Cori Lannam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
corilannam) wrote2012-10-27 08:35 pm
corilannam) wrote2012-10-27 08:35 pm
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Merlin 5.04
So that was a pretty good episode. I liked a lot of it, so let's start with that.
STUFF I LIKED:
* Mithian! I did so love Mithian last season, and while it was sad to see her beaten down and controlled by Morgana, it was lovely to see her again. Even as terrified and cowed as she was, Morgana couldn't break her spirit. I loved how clever she was in her escape attempts and how she finally managed to deliver her warning to Merlin. Even though she couldn't talk freely, I could still sense the special feeling between her and Merlin, and I love that he was the one she reached out to in the end.
And I loved that she chose Merlin to hide behind when they were surrounded by Odin's men at the end. Girl knows where the safest place is!
Oh, and I must note that, as much as I love last week's ep, Mithian's flight through the darkened corridors of Camelot was about a hundred times scarier and more suspenseful than either Percival or Gwen being stalked by ghost!Uther. I was squeaking, "Run, Mithian, run!" the whole time.
* Oh, and on a slightly related note, I got a kick out of Gwen being out and about in the middle of the night again. At first when she was in Arthur's rooms, the slasher in me was a tiny bit bummed to finally see evidence that they share a bedchamber. But then, after that extremely sweet but totally non-sexual kiss on the forehead, there she was, heading back to her own rooms after saying good night to her husband. (That's my theory and I'm sticking with it.)
* Merlin and Arthur were their usual lovely, married selves. I very much enjoyed their interactions in this ep - particularly when Merlin ordered Arthur not to see Mithian that first night and Arthur teased him about giving orders (but Arthur obeyed!) And of course, the end when Merlin gave him another order, to think about what he was doing before killing Odin. And Arthur listened, because he's my sweetly, stupidly noble king - but more wonderfully, he freely gave credit to Merlin with Gwen afterwards. I really, really liked that.
* Gwaine! Although I don't prioritize the Gwaine/Merlin ship over Arthur/Merlin, I do love thinking of Gwaine as Merlin's personal knight. So I got a kick out of Gwaine being the one left behind to take care of Merlin, and I absolutely loved his joy at seeing Merlin awake. They almost hugged! And surely would have if Merlin hadn't been so frantic to get to Arthur. Also love how well they worked together, and how Gwaine treated Merlin completely as an equal comrade and followed his lead. Fantastic bit of characterization for both of them.
* Merlin's magic! Okay, how hot was it when Merlin slammed his hand on the ground and made the whole tomb shake and crumble? I'll go ahead and answer that for you: it was REALLY FREAKING HOT. ROWR. I also loved all the battle scenes and how great everyone looked fighting together.
And in particular, I loved that Merlin got to wave around a sword the same as everyone else. And MORE THAN ANYTHING, I loved that Merlin took out the guy menacing Arthur, with a sword and in Arthur's full sight. I love that Arthur got to see Merlin defending him and fighting alongside them in a way that Arthur can understand. I've wanted to see that for a long time. *happiness*
STUFF I WASN'T AS CRAZY ABOUT:
* Morgana! She irritated the crap out of me in this episode. I'm not sure I can pinpoint why, but I just wanted someone to strangle her the entire time. Her aging make-up was much less convincing than Merlin's. Although I'm sure that was deliberate, because Morgana isn't as strong or skilled as Merlin, it just made it more annoying that neither Merlin nor Gaius ever cottoned on that this suspicious old lady looked ODDLY LIKE KATIE MCGRATH. Not even after they figured out that she wasn't as aged as she was supposed to be. Even though Merlin has pulled the same trick multiple times. Maybe it's been so long that he's forgotten?
* Also, why on earth would the ancient maid even be allowed to come with them on the secret, dangerous mission?
* And since when does Gaius ever leave the castle? Yes, I'm sure he was going to tend to Mithian's father, I get it, but he's never gone on rescue missions before. And he was irritating me with his constant dismissal of Merlin's spidey senses. I don't blame Arthur for plunging ahead with his noble idiocy because Merlin can't give him the real reason for worry most of the time. Arthur is used to Merlin having a bad feeling about things, and then everything works out just fine in the end (other than a slight headache).
But Gaius knows better. Gaius, of all people, should trust Merlin's instincts, and it really bothered me that he totally shot Merlin's concerns down multiple times over the course of the episode.
* It also bugs me a little that Morgana can take Merlin out so easily this season. On the bright side, making him a little more vulnerable is good for fanfic purposes.
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But then, after that extremely sweet but totally non-sexual kiss on the forehead, there she was, heading back to her own rooms after saying good night to her husband. (That's my theory and I'm sticking with it.)
Hahaha, I like your theory. Mine is that Arthur snores just as loudly now as he did the first time Gwen remarked on it all those seasons ago, and Gwen has to flee for her own sanity. :D
Gwaine and Merlin make me happy. Mithian makes me happy. Arthur and Merlin make me happy. My goodness, there was a lot to be happy about!
Morgana! She irritated the crap out of me in this episode. I'm not sure I can pinpoint why, but I just wanted someone to strangle her the entire time.
YES. I can tell you why she's making ME crazy; she says the same lines and does the same things in every single episode. Spout threats; fail to comb her hair; talk to a crow; send a message; spout more threats; be devious; say something nasty followed by 'dear brother'. If there was a Morgana drinking game, I'd have been unconscious at the end of the ep.
Arthur is used to Merlin having a bad feeling about things, and then everything works out just fine in the end (other than a slight headache).
Two more cases of head trauma in this ep! I'm kind of tired of that. Except that this time it was Merlin, and it gave us a glimpse of Gwaine's pining, so I'm ok with it. I forgive them. At least Arthur got a break! I'm worried about Morgana, tho. No wonder she's so crazy.
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Right? Chick has good instincts. Also, it's about time someone laid hands on Colin Morgan's new set of shoulders on screen. I appreciated her grabby hands very much in that regard.
I'm with you on Merlin's come-and-go powers. One moment he's getting his ass kicked; the next he's making the earth shake. I'm confused.
Oh, and my headcanon for A/G is that they have boring missionary sex that leaves both of them feeling unfulfilled, and they both go to their respective rooms and guiltily masturbate. :(
Loving reading your reviews for the new series thus far!
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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.
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On a bright note the fight scenes were well choreographed and I loved the Merlin and Gwaine interaction and Merlin being a total bossypants to Arthur and Arthur just taking it. Merlin getting a bit of sword action was also awesome.
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'the slasher in me was a tiny bit bummed to finally see evidence that they share a bedchamber. But then, after that extremely sweet but totally non-sexual kiss on the forehead, there she was, heading back to her own rooms after saying good night to her husband. (That's my theory and I'm sticking with it.)' That was such a brotherly kiss and not passionate at all. I wonder if they have sex at all any more with that kind of response.
I did really like most of the episode but Morgana almost killing Merlin and Merlin letting her was just ridiculous. I'd have liked it better if she'd hit him with a rock and then got discovered than all that choking bit. Just do it, lady, and get on with it.
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Oh yes! I loved Arthur seeing that too. *swoons*
Their relationship has made me SO HAPPY this season!