LOVE.

[hope]

omg love love LOVE this episode SO MUCH. I seriously think this was the most mature episode the show has ever had. And in part, I think that's because the focus wasn't on the formulaic Big Bad Uses-Sorcery-For-Evil Villain.

It reminded me of the episode in S1 where they all go to Merlin's village to fight, except better, because there was more focus on the relationships and even less emphasis on the "omg magic = sekrit!" trope.

GWEN. GWEN. MORGANA! More than anything, this episode was about how everyone loved everyone else. I was left with a feeling of TORMENTED JOY because it totally feels like they're teenagedly on the cusp of a massive polyamorous realisation. Instead of being left with a feeling of rage against characters being forced violently into heteronormative monogamy.

Just, so much repetition and reflection and just very frank acknowledgement of everyone's love for each other, here.

The mirroring of Gwen sacrificing herself for Morgana with Lancelot sacrificing himself for Gwen, down to that pause in escaping at the sound of their loved one killing a baddy behind them.*

The way Arthur *does* go rescue Gwen for Morgana, for all of them, not just for him (and the way it's so clear that he's very aware of what's going on, he's not lost his mind in being besotted). The way Morgana has such faith in Arthur that she shouts so much at him before she realises.

That comfortable trust and lack of suspicion (honour, really) between Lancelot and Merlin in sharing that secret.

The total love and trust between Arthur and Merlin in that they two must go alone (just like frodo and sam lol!), and Arthur actually APOLOGISES to Merlin for risking his life! And confides in him! etc! And the totally not-veiled-at-all "well, you have me" line from Merlin, which COULDN'T BE ANYTHING BUT about Arthur pining over the woman he loves. SERIOUSLY.

AND GWEN. GWEN TOTALLY LOVING EVERYONE AND BEING SO CONFUSED! And Gwen and Merlin are totally BFF.

I just love that (in this episode, anyway) none of these characters are passive objects that are just there to further the plot for the (male) hero(es). The story is about each of these people, their stories, their relationships with and love for each other. ♥_♥

Ooohhhhh there need to be more OT45 episodes.

* And speaking of the killing of baddies, I do love the morals of killing as ascribed to those five. Arthur kills (obv). Merlin kills (obv!). Gwen and Morgana kill. There's no big deal made of it at all, it's part of the conflict they're involved in. But not so for Lancelot - he almost fills that untainted maiden role, there, a kind of moral 'innocence'. But it's not about a moral right or wrong - Gwen and Morgana certainly aren't painted as amoral characters because they kill! But it's like the others are dedicated to preserving Lancelot's untainted knightliness. If he were a woman, it would be about something else. But he's not.** Therefore it's AWESOME. (I mean, I know he killed guards same as they all did. But there was a big deal about him *not* killing that guy in front of Gwen, that is significant.)

** omg, they've got colourblind casting, how AWESOME would it be if one day they had genderblind casting? Lancelot as a woman would be MADE OF AWESOME. Urge to write fic... rising...