由 Julia Hass
Most people would consider this episode to be foreshadowing the 爱情 三角形, 三角 that will eventually lead to the destruction of Camelot. Unless you're Ruby and I, in which case it's an excuse to bring out our collection of 'Princess Bride' trivia.
Merlin
- Season 2, Episode 4 - "Lancelot and Guinevere"
If 你 engage me in a conversation on any topic for long enough, you’re going to figure out pretty fast that one of my 最喜爱的 books/movies in the universe is The Princess Bride. (It’s applicable to so many situations! Really, 你 never should start a land war in Asia. It never goes well!) So naturally Merlin decided this week would be a really good week to totally pay tribute to this work of staggering genius. I mean, I don’t think they did it intentionally (I think it was supposed to foreshadow future 爱情 affairs 或者 something? Whatever), but both Ruby and I noticed it independently, so clearly it was a shout-out to us. Right? Of course right.
Julia: So, let’s discuss the 象, 大象 — wait, that’s not an appropriate metaphor — the dragon in the room. The first thing I thought when I watched this was “Hey, it’s a Princess Bride spoof!”
Ruby: Well, the wildren are basically R.O.U.S.’s.
Julia: Maybe it’s just my insane 爱情 of rodents, but when the wildren went 前锋, 期待 and sniffed Merlin, I wasn’t afraid at all. Actually, I sort of thought he was going to, like, lick him, and then Merlin would keep him as a pet. 或者 they’d take him out of the caves and Merlin would be like, “Can I keep him, Arthur? I promise to feed him and take him for walks! Oh please oh please oh please!” And Arthur would roll his eyes and be like, “Okay, fine.” And then Merlin would name him George and sic him on all of Camelot’s enemies. 你 know, in my 幻想 world.
Ruby: This episode has a a couple other things in common with that illustrious movie — Gwen was kidnapped 由 a band of outlaws (just like Buttercup), and Arthur rescues her while being jealous of her feelings for Lancelot (like Westley rescuing Buttercup but being jealous because she’s engaged to Prince Humperdinck). What do 你 think … is that a stretch?
Julia: I personally think Lancelot was way 更多 Westley-esque. Which would … make Arthur Humperdink? And Merlin the six-fingered man? It seems 更多 like Arthur would be Fezzick and Merlin would be Inigo. I don’t know. I think at this point our metaphor falls apart a little. Though we’ve had past nods to The Princess Bride — remember the scene in the first season where Merlin and Arthur are trying to figure out who has the poisoned goblet with the unicorn guy? Totally struck me as a nod to the battle of wits. (Australia is populated 由 criminals, Arthur! And yes, I can recite pretty much that entire monologue. Please inquire within if 你 want to hire me for 鸡尾酒 parties.) Though speaking season flashbacks, 嘿 there Santiago Cabrera! 你 pretty, pretty man you. (Really, he’s terribly pretty. Not handsome. Not attractive, just pretty. Like, the kind of person who 你 feel like should be bronzed because they’re a work of art.)
Ruby: After Lancelot rode off into the sunset last season, I didn’t expect to see him back so soon. Not that I mind seeing 更多 of the hotness that is Santiago Cabrera — but how 随意 that he shows up as a cage fighter in Hengist’s court.
Julia: Yeah, all sweaty and noble. Gee, it’s really difficult to see why Gwen likes him so much. Really. I’m straining. Can 你 see the strain?
Ruby: He and Gwen have some sweet moments together. Like when he touches her hand through the bars of her cell, smiles that charming smile, and says, “I have thought of 你 often. Have 你 thought of me at all?”
Julia: “Oh, Lancelot, every night! When I’m alone in my… I mean, er, sometimes. That is. Um. Gosh, have I mentioned you’re pretty?”
Ruby: At first, Gwen’s feelings seem confusing, because it’s like — last week 你 were in 爱情 with Arthur; this week you’re in 爱情 with Lancelot? Which is it? But her feelings are actually quite believable. I totally get how she could have a major crush on Lance. With him, she can just feel like an attractive woman, while with Arthur she’s conscious of being a servant. Lance is accessible — he’s possible — while Arthur is seemingly unreachable for someone of her station. She has this brave, noble, dark-eyed stud who is totally into her and who could realistically be with her. That’s attractive. On the other hand, she also has the golden prince in 爱情 with her but unwilling to 显示 it for fear of his father. And in the end, Lance, the accessible one — the one who could have been with her — is the one who leaves. I think that’s why she’s so crushed when he says through Merlin that “some things cannot be.” Cruel irony. (But it’s okay since we know that Arthur will ultimately find a way to be with her.)
Julia: Ugh, this is just, I mean, maybe because I’ve been in Gwen’s situation (though never with two dudes of Arthur and Lancelot caliber fighting over me — sigh! I wish) where a guy decides he’s just going to make a decision for 你 — it sucks. And Lancelot’s was particularly stupid. Gwen has totally ignored Arthur even if he did come to save her, pretty clearly favored Lancelot over him, and just because Arthur has a crush on her Lancelot decides that he must nobly flee and allow their 爱情 to flourish? Which ironically is totally going to flourish because Gwen feels abandoned 由 him (I would argue that until Lancelot leaves her and Arthur doesn’t, she doesn’t have any particular feelings for him at all, but it’s the juxtaposition of the two that creates them), so of course she’s going to turn to the guy who sticks around, even if he just moons over her from afar. It’s dick moves like this that are the reason 你 don’t get the girl, Lance! It’s these shenanigans exactly. And Arthur! Oh my god, 你 spend one weekend in this chick’s house, 吻乐队（Kiss） her, and decide you’re in 爱情 with her, then tell her, “Just kidding, we can never be, but don’t mind if I follow 你 around the 城堡 pouting after 你 while 你 try to do your job,” and not only decide that clearly she’s the 爱情 of your life and 你 should get married and have babies, but instead of doing something about it 你 just make sure 你 hang out where she is and mope after her? See, this is why there needs to be Camelot High, so Arthur can take Gwen to the prom and then get over her. Maybe 下一个 they should have a Camelot version of a John Hughes movie? They can play “Don’t 你 Forget About Me” and Arthur can get catharsis. Future 爱情 三角形, 三角 averted! You’re welcome, everyone.
Ruby: I loved the 小狗 eyes Arthur made at Gwen while Morgana was hugging her. Oh my God, 你 silly lovesick infant — go 显示 her how 你 feel!
Julia: But he doesn’t know how to do that because Uther didn’t hug him enough as a child, remember? Seriously. Now that we’ve done the Princess Bride on this show, I think Uther needs to lock Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, Gwen, and Morgana all in a dungeon and go Breakfast Club on this situation and work stuff out. It’s the only way.
