Merlin times two
Oct. 10th, 2010 06:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
astri13Huh, seems I never did a review for last week's Merlin (I haven't watched nr. 3 yet because not really my kind of humour). Oh well, make this a double then. Quick thoughts on
I liked the episode when it was called "Lancelot" and I liked it here. Gwaine was hot and even a bit of a contrast to Lancelot - not as "noble" yet ironically a noble.
Had to snigger about all the different tournaments in Camelot and during each one of them someone is trying to kill Arthur. In his place, I wouldn't participate anymore.
Of course, I like fight-y Arthur and would like the show to display him as an experienced warrior more clearly. It seems in every single nitwit fight Merlin has to save him with magical tricks and it's kinda overdone IMO.
Some cute bantering between M/A, though. They regularly go out on "road trips" alone, do they? *g* And why is Arthur always in a state of undress in Merlin's presence? Heh.
and
Liked this one, too.
Predictably, Merlin brought about the future he was trying to prevent. Isn't that what always happens when someone shows you the future?
Some really atmospherical scenes with Morgana - love the red cloak slow-mo walking down the hallway with rising music.
The slash dragon was of course right. Not letting the villain die might a mark of the hero but in this case, when you have to go out of your way to save them? I mean, if she was hanging over a cliff and Merlin had to choose between dropping her
or pulling her to safety, I could see it more easily. But he could have let nature take its course. Unless it was because he brought on the accident himself.
Generally, I'm kinda thrown how Morgana-friendly everybody now is. Back in Season 1 when she was truly a good, caring person, I didn't see THAT much investment from anybody. Maybe Gwen. And since that relationship has cooled off so much, Gwen crying in Arthur's arms? Come on. What about when Morgana was about to die by vengeful young warlord's hands in the first Season? Where was that level of concern then? I'm not saying they weren't all concerned but now they totally overdid it. I could see it in a way because she has been gone for a year and pretty much just came back but it's still a bit too much.
Not to mention Uther's reveal? Huh? Out of left field IMO. Wasn't Igraine the love of his life and yet he cheated on her, with his best friend's wife? Also, again, back in Season 1 when Morgana helped the druid boy, Uther threw her in the dungeon - after choking her, no less. Yet nowadays it's "use magic, I don't care"? Come on, maybe for Arthur I could see it but even then I'd find it iffy.
Also, please no storyline of "fight over the throne". For one, I don't care for "political warfare". And secondly, Morgana is still a woman and those are the middle ages. Come on, like she'd be in line for the throne anyhow.
Again, some good bantering with M/A. And awww, Merlin crying over his bf. Though, see above for my wish to show to display Arthur more competently in general. The beginning, while comedic, was also ridiculous.
And, little spoiler alert: Do we need to see the Troll-wife redone with Arthur? Really? With G/A angst on top? I thought the episode after that was supposed to be a big Gwen/Arthur fest?
I liked the episode when it was called "Lancelot" and I liked it here. Gwaine was hot and even a bit of a contrast to Lancelot - not as "noble" yet ironically a noble.
Had to snigger about all the different tournaments in Camelot and during each one of them someone is trying to kill Arthur. In his place, I wouldn't participate anymore.
Of course, I like fight-y Arthur and would like the show to display him as an experienced warrior more clearly. It seems in every single nitwit fight Merlin has to save him with magical tricks and it's kinda overdone IMO.
Some cute bantering between M/A, though. They regularly go out on "road trips" alone, do they? *g* And why is Arthur always in a state of undress in Merlin's presence? Heh.
and
Liked this one, too.
Predictably, Merlin brought about the future he was trying to prevent. Isn't that what always happens when someone shows you the future?
Some really atmospherical scenes with Morgana - love the red cloak slow-mo walking down the hallway with rising music.
The slash dragon was of course right. Not letting the villain die might a mark of the hero but in this case, when you have to go out of your way to save them? I mean, if she was hanging over a cliff and Merlin had to choose between dropping her
or pulling her to safety, I could see it more easily. But he could have let nature take its course. Unless it was because he brought on the accident himself.
