Another story from the anthology series, Secret Handshake Productions. This five-part look into the character of Modred from Arthurian lore does something the prequel era of Star Wars failed to do and does a fall from grace story right the first time.

The Arthurian Legend and Similar Stories

Growing up I was a fan of the Arthurian legend. More specifically, Monty Python’s version in their unexpectedly semi-historically accurate portrayal of Britannia (England) before the Renaissance began. I believe to this day some scholars call it the most accurate depiction of the time period put to film. I didn’t know this growing up. My knowledge of Arthurian legend stemmed from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and the 2004 movie “King Arthur” starring Clive Owen. Those who are more immersed in the legend will know that Mordred does not show up in either of those films. Truth be told, even watching episodes with Morgan le Fay and Mordred of “Justice League Unlimited” as they premiered, their connection to the myth didn’t click until after I graduated from community college.

While King Arthur may or may not have existed or not, his stories are without a doubt real in the sense that we have written records of them. They may not be historically accurate or factually true, but tales like “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” have come in and out of the cultural zeitgeist for centuries. The Arthurian myths of the king and his knights of the roundtable have been invented and reinvented so many times that trying to define canon in a historical sense is nigh impossible. From Marion Zimmer Bradley’s book series to the France’s addition of Sir Lancelot to the lore in medieval England, each version adds or changes something. For example, Lancelot is depicted as ugly and brutish in “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White. A detail that, before its publication, contradicted how most writers described him in their tales. That being handsome and the embodiment of the perfect knight.

The Tragedy of Darth Merlin the Wise

There are other characters in the legend who perhaps have more cultural significance than King Arthur himself. The magician Merlin is perhaps the most identifiable as the wise old mentor character. A trope in fantasy that has long since crossed over into the realm of cliche. While Merlin in most renditions of the legend is good, here he’s depicted as doing the wrong thing for the right reason. Most notably his instructions to keep Mordred unaware of his birthright. It’s impossible to know whether him learning the truth earlier would have been for the best. In this way, for better of worse, Merlin’s advice only delays the inevitable confrontation between Arthur and Mordred.

Merlin is—in terms of the written word—the original wise old mentor in fantasy before Tolkien’s Gandalf let the balrog AKA the trope pass (pun intended) on to other characters in the genre. It’s something one doesn’t think about until you’re already in the weeds. Before Merlin, most characters who served the same function as him are from the oral tradition. The centaur Chiron from Greek mythology is perhaps the best-known example of this archetype in oral storytelling.

The (Phantom Menace) Son who Started a (Clone) War for Revenge (of the Sith)

Going back to the comparison with the Star Wars prequels, this five-episode reimagining for audio achieves what the Clone Wars TV show did for the prequel trilogy. The difference is that Mordred achieved this on the first attempt rather than through adding new material to fill in gaps.

Mordred’s fall is believable. King Arthur’s poor decisions regarding his son feels like not the smartest choice he could’ve made. In short, there’s no reason not to tell Mordred the truth aside from a vague warning from Merlin. Finally, in true melodramatic fashion, the story ends with the death of Mordred or Arthur and a soliloquy by the survivor. A speech that, while not winning any awards for acting, manages to be a bit better than not liking sand.

Rating: Internally Consistent (8/10 Stars)