Merlin 4.05 - It's Not Easy Being King

[corilannam]

Okay, I know that's not really the title, but I don't remember what it actually was and I haven't read my flist yet and I'm so late on this because yesterday was my BFF's bday and I was fete'ing her into the wee hours and my thoughts are so teal this week that probably nobody's going to read it anyway.

And on that note....



To be honest, I'm not sure I actually enjoyed this episode, but as a card-carrying Arthur-holic, I was completely riveted. The friends I was watching with made good fun of me for how completely enraptured I get when I watch my show -- how can I help it?

Also, I got to watch it on stellarmeadow's giant HD TV, which made everyone even prettier than usual.

Sir Merlin!
Is there anyone who didn't really enjoy seeing Merlin dressed up as a knight? I just loved that. I hope once he has his official place in King Arthur's Court, they let him dress like that all the time (maybe with some flourishes). I'd prefer it to the traditional pointy hat and robes we always foist in him in fic.

And how great was Merlin's face when he grinned and agreed that it was a trap and all the knights appeared above him? LOVED THAT. A perfect teaser, much more traditional smashcut to the credits than we usually see.


I Just Can't Wait To Be -- No, On Second Thought, I Could Wait A Bit
Okay, so here's the episode everyone wanted last week -- Arthur is king now. What is he going to do about it? I have to admit that emotionally, I feel a little bit of impatience. Every season it seems like Arthur has to prove he's worthy to be king with increasingly ridiculous trials (because nothing proves leadership skills like stealing a rusty fork from a crumbly old man).

Plus, let's face it, I've spent 3 years reading fic about Arthur's ascension, so I kind of just want him to get on with it. In fic, Arthur's always ready to be the King Arthur of legend by the time he takes the throne. Sweep Guinevere off to the altar, restore magic and justice to the kingdom, and let Merlin come out of the closet in a flurry of rainbow sparkles, after which he can just sit back and enjoy the congratulatory blowjobs.

And yet... I really like the way they're writing this. This makes sense to me, given who Arthur is. He's lived his entire life in Uther's shadow, trained from birth to be the kind of prince and king that Uther was, valuing security and might over all other considerations. Since Merlin came on the scene, we've watched Arthur slowly learn different values, and in his year as regent, he's made some steps, but he still needs to make that conscious decision to be his own man and rule as he sees fit, not as Uther would have done.

AND THEN HE DID. AND I WAS SO PROUD. Oh, my Arthur. And I CAN'T WAIT to see what happens next, in terms of his reign and decisionmaking and Agravaine vs Merlin's place as his most trusted advisor.

SIDEBAR: I always really enjoy seeing the rulers of other kingdoms, both because I love getting more context for the canon universe of Albion and also because it gives us more random names to use in AUs. But sheesh, how many of the Five Kingdoms are there, actually? I think we must be on at least, like, Kingdom 5b by now.


LONELY, SO LONELY
So Arthur thinks he needs to be ALONE ATOP HIS LONELY MOUNT OF KINGSHIP. Woe!

So he has to push away:

* The Knights -- awwwwwwww. Love Merlin sitting with them and providing Arthur-speak translation as Arthur creeps a peek at the camaraderie he must deny himself. Woe! And love the knights coming in and reassuring Arthur that THEY ARE TOTALLY COOL WITH DYING FOR HIM. NOT A PROBLEM, BRO. So cute that Elyan seems to be the Spokesknight now.


SIDEBAR: I am... probably a little too excited, in a ficcish way, about seeing Arthur's campaign tent. SO PRETTY. EXACTLY LIKE I PICTURED.


* Gwen -- well, saw that coming. I felt so bad for Arthur, but Gwen... I just feel like she doesn't have much actual emotion tied up in her relationship with him. Not that I'm complaining. That works for my purposes!

* Merlin -- this I was much more interested in! Oh, the soulful looks! The angst!

