Board Thread:Series 5 Discussion/@comment-4623180-20120927041835

This is based off what I've seen. Please add comments and feedback!


 * The first two-parter opens in a flowering Camelot. Gwen is queen, Arthur is king. The knights of the round table are alive and well. Camelot is in its golden age. Everything we've wanted. The difference here is that what Series 1 worked towards is achieved, now it's exploring the challenges and downfalls of this. Before it was all in predictable suspense. We knew Uther's downfall was upon us from the first episode, but now we don't know how far Arthur will be dragged down exactly, but we know he is definitely going that way. Things are more solid now- now it's just a golden Camelot, that everyone inside believes in (other than Mordred who is ambiguous) and the enemies closing in, so it seems.

It's the "what happens after" stage. I think multi-stranded storytelling that they're using now offers us more of an enemy's perspective, with Morgana being locked in an underground dungeon for 2 years and all (see Series 5 page references, one of the new scans says so)- Morgana now feels very justified. In the Series 4 finale you could see a glimpse of uncertainty in her eyes. She was mad mainly over Arthur having the throne then. It was more bitchy, now it's the bigger picture- being accepted.


 * We know Aithusa chose Morgana because with magic, like Gaius said in episode 1, there is no good or bad. Aithusa is not bad. Aithusa just wants to fight for magic... unfortunately for Camelot Morgana-style.


 * In episode 1 and 2 knights will be disappearing and Arthur and the knights of the round table will travel to the northern plains wasteland, where there are magic wolves. It seems Morgana and Mordred will be there as well, as well as Ruadan (he wears a furry coat so I'm guessing he'll have something to do with the northern plains plot), played by Liam Cunningham who is appearing in just the opening two-parter. Now we don't know any more but I think it may be an ambush or a trap. In the trailer Gaius said "you may be walking into a trap", after all. Not sure what the wolves role will play, we've only seen a couple clips and photos of them, and they just seemed to be standing there in the photos. They could be on Morgana's side, they could favouring Merlin, they could be wild and attack everyone or they could simply be decorations.


 * I read somewhere that a storyline will continue over a few episodes with Morgana and Gwen. A very juicy one. Best guess is that Gwen will be tortured by Morgana. It's so obvious in the trailer. Looks like a poppet as well. It could be in spite of the poppet used on Morgana three years ago, but then again she used one before that when Morgause was alive, so we're yet to find out. The poppet may not even be Morgana's. I'm not sure Mordred will be putting poppets around Camelot, seems a little traitor-in-the-wallsy and I'm very hopeful he won't be another Agravaine. Mordred has always been a complex character.


 * Morgana's captor will be explored later on. He is a bandit king. I hope he fits into the story well.


 * Someone will be protecting Gwen while Arthur is away at battle. We're yet to know if this means leaving Camelot in general, or the final battle, speculated as "The Battle of Camlann". Now in the legends Mordred does this, but takes the throne for himself and Gwen for himself. But I know the producers don't want to do things exact to the legend, and they never have, it's a fact. Otherwise Merlin would be old, they got inspiration from Smallville.

I highly suspect, though, this person who protects Gwen idea came from Mordred being trusted by Arthur and looking after her during the battle in the legend. It could be another person we haven't met protecting Gwen.. why it could even be the bandit king! ;)


 * Other interesting things that are happening, as I've seen in the trailer...

Morgana will attack Merlin with Mordred by her side. In the left corner of the screen you can see another figure near Merlin. Possible a knight? Now this has got me thinking big time. Who is with Merlin? If it is a knight they'd see Mordred by Morgana's side...

Flames. There are dragons blowing fire. Aithusa? And who will Aithusa be attacking?

Someone chasing Gwen in the halls of Camelot. A sword being stabbed through a door where Elyan is hiding behind. Gwen blocking a door. Where is Arthur? Could this be someone invading Camelot while Arthur is gone out? We know Morgana disguises herself as an old lady and enters Camelot, would she be crazy enough to go in, then just start randomly chasing Gwen with a sword?

So there's my discussion! Maybe a little irrelevant, but I hope it gets you thinking! Be sure to check this out. That's what got me thinking. There is a lot to tell in Series 5. How they go about it, how much story they can fit in one episode, is all a mystery. So excited!!! 