Tag: merlin

v-nnika:

Honestly Mordred’s character is probably the biggest issue I have with the writing in BBC’s Merlin.

While Morgana’s character development was much more thought out and believable, Mordred’s is….a complete train wreck.

They knew exactly where he was going, what he was going to do.

They had all five seasons to work on him, same as Morgana.  Yet they literally brought him from point A to point B over the course of just a few episodes. (Point A being following Arthur around like an excited puppy and Point B being running Arthur through)

There’s one scene in particular that always comes to my mind when thinking about this. In ‘With All My Heart’ Mordred says:

“I am not strong enough to defeat you, Morgana, but know this: Such hatred as yours can never triumph. I hope one day you will find the love and compassion which used to fill your heart.“

Remember what episode this was? 9. 

SEASON FIVE. 

EPISODE NINE.

That’s two episodes before ‘The Drawing of The Dark’, aka The Kara Episode. 

Four episodes before he runs Arthur through with an enchanted blade.

what the actual fuck

But onto the actual turning point of his character…. Kara.

I cannot believe they possibly had this planned out? Like really? This is what does it? It seems so thrown together and last minute and completely ridiculous I just…. Ugh.

Mordred acts like Arthur was condemning her for who she was. For her magic. Like Arthur was being completely cruel and unjust. But none of that had anything to do with her sentence.

She had murdered several innocent people, and had attempted to kill Arthur, didn’t regret it for a second, and would do it again the next possible chance she got. And while she was not working directly for Morgana, she openly praised her for what she was doing.

And even despite all of that, when Merlin asks Arthur to give her a chance, he does. Tell me, how often do people get the chance to walk free after attempted regicide?

Mordred knows this. He knows full well that Kara sealed her own fate.

I know she was dear to him but… so was Morgana. 
Morgana and Kara are, at their core, basically the same. They’ve both been wronged, driven to bitterness and hatred, believe that they are fighting for the freedom of their people, and believe that it can only be achieved by killing Arthur, whom they both seem to think is Uther 2.0.
Kara was never going to change her mind. Mordred knew this. Had Mordred not sided with her she would’ve branded him a traitor. If he was killed fighting for Arthur she would’ve considered him another necessary casualty of war, the way she viewed all allies of Camelot.

It all just feels like such a weak attempt to excuse the sudden shift in loyalties. Like, 
‘Wait, isn’t this guy suppose to kill Arthur?’
‘Ah shoot, nearly forgot’ 
‘K so… how do we make him evil?’ 
‘…..last minute love interest?’ 
‘…………………….that’s GENIUS.‘

There are other things about the writing throughout the series that is certainly questionable, but honestly none of them have actually bothered me that much. Not like this. 
It’s no wonder people thought the show was cancelled. It feels like it was, and I think this is a big contributing factor.