Cori Lannam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
corilannam) wrote2012-11-11 09:39 pm
corilannam) wrote2012-11-11 09:39 pm
Entry tags:
Merlin 5.06
I honestly just don't have a lot of mental energy left right now between all the actual writing I've been doing, so this week I'm just going to liveblog my thoughts about the ep as I watch.
Welp, should have known that Elyan was toast the second they actually showed him being brotherly with Gwen. Yeah, spoiled for that, which I'm kind of sorry about, since I think it's going to lessen the impact of the event.
Aww, love Gwen out riding with the knights, teasing and joking around. That was completely adorable. And of course Arthur never tells you anything, Gwen. He doesn't know that much to begin with, and what he does know, he tells Merlin.
"I told her to get away. She fled." And no one thought to go with her to protect the unarmed Queen? Elyan does not seem particularly concerned at this point. Good thing our poisoned knights are going to make a miraculous overnight recovery! I did love seeing Merlin rushing around being all physician-ly.
Awww, Merlin swearing to bring Guinevere home was so sweet. The little warrior bro-shake was kind of weird, but still.
IT'S NOT YOUR FUCKING CROWN, MORGANA, JFC. Arthur has the crown you want. Gwen's isn't going to do you a damn bit of good. That drives me fucking nuts every damn season. I'm going to chalk it up to adding in an almost imperceptibly subtle hint of the Arthur/Morgana incest from the legends.
Okay, it really is sweet how utterly undone Arthur is by Gwen's abduction.
Don't climb willingly up into the Spire of Evil, Gwen! Sit your ass down on the bottom step and make her carry you to her torture chamber if she wants to torture you that badly.
Yeah, Elyan, you kind of suck. Sorry, dude. Also, Gwen raised him? How old is Gwen supposed to be, anyway? Still, nice to get a tiny scrap of back story.
I love Gwaine so much I could cry, just for breaking through the melodrama here. Cheese that tastes of apple pie. That's all that saved the stupid Dark Tower story for me. It's nice that Merlin figures out Morgana's intentions so quickly, though they are pretty damn obvious. Now, how about a plan other than walking in there and hoping for the best? No? Okay.
"I made you a promise, remember?" *happy sigh* But also, seriously, when has Merlin ever not gone somewhere Arthur was going? I guess it's a sign of just how terrifying this place is supposed to be if Arthur is offering Merlin an exit option.
The Impenetrable Forest. But trust the Knights of Camelot! They can penetrate anything, baby, yeah.
Love Arthur losing his shit when he realizes they've gone in a big circle. Merlin really is his other half, taking over leadership when Arthur just can't pull it together.
Liked Morgana telling Gwen about her imprisonment. It's nice to have an almost genuine moment between them. And I think Katie does a lovely job showing Morgana's vulnerability.
Queen Mab - I just love any magical creature who addresses Merlin as Emrys. And I love that Merlin's first question when she tells him one of them won't return is "which one?" 'Cause if it ain't Arthur, Merlin is not getting involved.
Squeeeeeee! Merlin takes charge! Have a little faith, Arthur, sheesh. I love this use of Merlin's magic - very different from anything we've seen him do before, and a nice tie-in to his speech to Arthur last week about the way he senses nature and the magic in it.
Overall, a little disappointed in Gwen's torture. The random screams and apparitions were nicely creepy and Angel acted the hell out it, but I feel like they lost an opportunity to get deeper into Gwen's character. But I'm going to go ahead and overanalyze it anyway, because I like doing that - so obviously, Gwen still feels a certain insecurity about her origins and her rise to power and fears that everyone is laughing at the silly serving girl who thought she could be Queen.
Now, what's most interesting is her vision of an animalistic Merlin snarling at her. Does she subconsciously sense something dangerous about Merlin? Or does she just understand that his loyalty is 100% to Arthur, and if he ever saw Gwen as any kind of threat to Arthur, he would turn on her in a heartbeat?
Okay, yeah, overanalyzing. Moving on.
However, I do like the bits with Morgana trying to Stockholm Syndrome Gwen. Not sure what the point is, when she's just using Gwen for bait. I hope we get to see whether this is just another part of the torture, or some aspect of Morgana's insanity, or something else.
Poor Elyan. At least you got to be a good brother to Gwen once in your life, even if it was the last thing you did.
Actually, I know I'm being snide about him, but I'm pretty pissed off about Elyan dying. Out of all the knights, he's been the most criminally wasted as a character, in my opinion. Yes, even above Gwaine, who has at least gotten a personality and relationships with his fellow knights. He's Gwen's brother, but until now, has been almost completely absent from any of her few significant storylines. That's always annoyed the crap out of me, and it annoys me even more now that he's gone forever.
