Merlin - The Labyrinth of Gedref, S01E11

In a place where magic is despised, I suppose I can understand how a unicorn could be considered a beast to be hunted rather than revered, but I never disliked Arthur (Bradley James) so much as the moment where he so casually killed the beautiful beast without any appreciation for it. Though rather impressive...I suppose he used Merlin (Colin Morgan) as bate, though I thought the lure was always supposed to be female...ah well.

I loved that such a terrible curse followed the horrid act. I imagine that lesser men affect smaller areas, only drying up the water and wheat on their own lands, but Arthur is a Prince and his actions affect all his people. Probably a good thing he has yet to unite the entire country or all of England would have been in dire straights. Not that I was ever worried about it lasting, ever worried that Arthur would not be able to pass his tests when he finally put his mind to it.

The first test was easy enough. Arthur takes no pleasure in executions, particularly not when he understands the motivation behind the illegal actions taken. Starvation is a very powerful motivator, particularly when it is the starvation of one's children that is the issue. But the second test was far less fair. Certainly Arthur's pride was wounded, and that did cause him to attack, but he has been raised to believe that a slight against honour must be replied to with such a response, and the man in question not only mocked Arthur, but his father, and had robbed food from the starving people of Camelot. Perhaps his motivations weren't entirely selfless, but they were not entirely selfish either.

Finally, Arthur had a final test, meant either to redeem him and Camelot or forever curse them. The choice was whether he should allow Merlin to die to save himself, or save Merlin by his own death. Frankly, Arthur acted completely selfishly here. He could not live with himself if he allowed Merlin to give his life for Arthur's error, and so he chose to die even though that would leave the entire people of Camelot without an heir. Self-sacrifice is perfectly acceptable if you are only a knight, but when you are the crown prince, so many other responsibilities come first.

Still, it was decided that Arthur passed the test and that he was pure of heart. I suppose he just needs to continue getting lucky and only having brushes with death...but it certainly begins to prepare us for just how forgiving he will end up being with those he loves who will become his enemies - Lancelot, Guinevere, even Mordred... The only person whom Arthur knew whom he could decide against is himself.

I was pleased with the ending, where Arthur buried the unicorn horn, and that unicorn was reborn because he had proven himself, but, I ask you, do you believe that he properly passed his tests with a pure heart?