Log in

No account? Create an account

Previous Entry | Next Entry

Let's talk about Merlin again...

So, the last time I talked about Merlin was after 5x04. I think the episode I just watched was 5x08? 5x07? I can't remember. Anyway, there have been a bunch of episodes, and we're more than half-way through the season now...

I really really wanted Merlin to answer Arthur's question about the girl at the end of this episode. It drives me nuts that they cut the scene there. Did he confirm Gwen's story in order to make nice with "the hollow queen" or did he deny it, and Arthur assume he was lying...? Or did he make his excuses and limp out of the room? 

I make it a point not to complain about the writing of Merlin. I'm sure many of you have noticed. I only expect the standard that they've so far shown me, nothing more. Mainly because if I held them to a higher standard, I'd end up frustrated at the end of each episode instead of having enjoyed the episode. It's sort of like reading stories written by children - you don't expect a six or seven year-old to tell you a story with a complex plot and believable characters, because they're only six or seven... by the time they get to be 11 or 12 though, you might start asking them "okay, but WHY did that character do that" or "I thought this story was about a princess and a dragon fighting trolls, why are we suddenly in the middle of a bank robbery?" You know, stuff like that. It may sound insulting, but I don't mean it to be - Merlin's writers are the TV show equivalent of six and seven year-olds... and I expect six and seven year-old quality. This year, I think maybe they've stepped it up to maybe even a ten-year old level...but they aren't at the stage where I'm going to start wanting more out of them (ie: the thirteen year-olds of Supernatural... once you hit your metaphorical teens, you are open for criticism.)

Okay, now that I've said all that, I will say that it does REALLY annoy me when TV writers cut away from a scene instead of showing us how the main issue in it is resolved. So, there, I think that kind of "convenient writing" solution is something I would even criticize a six year-old for. 

On a completely different note: Okay, that line in that final scene with Arthur where he's like "Tell us about the girl, Merlin - and tell us why you're walking with a limp." and this is just after Merlin said, "there is no girl." ....did, um, anyone else's mind go to a very dirty place? No girl and your walking with a limp, eh.... Arthur might put those two facts together and still assume a romantic liaison is all I'm saying. I swear it's the glove scene all over again. Arthur already thinks Merlin is a crossdresser, I wouldn't put it past him to put two and two together incorrectly in this case as well...

Anyway, so, part of the reason I wasn't talking about Merlin is because I wanted to see how they resolved the whole Gwen storyline...that hasn't happened yet, though it looks like it's going to happen next week - which is wicked cool. I'll probably do another post then, because that episode looks EPIC. Also, that way I can talk about Gwen's storyline with ALL OF THE FACTS.

I do think that in this episode they DID manage to make me feel a bit of sympathy for Morgana...and I think Arthur feels sympathy for her too. Mind you, I think he always did. I think me and Arthur kind of agree about Morgana at this point, like "hey, maybe if you stop being a crazy revenge-seeking idiot for two minutes, you might notice that we actually care about you and would totally welcome you home and such as long as you stopped trying to kill everyone." Because, honestly, Arthur, I don't think, has ever actually done anything against Morgana except defended himself and his people. MERLIN has tried to kill her numerous times, but even those were arguably in self-defense. Except for that one time when he couldn't even go through with it... stupid damn Merlin.

I know a lot of people complained last episode about how the knights didn't leap to Merlin's defense when Gwen accused him of regicide and had him thrown in the dungeons...and yeah, I totally get that, but again, seven-ten year-old writers. It's true, it would have only taken a second to show some conflict on Gwaine or Leon's faces, but whatever... that would leave us nothing to write fics about afterward. That being said, I would love some more Merlin/Gwaine scenes. I absolutely love the way Gwaine loves Merlin. Part of me really wants a Gwaine magic reveal before we get an Arthur one.

I really do think the magic reveal is coming this year, because Merlin is getting more and more obvious with the magic, and also "revealing" it to more and more people who aren't Arthur. It's to Merlin's benefit, however, that Morgana doesn't know about it, so part of me does want him to keep it a secret for as long as he can - as long as Merlin is underestimated, he has the advantage. We see in this episode what happens when he's not underestimated and therefore specifically targeted... he just doesn't see it coming. Though, I think he suspected for a fair bit of the journey... especially when he realized that the boy wasn't a druid. And that was really cool to see them do the head-talky thing to someone who didn't have the head-talky ability.

