Well, I wasn't going to watch since I never could get last week's episode to work but then I considered that watching Merlin is increasingly like watching a standalone every week where you keep expecting something big to forward the overall story arc and then it never really does so it's not like I really missed anything by missing last week's episode. And, it seems that I made the right call.
I liked the suspense of it as Mithian tries to get away or warn the others about the real plan. I loved Arthur and the Knights in this, too.
But, again, I am flummoxed by the lengths Merlin will go to keep his secret. Really? Allowing Morgana to nearly kill you is a good plan? Again we have Gaius saying that he hopes Morgana doesn't become as strong as Merlin cause then we're all in some deepass doo doo. Really? Cause where I'm sitting Morgana is always besting Merlin. (even though we know how powerful Merlin is....the writer's keep telling us all about it.) Come on! It was just the two of them! I didn't really see the point in Merlin not defending himself, here, except that the writers/producers want to hang on to the secret forever it seems.
If I thought that it was because they are saving it for a Merlin/Morgana showdown of epic proportions or for this amazing reveal scene that fanfic writers/readers have been writing/dreaming about since the very beginning, I could let it go.
But, I am beginning to fear that its all just sloppy writing and there is no real endgame plan. If this is the last series, and it really seems that this is probably the case, you'd think they'd be stepping up the storytelling a bit other than How Morgana's 23rd attempt to take over Camelot was foiled.
I really hope I am wrong. IDK. Maybe it is because I have been watching shows that do this so much better *cough* SPN *cough* that have shown me that you can have huge secrets and an engaging overall arc that doesn't drag on for five years with very little forward momentum; that you can reveal the secrets and create new ones all at the same time and still leave the viewer satisfied. Characters can demonstrate how they are affected week to week and grow/change in response to what has happened without leaving all of the fallout to the imagination or fanfiction. The plot can be engaging AND character driven at the same time.
And I know that the characters have changed, most especially Arthur. He is the one who has grown and come into his own the most realistically. And I totally loved him in this episode. It's hard to count Morgana, even though she's changed so much, because she is so one dimensional and, often, ridiculous as she was in this episode. I had high hopes for Merlin at the end of last season what with his showdown with Agravaine. I enjoy his relationship with Arthur and I know he has some influence, as shown in this episode. But, I come out of these episodes feeling as though something is just missing. Even if the story is good overall, which I felt is the case with this episode and the opening two-parter, I am left feeling unsatisfied and I don't know if it is because the characters are always plot driven, which makes them inconsistent, if it is because we are going on five years and Merlin is still hiding and allowing Morgana to nearly kill him for the sake of keeping his secret, or if I feel that time is short for the series and there's just so much momentum and character development possibilities that are just there for the taking and it never happens.
And I suppose I should have saved my whining for my own journal instead of mucking up yours. (I see the possibility of cut and paste in my future) I certainly don't want to be one of those fans who crosses the line between discussion and just whining all the time because that's not what I intended or how I really feel. There have been some good things about this series thus far. I just think they could do so much more, especially with regard to the storytelling possibilities that a true reveal would bring.
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I liked the suspense of it as Mithian tries to get away or warn the others about the real plan. I loved Arthur and the Knights in this, too.
But, again, I am flummoxed by the lengths Merlin will go to keep his secret. Really? Allowing Morgana to nearly kill you is a good plan? Again we have Gaius saying that he hopes Morgana doesn't become as strong as Merlin cause then we're all in some deepass doo doo. Really? Cause where I'm sitting Morgana is always besting Merlin. (even though we know how powerful Merlin is....the writer's keep telling us all about it.) Come on! It was just the two of them! I didn't really see the point in Merlin not defending himself, here, except that the writers/producers want to hang on to the secret forever it seems.
If I thought that it was because they are saving it for a Merlin/Morgana showdown of epic proportions or for this amazing reveal scene that fanfic writers/readers have been writing/dreaming about since the very beginning, I could let it go.
But, I am beginning to fear that its all just sloppy writing and there is no real endgame plan. If this is the last series, and it really seems that this is probably the case, you'd think they'd be stepping up the storytelling a bit other than How Morgana's 23rd attempt to take over Camelot was foiled.
I really hope I am wrong. IDK. Maybe it is because I have been watching shows that do this so much better *cough* SPN *cough* that have shown me that you can have huge secrets and an engaging overall arc that doesn't drag on for five years with very little forward momentum; that you can reveal the secrets and create new ones all at the same time and still leave the viewer satisfied. Characters can demonstrate how they are affected week to week and grow/change in response to what has happened without leaving all of the fallout to the imagination or fanfiction. The plot can be engaging AND character driven at the same time.
And I know that the characters have changed, most especially Arthur. He is the one who has grown and come into his own the most realistically. And I totally loved him in this episode. It's hard to count Morgana, even though she's changed so much, because she is so one dimensional and, often, ridiculous as she was in this episode. I had high hopes for Merlin at the end of last season what with his showdown with Agravaine. I enjoy his relationship with Arthur and I know he has some influence, as shown in this episode. But, I come out of these episodes feeling as though something is just missing. Even if the story is good overall, which I felt is the case with this episode and the opening two-parter, I am left feeling unsatisfied and I don't know if it is because the characters are always plot driven, which makes them inconsistent, if it is because we are going on five years and Merlin is still hiding and allowing Morgana to nearly kill him for the sake of keeping his secret, or if I feel that time is short for the series and there's just so much momentum and character development possibilities that are just there for the taking and it never happens.
And I suppose I should have saved my whining for my own journal instead of mucking up yours. (I see the possibility of cut and paste in my future) I certainly don't want to be one of those fans who crosses the line between discussion and just whining all the time because that's not what I intended or how I really feel. There have been some good things about this series thus far. I just think they could do so much more, especially with regard to the storytelling possibilities that a true reveal would bring.