Justice

This episode contrasts King Arthur's pioneering sense of justice, as he intervenes in a local revenge killing to proclaim new standards of honor and proper punishment, with sister/rival Morgan's unscrupulous notion of meting out almost the opposite of justice to further her own ambitions. But it is a key subplot which rings timely today.

Earlier in the episode Sinead Cusack as the nun who is the power behind Morgan's rise to prominence has a cogent speech that almost approximates the main reason for Donald Trump's recent electoral victory. When she recited it I almost felt like this episode had been torn from the headlines, rather than made 5 plus years ago.

She reasons that fear is what can motivate the populace as well as the key power brokers who Morgan needs to back her if she is to dethrone Arthur and take the throne for herself. Her method, including considerable self-sacrifice for her apprentice-would-be-queen, involves scheming to convince folks that they are unsafe and that only Morgan can ensure their future. Far more Machievellian than Trump's direct approach at exploiting people's fears, the script carefully delineates the issues and is just as true today.

With strong performances by both Cusack and Eva Green as Morgan, this segment is clearly worth revisiting in light of current events.