User blog comment:Ḡwẵine Ḹٍٍkƨ Ĺiĸe Ͼềлȑềd/Series 5 returning characters/@comment-60.230.195.42-20120121111902

This is how I would have it:

✓Alator- Alator appears in the, or a, two-parter (I honestly hope this series has something like two two-parters and one three-parter! How great would that be), as an ally to Merlin and Gaius. He also meets Arthur who doesn't want to kill him.. a great *nudge* to Merlin that he may not be in so much danger after all. Alator promises not to let anyone know who Merlin is, but there some occasions where it almost slips out.. can you imagine the tension? Also we need a deep scene between Merlin, Gaius and Alator, where he apologises for what he does, and they discuss Morgana. Imagine how great that would be. In a dark, spacey room, with candles lit up. (Not romantic) I honestly hope he isn't forgotten, he would make a wise and great ally, but he shouldn't be in the whole way through, only a sometimes character.

✓Mordred- Definitely. Without doubt. The producers know it. I put all my faith into this one- it HAS to be Mordred. The vision Morgana had, the prophecy the dragon spoke of- if they want to get anywhere with this show Mordred is coming, or else I'm going to not want to watch this, if it's just Morgana finding allies we've never even heard of. It can't be hard bringing back Asa or finding other actors with black hair and blue eyes (some can easily dye). Mordred is certain. (still writing, accidentally submitted)

✓Tristan- Now, come on, the least we can have is one new knight of Camelot. One of the most changing things about Series 4, was the knights being a part of the main cast. I think this was fantastic, and well deserved + wanted. If they bring can bring back five recurring cast members for a whole series, why can't they bring back one for another whole, or at least some of it? I really wouldn't mind if Tristan died, not saying this in spite, but perhaps his death could mean good for Arthur- motivating him even more to like those of Tristan's kind and realise why people do break the law (because, you know, you acknowledge people and understand what they stand for when they die!). I can also just easily image a scene with him dying. Or maybe one where he disappears and they think he's dead and comes back. All sorts of things could happen. I just hope he doesn't become possessed by another Lamia or become a new traitor within the walls!

Half✓Lancelot- Lancelot is very big in the legend but just remember this show is very inaccurate when it comes to 'being in accordance' to the legends. The producers and actors have said this before, they take parts and mix them together and add twists to a formula they already devised (the Smallville one they took it from I believe?). He is a wonderful character, though, if not a bit too nice and stereotypical (but then again, isn't Percival too muscly and tough, with a soft side, like many other stereotypes? But of course bringing him back in physical form is certainly a no-no, and I think his contact should be in spirit, or some other form, and limited only to Merlin, Arthur or Gwen. But the writers are courageous leaving the love triangle completely unresolved and twisted like that, and allowing the characters to just get over with it. But exploring this is certainly something I'd like more of, but I'm not a professional script writer, I don't know how it would turn out, it could even be going backwards.

Quarter✓Uther- I think one of the reasons the producers are considering having Uther back on is because they love working with Anthony Head! But really I see no reason for Uther to come back and be a major part. Simply because we've had enough of him. Yeah, yeah, we did miss him when he died in The Wicked Day, but if we push that aside, he deserved to die, and really, for what he'd done, more painfully, and with people knowing who he really is. I think putting out too much of Uther again would be unwise. Don't you? I think it's actually pretty pointless. Arthur is his own man, and doesn't really want to be like his father anymore after what happened in His Father's Son, and Agravaine's betrayal. Being yourself and doing what you feel is right is important to being a great leader- especially when you're Arthur Pendragon. Of course, Uther no doubt should be mentioned, or at least "implied" e.g. Uther's reign, or Arthur's father's era, but they shouldn't use him as a symbol or anything, he should be but a memory- this is the Camelot the show is heading towards, after all? One without Uther's print?

x Nimueh- No thanks. Not only has the fangirl-ism over Nimueh put me off, but she has been mentioned a few times (so there we have some continuity), and simply, DOESN'T need to come back. Morgana will not revive her because she doesn't need her. Maybe if Nimueh appeared in spirit once to help Morgana on a quest, fine. But I don't want Nimeuh being an antagonist again. Not necessary. We have Morgana now. Nimueh's portrayer was fantastic, but we are all looking at the era of Morgana now... there's much for her to do yet. Besides, we have Mordred.

x Agravaine- Simple put, no. There should certainly be mentionings of him, and I've suggested this in one of my recent blog posts. I'd like Arthur to somehow acknowledge that he knows why Agravaine betrayed him, or for Gaius to say (Gaius knows he blames Arthur for Igraine's death). But he should not be becoming back, he's gone now, we have Mordred, who is powerful. Nathanielle was a great actor in my opinion, but I think Agravaine's memory stays well, back in Series 4.

✓ Gilli- Yes, and as a cameo appearance. I don't see him becoming a main ally of Merlin, more of just a side appearance. He could help Merlin, or just be one of the sorcerers gathering to finally be able to practice magic in the new Camelot! If he doesn't appear at all, I really won't mind. We will probably forget about it among all the epicness Series 5 serves to us.

✓ Hunith- Yes, and I'd like to see discussions between them about Balinor. There were discussions about Merlin's father in Series 4, but they were cut out. I really do want Balinor to be mentioned. And for Merlin to even show his mum a symbol of the dragon or something, a token given to him by his father. Or, Kilgharrah saying that Balinor left something behind and Merlin going on a bit of a treasure hunt to find what was taken from Balinor in The Great Purge. Another great story about the dragons is always welcome in my book, there's much they could explore. Hunith should certainly at least be mentioned, but I will be disappointed if she doesn't appear again. Even a cameo would be ok. She did, after all, appear in the first episode. That means she's rather important.

