In today’s episode, MissSnowfox and Momo talk about the ninth episode of BBC’s Merlin, “Excalibur”.
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News:
Merlin Fanfic Quotes
Merlin Memory Month
The Pendragons Shipping Meme
Arwen Fanfic Challenge poll
After Camlann Big Bang Drafts due
Winterknights Save Your Date
Resources & Mentioned Fanworks:
Episode 1×09 on Merlin Wiki
The Pendragon Guide to How Not to Date by mariana_oconnor, podfic by lunchee.
Indulgence by allofuswithwings, podfic by misssnowfox.
Statistics:
- First aired 15 Nov 2008
- 3 female characters (with lines)
- 2 main cast (Gwen, Morgana)
- 1 supporting cast (Nimueh)
- 7 male characters (with lines)
- 4 main cast (Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, Uther)
- 3 supporting cast (Geoffrey, Sir Owain, Sir Pellinore)
- Sir Pellinore is a black character who has lines
- Enemy/Monster of the Week: Black Knight (Tristan DuBois), Nimueh
- Uther kills the Wraith
FYI, the scene with the black Knight throwing down the gauntlet seems to be filmed in the banquet hall under the great hall. Sure looks like it from my photos. They could have covered the windows to make it look like night.
FYI, again, Merlin’s outfit at Gwen’s wedding was actually Arthur’s (it shows up in the deleted scenes where Arthur is going through his wardrobe on what to wear season 4, episode 9) so Merlin wouldn’t necessarily have worn it for Arthur’s coronation.
Arena set was at Pierrefonds. The arena for the first season was right in front of the castle in the parking lot. The jousting scenes in season 2-3 were done in the park above the castle.
I adore this episode. There was soooo much backstory. It’s one of my go-to episodes for Merlin.
LOL – killing a Wraith isn’t murder. Ghostbusters, great!
I also love the Gaius/Geofrey scenes. 😀
Hello 🙂 once again a great episode. I came to enjoy the episode reviews the most because I always feel like I learn so much more about them. I probably will never look at the episodes the same way again (in a good way). There is one thing that always bothered me in this episode. At the end, when Uther kills the black Knight with a massive blow and lots of sparkle, why did nobody thought about screaming: “SORCERY! Uther is a sorcerer!”. It was pretty obvious there was magic at work. He couldn’t even accuse Merlin because he gave the sword to him, since it’s his word against everyone else who saw him “using magic” at the battle.
I second archeologist_d’s opinion that the scene with the black knight arriving is filmed in the hall under the great hall. I think they did all (or at least most of) the banquet scenes there, except for those few at the beginning of the season 1 that were filmed at Penshurst Place.
I never realized how stupid the “Arthur locked in his own room” plot point is, but it really is. xD My mind always gets stuck on the fact that Gaius looks incredibly pervy leaning over Arthur when he’s being roofied. 😀
When you said that they would import French extras to Wales, that’s not what would happen. They used French extras in France and british in UK. Knights trampsing through welsh forests would be different than knights loitering in Pierrefonds. 🙂
As for Gaius treating Uther’s wounds in council chambers, did they even have a set for Uther’s chambers in season 1? xD