Generally, I'm kinda thrown how Morgana-friendly everybody now is. Back in Season 1 when she was truly a good, caring person, I didn't see THAT much investment from anybody. Maybe Gwen. And since that relationship has cooled off so much, Gwen crying in Arthur's arms? Come on. What about when Morgana was about to die by vengeful young warlord's hands in the first Season? Where was that level of concern then? I'm not saying they weren't all concerned but now they totally overdid it. I could see it in a way because she has been gone for a year and pretty much just came back but it's still a bit too much.
Not to mention Uther's reveal? Huh? Out of left field IMO. Wasn't Igraine the love of his life and yet he cheated on her, with his best friend's wife? Also, again, back in Season 1 when Morgana helped the druid boy, Uther threw her in the dungeon - after choking her, no less. Yet nowadays it's "use magic, I don't care"? Come on, maybe for Arthur I could see it but even then I'd find it iffy.
Also, please no storyline of "fight over the throne". For one, I don't care for "political warfare". And secondly, Morgana is still a woman and those are the middle ages. Come on, like she'd be in line for the throne anyhow.
Again, some good bantering with M/A. And awww, Merlin crying over his bf. Though, see above for my wish to show to display Arthur more competently in general. The beginning, while comedic, was also ridiculous.
And, little spoiler alert: Do we need to see the Troll-wife redone with Arthur? Really? With G/A angst on top? I thought the episode after that was supposed to be a big Gwen/Arthur fest?
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-10 08:06 pm (UTC)Just briefly--England has a long history of female regents. Particularly in Anglo-Saxon England, women had the right to inherit property and represent themselves at court. Just throwing that in for consideration ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-10 08:55 pm (UTC)Oh, I know, I just wouldn't quite put them at the time of King Arthur (which, I realize historically would be even earlier than it is usually portrayed). And even on the show we have only heard of other Kings, not one Queen has been mentioned so far.
Of course, the show is a lot anachronistic in its portrayal so they might just go over it. On the other hand, when it comes to the knights we get slapped with the "nobles only" knights code left and right. In a way I think the actual middle ages were more progressive insofar as the king simply named you a noble if he wanted it(mostly illegetimate children). It's kinda cute really.
Mostly, I just don't want a political intrigue storyline. Though admittedly I'd take it before fart jokes and donkey ears.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-11 07:07 am (UTC)The kingdoms they mention on the show (like Mercia) are actually Anglo-Saxon, so I'm assuming they are putting the show there. Now, like I said, even in Anglo-Saxon times women had the right to inherit property and represent themselves at court (though admittedly at the meadhalls, their duty was also to sort of serve on the noble men at feasts by handing them the goblets, much like Eowyn does in LOTR). In Anglo-Saxon times, monasteries were frequently lead by powerful abesses. (It wasn't until the Normans conquered England that the women had their rights taken away) It wouldn't be a too big step to go from there to having queens, particularly since Merlin is fantasy and I don't think dragons really existed either :-)
Oh, I like myself some political intrigues though I admit that thing about Morgana came pretty much out of nowhere. I sat there going, "But didn't he throw her in the dungeon in season one? Are they pulling an SPN on me???".
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-10 11:41 pm (UTC)Generally, I'm kinda thrown how Morgana-friendly everybody now is. Back in Season 1 when she was truly a good, caring person, I didn't see THAT much investment from anybody
Hehe, but that's the case, when a character is nice and caring no one seems give a shit about him but when he(she) becomes evol and pretends to be nice that's when people are all *awww, i can't leave with him (her) dying*. See, the same as in RL :)
Also, please no storyline of "fight over the throne". For one, I don't care for "political warfare". And secondly, Morgana is still a woman and those are the middle ages. Come on, like she'd be in line for the throne anyhow.
I'm not sure they implyed the fight though. I thought if Morgana somehow would make Arthur and Герук dead she'd be next in line. Middle ages or not but even then there were queens ruling.