals, he uses magic to forge one for Lancelot. Bringing it back to Gaius' workshop, Lancelot at first resists the idea of lying about his status, but Merlin convinces him to go ahead with the plan. Going to Gwen, Merlin asks her to sew noble-looking garments for Lancelot, as well as lend him chain mail from her father's blacksmith shop. She does so, and Lancelot goes to meet Arthur in combat the next day. After he introduces himself, Arthur strikes Lancelot, and, unimpressed with his awareness and reflexes, send him to find work in the stables. Meanwhile, Gaius finds out that Merlin forged a seal of nobility for Lancelot, and warns him of the consequences of using magic flippantly and dishonestly.
Seeing Lancelot doing odd jobs in a smithy, Arthur challenges him to an impromptu duel with broom handles, and, this time given warning, Lancelot manages to hold his own. Refugees from another village attacked by the beast begin filtering into Camelot, while Gaius discovers that the creature is a Griffin, previously believed not to exist. Needing all of the fighters he can acquire, Arthur moves Lancelot's test forward to the next day. During the test, Lancelot allows himself to be struck and feigns unconsciousness until Arthur bends over him, on which he leaps up and catches Arthur off guard. Impressed enough to overlook the breach of rules, Arthur bestows a knighthood on Lancelot. Uther, unable to place Lancelot in the noble family from which is supposed to have come, asks for the opinion of the court genealogist.
Lancelot's new-found knighthood is short-lived. Unable to find any official record of him, the genealogist informs Uther that the seal of nobility must be faked, and Lancelot confesses. Thrown in prison, he is unable to join in the battle against the Griffin when it attacks Camelot. Arthur is bewildered when his weapons are useless against the Griffin, but Uther refuses to listen to Gaius and Arthur, both of whom insist that there is something magical about the creature. He orders Arthur to ride out and face it with his knights, condemning Arthur to a certain death unless Merlin can somehow use magic to make the beast vulnerable. Gaius shows him a spell which he is unable to master; however, he continues trying.
Meanwhile, Arthur releases Lancelot on his own authority, telling him to leave Camelot as soon as possible. The two of them agree that, based on their experiences fighting the Griffin, it is most certainly magical, but Arthur knows that there is no point to the idea of attempting to use magic against it. He refuses Lancelot's help in the battle, and insists that he leave the city. However, Lancelot goes to Gwen and once again borrows armor from her, telling her that it is his duty to protect Arthur, knight or not. Gwen rushes to tell Gaius and Merlin what Lancelot is attempting, leading Merlin to follow him out of the city. They hear sounds of battle in the forest, and, following the noise, find the entire band of knights either killed or unconscious. Arthur, flung against a rock, is still alive; however, the beast chooses that moment to return. Lancelot mounts to ride against it, and Merlin, realizing that he only has one chance to help, uses the spell he learned earlier to engulf Lancelot's spear in a blue flame, which breaches the Griffin's magical defenses and kills it. Merlin retreats into the city as Arthur regains consciousness and recognizes Lancelot standing over the body of the Griffin.
Returning to Camelot, Arthur goes to his father and makes an impassioned defense of Lancelot, demanding that Uther restore the knighthood take from him. Uther refuses the break the code for any man, and Lancelot, standing outside, is disturbed by the sound of Arthur quarreling with his father. Lancelot confides to Merlin that he is aware that the slaying of the Griffin was Merlin's doing, and promises not to reveal his secret. Walking into the throne room, Lancelot tells the king that he cannot bear being the source of conflict between Arthur and his father, and that he feels he should leave Camelot and make a new start elsewhere. Arthur, believing Lancelot to be worthy of knighthood, tells him that he has nothing left to prove; however, Lancelot counters that he still has to prove his worthiness to himself, and departs, Merlin and Gwen both watching him wistfully.
Well, as I said above, this episode isn't one of my favorites. I can't pinpoint anything exactly bad about it, but it's frightfully dull. I find Lancelot incredibly boring, and obviously some of that spills over into the Lancelot-centric episode. He's way too naive and perfect for my tastes, and, while on some level I understand Arthur and Merlin's adoration of him, watching both of them drool over a character who bores me isn't the most riveting of television.
However, I suppose it is something of a landmark that Lancelot is the first person apart from Gaius to discover and accept Merlin's magical abilities. We also see a continuation of the theme of Uther and Arthur's different approaches to kingship, as well as Arthur's inclination to trust Gaius' opinions where Uther dismisses them; the frightened, helpless look that Arthur shoots Gaius after being ordered to ride out and fight the Griffin is brief but heartbreaking.
In the spirit of the old legends, it is also worth noting that this is our first glimpse of the legendary love triangle, present in most versions, between Lancelot, Arthur, and Guinevere. So far it's been a minuscule part of the show's story arc, but is detectable nonetheless.
So, overall, a boring, unremarkable episode. Hopefully we'll get better material next time.
Complaints:
- Well... Lancelot. He's so two-dimensional. If he has a third dimension, it's boring too.
- The CGI Griffin isn't terrible, but it is pretty flat and unconvincing.
- I must say, the blue fire effect used for Merlin's spell is absolutely gorgeous.
- The effect when Merlin conjures the seal of nobility is also quite nice.
- "Lance.... a lot?" Mwahaha! I will never not love Arthur.
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