What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, magic reveal. I wasn't surprised when the kid died at the end. I was actually wondering, once the kid found out about the magic, if Merlin was going to kill him at the end of the day. Because honestly, I would have. The kid has already been captured by Morgana and Gwen once and obviously was pretty easy to coerce to their side...so, what's to stop them from capturing him again and easily getting the Merlin's secret out of him? Nothing, that's what. The kid had to die one way or the other, Merlin lucked out that he didn't have to do it himself. (Though, that's my extremely cold-hearted opinion...Merlin probably would have been a softy and let him life and worried about the consequences later.... seriously, you should all be happy that I'm not in a position to decide life or death matters. I'm fairly cruel. I'd have killed Crowley no matter what meat-suit he was in, and I would kill stupid redemption seeking boys in order to protect Merlin.)

That being said, I like the fact that Merlin is a physician now - and that he did cure himself with science rather than magic. I like when characters actually learn and grow over the course of a series.

Speaking of changing over the course of the series - I love Arthur's slow building concern for Merlin's absence, and his obvious affection for him. It's true that Arthur CAN dress himself, he's done it numerous times without Merlin's assistance, but I thought the whole scene with needing Gaius to help was really hilarious...as well as the whole notion that he's completely at a loss without Merlin.

I suppose I should about Elyan's death and whatnot, but I don't feel like it. :P 

I'm looking forward to next week. Looks like it's going to be Merthur-tastic with a side of Arwen.

ETA: I'm heading out for the evening, but I'll be back later to chat in comments with anyone wishing to!


( 2 comments — Leave a comment )
Nov. 25th, 2012 09:23 am (UTC)
I don't have much to say for this particular episode compared to last week's. I love that they separate Arthur and Merlin for most of the episode, and then seeing them reunited at the end of it is pretty satisfying. But yes, not seeing Merlin answer the question, and thus not knowing if Merlin just follows Gwen's lead or tell Arthur something else, or just simply make his excuses and leave, that's frustrating.

A couple of gripes about it: one, I know that Arthur missing Merlin is supposed to be funny, and it is, but come on, we did see him dress himself numerous times. They should show something else that Arthur needs Merlin for, maybe some parts of the room is really really messy, or something to do with the 'knighting' side of Arthur?

Another gripe is Morgana. I might be more cold-hearted than you in this, because I can't muster much sympathy for Morgana AT ALL. I feel so sorry for Aithusa, for the cruel treatment that she has gone through, but when I heard what Morgana went through, all I could think about was why didn't that bad guy just kill her straightaway? Saves time and trouble and he would really be doing Arthur a favour. All these little insights of what she went through the past three years or so, and none of them lessen the wish within me for anyone, ANYONE AT ALL, to kill her and get it over with.

I love the little Arwen moments in this episode, they should have shown more moments like this throughout, and not just when it looks like Gwen is working on the bad side. LOL

I did wonder though: Gwen is smart enough to know that she should get rid of Merlin first before getting rid of Arthur. Isn't she afraid of showing her hand to Merlin? Morgana did that in season 3, she's lucky that Merlin hadn't yet - and maybe still doesn't - have the courage to kill her outright in the end.

I'm over thinking I think LOL

I want the magic reveal soon!!!
Nov. 25th, 2012 05:51 pm (UTC)
It's true. They were sort of on the right track in the first scene with Arthur where Arthur just couldn't find anything. But we do know that Arthur can get dressed on his own. Also, in S3, Merlin was writing Arthur's speeches and organizing his schedule - it would have been pretty easy for Arthur to be freaking out about not knowing what his schedule was or whether or not he had to write his own speech for the feast or something...

Ah, I don't think you're cold-hearted. I mean, I guess I feel most bad for the white dragon too. I think you might just have a longer memory than I do. I was thinking about it last night, and I realized that Morgana was a raging illogical psycho in S4 too, and that was before being tortured...so, yeah, the torture doesn't excuse her behaviour. I think I feel bad for her feeling bad for the dragon? Does that make sense? Like, I have sympathy for her sympathy.

I think Gwen's already showed her hand to Merlin. I'm thinking that's why it looks like next week things come to a head.

Gwen's Merlin's friend though, so I think she's fairly safe because part of her must know that Merlin would try to save her before he tried to kill her... or at least, I think that's what the hold up with Merlin is. He's not going to kill Gwen, because part of him loves her almost as much as Arthur. He sees her as an essential part of Albion - so yeah, he'll probably try to undo what Morgana has done, before he gives up and moves in for the kill.
( 2 comments — Leave a comment )