THE NOW-CANONICAL BEDSHARING

...what? I think it makes sense! Arthur is letting Merlin know they can't be inappropriately close like they normally are. "I won't share a bed with you," Arthur says, and Merlin is like, oh, no, I would never presume! "Don't be here when I come back," Arthur says, and Merlin gives him that wounded look, like he's realized Arthur really means it this time. Ergo, Merlin is usually there when Arthur returns/retires for the evening, and on more than one occasion, has shared the bed with Arthur.

Why else would Arthur feel the need to clarify that? *innocent blink*


SIDEBAR: MOAR MERLIN/ARTHUR
Now that I'm thinking about the Merlin/Arthur, I can't stop!

* "I'm your friend!" -- okay, I feel much better that Merlin has no problem just coming out and saying it, and Arthur doesn't deny it, even though he's trying to separate himself. Makes the "we could have been friends" speech from 4.01 much more palatable as an in-joke.

*"Old friend" -- this phrase just never works, unless the people involved are at least Uther-age. But I applaud the sentiment.

* "I should have listened to you, Merlin" -- HOLY COW. Has Arthur ever said this before? The most we usually get is "I never listen to you, Merlin" when he's in the act of listening to Merlin. Big step forward for Arthur to admit it so bluntly; beautiful for their relationship and for Arthur's growth as king.


Poor (Sacrificial) Lamb
I LOVELOVELOVE Arthur slipping over to the enemy camp and humbling himself to Queen Annis. LOVE. For the character development reasons, of course, but there was also something about the way he surrendered himself to the guards at the edge of the camp that really did something for me. I can't quite say it right, but it was like something out of a book.

Hands up everyone who knew Arthur was going to offer himself up as champion! *loses count*


SIDEBAR: All the knights crowding forward, eager to be chosen -- SO CUTE. Also, Merlin standing up high and countering Morgana's magic -- SO HOT.


I find it so interesting how Arthur is always so eager to offer himself up as the sacrifice for his people. He really does feel like it's his duty to die for his people, which is exactly the opposite of what Uther raised him to believe. It's also the opposite of logic, but that's okay. It makes me wonder what the psychological root is -- yet another way of making up for his guilt over his mother's death, perhaps?


With all the great FX and scenery this series, how did we afford Lindsay Duncan?
I love Queen Annis so much. Now there is an interesting and believable ruler. Did they ever say the actual name of her kingdom?


SIDEBAR: Why did Arthur address her (and her husband) as Your Highness when she's Queen (and presumably Caerleon was king)? Is there an internal logic here that I'm missing?


I really loved that she was implacable in her search for vengeance/justice for her husband, but when Arthur proved himself in combat, she was willing to keep her word and leave with respect and admiration for Arthur. I felt like she ended up understanding what was going on with Arthur -- that he made a terribly wrong decision, but is determined to become a better king. She chose the hope of peace over the satisfaction of her own grief. Much better role model for our Arthur.

And oh! Her line to Morgana that "You came to me in Gorlois's name, but you are more like Uther than you realize." What an amazing line, and utterly flawless delivery. She put Morgana in her place as a petulant child, whose selfishness renders her unfit to be a true sovereign. "His Father's Son," yes (see, I remembered), but also her father's daughter, and where Arthur is struggling to leave Uther's shadow, Morgana continues falling further into it.

For the first time this season, I'm actually interested to see what happens next with Morgana, too. Will Annis's words have any effect, do you think?


SIDEBAR: Katie McGrath's eyes were freaking AMAZING this week. I love the crazy witch makeup -- makes her look a bit mad, but also luminous. Or okay, maybe it was just that I was watching on a better TV than usual. But wow. Also, cool to see her eyes flashing like Merlin's when she casts spells (I noticed that more than usual this week).


Okay, I'm sorry, you're going to look at me with Uthurian disappointment now
I am not particularly a Gwen/Arthur shipper (even in this episode, which had more actual chemistry between them than we've seen yet, I maintain that Gwen loves the hope of the king-to-be rather than the man). Also, she really, really needs to get something real to do or at LEAST have a non-Arthur related conversation with someone before I'm going to be able to have any investment in her.

But I have to admit, when Arthur grabbed her and kissed her at the end, that first hard kiss, my toes curled. Literally curled so I could no longer see my pedicure (if I'd been capable of looking away from the screen at any point during the whole ep).