Wait, what? How the fuck did they get out of the Tower? Morgana just let them walk out? The Invisible Warrior was only programmed to take out one knight? HUH?
Okay, I thought seeing Arthur and Gwen in bed together would bug me, but it doesn't. It was very sweet, and then Gwen got up and left (AS SHE DOES EVERY NIGHT IN MY CANON).
Oh, huh. WHOA. Okay, this episode just got actually interesting in the last ten seconds. Is Gwen bespelled, or actually brainwashed? I hope the former, because I gave her more credit for mental fortitude than that. Is she just meant to kill Arthur? Was this Morgana's back-up plan? Or does Morgana have something more insidious (and interesting) in mind?
She can't possibly be as entertaining as assassin!Merlin last season, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens! Good luck trying to convince anyone that Gwen is evil, Merlin. I'm sure that will go really well for you.
Welp, should have known that Elyan was toast the second they actually showed him being brotherly with Gwen. Yeah, spoiled for that, which I'm kind of sorry about, since I think it's going to lessen the impact of the event.
Aww, love Gwen out riding with the knights, teasing and joking around. That was completely adorable. And of course Arthur never tells you anything, Gwen. He doesn't know that much to begin with, and what he does know, he tells Merlin.
"I told her to get away. She fled." And no one thought to go with her to protect the unarmed Queen? Elyan does not seem particularly concerned at this point. Good thing our poisoned knights are going to make a miraculous overnight recovery! I did love seeing Merlin rushing around being all physician-ly.
Awww, Merlin swearing to bring Guinevere home was so sweet. The little warrior bro-shake was kind of weird, but still.
IT'S NOT YOUR FUCKING CROWN, MORGANA, JFC. Arthur has the crown you want. Gwen's isn't going to do you a damn bit of good. That drives me fucking nuts every damn season. I'm going to chalk it up to adding in an almost imperceptibly subtle hint of the Arthur/Morgana incest from the legends.
Okay, it really is sweet how utterly undone Arthur is by Gwen's abduction.
Don't climb willingly up into the Spire of Evil, Gwen! Sit your ass down on the bottom step and make her carry you to her torture chamber if she wants to torture you that badly.
Yeah, Elyan, you kind of suck. Sorry, dude. Also, Gwen raised him? How old is Gwen supposed to be, anyway? Still, nice to get a tiny scrap of back story.
I love Gwaine so much I could cry, just for breaking through the melodrama here. Cheese that tastes of apple pie. That's all that saved the stupid Dark Tower story for me. It's nice that Merlin figures out Morgana's intentions so quickly, though they are pretty damn obvious. Now, how about a plan other than walking in there and hoping for the best? No? Okay.
"I made you a promise, remember?" *happy sigh* But also, seriously, when has Merlin ever not gone somewhere Arthur was going? I guess it's a sign of just how terrifying this place is supposed to be if Arthur is offering Merlin an exit option.
The Impenetrable Forest. But trust the Knights of Camelot! They can penetrate anything, baby, yeah.
Love Arthur losing his shit when he realizes they've gone in a big circle. Merlin really is his other half, taking over leadership when Arthur just can't pull it together.
Liked Morgana telling Gwen about her imprisonment. It's nice to have an almost genuine moment between them. And I think Katie does a lovely job showing Morgana's vulnerability.
Queen Mab - I just love any magical creature who addresses Merlin as Emrys. And I love that Merlin's first question when she tells him one of them won't return is "which one?" 'Cause if it ain't Arthur, Merlin is not getting involved.
Squeeeeeee! Merlin takes charge! Have a little faith, Arthur, sheesh. I love this use of Merlin's magic - very different from anything we've seen him do before, and a nice tie-in to his speech to Arthur last week about the way he senses nature and the magic in it.
Overall, a little disappointed in Gwen's torture. The random screams and apparitions were nicely creepy and Angel acted the hell out it, but I feel like they lost an opportunity to get deeper into Gwen's character. But I'm going to go ahead and overanalyze it anyway, because I like doing that - so obviously, Gwen still feels a certain insecurity about her origins and her rise to power and fears that everyone is laughing at the silly serving girl who thought she could be Queen.
Now, what's most interesting is her vision of an animalistic Merlin snarling at her. Does she subconsciously sense something dangerous about Merlin? Or does she just understand that his loyalty is 100% to Arthur, and if he ever saw Gwen as any kind of threat to Arthur, he would turn on her in a heartbeat?
Okay, yeah, overanalyzing. Moving on.
However, I do like the bits with Morgana trying to Stockholm Syndrome Gwen. Not sure what the point is, when she's just using Gwen for bait. I hope we get to see whether this is just another part of the torture, or some aspect of Morgana's insanity, or something else.
