Lancelot, he actually is Great!

Lance looks a bit small, doesn't he?

This lovely episode introduces the lovely Lancelot into the plot. pretty much adding to the show's eye candy, at least for me! Anyway, the beginning of this episode is rather simple. Merlin's picking mushrooms. He is doing so quite intently and I don't believe he's ever given so much focus to a task before. He is literally focusing every molecule of his being upon picking those mushrooms. He is the Picker of Mushrooms.

Unfortunately, it is at this moment that a Gryphon enters. Now, the only reason I know that this big gray monster is a Gryphon, is mostly due to my knowledge of Harry Potter and Gryffindor and such. Anyway...Merlin is attacked by one. Without a scratch but still, Merlin's a bit too shocked to realize that now would be a good time to use magic. This doesn't really matter though, because out of nowhere a dashing hero jumps to fight the Gryphon. After using his sword, skillfully, the man and Merlin run for their lives.

Now, Merlin and and the man, who is our lovely Lancelot, introduce themselves to each other. Lancelot tells Merlin that he has long since dreamed of becoming a knight. Due to Lancelot rescuing him like a damsel in distress, good old Merlin promises Lancelot to help achieve this dream. Lancelot is also offered housing with Merlin and Gaius, although I'm not quite sure where he'll go in the two-room apartment, I'm sure they can make it work.

Next, Merlin is attending to Arthur and tells the prince of a friend who wishes to become a knight. Arthur tells Merlin that a knight must be of noble blood and must sign in with the appropriate family crest the next day. Merlin assures Arthur that his friend is of noble blood, which he isn't, and that Lancelot will be ready. Unfortunately, a family crest must be found before anything close to Lance's hopes will come true.

Now, because Merlin has a convenient helpful/hero complex, he rushes to the library to find a book of family crests. As Merlin reads over a book, under the watchful eye of the librarian, Geoffrey, he finds the appropriate crest. He uses his handy-dandy magic (thankfully, he eventually remembered that he had it) and replicates the crest onto another sheet of paper, baring Lancelot's name.

However there is one last step. Lancelot needs armor. Merlin of course directs Lance to Gwen, who's a seamstress and daughter of a blacksmith, who hits it off with Lancelot (insert winks and nudges here). They exchange flirtations and Gwen assures Lancelot that he will make a fine knight. Lancelot even asks Merlin if he and Gwen are courting, so as not to step on any toes. Merlin picks up on Lance's affection for Gwen and assures him that Gwen is completely free for wooing.   It's sort of cute.
 

The next day, Lancelot registers with the knights-in-training, using the false crest, and is told to be prepared to be tested. The day before, Arthur had found Lance in the street and they had a bit of a spar, which was quite well done by them both. This day however, involves swords and no room for mistake. Lancelot must battle Arthur, who is the best fighter in Camelot, and draw or win to become a knight. After much nail biting, Lancelot finally wins and thus begins the companionship between Arthur and Lancelot.

Afterwords, there is feast to celebrate the knights and Arthur and Lancelot never leave each others' sides. While they talk, Morgana is brought up and Arthur asks Lancelot if he finds her "beautiful", which implies that Arthur thinks so...interesting. However Lancelot says that he prefers simpler girls with a look at Gwen. Off to the side, Gwen is watching the two men when Merlin comes to tease her. He asks Gwen who she would prefer to marry: Arthur and Lancelot? This nearly makes me scream from the foreshadowing and allusions to the original Arthur legend! (Does anyone else remember? Arthur marries Guinevere. Arthur and Lancelot are best friends. Guinevere and Lancelot have an affair behind Arthur's back. Anyone?)

Anyway, this party is quickly crashed by Geoffrey, the librarian, claiming that Lancelot's papers are forged. Oh crap! Apparently, Uther was suspicious of Lancelot's origins and had Geoffrey go over the papers, which he confirmed were false. These accusations upset Arthur, because he seemed to really like Lancelot, and make Merlin fell guilty. Of course, Uther, being his usual dramatic self, throws Lance into the dungeons.

While, Arthur tries to persuade his father to look over Lancelot's social status in favour of his fighting ability, that Gryphon attacks Camelot. And, like Lancelot, Arthur and his knights cannot defeat it. Merlin reveals that Lancelot has battled the beast before and might be able to defeat it. Uther orders Lance's release in exchange for the beast to be defeated. Anxious to prove himself, regardless of his mortality rate, Lancelot agrees. He and Merlin ride out to the beast in the forest.

Even though Lancelot only has a javelin to protect himself, Merlin has searched a spell to create a magical weapon  to destroy the beast. Hence, as Lancelot rides towards the Gryphon, Merlin casts a spell that encases the javelin (which is a big, pointy stick) in a blue magical fire. The javelin swiftly meets the heart of the Gryphon, which explodes in ashes.

Upon returning to the castle, Lancelot's wishes for knighthood are dashed as Uther claims he merely promised freedom. Regardless of Arthur's fierce objections, Lancelot prepares to depart. But not without receiving the promise from Arthur that he will someday be a knight. (Insert Aww! here.) Then, while leaving, Lancelot reveals that he noticed Merlin perform magic. Before Merlin can panic or lie, Lance assures Merlin that his secret is safe.

All images from: http://www.merlintvshow.com/photos/album/87757/105+Lancelot?offset=20&maxResults=20