I put that down entirely to how hot Bradley was. Bare feet. Deshabille. Lounging in bed. And then the kiss and then the shot of his incredible jaw line.

*fans self* Oh wow. Guess that new kingly confidence is just coming through in all sorts of areas!

And I bet he'll be sharing that rumpled bed with Merlin tonight. OH yeah.


Next Week
Oh MYYYYYYYY. *saucer eyes*

Hands up anyone who's worried about continuing to breathe through certain scenes next week? *loses count again*



Okay, off to read all of your reactions now and hope people aren't tired of discussing the ep yet. We should discuss Merlin all week, Y/Y?

Comments

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

Haha I didn't recap this week because I was waiting for you to do it better.

OH MAN.

Knight!Merlin. So cute. Also such a funny plan. Like dudes, none of you were as fast as Merlin? I definitely hope his sorcerer badass outfit some day is more fitted and less Disney. HE IS TOO CUTE TO SWADDLE IN GIANT ROBES.

TANGENT: I wish we'd get some nekkid Merlin. Not like, nekkid nekkid but COME ON, SHOW.

I liked the Arthur conflict because I really think the guy is still grieving and a little lost. He REALLY, really treasures family and unfortunately the only family he has left who isn't dead or batshit crazy is... a complete tool. As much as I cringe that he listened to Agravate a lot, I can see why he would.

Totally nervous for when Agravaine turns his wicked eye on Merlin and tries to poison Arthur against him. CAUSE IT HAS TO COME, RIGHT? THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING WITH THIS?

re: advisor-ness and AWESOMENESS. Man, when Arthur looked up to Merlin before he didn't kill that giant dude. I loved that so, so much. He was like HEY, HEY, MERLIN, LOOK I'M BEING COMPASSIONATE ARE YOU PROUD OF ME. Oh, Arthur. *heartclench* And when he deferred to Merlin when Agravaine asked if he was ready. And and and the cabbagehead flirting in the end. And when he gave Merlin a promise ring and when he was all in a post coital afterglow with his freshly washed bare feet and cuddling his lovey in his bed before he went to hit on Gwen all fired up with self esteem because he had mind-blowing awesome sex with Merlin and that BED SHARING SCENE. I couldn't even believe what I was seeing.

Annis and Morgana were EXCELLENT this episode. I realized I was totally enjoying their scenes, unlike the Agravaine/Morgana scenes where I am like YAWN, EVIL, SIGH, GOT IT. THAT LINE ABOUT UTHER. SO, so perfect.

...dude that preview for next week. Dude.

DUDE.

...

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

NOOOO, I love your reviews! I like yours better because you're much more concise than I am and always pull out the great moments that I kick myself for not mentioning.

I think it has been much too long since we saw any naked parts of Merlin. I mean, come on, Colin's face is filling out so nicely, I want a look at the rest of him, too!

I really love how lost Arthur has been and how much he still clings to the nearest father figure to tell him the right thing to do. It's so human. I'll be interested to see what might happen if Agravaine tries to turn Arthur against Merlin -- after this episode, I'm honestly not sure he would be able to.

YES, I LOVED IT WHEN ARTHUR LOOKED UP AT MERLIN! And it was fantastic when he deferred to Merlin - it felt like there was a definite significance to that moment, like Arthur is demonstrating whose opinion matters to him now.

I can't believe I forgot to mention cabbage head. *hearts SO MUCH* They definitely had incredible sex in that bed. No doubt.

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE.

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

Oh oh oh also YES, Arthur's super tricked out war tent. It was SO much fancier than I've ever pictured in future!fics in my head. So now everyone is getting even more awesome sex in nice beds in my BEFORE AFTER AND DURING WAR FRANTIC SEX fics that happen in my head.

Total aside, but I really wonder what the group approach is to writing this show. Like if the writers get certain bullet points and issues they're supposed to adhere to. The tone of this episode was so WILDLY DIFFERENT than the first four. And next week's looks back to a blend of BDSM angst and silliness.

