Merlin - Excalibur, S01E09

In the Arthurian Legends, no object is as important as the sword Excalibur. Not the Holy Grail, not any sacred lance, Arthur's sword shines above them all. And the origin stories of this sword are so varied - some say he pulled it from a stone, others that the Lady of the Lake gave it to him. It is only fitting that Merlin would take those stories and put its own unique twist on things.

Speaking of origin stories, we were finally told the origins of Uther (Anthony Head)'s hatred for magic. His wife, whom he adored more than anything in the world, died in child birth, bring Arthur (Bradley James) into the world. This we already knew. But that she had been barren and brought to fertility through the magic of Nimueh (Michelle Ryan) at Uther's request, we did not know. Her death, caused by magic evening the balance - a life for a life - launched Uther's vendetta against those who had been his friends. He rid Camelot of their supposed evil, and those he hurt, such as Nimueh, turned to evil out of vengeance. Really a sad story.

Nimueh, of course, was the source of trouble in this episode, bring back to life Uther's brother-in-law who blamed the King for the death of Arthur's mother. He challenged two knights, killing them easily and without feeling their blows upon him. Arthur could not stand to see such a thing happen, and, partially for honour partially out of arrogance, challenged the knight himself. Uther and Gaius (Richard Wilson) knew that the knight could not be killed, as did Merlin (Colin Morgan), and both set out to assure that Arthur would live.

Although Uther refused to tell his son anything, he did conspire with Gaius to drug the Prince and take his place in the fight. The knight would have his vengeance and Camelot would still have Arthur. Merlin, meanwhile, created a weapon for Arthur which would be able to kill the knight, despite the problem that he was already dead. Merlin created Excalibur.

He got the best sword Gwen (Angel Coulby)'s father had ever forged and asked the Dragon to bless it with its fire. The Dragon agreed to this, on the condition that only Arthur wield the weapon, which Merlin promised. When, the next day, Uther showed up to be armoured and Arthur was no where to be seen. Uther took up the weapon and defeated the knight, saving Camelot and his son in the process.

And Merlin, reminded of his promise, then took the sword and threw it into the lake where we previously had seen two beings try to cross to Avalon. And so Arthur, who currently has no knowledge of the sword at all, will later somehow be able to retrieve it from the lake.

The most touching moment of the episode was when Uther told Arthur how precious he was to him. In most versions of the legends, Uther and Arthur never know each other, and it is sweet to see the father-son bond between them.

But, the real lesson is that Gaius and Merlin should communicate with each other about what they are planning to do to save those they love from danger so that no conflict between them ever occurs again.

True Blood - Hitting the Ground, S03E07

Although True Blood seemed to have become more of a blood-thirsty adventure rather than a mystery show (which it was in the first season), Season 3 has reminded us that we watch not just to see the passionate love affairs and gruesome violence, but also to discover the mysteries of the mythologies of our favourite characters. And Sookie (Anna Paquin) clearly has one that is greatly of interest to us.

We've always known that Sookie was a mind reader, a telepath, but we never really assumed that she was anything other than human until she used that light to protect herself from Maryann. Suddenly, everything changed and she was more that just a human with a gift - and apparently the vampires in her life have known this from the beginning. Well, at least Bill (Stephen Moyer) did, though Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) apparently did not.

In this episode, watching Sookie while she was in that coma, and learning that she had no known blood-type was a little disturbing, but nothing was more so that the notion that Bill, for the simple reason that he is a vampire (or at least that was how it appeared) might take away her light. A light which so obviously makes Sookie special.

But if you didn't really care about that side of the plot, there was so much more amazing stuff going on. First of all, Lorena (Mariana Klaveno) was finally staked by Sookie with Bill's help. Much as I did love to hate her, I am so glad that she and her insanity are gone from the world. Of course, that was soon followed by Sookie trying to save Bill and him nearly drinking all of her blood in a mad blood crazy. The fact that he was thrown out of the van and left in the sun, but did not immediately crispify, well, perhaps that is what would happen if Bill did end up taking Sookie's light?

Poor Tara (Rutina Wesley). Her vampire issues, exploded to the point of ridiculous callousness by the week she spent with Franklin, had a great focus in Bill, particularly when he nearly killed Sookie. Her tough attitude, mixed with grief and fear, was plainly on her face as she kicked Bill out of the truck, and, despite the danger he was in, a little part of me cheered.

Meanwhile, Sam (Sam Trammell) was finally able to save his little brother from the crazy parents who used to young shifter to win dog fights. It was so disturbing to see the men put down the dogs who had lost, who were too wounded to be saved, and it didn't matter that Tommy (Marshall Allman) is probably smarter and therefore more likely to win, it was still horrible. Some people may be your parents, may have given birth to you, but that doesn't mean that you should always respect your ties to them.