Poor Elyan. At least you got to be a good brother to Gwen once in your life, even if it was the last thing you did.
Actually, I know I'm being snide about him, but I'm pretty pissed off about Elyan dying. Out of all the knights, he's been the most criminally wasted as a character, in my opinion. Yes, even above Gwaine, who has at least gotten a personality and relationships with his fellow knights. He's Gwen's brother, but until now, has been almost completely absent from any of her few significant storylines. That's always annoyed the crap out of me, and it annoys me even more now that he's gone forever.
Wait, what? How the fuck did they get out of the Tower? Morgana just let them walk out? The Invisible Warrior was only programmed to take out one knight? HUH?
Okay, I thought seeing Arthur and Gwen in bed together would bug me, but it doesn't. It was very sweet, and then Gwen got up and left (AS SHE DOES EVERY NIGHT IN MY CANON).
Oh, huh. WHOA. Okay, this episode just got actually interesting in the last ten seconds. Is Gwen bespelled, or actually brainwashed? I hope the former, because I gave her more credit for mental fortitude than that. Is she just meant to kill Arthur? Was this Morgana's back-up plan? Or does Morgana have something more insidious (and interesting) in mind?
She can't possibly be as entertaining as assassin!Merlin last season, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens! Good luck trying to convince anyone that Gwen is evil, Merlin. I'm sure that will go really well for you.
no subject
I dunno I thought maybe brainwishing Gwen was the plan all along and that was why Arthur & co found their way out of the tower easily enough?
Love all magical creatures addressing Merlin as Emrys and particularly loved the actress delivery of her lines. She's very good at being some kind of sprite.
no subject
no subject
Assassin!Merlin--LOL--I need to rewatch that one now. Besides Merlin being endearingly incompetent, I also love how Arthur just kind of accepts Gaius and Gwen barging into his chambers all the time and being sort of apologetic and befuddled. "I know, I know...I'm late" and later edging back behind his screen in the wonderful bath scene, adorably embarrassed. Plus Leon and the crossbow jokes!
no subject
Sometimes it's really frustrating when Arthur is completely oblivious to everything that's really going on, but in that episode it was so adorable and hilarious. And it's funny how Arthur is just so used to everyone (especially Merlin) doing very weird things around him that he doesn't even question it anymore. Leon and the crossbow jokes are still one of my favorite scenes of the whole series.
And now we've just spent twice as long discussing 4.06 as 5.06, which I suppose really says it all about this ep. *g*
no subject
The whole Gwen/Arthur in bed thing made me want to write fic where G/A have sex and talk about Merlin during it. Someday, after all the fic exchanges are over. :D
I get both very excited and very, very worried whenever Gwen gets a significant plotline, because I'm so sure the writers are going to hurt me with it. My show passed the Bechdel Test this week. I'll just think about that and ignore all of the rest of it.
no subject
I get both very excited and very, very worried whenever Gwen gets a significant plotline, because I'm so sure the writers are going to hurt me with it.
Oh, truer words never spoken. I mean, I'm already pretty dubious about this one, because it's yet another storyline where Gwen is bewitched in some fashion and not responsible for her own actions. I want to go back to the beginning of the season when she was making decisions and being powerful. But keeping my fingers crossed!
no subject
Okay, I thought seeing Arthur and Gwen in bed together would bug me, but it doesn't. It was very sweet, and then Gwen got up and left (AS SHE DOES EVERY NIGHT IN MY CANON).
Ahahaha, I tensed up, but then I was like, oh good, she left right away. (SHALLOW ELLA IS SHALLOW)
I totally believe Gwen is under a spell.
Oh, regarding the fighting sword, I bet that is seriously hard magic, so it only works on one opponent. See how I try to make the magic consistent within the construct of the magical reality that is Camelot? I AM SO GOOD.
no subject
He was pretty adorable, wasn't he? Hee! I think in the end, the mandrake magic was picking out the three people she trusted most in the world and convincing her she couldn't trust them, thus setting her up for Morgana to sweep in and brainwash her.
Ahahaha, I tensed up, but then I was like, oh good, she left right away. (SHALLOW ELLA IS SHALLOW)
I'm glad it's not just me! I mean, I do love Gwen and her sweet domestic partnership with Arthur, but the slasher in me will always be happy to seize on any rationalization to think they don't spend every night together!
I totally believe Gwen is under a spell.
I guess with the mandrake, it's hard to distinguish. I can't believe that Gwen's mind is truly broken - there has to be a way to bring her back from it at the end. Uther recovered once the mandrake was removed, though Gwen's experience was about a gazillion times more intense. Can't wait to see where they go with it!