corilannam | Merlin 4.03 - The Wicked Day

I am remarkably consistent -- my favorite episode every series is invariably the one that focuses on Arthur's complicated relationship with his father. My other favorite episodes are the ones that focus on Merlin and Arthur being together.

So yeah, brb, need to sob my eyes out for a few minutes. *clings to you all and gibbers with SO MANY FEELINGS*

Okay. I have a headache and sore eyes and a few thoughts. They will be in a long rambling jumble because I'm still kind of flailing over the whole thing, and fair warning, I may have to post again after I rewatch and process some more.

One of the things that struck me was how uproariously funny this episode was, in between the, you know, heartrending angst and tragedy. I didn't catch the writer and director names, but well done. The funny and the angsty blended remarkably well.

The funny:

The opening of the ep, like the opening of 4.01, was very light and Disney-esque, almost. I love the glimpses of Camelot waking up and going about its business, with some extra excitement in the air because it's the prince's birthday (if I'm counting show years correctly, Arthur is turning 26, yes?) How adorable was Merlin peering out the window, and then Arthur peering out above him? I need screencaps and icons of that, immediately.

The banter! There is just nothing better than Arthur and Merlin bantering (okay, I'm lying -- but the best stuff is in the "angst" section). I know I'm one of the few to be so deeply unhappy with their interaction last series, but I am happy now. The words and insults are much the same as last year, but the emotional tenor is completely different, so comfortable and filled with affection.

I mean, how great was Merlin's face when he insulted Arthur's intelligence and Arthur was like, "I heard that!" and Merlin's face just lit up with delight? He was so happy! I was so happy!

From the preview, I expected Arthur tied to the wheel to be hilarious, but the tension was so high that I was just kind of squirming along with Merlin and Gwen. Loved Merlin quietly making sure the knife hit what it was supposed to. All in a day's work, baby. Loved the knights all in a row at their table, too. Uther's delight in the entertainment was almost creepy, and proof of just how far gone he really is.

(when the assassin mentioned that the apple Arthur was eating was laced with a sedative, I went straight to a terrible naughty place. I think that last week of pthon broke me.)

Drugged Arthur was kind of adorable. I loved Merlin's amused indulgence of him (and did not at all mind seeing Arthur with his trousers down--love the glimpse of medieval boxer briefs!) But I was kind of yelling at the screen, too -- Merlin's success in keeping Arthur safe during the knife throwing obviously lulled him into complacency or he would not have allowed Arthur to wander around the castle unattended in that state!

Though, as when Merlin collapsed during the feast in 4.01, I like to imagine that this is a frequent enough occurrence that they just don't think anything of it anymore. Maybe Arthur and Merlin take turns getting wasted at feasts?

Dragoon! Of course, a lot of the Dragoon parts should be filed in the angsty section, but I still need some cheering up, so let's concentrate on the amusing parts.

"He thinks there's something seriously wrong with my bladder" -- Okay, quick fandom poll: Arthur's lack of interest in witnessing Merlin's alleged copious urination will result in: a) more watersports prompts on kmm, b) fewer watersports prompts on kmm, or c) brb, filling a watersports prompt.

Maybe it's just me, but I think Colin played Dragoon a million times better than last year, and I enjoyed it last year. Every expression was comic perfection. Piggy back ride? Yeah, glad in the midst of the all the angst and pressure and his whole world on the brink of glory or ruin, Merlin can still find time to keep Arthur in his place.

The ANGST:

Okay, geez, I don't think I can even write anything coherent about the rest of the ep. All I can really do is flail over some of my favorite moments.

* Uther saying he would never miss Arthur's birthday. Considering that Arthur's "anniversary" must be as much pain as joy for Uther (and Arthur probably has felt that pretty keenly his whole life), the warmth in that scene and the surprised happiness on Arthur's face was so wonderful. Uther loves his boy, and he's doing the best he can to show it. He knows, I think, that this will be the last birthday he gets to spend with his son.

* Uther fighting the assassin to save Arthur's life. Two levels of enjoyment here: 1) one last unexpected scene of hotass!Uther being all fierce and kingly and badass and dubconishly hot, and 2) Uther the father having one last surge of strength to fight for his beloved son. He wasn't fighting to preserve the line of succession or save Camelot; he was fighting for his boy, because he may not be able to give Arthur much in the way of emotional sustenance, but he would give his own life without hesitation or regret.

* Uther's last words to Arthur. *sniffle* It's all the words of love and pride and acceptance that Arthur has needed his whole life, but has only gotten in rare drips and drabs. To me, it felt like Uther could finally let go of his burdens of kingship so close to the end and let the Softer Side of Uther (tm) rise to the surface. I am so, so glad that his final words to his son were of love and pride and confidence. Arthur fucking deserves that.

* Speaking of fathers, I got immense satisfaction from Merlin and Gaius talking about Merlin's crazy-ass plan that just might work. Gaius, as usual, tells Merlin not to do it, to keep himself secret and safe, the same advice that doomed Morgana to madness. I almost jumped out of my chair with glee when Merlin told Gaius that Gaius couldn't stop him, and Gaius looked so startled by that.

