Ten down, three to go
Dec. 4th, 2011 09:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
astri13Slightly belated (and a bit wordy) reaction to
I liked it. It was atmospheric and even though more of a standalone, the events of last week were adressed. Also liked the two little action sequences, especially the sword fight between Arthur and Elyan.
Interesting scene where both Aggravaine and Merlin are standing before Arthur like advisers. And it was nice that he listened to them both but made up his own mind about matters. In fact, it does seem that Aggravaine loses his sway over Arthur. Earlier in the Season, he all but opened his mouth and Arthur, lacking confidence in himself as a King, surrendered.
What I loved best was Merlin telling Arthur something pertinent that was going on for once. I mean why does everyone in the entire kingdom feel they must lie to the King about anything and everything? Last week, why NOT tell Arthur Lancelot was a shade for example. Sure, it wouldn't have changed Gwen's behaviour (or what they thought of it) but hey, it would have helped save Lancelot's tarnished reputation. He didn't deserve that or what? And it's usually Merlin's instinct to tell but I swear Gaius has become the Bo Kent of this show with the "no, no, no, you can't tell". Like they couldn't tell about Morgana until she invaded Camelot and killed a bunch of people. Or they can't tell about Aggravaine until he...you can guess it. For fucks sake, if you think Arthur is making ill-advised decisions, then don't let him run into them half-blind all the time.
Yup, I need the magic reveal SO badly.
The banter betweem Arthur and Merlin, their whole interaction, wasn't as jovial here as earlier in the Season. And I have read people saying it reminded them of the low points in Seasons 2 and 3. However, I didn't see it that way. They still had a few moments of honest and equal interaction.
I mean, even when Arthur says "I don't have to answer to the likes of you", it wasn't truly played as "you lowly servant, you". Merlin had just caught Arthur in an obvious lie and Arthur, after looking down at the table and seeing that he could no longer claim he was reading something, used the old "attack is the best defense" strategy. And Merlin took it as such, all "wow, you're in a bad mood" like you'd say to a friend who just said something mean to you and you both know it but don't believe they were serious.
And I get he was trying to get Arthur to open up about what was clearly bothering him but Arthur's entire demeanor and body language screamed "not now, not ready to talk". It's at those times that their personalities clash because Arthur tends to be stoic and Merlin tends to be a bubbly talk-it-out guy which leads him to be a constant nag.
Maybe I can just emphasize with Arthur in this case because let me tell you, when I don't wanna talk about something, I don't wanna talk and if my (well-meaning) friends ignore my first signals of "do not approach, let sleeping dogs lie", I don't take any prisoners either. The only difference here is the power imbalance between master and servant. At some point in the show, I imagine that will change with Merlin getting a more prestigious function at the court. At least, I assume he will.
The whole confession scene was very well done. I'm glad they didn't make Arthur literally a killer of kids. That was Uther and no need to go for literary symmetry to the extreme. Instead I imagine a, possibly hot-headed, 16-17year old on his first? mission who simply lacked in experience and leadership skills to control a mob of soldiers falling into blood rage. Or to stand up to his father and King in the first place. And how surprising is that? Not.
I still would have to give a lot of responsibility to this for Uther because a) he ordered that raid and b) if he, Uther, had had any interest in sparing the women and children, HE would have made it an order and/or picked another commanding officer who could enforce that. Which I guess he was fine with everyone slaughtered anyway so yeah, the onus of responsibility is hardly on the kid who could only fail this mission.
Besides, while some magic-weilding survivors of the Purge have brought it up in the past, there is a person who was an adult and aided and abetted Uther in hunting down and slaughtering basically his own kind, including drowning kids and burning families. Hello Gaius, smile and wave for the camera.
Also nice to see a bit more on the Knights. I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed that after playing the round table/knighting as such iconic moments in the Season 3 Finale, they have basically become background props.
Next week? Hm, the trailer made me a bit antsy. And what was that intercutting of Arthur and Gwen, huh? Like I believe he is going to gun her down with a crossbow in the woods and five minutes after that, they get married. Uh-uh.
You know while I haven't outright loved every single episode this Season, there also hasn't been one that made me want to claw out my eyes and throw them at the screen. So really, this has been an exceptionally strong Season. Hope the conclusion is fitting to the build-up. With the finale ep on Christmas Eve no less. In that case it should feel like a present, shouldn't it? :D
I liked it. It was atmospheric and even though more of a standalone, the events of last week were adressed. Also liked the two little action sequences, especially the sword fight between Arthur and Elyan.
