Mellisandre or Gundrada?

[AriadnesLayer]

There are a couple of occasions in series 4 when teams have to choose whether they want to go with Gundrada or Melly. On both occasions they chose Melly.

Do you think this was the right or wrong move? I know we'll never know for sure but, personally I think it was the wrong one.

Melly didn't give anything back in return. In one case, she took one of the dungeoneer's clue objects and offered nothing back.

Gundrada on the other hand had proved in other quests to be a useful ally and often stuck with dungeoneers for a substantial proportion of level 2. I think she may even have helped team 5 with the Chamber of Opposites (similar to how she helped that other team with Hordriss in naming the sword) rather than sodding off like Melly did.

Of course the teams don't have hindsight like we do, but for speculation purposes... I would have left Melly in those stocks!

[sozboz]

Gundrada every time! What a gal.

[Naitch]

Hmm. I liked Mellisandre, and always thought she had good chemistry with Motley.

But yes, I think a safer bet would have been Gundrada.

While Motley came in useful in his own right, ie knowing passwords, puzzles and the like, he was never good in the face of a scrap, and ran away!

So Gundrada every time...

[Drassil]

There are a couple of occasions in series 4 when teams have to choose whether they want to go with Gundrada or Melly.

Gundrada and Mellisandre did cross paths twice during Series 4, though only once did a team get to choose between them. In Quest 3, Gundrada ran off in pursuit of goblins while Nicky and Melly fled, and Melly said herself that it was a shame Gundrada was gone. This was the occasion when Melly asked for the rope but offered nothing much in return. Billy has a theory on this:

There doesn't seem to be any good reason why she was set free, seems like the crew realised Mellisandre hadn't been in it yet so just threw her into this episode.

In Quest 5, dungeoneer Vicky and co. were already with Gundrada when they encountered Melly and had to choose one or the other. In my opinion, either character would have stayed behind in the next room to "watch the path", so the choice wouldn't have made any real difference to the unfolding of the quest. Not that I'd want to put people off speculating if they wish to...

In short, it's generally agreed that the writing of Series 4 quests often left something to be desired, and these are two of the many instances.

As for which of the two would make a better escort/guardian, Mellisandre shouldn't be underestimated. Where Gundrada sees potential threats or irritants, Melly sees potential friends, and this can prove to be an advantage. She's adored by ogres (as she revealed to Cliff in Series 3), undaunted by assassins, trusted by Merlin (she apparently passes on a message from him to Leo in Series 3), has a fantastic rapport with jesters (unlike Gundrada), and has privileged information on tree trolls (as shared with Dickon). I can almost imagine a scene where she accompanies a dungeoneer into Ariadne's Lair, kindly asks Ariadne not to eat them, and Ariadne obeys.

[Pooka]

She's also much better-looking. :p

[AriadnesLayer]

She's also much better-looking. :p

Hmmm that's debatable lol.

I agree with Drassil though - you could almost imagine Melly asking Ariadne to leave them alone and Ariadne crawling off again.

I still think Gundrada may have helped in the chamber of opposites if they had chosen her though.

[Hikari_Ardias]

Gundrada

[knightmaredave]

I'd stick with Gundrada as shes soo powerful with her sword. Melly wouldn't stand a fighting chance

[Velda]

I choose Gundrada - big threat to goblins and other nasties with that massive broadsword!

Melly is sweet, and I like her, but if you want to feel more protected then Gundrada's your gal