In the last two episodes we sensed it, but here I think we got to see it come to fruition -- Merlin has finally grown up. The hero's journey always involves separation from the mentor figure(s), so I think most of us who have seen a movie before have been waiting for Gaius to exit the scene for some time [insert throat-cutting gesture]. But Merlin managed that separation on his own and no one had to die! Now he speaks to the Dragon as an equal, he acknowledges with gratitude everything both the Dragon and Gaius have taught him, but he's going to make his own damn decisions now.

And I couldn't be happier to see it, even if there really can't be any doubt that this particular decision is going to end horribly (given that ASH already had another show, therefore rendering unlikely the happier outcome that Merlin would save Uther and we'd spend the rest of the season seeing Arthur reconcile himself to magic, which would have been so delightful, dammit).

* Arthur and Merlin. Oh. my. God. I adore the knights, but I didn't miss them at all this episode because there simply was no room for them with the intense focus on the interaction between Arthur and Melrin.

Arthur and Merlin at the window. Merlin's gentle but firm assertion that nothing more can be done for Uther (and can I just say that I was struck completely dumb by Colin's beauty at that moment? Like, seriously, it was like his face was a two by four slamming into my head, only much more pleasant than that sounds). Arthur doesn't want to accept it, but he does from Merlin.

And then, oh, when Arthur asks Merlin if he would use magic to save his father? I think that just became my favorite conversation they've ever had (okay, second only to the one at the end). It almost broke me, just the way Arthur looked at Merlin, heart in his eyes, needing his opinion, valuing his advice over all others'. YES. YES. THIS IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

I think a big theme in this episode is Arthur needing Merlin by his side, and Merlin trying to get to him. Every time Merlin moves away from Arthur, Arthur calls him back. When Merlin isn't there, Arthur goes looking for him. The only times Arthur really gets harshly insulting with or about Merlin, it's because he wants Merlin with him and can't have him (this was often true last year, too, when Arthur got shouty and throwy with Merlin, but I think this year it's less harsh and more emotional, and thus works much better for me).

I loved the way Merlin says that "we" have to go find the sorcerer, because of course it's just understood that they'll go together. I loved when Merlin's trying to escape to go transform into Dragoon, and Arthur just CANNOT STAND IT that Merlin won't come inside with him. "I've never seen anyone get scared as much as you," he says, which they both know is bullshit because Merlin's shown his bravery and Arthur's acknowledged it countless times by now. But Arthur wants to goad him, make Merlin protest his courage and then prove it by staying at Arthur's side, where Arthur needs him to be. Arthur is very confused when this doesn't work (and because Merlin's being strange again, of course). And later, of course, Arthur badly wants Merlin with him when he goes to meet Dragoon at the gate and just CANNOT STAND IT when he can't find him. *loves so much*

In the meantime, Merlin struggles to reach Arthur on a different level, to help him, to heal his heart and change it. He fails in the most horribly heartbreaking way possible. I can't even imagine what it would take at this point to reconcile Arthur to magic again, but I have a feeling it's going to be a hell of a season finale.

* Okay, I have to stick in one teensy little nitpick. Why the HELL didn't Gaius or Merlin show Morgana's medallion to Arthur? I am still completely boggled by that. But other than that, my general feeling is: Morgana, Agravaine, whatever! Back to the important stuff--

* Uther lying in state in the Great Hall, Arthur's vigil and everything that followed, aka The Scene that Broke Me into Little Pieces. Visually stunning (the new Pendragon banners are magnificent), emotionally stunning (Arthur kissing his father's brow was more than I could take).

Merlin's guilt is such a terrible, painful thing. He hurt Arthur so badly, and it didn't matter one whit to him that it was Morgana and Agravaine who caused it. Merlin's going to carry this for a long time, and I absolutely can't stand seeing him suffer because Colin makes the pain radiate right out of my television.

When Gaius tried to draw him away to supper, I tensed up. Every episode ends like that, it seems -- Merlin leaving Arthur at the end of whatever adventure or trauma they've had to come home to Gaius. But this time, I so desperately wanted him to stay with Arthur, even if all he could do was sit on the other side of the door. I kept thinking, "Please, please, please stay," and was so relieved when he did.

I'm not sure if this show has ever had a more visually and emotionally beautiful moment than when Arthur opened the door and found Merlin waiting for him. I'm trying to find words for that conversation, but I still just can't quite process it in anything but raw emotion. Whatever, you all saw it, you know.

And although I really felt that the moment Arthur walked out that door was the moment he became King, the coronation was pretty nifty, too. Merlin beaming with pride and shouting "Long live the King!" went a long way toward relieving all that angst.

So I guess things are going be different now, though frankly you couldn't prove it from the preview for next week.

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From:

mistressd1971.livejournal.com

I'm not all that coherent at the moment, so all I can really say is "YES!" And that this ep has outdone all others so far. And I really hope I can get more words together for it tomorrow. So much love for this.

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Merlin 4.03 - The Wicked Day

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