Merlin

Oct. 30th, 2011 12:22 pm
astri13: (Default)
[personal profile] astri13
I have to say it again, this Season of Merlin rocks.



I just love how they're letting the characters mature and grow up now. And it does wonders for their interaction as well. The banter and interplay between Arthur and Merlin was great. So many references to friendship and they actually make me FEEL it, too. Guess all that had to go was the stupid, stupid slapstick, throwing silverware and pratfalls. Hooray for that. (Okay there was a little slapstick last week and I didn't care for it much).

Also, Merlin basically IS king's advisor already, servant or not. A neat look at things to come.

Arthur as King probably has to be darker and more mature as well and it suits him fine. Too bad he listens to his deadbeat uncle. That guy just bugs me.

Considering the episode was titled "His Father's Son", I found Annis' remark at the end to Morgana particularly clever. Nope, Arthur isn't much like Uther, has in fact never been but Morgana is more her father's daughter than she cares to admit. We know Uther raised a bloody vendetta on all magic after his wife died, killing children even. And he justified it to himself as HIM being the injured, victimized party. Morgana acts no different now.

Though, again, I find it particularly sad how her fall to darkness was handled. This current story would be so much juicier if she was at least conflicted about Arthur. She obviously cared about his well-being once and while I can see her never forgiving Uther, Arthur personally never did anything to her. She has in the past also acknowledged that he is a better man than his father. Heck, she did it this very episode in a way.

So this lightswitch to hate-hate-hate makes for a most unfortunate one-dimensional villain when she doesn't have to be. Then again, maybe it's all about her inability to be better than her father.

Further treat this episode? It used magic more sparingly and thus more effectively. There is nothing I hate more than Merlin having to do magic for even the simplest feats which has the result of making other people look like they are unable to cross the street unless Merlin magics them into it. It does not only make magic look utterly mundane but also all the non-magical characters look patently stupid. This isn't freaking Bibi Blocksberg after all.

Here, Morgana enchanted the sword and Merlin performed counter-meassures. THAT is the kind of magical involvement I like to see.

Promo for next week? Oooooooh. *rubs hands in glee*

(no subject)

Date: 2011-10-30 12:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] katikat.livejournal.com
I loved that Morgana had to have the sword and perform a ritual, Merlin just whispered an incantation, with no hoopla, and with the same results. I wonder if Merlin realizes just how powerful he is.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-10-30 01:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] the-darkstar.livejournal.com
Hm. Makes me wonder if Merlin IS something I should give a try.
Watched the first few episodes of Season One a few years ago and have to admit, I wasn't hooked.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-10-30 03:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kuhekabir.livejournal.com
Next week's promo has me itching for it already be next week...and I agree, I can understand Morgana when it comes to Uther but her suddenly wanting Arthur dead is something they didn't do very well. They were a team at some point, they were brother and sister and he never did anything at all to her.

So why is she now out to kill him? Simply because she wants the throne? And what's up with that? Her motives were always based on Uther's killing magical folks...she was scared and obviously blindly killing people was wrong. I understand her wanting to go against him and siding with the 'enemies'. But Arthur? He might not have stood up against the king but he helped save the druid boy! If he truly were his father's son, he wouldn't have done that!

In that regard I honestly think the writers totally screwed up. Now it is all about her wanting the throne and needing to get rid of Arthur for it but she didn't start out that way and there has been no answer as to why she is suddenly the way she is.

Otherwise, totally loving every minute of it!

And Merlin does manage to get more adorable with every passing second. How does he do that? :)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-10-31 07:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] leelust.livejournal.com
Word. To everything you said.
I'm sad how they write Morgana too (just saw an ep from s1 i suppose when she wasn't *bad* and she could be such an interesting character while being conflicted) but maybe we should take one step at a time? First they start to write Merlin and Arthur more mature (Yay!) and maybe the next step will be to change their writing of Morgana?

(no subject)

Date: 2011-11-02 07:54 pm (UTC)
scolaro: (Default)
From: [personal profile] scolaro
Um...happy...birthday?
Or is DW lying to me?
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