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And now Modred will take Camelot by force. And is killing knights. And Percival finds the Grail so we can get to Act III.

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And now we meet Mordred, who as a kid looks like he just made Home Alone. Would think Percival would be able to recognize Helen Mirren and think "I'm in terrible, terrible danger." And now Percival's having near death visions as it apparently takes a while to die by hanging.

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And things fall apart, so the only thing that can fix things (and apparently Arthur) is the Holy. Grail. When one knight ask where do we find the Grail, Arthur says sign & portents. That's really helpful. At least Gawain gets his comeupance.

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Oh well, Merlin gets trapped and tricked and well looks like it's now Helen Mirren running things. And apparently there's a whole set of caverns under Camelot's basement. And now we have the birth of Modred. And probably the magically enabled seduction(?) of Arthur.

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Merlin and Arthur's parting and the beginning of the end of Camelot is actually pretty poinaint. Helen Mirren's really ready to have Merlin exit from the political stage. And also quuite aware what's going on. Meanwhile, Lancelot and Guenevere have sex to an orchestral soundtrack.

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These fights really do quickly turn into melees. It is also quite that Merlin's quick to heal Lancelot when Arthur asks without wink, nod, Arthur this could be a way out of a bad fate. I do love Merlin's I was not paying attention and got called on in class act.

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Well, Percival gets a battlefield promotion because no one else wll champion the queen. Thankfully, Lancelot shows up to save Percival, but I gues there's no take backsies so Percival gets to stay a knight. Quite the promotion loophole.

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And so now we go to trial by combat, which escalates things immediately. And Arthur has to go on about binding law as opposed to being a husband and defending his wife, which is why we need an independent judiciary and not kingly edicts as sources of the law.

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And Percival has gotten servicable clothes and moved up to drink service. His wandering the castle is an interesting way to show Camelot as a golden age. Merlin's pretty cagey on where evil lies. Also Gawain's really a patsy. From probably having relations with the king's sister to accusations.

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How to become a squire, lesson 1: catch a rabbit and start it roasting. By this way, you will attract a knight and overcome their initial hostility. Then run after them like medieval papparazi to the nearest castle and you too can be a squire. And that is how Percival becomes a squire.

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I feel sorry for those knights whose is job is hold pole for the canopy over Guenevere. Is that short straw duty or what? And now we see Dame Helen Mirren. Merlin's okay with teaching her. Merlin's actually quite at peace with the whole magic fading thing.

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And he gets Excalibur back and now has Lancelot as one of his knights. And now they've won a great victory, and Merlin gets to be a wet blanket. It is another really good manipulation by Merlin. And Lancelot meets Guinevere. Surely good things will happen.

And now Arthur finally has facial hair and faces Lancelot. Lancelot really does come across as the better knight as opposed to King Arthur doing his best Uther the jerk impression. Arthur's also really quick to be contrite and recognize his failings. That's actually good character dev.

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And Arthur is helping despite being nowhere near trained. Guinevere's facial expressions are just great. And so Arthur's knighted, and given the right to bear arms (!!) and mete justice (whatever that might be). Merlin and Arthur moments are actually touching.

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What is going through the mind of the guy who is using an ax and just hitting the shield that Guinevere is holding to defend herself? I know they're attacking the castle and we're not really in a proper era for LOAC, but really what is the thought process here?

Merlin really doesn't know what film he's in. The "wow, like lightning" is enjoyable. Also Merlin obviously dodging talking bad about Uther is rather endearing. It is pretty masterful of Merlin guiding Arthur. And now comes the music as Arthur goes to save Captain Picard.

Also drawing Excalibur's got to be the worst way to find out you're adopted. And Captain Picard is super on board for King Arthur based only on he drew Excalibur. That kingless time must have been super miserable.

Fast forward and Captain Picard is jousting. He looks so happy to have won a joust but still doesn't have hair and can't draw Excalibur. I know random person doing sword draws aren't the best system of govt but is joisting for it really all that better.

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Meanwhile, lots of dudes get to run around in armor. Uther grabs Excalibur and hacks off limbs. One other thing of this film is how guys are moving around in some sort of plate in the worst backyard. And Uther's kind of a jerk; mine all mine, and now it's Sword in the Stone time.

Which ends up temporary peace for Uther. Merlin puts it quite well "you betrayed the Duke, stole his wife and took his castle; now no one trusts you." Doesn't bode well for stable governance. Also feel like Merlin could have maybe had a few comforting words for Igrayne before taking Arthur.

Merlin in this has a constant change of emphasis that is endearing. Maybe he's got future knowledge like in Sword in the Stone, but it's endearing in a way that is acceptable. And now Uther, magically disguised, bones Igraine, who is the Director's daughter(!!) While still wearing armor.

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And everyone (including Uther) rolls with Merlin's plan, including re-positioning troops. Uther falls asleep while Merlin chants, probably dreaming of his starring role in The Usual Suspects. Merlin's chanting has created a model with a lot of dog.

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Peace was pretty quick. Uther holds up Excalibur and then Cornwall basically flaunts his wife aka the Director's daughter, which kind of makes the whole let's try this peace thing seem shaky from the word go. So it's back to war. Why is get the king laid the mission statement that rallies troops?

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