But the best part of the episode for me was that Eric was finally able to save Pam (Kristin Bauer). I loved seeing her again, tortured in silver, still being her sassy self and taking the pain with no complaint. But the moment Eric showed up and his name escaped her lips, full of pain and desperate hope that he would save her...Those two have such a beautiful bond I almost couldn't care that the vampire monarchy has apparently overthrown the authority which was above them.

With more than half the season gone, I can only imagine that the chaos will increase, as will the death toll (we lost 3 people this week), and I hope there will be more passionate love scenes as well. What are you hoping for?

Being Human - S02E02

Being Human remains on the darker side of things, threatening chaos not only for our favourite vampire, werewolves, and ghost, but for the entirety of humanity as well. The power vacuum left in the wake of Herrick's death seems to be about as bad for the world as it would have been had his plans been allowed to go forth. And if things in vampire territory look bad, the werewolves still aren't happy and the ghost realm are really unimpressed with Annie (Lenora Crichlow).

What is it with Annie and her terrible taste in men? It's like she looks at any nice and normal guy and dismisses him because he doesn't have some terrible and dark desire to sexually assault her. Now, in Saul (Alex Lanipekun)'s case, it's hard to say how much of the violence was really him. After all, he was manipulated by the other side, sent back to live long enough to find Annie, though clearly mentally disturbed, and when he got himself in another car accident at their request, he eventually stopped himself from trying to drag her through the portal with him. So perhaps he was just a nice normal guy before they got to him...though would Annie have been interested in him if that had been the case?

Regardless, the ghost world is after Annie, and she's been reduced to invisibility again. What will have to happen, have to change, before she gets her solidity back?

Mitchell (Aidan Turner) seems to be living the most normal life out of the three of them. He's not drinking, he's flirting not entirely awkwardly with Lucy (Lyndsey Marshal), and the problems that surround him aren't his personally, but there are so many problems surrounding him. Ivan (Paul Rhys) is a constant reminder of what could happen to the world if vampires aren't contained, and his vampire friend from 10 years before accidentally ate his lover. Keeping his existence, all of their existences, a secret is becoming more and more of a priority for him.

Sadly Nina (Sinead Keenan) can't see this at all. The most recent to join the supernatural state, she can't understand all the problems that come with their existence, the back door methods which must be taken to keep the humans safe and in ignorance. It is so sad that she felt forced to leave George (Russell Tovey), but worse that it now seems she will end up in the metaphorical claws of Kemp (Donald Sumpter). And the only thing we've learnt about his operation is that part of the reason he hasn't simple locked up the household yet is because he is interested in studying the interactions between the type 1s, the type 2s and the type 3s.

At least we got one good laugh when Mitchell realized that his ability to talk with girls was beginning to rival George's for failure. What moment made you smile?

Eureka - All the Rage, S04E03

While people run about like angry bees, determined to murder Fargo (Neil Greyston), the rest of the group who traveled through time to return to an alternate future continue to adjust to the differences their current lives have brought them.

I particularly liked the Henry (Joe Morton)/ Grant (James Callis) storyline. Allowing the two men to bond while Grant dealt with the pain of knowing everything he supposedly did never occurred and that everyone he knew was gone, and while Henry continued to come to terms with his marriage was a perfect calm foil to the rest of the story. And I also love Henry's developing interest in his wife, while he isn't entirely sure how he's supposed to act and does not feel right simply being a husband to her.

Meanwhile, GD was yet again in chaos. Naturally, the plot that interests me most is Zane (Niall Matter) and Jo (Erica Cerra)'s relationship. I loved them together, am loving the renewed sexual tension, and am hoping that I get to watch them rekindle their love. Though watching Tess (Jaime Ray Newman) get her heart broken by a Carter (Colin Ferguson) whom she did not actually know was horrible. I'm still not clear on when Carter decided that he and Tess didn't work, but he can't know that that was also the case in this new world. Plus, if he starts dating Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) any time soon, that would be a complete violation of her friendship with Tess. I wonder if they will eventually succeed in getting things back to normal and what the world will be like then.

At least they managed to stop the rage that had GD in an uproar like a French strike.

Merlin - The Beginning of the End, S01E08

An aptly named episode, all things considered. Merlin (Colin Morgan) could have acted differently, could have prevented the eventual conclusion to the dream that is Arthur's Camelot, but it was not truly in his power to do so, no more than it is in Guinevere's to choose between Arthur and Lancelot.

In many ways, I consider this a very odd episode. Morgana (Katie McGrath), for reasons unknown, was terribly drawn to the boy and desperately wanted to help him. So much so that she was willing to betray Uther (Anthony Head). Now the King may be a bit mad at times, but he has given her absolutely everything. And, although it is true that his fear of magic has turned into a blind hatred, he's not altogether wrong about what it can do.