As far as Arthur sticking up for Merlin if Agravaine goes sabotage on him, I'd say he definitely would in the context of this episode, but sometimes consistency is not their strongpoint.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

No, consistency is often a problem, which goes right to your point of how they break the stories and assign the writing (and who is actually making the full-season character arc decisions). This season has been more consistent in terms of characterization than the past couple, but I am very hesitant to get my hopes up week to week (but it is hard not to get my hopes up for BDSM, angst, and silliness).

FRANTIC WAR SEX IS THE BEST. And that is a damn good tent and bed to have it in. At first I was kind of disappointed that Merlin slept outside, but then I remembered that Arthur was still doing his Fortress of Solitude thing, so in normal times I bet Merlin TOTALLY sleeps in Arthur's bed tent.

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

Hahah fortress of solitude.

MAN it would be adorable if Merlin did bring his little sleeping back into Arthur's tent so he could creep on him when he's sleeping later. Cause he would.

I have so much weird fondness for fics that involve sleeping. WHICH REMINDS ME that the show has also been blessing us with lots of adorable Merlin waking up shots lately. His grumpysleepysoft faces basically make me die. Repeatedly. I get almost as excited about them as I do about Arthur's fuzzy thighs.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I love all the adorable waking up shots of both Merlin and Arthur this season. My favorite little bedtime stories in my head are about them snuggling down in bed to go to sleep together and waking up curled around each other.

Plus, wealth of graphics material for Team Sloth next year. *g*

[shinymarigold.livejournal.com]

I definitely hope his sorcerer badass outfit some day is more fitted and less Disney.

Sorry to barge in on your comment like this when you don't know me or anything, but I thought you should know that my new mental image of Merlin in slinky fitted black leather and an appropriately subdued version of the Pendragon crest, being all BAMF!y and golden-eyed, is ALL. YOUR. FAULT.

Thank you so much. 8-9

[destina.livejournal.com]

*"Old friend" -- this phrase just never works, unless the people involved are at least Uther-age.

LET US DISCUSS THIS AT LENGTH. OK, here's how I see it, from inside Arthur's shoes. He has no friends of any type who have been with him for as long as Merlin has. Those enabling jerks from the pilot went away as fast as they appeared. His knights are not really his friends, and even if he considered them so, they're pretty new to his sphere of influence. Percy's been around like five episodes now. Gwaine, about eight? And so forth. (Those old knights were his father's people. They are not friends.) Gaius: teacher and doctor, not friend. Gwen and Arthur: definitely not friends these days, heh. Morgana, whom he's known longer than anyone else: traitorous bitch and definitely not a friend.

So...in Arthur's world, three years of close friendship with one person without that friendship changing significantly into something else isn't just old, it's ancient. And I loved that they acknowledged that explicitly.

HI, IT IS MINUTIAE SUNDAY. :D

Also, so agree re Lindsay Duncan. I love her so much.

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

YES. Hi. I agree.

I kept thinking about how DOMESTIC they have been this season so far. Way more than we've seen before. So many long conversations where Merlin isn't really doing anything but hovering and like, idly poking some armour or fondling Arthur's pillows.

It made me so utterly ridiculously happy that even when Arthur was ANGRY in this episode he didn't deny that they were friends. Such a relief after the goofy "we could have been friends, if it weren't for our stations" silliness we've heard before.

Plus Arthur is kind of awesome at expressing himself with kind of weird phrasing, almost like he's trying extra special hard to be kingly.

[destina.livejournal.com]

HI! So much yes to the weird phrasing. I was noticing this episode that even when he's saying things he knows other people won't want to hear, he's not coming across as unkind about it anymore. He's learned how to modulate his voice in such a way that he doesn't sound like an arrogant jerk, or as though he's being cold; even each of the three or so times he told Merlin to mind his own business, he was not unkind about it. And that makes me love him with a fiery burning love.

All that domesticity, gah, YES. And Merlin being there with him before, during and after most conversations; his access to Arthur has never been more explicitly unique.

Everything about Merlin makes me so happy right now. :D

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

I was brand new to Merlin fandom this time exactly last year so I am like FWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE for everybody in that honeymoon phase with like 56 billion awesome fics to devour.

