By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 47 seconds ago

The sixth episode of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin, titled Ganieda, is different from the episodes that preceded it. Both show creator Jeremy Boreing and director Ryan Whitaker have said on social media that this is their favorite episode. The script was written by executive producer and series star Rose Reid, who plays Charis.

If you’re looking for the intrigue that surrounds Aurellius and Uther, it’s not here. The drama and anticipation of war with the Saxons is also not directly part of this episode. There’s no Charis, no Morgain, no hints of Ygrena to taunt fans of Arthurian legend. Even Pelleas makes only the most token of appearances. This episode is about Merlin and is probably the most important episode because it is the linchpin of the entire series.

 In past episodes, we were shown the world in the time of the Pendragon brothers, and Merlin appears to be around their age: a young man in his early 30s. But Merlin is much older than that, and his history that was hinted at in the other episodes now comes to full bear. We delve fully into Merlin’s missing years, and tie together elements of the plot that were introduced as Merlin has campaigned around England on Aurellius’s behalf.

What happened to Merlin after he was abducted by the Hawk Fhain hill folk as a child? That is succinctly summed up in the cold open. How did Merlin become King of Maridunum? Shown in all its glorious heroism. What is behind King Custennin’s anger at Merlin? Explained in gritty and heart-wrenching detail.

Romance Between Merlin And Ganieda Carries The Episode

At the center of Merlin’s world is Ganieda, whose mysterious presence in his life is finally examined. The vision who watches him from afar and even occasionally talks to him is a tragic echo of Merlin’s past, is the woman he loved, married, and lost. Every aspect of who he is, he owes to her. This episode is their story.

This episode largely falls on two actors: Tom Sharp and Brett Cooper. Sharp’s acting as Merlin has been stoic and bland so far, mainly because Merlin is a stoic character. In this episode, even his most anguished cries are perfect, as we are shown who Merlin really was before tragedy jaded him. His interplay with Cooper’s Ganieda reveals a love that is wholesome and true.

Who is the woman that could attract such a powerful and composed man? She is impish, alluring, and determined. She is supportive and loving. She is her own power, without the advantages of Merlin’s lineage or divine benefaction. Cooper, who has been relegated to the background so far as Ganieda has been shrouded in mystery, brings Merlin’s love to life as a true peer who complements his stature without overtaking it. A nod also must be made to her costume designer, whose work clothed her in designs that were as feminine and intricate as they were emblems of her strength and fierceness.

Tonally, this episode is a very different story from the war campaign that has been the larger arc of The Pendragon Cycle. Without the massive threat of Saxon invasion, the England of this episode is the world of fractured kings and Pictish and Irish raiders. While the love story between Ganieda and Merlin is the main framing device, the episode neatly ties together the events of the future through both diplomacy and battle and establishes the reputation we’ve come to know Merlin by. There are clever throwbacks all over the episode to remind us of these connections: a wink, a stance, the way a scene is lit.

The Pendragon Cycle Comes To Life

It is in this episode that the world of The Pendragon Cycle comes most to life. We are thrust into the world of the early medieval Britons, from their ways of dispensing justice to slice-of-life scenes of cooking or washing clothes. A scene in the mead hall in Goddeu doesn’t cut the other diners’ chatter, making it seem more like the revel it’s intended to be than a private conversation in an enclosed room. The Fhain’s mountain huts and connection to nature could have been filmed through a time machine, save for a death scene that was a little overdone.

I’ve given a lot of attention in previous reviews to the show’s stunning cinematography, the illuminating composition, and the gorgeous views. There is no lack of that in this episode as well. There are two very amazing battle scenes that manage to portray all the brutality without any of the gore. A savage execution is rendered humorous by background actions while two major characters speak. The attention to detail and drive for quality that has been exhibited thus far in the show are fully present, but it would be so repetitive to examine these things again that even the show only glanced at its stunning Goddeu exterior set from episode 5.

The biggest stand-out element of production in this episode, to me, was in the soundtrack, something I hadn’t really paid attention to before. Usually, the soundtrack to The Pendragon Cycle is there to garnish the drama, action, and tension of the show. In this episode, especially its gut-wrenching, terrifying ending, the soundtrack does as much work as the actors to bring us into the emotion of the moment. Composer Kyle McCuiston’s music for the entire show is worthy of its own CD release, but in this episode, he adds compellingly to the mood and the drama.

The effects in this episode were also wonderfully understated, enhanced mainly by camera tricks and editing. Swords that catch fire are terrifying reminders of the angry nature of Merlin’s One True God, but a slow-motion rendering of a shield shattering to pieces provides a powerful visual of the price of medieval war. The episode’s climax does not disappoint, showing us that the Merlin we have been wanting to see is not someone we should have wished for.

The Battle Break Merlin Needed

Although it is not the same as what we’ve seen before, a show subtitled Rise of the Merlin would not be complete without knowing how the pieces were assembled to enable that rise, and what the motivations are behind his work with the Pendragon brothers. The series needed this break from the struggles of the war against the Saxons to shed light on the mysterious figure behind Aurellius’s quest for the throne.

It is not a spoiler to say that this episode was bittersweet. Anyone who has been watching the show knew this was coming. But it definitely hits harder to see it. Merlin is not stoic and composed because it’s his personality. Merlin possesses a power so destructive that he can level armies. Will that fury be unleashed in the final episode of the series?

PENDRAGON CYCLE EPISODE 6 REVIEW SCORE

The Pendragon Cycle is on Daily Wire+, and episode 6 will be released on Thursday evening.