I do hope that Morgana's connection to the boy will be revealed. I seem to recall Morgana may also be part of the reason that Arthur dies...but I can't remember if that is because of a connection with Mordred.

That's right, the boy is Mordred. Naturally, I felt a shiver when Arthur learns this at the end of the episode, even though it means nothing to me. But, Mordred is a sorcerer? Really? I do not remember that part. And it's hard to imagine this little child is the original lover that Guinevere betrayed Arthur for. So we have another course being taken. Frankly, I just want Gawain to show up; he's my favourite.

Could you have made the choice that Merlin had to make? Kill a boy now to prevent a future travesty? None of us believe that the future is set in stone, none of us believe that one innocent death (for it is hard to think the boy anything but innocent now, regardless of what he may become). We always think that there will be another way, and that the consequences of tomorrow are not so important as the consequences of today. But you decide - should Mordred have been allowed to live?

True Blood - I Got a Right to Sing the Blues, S03E06

Oh True Blood, is there anything as fantastic as you on TV at the moment? Well, considering I haven't yet seen the Season 4 premiere of Mad Men, I can't be sure, but True Blood always, always makes my day.

Where to start? With the intense development of Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis)'s date with Jesus (Kevin Alejandro), perhaps. Was it just me, or did Lafayette get all shy while Jesus became an aggressive, dominating male. It was almost a relief when those jerks showed up and Lafayette's toughness returned, although I was sad that that meant Jesus leaving. But that kiss in the car, or at least the tentative and tense build towards it, man that was intense.

Or should I focus on Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Arlene (Carrie Preston)? When Arlene cut her finger and Jessica's fangs popped out, I laughed so hard, and Arlene's desperate plea to not be eaten because she was pregnant. I really hope the two of them become really great friends, particularly because Jessica has the power to get Arlene tips.

But the things that really had me going focused on our favourite triangle, with Tara (Rutina Wesley) thrown in. Poor Sookie (Anna Paquin), terrified for herself, terrified for Bill (Stephen Moyer), and feeling absolutely betrayed by Eric (Alexandre Skarsgard). But could you really blame Eric, who is still desperately trying to rescue Pam, and who wants revenge for the family he lost while he was still human? After all, Sookie was in no danger of death, unless by her own making in a rescue attempt for Bill. Funny to think that there are things in this world which he wants more than Sookie.

I found the torture scene between Bill and Lorena (Mariana Klaveno) very touching. The affection that seeped through from both of them was surprising. Bill's heartfelt wish to have known Lorena before she became a vampire, a monster, and Lorena's inability to cleanly kill him. I almost expected her to kill the two werewolves who had shown up to drink his blood. But, having her bite Sookie as the episode ended was a far more powerful moment.

Finally, Tara stole the show. Cleverly convincing Franklin (James Frain) to allow her to drink some of his blood so that she could have extra strength for her escape and Sookie's rescue, she was forced to bite hard enough on his neck to break and allow the blood to flow. If that wasn't disturbing enough, that she then bashed his head in with a mace so that he could not fulfill his plan of making her his vampire bride pushed Tara to a new place in desperation. I can only hope that now that she has teamed up with Alcide (Joe Manganiello) she will be able to save Sookie and Bill.

But really, the upcoming moment I am most excited for is when Eric destroys the King who has caused so many problems this season. You?

Haven - Harmony, S01E03

Haven is progressing slowly and calmly, weaving together the elements of the troubles with the lives of the lead characters. Although it is quite fantastical, it has yet to become cheesy, which is surprising given the nature of the show. The idea of a cop show with a scifi twist is working incredibly well.

This episode was particularly emotional. Dealing with catatonic patients, or ones who have gradually lost their ability to connect with the outside world, is trying work. It's impossible to communicate properly with them, and, if a friendship existed before hand, watching a beloved friend disappear while only their shell remains can never be easy. Who who has suffered such a thing would not take every risk possible to bring them back?

The side affect of the music, which cured those who were catatonic, was to enrage anyone still connected. We got a great view of Nathan (Lucas Bryant) as he raged at Duke (Eric Balfour), punching him because he could feel the pain while Nathan felt nothing. Watching him use a lighter to burn his own arm, the flesh bubbling while he took no notice was particularly disturbing. Who knows what sort of behaviour this used to prompt him to - I have the sense that we will one day find out.

As for Audrey (Emily Rose), she may well still be in Haven in the hopes of discovering her mother - and it was a little strange that one man could remember the name of her mother so many years later, even if he had spent most of them unresponsive - but the strangeness appeals to her even more. Is she also affected by them?

All in all, another good episode, although leaving to play disturbing music on a boat is not nearly so safe as building a sound-proof room.