YES about not being unkind. That scene after Merlin got caught at Annis' tent could have gone so differently. Even though Arthur was FURIOUS he was very reasonable, and it was a dude I know you're trying to help, but back off that Merlin kind of needed to hear because his version of protecting Arthur definitely edges toward controlling Arthur sometimes.

I love that they're both making very human, normal mistakes and working through them.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

YES YES YES to the domesticity! That's why I loved how hurt Merlin looked when Arthur told him to be gone from his chambers before he got back -- Merlin belongs there, as we saw last episode, too.

Good point about Arthur's habit of awkward phrasing. *g*

And it's a great point by both of you that Arthur isn't being harsh or unkind to Merlin anymore, even when he's pushing him away or scolding him. Same for when Arthur fucked up at the beginning, and Merlin just offered to listen if he wanted to talk about it, but didn't guilt him or scold him or tell him what to do. They are both so human and normal this year, and I love it so much.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Oh, I completely agree with you! I just think the actual words "old friend" sound awkward coming out of the mouth of someone who looks like Bradley James. *g* But like I said, I love the sentiment behind it and that he's acknowledging Merlin's place in his life so explicitly (and so often!) now.

And actually, in show years, it's more like 5-6 years of friendship at this point. *hearts*

[wolfangeldeath.livejournal.com]

So...in Arthur's world, three years of close friendship with one person without that friendship changing significantly into something else isn't just old, it's ancient. And I loved that they acknowledged that explicitly.

Then you add two years of time skip between seasons 2&3 and 3&4 and it's even longer. It's most definitely the longest friendship Arthur could ever hope to have as a Prince and King.

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

Your reaction and my reaction to this ep should get married and have lots of babies because they are very compatible.

So, like, basically I'm waving my arm all over your post and going: THIS!

:D

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

*flails all over you* Arthur! Merlin! *squee!*

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

AND THEN HE DID. AND I WAS SO PROUD. Oh, my Arthur.

Me too!

And Elyan as the SpokeKnight! Love it!

Campaign tent! I was so glad we finally got that! So regal and pretty.

One of my favorite moments was when Morgana gave Annis 'that's Arthur who would give up his life before his men' speech and Annis had that look like, "wait and you want him dead because..."

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, that was a great character moment for both of them. Morgana clearly considered it a sign of weakness that Arthur would do that. I would pinpoint that as the moment when Annis began to really change her mind about both Arthur and Morgana.

[riventhorn.livejournal.com]

a card-carrying Arthur-holic

*checks wallet* Yep, I've got one, too. :D

And I was very excited about seeing the campaign tent, too! It sort of took me a minute to get it, and then I was all "Eeeee! Arthur's king and he has an awesome tent!"

I love the moment when Percival steps forward to say he'll be the champion and all the others do, too.

And I also loved Merlin falling over into the tent. I LOL'd. :)

Oh, and I also really like Arthur's bare feet. Unf. And when he's sitting in the chair early in the ep when Agravaine comes to tell him to give up Gwen...he looked so incredibly gorgeous in all those shots.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

It was so exciting that Percival had A LINE! I was so pleased for him.

Merlin falling over into the tent was awesome. I have such a soft spot for Merlin being clumsy.

Bare feet. UNF, indeed. Whoever is directing Arthur's look this season is a wonderful person and I want to buy them a drink.

[new-kate.livejournal.com]

Well in terms of historical realism I believe Your Highness was the proper way to address a king till like 16th century when absolutism happened and the monarchs went a bit sillier than usual, and wanted Even More Better titles. But I can't remember if anyone actually ever said "Your Majesty" on Merlin! This could make a good drinking game for fangirl rewatch marathons...

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

People have definitely been calling Arthur "Your Majesty" since he became king, though for the life of me, I can't remember if they called Uther that. I think they did, but I suppose I will have to start a fangirl rewatch marathon just to be absolutely sure....

[capricornucopia.livejournal.com]

Your reviews are great. :D I liked Annis and I loved Arthur's development in this episode.