Board Thread:Rewatching "Merlin" - Season Two/@comment-5102537-20130622090602/@comment-5102537-20130623114819

Edrea wrote:

Why in this episode since the beginning he already used tricks (planting evidence, using Belladona to trick the witnesses)?

Why he didn't really do any real sort of detective job? He just planting evidence, tricked witnesses, threatening Gaius to confession, intimidated Morgana and Merlin. Although Aredian didn't like Gaius or even hated him and maybe he really like to see Gaius dead, that doesn't mean that he shouldn't do his real job like finding the real sorcerer, right? Is it because Merlin is the one responsible for the magic and that's why it is impossible to make that Aredian did find solid evidence against him?

I think that this gives a good hint to the very possibility, if not fact, that during the Great Purge a lot of innocents were killed. Aside from the fact that even those who practised magic without harming anyone were innocent (ethically, not in Uther's eyes though), there were surely numerous people killed who hadn't used magic at all. Aredian proved that despite being so good in his job,  he didn't work honestly and reliable but used tricks to convict people even when they hadn't done anything wrong. This gave him some extra bonus both in material (gold, probably) and in regard to his reputation.

Uther probably believed everything that Aredian said and trusted his abilities, which was easy for the Witchfinder due to Uther's hatred and fear. So he took advantage of it and probably delivered more "guilty" people than existed.

Aredian was portrayed as a very intelligent and devious man, it was hard to not think that he was right with his suspicions. And indeed he was. He suspected Merlin, Morgana and Gaius. Those were the ones in the castle who really had or used magic.

And this is what strikes me most in regard to Gaius' speech to Uther at the end of the episode. Gaius accused Uther of seeing foes where there are friends and sorcerers where there are servants. Ironically, Uther was right. Morgana was a (magical) foe, Merlin was a sorcerer and Gaius violated the law and practised magic too. Actually, Gaius lied like a trooper here, but it was performed so believable that even the audiences who actually knew better believed him. Of course, Merlin wasn't a foe, neither was Gaius, nevertheless they constantly violated the law, betrayed Uther (most of the time for his own good) and hid Uther's biggest enemy, Morgana, the one who was Uther's ultimate undoing.

I think it was a very sad and scary moment when Gaius was deprived of sleep and probably food in the dungeons. I liked that Uther first hesitated to agree to Aredian's suggestion but hated when he finally agreed. Moreover, Arthur didn't do much about it either. One would expect that at least Arthur would try to help Gaius somehow. He rescued Mordred after all and acted straight against his father's orders. Why didn't he help Gaius? And why did he just stand by and watched Gaius at the stake instead of at least trying to help him. Arthur was bit too relaxed here in my opinion. It took Gwen to finally open Arthur's eyes, and as much as I liked what she said, I think it was a little unlike Arthur to silently accept Uther's sentence for Gaius.

Speaking of which, it was shocking and cruel when Uther sentenced Gaius to death, the one he considered a friend. However, he had no other choice when Gaius confessed in front of the court. There was no way for Uther to release Gaius once Gaius told the entire court that he had used magic. The thing I really disapproved of was that Uther allowed Aredian his cruel methods in the first place. It was alright to call him for help since he had to find out who the sorcerer was, but it was not okay to agree to Aredian's plans. They talked about it in a private moment, so Uther had the chance to simply say no. On the other hand, Aredian might have told it to the people outside which would have made Uther a hypocrite in the citizen's eyes and would have taken away his credibility as a king.

At least Uther showed devastation about his friend's fate when he left the balcony once Gaius was brought to the stake. He couldn't bear to see Gaius die and Ithink it demonstrated that he was hurt and devastated by losing a friend and also by being betrayed by Gaius.

Aredian was a very scary, intimidating and fascinating character on the show. What a great performance by Charles Dance, really awesome.

I liked that Gaius wanted to sacrifice himself for Merlin and I also liked that Gwen and Merlin worked together to save Gaius. They were so great in their teamwork and it's such a shame that they had the chance in only two episodes. Iwould have loved to see more of it.

All in all a great episode, except for one thing that I actually didn't quite understand: when the toad came out of Aredians mouth it should have been clear to everyone that someone esle had used magic. It wouldn't make any sense whatsoever for the Witschfinder to show magic so obvious in front of the king and by that convicting hisself. Logically, someone else wanted to accuse Aredian.