(no subject)
Nov. 27th, 2011 12:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
astri13Double-Merlin post for the evening as I got to watch
Hm, this was neither as good as the producers hyped it nor as bad as I feared it to be. Maybe they got confused by the performances because those were truly kick-ass IMO.
What I didn't buy is Morgana feeling sad for Lancelot. She has been ruthlessly trying to murder people she once loved dearly yet never showed a bit of remorse for them but feels wistful for Lancelot who she didn't know from Adam? Yeah, right.
Also, using Lancelot like that? B.i.t.c.a. He went out a hero and she totally besmirched his name to all of Camelot. What will he now be remembered for, huh? That is SO mean.
All in all, it was very predictable, the only "twist" was that, apart from the conspirators, noone knew about the enchantment, not even Gwen. If they had, it would have provided an easy fix and reset back to normal and obviously they wanted a "cliffhanger" here of sorts. However, for me, things don't exactly hinge on A/G as a pairing so their short break-up before their inevitable make-up isn't much of a game-changer.
I will say, I feel bad for them both and I liked Arthur's demeanor in the council room scene. He wasn't rage-y anymore though clearly still feeling it, it was more like quiet frustration. Nice understated performance here. And yeah, he would have looked like a complete fool going through with the wedding now, sorry, Merlin.
Speaking of Merlin, I had hoped for more from him on two of his friends betraying another of his (and best) friend. Oh well.
Not so sure where they're going with Arthur/Merlin here. On the one hand, I think they won't do that stupid frigging magic reveal until the finale episode of the show - and fuck THAT - but on the other hand, they are dropping a lot of anvils, with Gaius being suspected of sorcery and now Gwen's betrayal. That, too, played on the fact that those were people Arthur loved/loves and trusted. That he was heartbroken to cast them aside but unable to not do it either.
And he dropped the "friend" bomb numerous times on Merlin this Season, not to mention there is definitely a "you're the only one I can trust" theme going on between Arthur and Merlin this Season. So are they foreshadowing Arthur's reaction to discovering Merlin lied to him from day one? That he still loves him and would forgive him but the trust is gone?
Even if Gaius was and Gwen will most likely be exonerated and they didn't really betray-betray him, I don't see a favourable reaction, not at first at least. Because for all the good he did and how loyal he was and how much he helped Arthur, what Merlin did IS a betrayal of sorts. Lying to someone like that means on a fundamental level you don't trust them enough with the truth. Which is basically Merlin's motivations. He wants to tell but is unable to trust Arthur enough for fear of his reaction. Ironically, I imagine it will be that fact more than the magic that brings about the reaction he fears most. Self-fulfilling prophecy and all. early.
In the end, I think it's good the writers got it out of their system.
Hm, this was neither as good as the producers hyped it nor as bad as I feared it to be. Maybe they got confused by the performances because those were truly kick-ass IMO.
What I didn't buy is Morgana feeling sad for Lancelot. She has been ruthlessly trying to murder people she once loved dearly yet never showed a bit of remorse for them but feels wistful for Lancelot who she didn't know from Adam? Yeah, right.
Also, using Lancelot like that? B.i.t.c.a. He went out a hero and she totally besmirched his name to all of Camelot. What will he now be remembered for, huh? That is SO mean.
All in all, it was very predictable, the only "twist" was that, apart from the conspirators, noone knew about the enchantment, not even Gwen. If they had, it would have provided an easy fix and reset back to normal and obviously they wanted a "cliffhanger" here of sorts. However, for me, things don't exactly hinge on A/G as a pairing so their short break-up before their inevitable make-up isn't much of a game-changer.
I will say, I feel bad for them both and I liked Arthur's demeanor in the council room scene. He wasn't rage-y anymore though clearly still feeling it, it was more like quiet frustration. Nice understated performance here. And yeah, he would have looked like a complete fool going through with the wedding now, sorry, Merlin.
Speaking of Merlin, I had hoped for more from him on two of his friends betraying another of his (and best) friend. Oh well.
Not so sure where they're going with Arthur/Merlin here. On the one hand, I think they won't do that stupid frigging magic reveal until the finale episode of the show - and fuck THAT - but on the other hand, they are dropping a lot of anvils, with Gaius being suspected of sorcery and now Gwen's betrayal. That, too, played on the fact that those were people Arthur loved/loves and trusted. That he was heartbroken to cast them aside but unable to not do it either.
And he dropped the "friend" bomb numerous times on Merlin this Season, not to mention there is definitely a "you're the only one I can trust" theme going on between Arthur and Merlin this Season. So are they foreshadowing Arthur's reaction to discovering Merlin lied to him from day one? That he still loves him and would forgive him but the trust is gone?
Even if Gaius was and Gwen will most likely be exonerated and they didn't really betray-betray him, I don't see a favourable reaction, not at first at least. Because for all the good he did and how loyal he was and how much he helped Arthur, what Merlin did IS a betrayal of sorts. Lying to someone like that means on a fundamental level you don't trust them enough with the truth. Which is basically Merlin's motivations. He wants to tell but is unable to trust Arthur enough for fear of his reaction. Ironically, I imagine it will be that fact more than the magic that brings about the reaction he fears most. Self-fulfilling prophecy and all. early.
In the end, I think it's good the writers got it out of their system.
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-26 11:18 pm (UTC)I really, really, really hope that Arthur doesn't do the same thing with Merlin as he did with Gwen, that he doesn't banish Merlin for being a sorcerer. That would blow. But I think he will. That Merlin will help him win against Morgana - this time around - while openly using his powers - and Arthur will still banish him for being a magic user in the season finale. And it won't be until S5 that Merlin gets somehow back...
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-26 11:32 pm (UTC)I'd take a banishment for a short while if only this frigging secret comes out already. I've wanted that for forever now. It's like ripping a band-off at this point. Even if it's painful, do it quickly.
But I'm still not sure it will happen in the Season Finale, until maybe as a last minute "cliffhanger". I think IF Merlin's magic comes out, it will not be in battle but somehow after the fact, when he already believes he is scot-free once more. Maybe Morgana learns of it and finds a way to "out" Merlin to Arthur?
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-27 02:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-27 04:35 pm (UTC)I feared this episode would make Arthur look bad but I thought the writers handled the whole affair with delicacy and he came of pretty sympathetic. As did anyone really not named Morgana or Aggravaine.
And really, Gaius annoys the crap out of me, how he always advices Merlin to lie to Arthur, about literally everything. Everyone is ready to bitch if Arthur does things they don't agree with but they're not willing to provide him with vital information here.