#also this is probably riddled with errors its a bit of a rant ks

[icecreamkink]

ok so . ok. ok . SO

this was a very good episode but i am likeeeeeeee.

(put a cut cause it ended up being a Rant lol)

what is the Point of the Destinies and Prophecies in the show even? i have been spoiled for the ending years ago so, seeing the dragon and gaius and even merlin seriously considering letting mordred die and arthur of all people finding a way to help him was such a powerful story! like the scene of him breaking him out and delivering him to the druids! i kinda got chills!

but bc I Know How It Ends i feel very. Hm:/ cause see, mordreds whole schtick post 'mordred is evil now' like post 1400s (in arthurian myth) was that he was arthurs fateful punishment. arthur is told one of his bastard sons will kill him and he decided to kill every infant befora that can happen. mordred barely escapes and resolves to kill arthur because of his violence (and yknow there tons of stories like that in ancient myths, some variations have arthur just abandoning him, but thats the gist)

but here....... arthur does everything right? he goes above and beyond, setting out to save mordred himself. merlin, who hears the prophecy, does the opposite of what "og" myth king arthur does and resolves to have compassion and mercy instead of giving in to violence and fear. so it seemed that the show was breaking apart from the 'you cant escape your fate' line of myth, but as it turns out they wont, and i guess its snagging on my brain because:

1- it doesnt work so well here because arthur didnt hear the prophecy. it kind of defeats the purpose of a self fulfilling prophecy if he never knows about the prophecy in the first place

2- there isnt that much of a grayness here. mordred is not arthurs son, is a magical kid from a peaceful people and would suffer a terrible fate against arthurs wishes anyway. they did the right thing in a pretty black and white situation

3- because the show, lbr, doesnt have medieval or ancient sensibilites, and they have this magical oppression core that mordred was involved in, and arthur is supposed according to this show help end this opression, the idea that destiny will punish him for helping a magical kid at great risk to himself, for morgana no less feels really.............. pointlessly mean? emphasis on the pointless.

like truly. what is the fateful punishment here. arthur will die by mordreds hands after helping him despite the fact hes the magichate town prince, because merlin didnt listen to the prophecy but LIKE. WHAT IS THE TAKEAWAY HERE??

kill innocent children over fate? (which is, again THE OPPOSITE of what mordreds most famous myth was getting at) idk, always listen to prejudice?? bc not helping mordred would be allowing uther to kill one more innocent magical being, and Fate wanted the king who was promised to end magical oppression to do that because.............................................................. ?? ?? ?????

Now. granted, i might know merlin's ending but i dont know the middle, so theres probably something there that arthur will do and will tie into his fate, but. because this is so specifically framed as 'if you let the boy live, you'll never fullfil your destiny' here, it doesnt matter yknow? its still narrative punishment for them making all the right choices. i dont get it