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If there's one thing I've learnt from my father's life, it's that titles don't mean anything. It's what's inside that counts.
Gwaine to Merlin

Gwaine is the fourth episode of the third series of Merlin. It was first broadcast on the 2nd of October 2010.

It marks the first appearance and departure of Gwaine.

Synopsis

When Merlin and Arthur are vastly outnumbered in a tavern brawl, a man named Gwaine helps them win and becomes seriously wounded saving Arthur's life. He is taken back to Camelot, where he is treated by Gaius and makes a quick recovery.

Gwaine instantly causes trouble by drinking and trying to get the ladies, but that's not the real problem, because the two thugs from the brawl have disguised themselves as knights to kill Arthur during the annual Mêlée. Can Merlin and Gwaine save him from a terrible fate, or will it be too late for the future King of Camelot?

Plot

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Gwaine introduces himself to Merlin.

While on a hunting trip, Arthur and Merlin visit a desolate tavern in a small village so Arthur can have a drink and discover 'the mood of the people'. While there, they witness a thug, Dagr, threaten the tavern owner and take her money. Arthur orders him to give the money back and a brawl ensues.

A stranger joins the fight to help Merlin and Arthur and introduces himself to Merlin as Gwaine. He fights brilliantly, but is badly injured saving Arthur from being stabbed by Dagr. Afterwards, Arthur reveals himself as the Prince and orders Dagr and his friend Ebor be put in the stocks. He and Merlin then take Gwaine to the citadel so Gaius can treat his wounds.

When Gwaine wakes up, he is annoyed to learn that Arthur is a prince and privately tells Merlin if he'd known who he was he probably wouldn't have helped him, as he has little respect for the nobility. He also delights in causing trouble during his stay by flirting with Gwen, who amusedly rejects his advances, and racking up large bills at the local tavern and charging them to Arthur.

While helping a drunken Gwaine back to his room, Merlin asks why he has such disdain for the nobility and Gwaine reveals that he himself is of noble blood and that his father was a knight in Caerleon's army. When he died in battle, his mother was left penniless and the King refused to help. Since then, Gwaine has come to see that the nobility are arrogant snobs not worth dying for.

Images (69)

Dagr and Ebor use blood crystals to impersonate a pair of knights.

The next morning, Arthur is not amused by Gwaine's antics and makes him (and Merlin) pay off the tavern debt by shining the entire army's boots. While they work, they talk some more about their fathers and Merlin reveals that his own father, who was banished, died about a year ago and that he wishes he could have known him better. Gwaine empathises and tells Merlin, "If there's one thing I've learned from my father's life, it's that titles don't mean anything. It's what's inside that counts."

Meanwhile, Dagr and Ebor decide to get revenge on Arthur by killing him during Camelot's annual Mêlée. They obtain a pair of blood crystals from a sorcerer, Cylferth, along with a pair of Stulorne Blades that appear blunt but are actually sharp. They use the Blades to kill a pair of visiting knights, Sirs Oswald and Ethan, and use the blood crystals to take their appearances and enter the Mêlée in their place.

Upon arriving at the castle, Dagr and Ebor take delight in using their noble status to order Merlin around. Their behaviour makes Merlin suspicious, as Gaius claims it is uncharacteristic of the knights they are impersonating. Dagr's fighting on the practice field is also impeded when he is forced to fight left-handed the way Sir Oswald would, allowing Arthur to defeat him easily.

Later, in Dagr and Ebor's chambers, Merlin cuts his hand on one of the Stulorne Blades. After consulting Gaius and Gwaine, he decides to investigate further and sneaks back into their chambers during the night. He discovers the blood crystal around Dagr's neck, but accidentally wakes him in the process.

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Gwaine is banished for attacking two knights.

Gwaine grows worried when Merlin fails to return and goes looking for him. He enters Oswald's chambers to find Dagr and Ebor throwing knives at Merlin and quickly intervenes, but is arrested himself when Sir Leon finds him attacking the two "knights".

Gwaine is brought before the king and defends his actions by claiming he stepped in to protect Merlin. In the process, he enrages Uther by accusing the two "knights" of lying and insulting them as arrogant thugs. Dagr demands his execution, as it is against the law for a commoner to attack a knight, but Arthur intervenes and Gwaine is banished from Camelot instead.

The next morning is the day of the Mêlée. As the fighting begins, Dagr and Ebor easily cut down the other knights with their Stulorne Blades until only Arthur remains. However, one of the fallen knight gets to his feet and comes to Arthur's aid. He disarms Ebor and kills him with his own Blade, then turns the Blade on Dagr, who is about to kill Arthur.

Once the two thugs are dead, the knight removes his helmet and reveals himself as Gwaine. Uther is furious and demands his execution for killing two knights, but reconsiders after Gaius removes the blood crystals from Dagr and Ebor's necks and reveals their true identities. However, he refuses to rescind Gwaine's banishment.

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Merlin S3 E4 - The Melee

Gwaine takes the news in stride, as he knows Arthur did what he could, and later tells Merlin he could never serve under a king like Uther. However, he does believe Arthur is a truly noble man and says one day they may fight together again. In the meantime, he decides to go to Mercia... Though not without saying goodbye to Gwen, much to Arthur's confused displeasure.

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

Guest Cast

Release & Reception

  • Air date: 2 October 2010. 6.42 viewers.

Continuity

  • This episode marks the first appearance of Gwaine.
  • Gwaine reveals to Merlin that he is secretly of noble blood and that his father was a knight in Caerleon's army.
  • Gwaine also reveals he dislikes the nobility because the king abandoned his family in their time of need.
  • Merlin reveals to Gwaine that his father was banished, that he once served Uther, and that he died one year earlier.
  • Uther banishes Gwaine from Camelot for attacking a knight in defense of Merlin.
  • Arthur stands up for Gwaine against his father, which convinces Gwaine that Arthur is a truly noble man and leads him to infiltrate the Mêlée to save him.
  • Though Gwaine saves Arthur's life, Uther refuses to rescind the banishment and Gwaine leaves for Mercia.

Inaccuracies

  • The coins shown in a promo pic of the Blood Crystals are replicas of ones coined during the reign of Elizabeth I (comparison).

Gallery

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To view the Gwaine (episode) gallery, click here.


Transcript

View the transcript here.

See Also

Series 3
The Tears of Uther Pendragon  • Goblin's Gold  • Gwaine  • The Crystal Cave  • The Changeling  • The Castle of Fyrien  • The Eye of the Phoenix  • Love in the Time of Dragons  • Queen of Hearts  • The Sorcerer's Shadow  • The Coming of Arthur
Interactive quest: The Quest for Morgana
Mini-episode: Merlin in Need special
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