History Recap / MerlinS05E05TheDisir

* DownerEnding: At the end of the day [[spoiler: magic is still outlawed thanks to Merlin; Arthur busted his last chance to change his (and possibly Mordred's) fate and Mordred is alive and well]].
* EsotericHappyEnding: InUniverse. [[spoiler: As far as Arthur is concerned, his knight is alive and this proves the Old Religion is just superstition, while Merlin realizes Arthur has sealed his own doom.]]

* [[IOweYouMyLife I Owe Him My Life]]: Arthur about Mordred.

* SadisticChoice: Prevent Arthur's prophesied death or have the ban against magic repealed. [[spoiler:Then it turns out it's not really a choice in the first place.]]

* WhamEpisode
* WhatTheHellHero: Gaius to Merlin, when he choose to let Mordred die while not knowing for sure if he will kill Arthur.
* WoundThatWillNotHeal: Mordred gets one from the Disir.

* YouCantFightFate

* BeginningOfTheEnd: From this point on there's no avoiding or subverting Arthur's (or Mordred's) prophesied fate, and Merlin ''knows'' it. And things only keep getting worse and worse with each episode to come.

Merlin stands with Gaius in the castle hall, looking down at the training area. Merlin has realized what he's done: by refusing the Disir's offer, they've restored Arthur's Bane to full-health. Now he's free to fulfil his destiny...

* DesignatedVillain: {{Invoked}} with Mordred. Not only does he not do anything suspicius, but he seems to be a HeroWorshipper toward Arthur and a borderline [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Knight Who Says Squee]] when assigned to his first patrol. The only reason to suspect him are the dragon's words.
* DownerEnding: At the end of the day [[spoiler: magic is still outlaw thanks to Merlin; Arthur busted his last chance to change his (and possibly Mordred's) fate and Mordred is alive and well]].

* {{Expy}}: The Disir are highly reminiscent of the Three Fates of GreekMythology or the Three Witches from Shakespeare's ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''. This makes sense in an episode based so heavily on the notions of destiny and the fate of kings.
** The disir are from NorseMythology, female spirits in charge of fate.

By morning Arthur and the core team of knights are ready to go, and Mordred asks if he can accompany them. Though Arthur is hesitant at first, Mordred's sincerity wins him over, and together they all head out. One travelling montage later, and the group is heading through a forest hung with [[TheBlairWitchProject Blair Witch]] symbols. Now on foot, they approach the entrance to a small cave and barge through, being rather careless with the decorations on the way in. On reaching the large cavern, they find themselves facing the three hooded Disir. Arthur throws the coin at their feet and demands an explanation. They tell him that though he's a fair and just king, he persecutes the people of the Old Religion and by doing so offended the Triple Goddess. The urge him to embrace the old ways, or else Camelot will fall. They're getting ticked off.

* WoundThatWillNotHeal: Mordred gets one from the Disir. [[IGotBetter He gets better]].

* {{Expy}}: The Disir are highly reminiscent of the Three Fates of GreekMythology or the Three Witches from Shakespeare's ''{{Macbeth}}''. This makes sense in an episode based so heavily on the notions of destiny and the fate of kings.

* WoundThatWillNotHeal: Mordred gets one from the Disir. [[IGotBetter He get better]].

* WhatTheHellHero: Gaius to Merlin, when he choose to let Mordred die while not knowing if he will kill Arthur.

* UnexplainedRecovery: Mordred. Presumably the Disir did something, but it's never given any real explanation.

* WhatTheHellHero: Gaius to Merlin, when he choose to let Mordred die while not knowing if he will kill Arthur.

** "Even as Camelot flourishes, the seeds of her destruction are being sown."

*** It can also be read as an IronicEcho.

* DesignatedVillain:''invoked'': Mordred. Not only does he not do anything suspicius, but he seems to be a HeroWorshipper toward Arthur and a borderline [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Knight Who Says Squee]] when assigned to his first patrol. The only reason to suspect him are the dragon's words.

* MeaningfulEcho: In 5x02 we had this - Arthur: What happened? As a child you were so kind, so compassionated. Morgana: I grew up. In this episode, we got this - Gaius: What happened to the young boy who came into my chambers just a few years ago? Merlin: He grew up. This troper thinks it can also be read as an IronicEcho.

* DesignatedVillain: ''invoked'' : Mordred. Not only does he not do anything suspicius, but he seems to be a HeroWorshipper toward Arthur and a borderlines [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Knight Who Says Squee]] when assigned to his first patrol. The only reason to suspect him are the dragon's words.

* DesignatedVillain: ''invoked'': Mordred. Not only does he not do anything suspicius, but he seems to be a HeroWorshipper toward Arthur and a borderlines [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Knight Who Says Squee]] when assigned to his first patrol. The only reason to suspect him are the dragon's words.

* DesignatedVillain: Mordred: not only he doesn't do anything suspicius, but he seems to have a little HeroWorshipper toward Arthur and bordelines TheKnightsWhoSaySquee when assigned to his first patrol. The only reason to suspect him are the dragon's words.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: The Disir blackmail Arthur to bring the Old Religion back. Merlin is going to let Mordred die to save Arthur.

* ItsAllMyFault: Arthur blames himself for Mordred injury. Later, Merlin blames himself for Mordred recovery.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Merlin screw up big time.
* SadisticChoice: Prevent Arthur's prophesied death or have the ban against magic repealed. [[spoiler: Then it turns out it's not really a choice in the first place.]]