Half ✓ Vivienne and Gorlois- I actually would like to see them in flashbacks. I'm not sure it would work, but if the producers can make Morgana's dreams work, then they can make flashbacks with Vivienne and Gorlois work. They should make them really dramatic as well, perhaps with a lot of green screen. Like Gorlois crawling across the battlefield, dying, after being sent into battle with not enough reinforcements. Maybe Vivienne as well, asking Gaius to smuggle the witches out of Camelot, or maybe Uther starting their affair after Gorlois was in battle. Just a few flashbacks would be nice, or just mentionings, or symbols and reminders of them.

Half ✓ Ygraine- In a flashback again. I wouldn't really mind if she didn't appear, I would think 'aww, they should've put her in', though. It would once again reinforce what means a lot to Arthur and add depth to the show. Maybe three quarters ✓, then.

x Isolde- Only a mentioning. No revivals or anything. Remember, this show doesn't actually do revivals. At least human revivals.

x Tom- No need. Really, no need at all. Gwen is queen now, she loved her father dearly and misses him, but seeing him again.. I don't think it's needed. Plus Tom dying at Uther's hand and the last being seen of him, his dead body on a cart, adds much effect to the show, and reenforces Uther's raw and merciless tyranny, and one the reasons Morgana turned against him. If he did appear, though, I would thoroughly enjoy it as I do any scene. If it's Merlin, I like it.

Quarter ✓ Taliesin- There are many questions surrounding him. He appeared so suddenly and disappeared so suddenly. Many of us were probably thinking 'what the hell'? I don't expect him to come back that much, as I don't see why, but if the producers are trying to get in a lot closer with the legends, I may change my mind throughout it and expect him. I don't know what to think at the moment, though, I don't know that much. If the Crystal Caves are to have lots of mentionings or even an appearance (like Merlin being trapped in their by Morgana- sure I'd like that to happen!), then Taliesin making at least a slight cameo would be expected of me. But really, I don't care that much. Quarter ✓ Alined- Ah, the guy who played Cutler Beckett's bitch in Pirates of the Caribbean. I thoroughly enjoyed that episode and the shenanigans of it, but Series 5, being a lot more deep and serious, doesn't really seem to have time to fit in plot about greedy kings wanting war, and having funny and dry ways of getting it done. Unless of course, they can slot him in very smoothly. I don't expect him at all and think he only belonged in that one episode, but if he does appear, I'm hoping the writers will find an intricate way of slotting him in to fit good with the story (I think we'll have less "fillers"). I don't see him coming into Camelot again, Merlin and Gaius are prepared for him, Gwen is now queen, and being best friends with Merlin I can see them, together, not letting that happen! But sure, maybe a mentioning of some of his men being caught or something, yeah. In the big picture, meh.

x Cornellius Sigan- While a plot with Morgana or Mordred or some other bad guys stealing the crystal again and releasing Sigan sounds cool, I think it's irrelevant to the story. It not only damages continuity, a strong, focused overall story that concerns the main prophecies and bits of the legend we know will happen, but is unoriginal and would be reusing an older story. I don't see it working.

x Cenred- No, simply because it's Lot who is the man now.

Three quartes ✓ Odin- You didn't mention him but I would like to see or at least hear a mention of him, and I want some sort of truce between him and Arthur so he can stop trying to assassinate Arthur, or a small war or something. Maybe Morgana could use his army to go in league. Well, if he has an army. He's far too afraid to start a full out war with Arthur. To be frank, I believe Odin is a big coward and I care little for him. But knowing about him and his hate for Arthur does add more dimension and depth to the story and make Albion seem like a bigger, more mixed place, so at the very least, a mention. But not a repeat of Series 4, where he sends in another assassin, and Camelot can't do much more than just kill the assassin.

Quarter ✓ Grettir- Maybe he could switch to be the keeper of the bridge of another bridge Arthur crosses? Or, because Morgana's vision of the large battle where Emrys is standing above her looks a little like the place Arthur went to in the Eye of The Phoenix, Grettir could appear and help out during the war or something. But it's still strongly unconfirmed the battle will be in the perilous lands, or whatever they were called. We're yet to see where it actually is. So far all that place is is a rather small, green-screened set. But if Grettir doesn't appear, then it doesn't really matter, he fit really well into the episode he was in and even got a promo shoot with him in the centre and as the foremost character. His portrayal was brilliant and perfect and I loved the velocity of his character, but just because one appearance was great doesn't mean another should happen. Many standalone episodes, characters, and mentionings are best left standalone. But I don't have a crew and film set to experiment that stuff with, so who knows? But Grettir, as a supporting ally to help reenforce the depth and power of magic should always be welcome. Just let something unique be done with him to give him more reason.

x Queen Annis- I've changed my opinion on this one, after rewatching the episode. I think more mentionings of her and her kingdom are fine, but I don't think her being a part of another story is relevant. She's served her purpose and she did a great job. Her and Arthur aren't at war. She doesn't like Morgana. It's all good. Bringing her in would mean bringing her in as an ally (her being an enemy again is just an unoriginal repeat or sequel of His Father's Son), and do we really need a queen who dresss in fur who's husband was killed by a king who was trying to be his father be an ally of Arthur in Series 5? I'm not the writers, so I can't think of a way to work it out, but once again, I think these types of characters are special being left alone in their own Series. Annis was important to the development of the series and character as she made Arthur realise trying to do what his father would have done, being a different person, will not work. Another appearance wouldn't do much better or prove much more, so yeah, once again, relevance.

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I know I've written a monster of a comment, and I have taken it far. I've left the tab open with this form and have added more between intervals, so that would explain the length, and I'm not really slow. If you don't care about my opinion (a note to those cheeky anon users hiding behind their monitors and concealing their identities) and think I shouldn't be this open, then it's simple, don't read it. :)