Interesting scene where both Aggravaine and Merlin are standing before Arthur like advisers. And it was nice that he listened to them both but made up his own mind about matters. In fact, it does seem that Aggravaine loses his sway over Arthur. Earlier in the Season, he all but opened his mouth and Arthur, lacking confidence in himself as a King, surrendered.
What I loved best was Merlin telling Arthur something pertinent that was going on for once. I mean why does everyone in the entire kingdom feel they must lie to the King about anything and everything? Last week, why NOT tell Arthur Lancelot was a shade for example. Sure, it wouldn't have changed Gwen's behaviour (or what they thought of it) but hey, it would have helped save Lancelot's tarnished reputation. He didn't deserve that or what? And it's usually Merlin's instinct to tell but I swear Gaius has become the Bo Kent of this show with the "no, no, no, you can't tell". Like they couldn't tell about Morgana until she invaded Camelot and killed a bunch of people. Or they can't tell about Aggravaine until he...you can guess it. For fucks sake, if you think Arthur is making ill-advised decisions, then don't let him run into them half-blind all the time.
Yup, I need the magic reveal SO badly.
The banter betweem Arthur and Merlin, their whole interaction, wasn't as jovial here as earlier in the Season. And I have read people saying it reminded them of the low points in Seasons 2 and 3. However, I didn't see it that way. They still had a few moments of honest and equal interaction.
I mean, even when Arthur says "I don't have to answer to the likes of you", it wasn't truly played as "you lowly servant, you". Merlin had just caught Arthur in an obvious lie and Arthur, after looking down at the table and seeing that he could no longer claim he was reading something, used the old "attack is the best defense" strategy. And Merlin took it as such, all "wow, you're in a bad mood" like you'd say to a friend who just said something mean to you and you both know it but don't believe they were serious.
And I get he was trying to get Arthur to open up about what was clearly bothering him but Arthur's entire demeanor and body language screamed "not now, not ready to talk". It's at those times that their personalities clash because Arthur tends to be stoic and Merlin tends to be a bubbly talk-it-out guy which leads him to be a constant nag.
Maybe I can just emphasize with Arthur in this case because let me tell you, when I don't wanna talk about something, I don't wanna talk and if my (well-meaning) friends ignore my first signals of "do not approach, let sleeping dogs lie", I don't take any prisoners either. The only difference here is the power imbalance between master and servant. At some point in the show, I imagine that will change with Merlin getting a more prestigious function at the court. At least, I assume he will.
The whole confession scene was very well done. I'm glad they didn't make Arthur literally a killer of kids. That was Uther and no need to go for literary symmetry to the extreme. Instead I imagine a, possibly hot-headed, 16-17year old on his first? mission who simply lacked in experience and leadership skills to control a mob of soldiers falling into blood rage. Or to stand up to his father and King in the first place. And how surprising is that? Not.
I still would have to give a lot of responsibility to this for Uther because a) he ordered that raid and b) if he, Uther, had had any interest in sparing the women and children, HE would have made it an order and/or picked another commanding officer who could enforce that. Which I guess he was fine with everyone slaughtered anyway so yeah, the onus of responsibility is hardly on the kid who could only fail this mission.
Besides, while some magic-weilding survivors of the Purge have brought it up in the past, there is a person who was an adult and aided and abetted Uther in hunting down and slaughtering basically his own kind, including drowning kids and burning families. Hello Gaius, smile and wave for the camera.
Also nice to see a bit more on the Knights. I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed that after playing the round table/knighting as such iconic moments in the Season 3 Finale, they have basically become background props.
Next week? Hm, the trailer made me a bit antsy. And what was that intercutting of Arthur and Gwen, huh? Like I believe he is going to gun her down with a crossbow in the woods and five minutes after that, they get married. Uh-uh.
You know while I haven't outright loved every single episode this Season, there also hasn't been one that made me want to claw out my eyes and throw them at the screen. So really, this has been an exceptionally strong Season. Hope the conclusion is fitting to the build-up. With the finale ep on Christmas Eve no less. In that case it should feel like a present, shouldn't it? :D
