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Merlin 4x03 review
Going by the previews last week, I was expecting one of the dreaded “comedy” episodes, and instead the show pulled the rug from under me and gave me an epic, mytharc one.
When the season started, I figured we'd get some episodes of deeply depressed!Uther only for him to bounce back to his usual energetic, witch-burning self, and that Agravaine was just temporarily filling in for the role of Obstacle Within The Court, so I'm sort of delighted that this show is still able to surprise me, and that some actual plot advancement is recurring. Though of course it goes without saying that I'll miss my regular dose of Anthony Stewart Head.
I pretty much knew Uther was done for the moment he was stabbed, and didn't for a second think the Magic Ex Machina plot would work. They had done too good a job setting up Uther's death: him coming out of his stupor long enough to attend Arthur's birthday, the fact he sustained the injury while defending his son, telling Arthur he loved him and was proud of him...all of the above blatant manipulation to make us feel for the death of somebody who is not a good man. And I have to say, in my case, it kind of worked. Not that in any way negates the terrible things Uther has done, but both actors acted the hell out of all their scenes together and Arthur's pain was kind of hard to ignore.
I did understand why Merlin did what he did, though from a strategic point of view, it was potentially the worst possible path. Telling Arthur “Gee, magic could probably help your father, but given that most sorcerers have either been burnt at the stake or in deep hiding, so we can't exactly crack open the Camelot Yellow Pages to find one” would have showed Arthur the major flaw in Uther's policies without restoring to health the king that implemented them in the first place, but Merlin will always ignore strategy when he can follow his heart...even when that leads him to fucking up things beyond belief. By contrast, Team Evil's plan to turn the healing magic against Uther was elegant in its simplicity, and ultimately got the job done -and who would have thought that after years of failed attempts on Uther and Arthur, two of them would get it right(ish) in the same episode? Watching Merlin's attempt to save Uther and knowing how it would go provided plenty of tension in a show not exactly renowned for it.
And speaking of Team Evil, I'm getting increasingly frustrated with everybody ignoring Agravaine's shiftyness (ok, so Gwen was sensibly creeped out by his lurking about, but that's not enough!). And I can't help but wonder why Gaius didn't mention the charming amulet to Arthur-everybody already knows he's something of an expert on magic, and while it might not have changed Arthur's “magic is pure evil stance”, it might have raised some interesting questions on who visited Uther before he died, questions Gwen could have answered.
Btw, I think that Morgana's reaction to Uther's death was supposed to be ambivalent (going by what Agravaine said, because I can't trust Katie's acting), but at this point, I've given up on looking for any layers and three-dimensionality where Morganna is concerned. Though I will say that styling-wise she is looking fierce this season!
I loved how Merlin and Arthur's friendship was repeatedly acknowledged in this episode, though of course it was tainted by all the Secrets And Lies. I'm glad that Gaius thinks one day Merlin will tell Arthur who he is, because at this point, I'm not holding my breath. We got to see Arthur crowned (which I really thought they'd keep for the end of the show), we might get to see Queen Gweneviere, and Merlin will continue to (very badly) sneak behind everyone's back. Hell, at this point, I'd settle for somebody else being in on the secret-Gwen, Gwaine, Percy for all I care, anybody!
Well, at least Gwen no longer has to care for the man who killed her father. I loved what Angel did with what little she was given-clearly concerned for Arthur, but any kind of grief for Uther as Uther would have been as inconsistent as...Morganna's characterization for the last couple of seasons.
That final scene was gorgeous (and the light a nice contrast to the shadows dominating the first three quarters of the ep) and appropriately epic.
I don't normally comment on the trailers for next week, but: BALTAR! <333333
When the season started, I figured we'd get some episodes of deeply depressed!Uther only for him to bounce back to his usual energetic, witch-burning self, and that Agravaine was just temporarily filling in for the role of Obstacle Within The Court, so I'm sort of delighted that this show is still able to surprise me, and that some actual plot advancement is recurring. Though of course it goes without saying that I'll miss my regular dose of Anthony Stewart Head.
I pretty much knew Uther was done for the moment he was stabbed, and didn't for a second think the Magic Ex Machina plot would work. They had done too good a job setting up Uther's death: him coming out of his stupor long enough to attend Arthur's birthday, the fact he sustained the injury while defending his son, telling Arthur he loved him and was proud of him...all of the above blatant manipulation to make us feel for the death of somebody who is not a good man. And I have to say, in my case, it kind of worked. Not that in any way negates the terrible things Uther has done, but both actors acted the hell out of all their scenes together and Arthur's pain was kind of hard to ignore.
I did understand why Merlin did what he did, though from a strategic point of view, it was potentially the worst possible path. Telling Arthur “Gee, magic could probably help your father, but given that most sorcerers have either been burnt at the stake or in deep hiding, so we can't exactly crack open the Camelot Yellow Pages to find one” would have showed Arthur the major flaw in Uther's policies without restoring to health the king that implemented them in the first place, but Merlin will always ignore strategy when he can follow his heart...even when that leads him to fucking up things beyond belief. By contrast, Team Evil's plan to turn the healing magic against Uther was elegant in its simplicity, and ultimately got the job done -and who would have thought that after years of failed attempts on Uther and Arthur, two of them would get it right(ish) in the same episode? Watching Merlin's attempt to save Uther and knowing how it would go provided plenty of tension in a show not exactly renowned for it.
And speaking of Team Evil, I'm getting increasingly frustrated with everybody ignoring Agravaine's shiftyness (ok, so Gwen was sensibly creeped out by his lurking about, but that's not enough!). And I can't help but wonder why Gaius didn't mention the charming amulet to Arthur-everybody already knows he's something of an expert on magic, and while it might not have changed Arthur's “magic is pure evil stance”, it might have raised some interesting questions on who visited Uther before he died, questions Gwen could have answered.
Btw, I think that Morgana's reaction to Uther's death was supposed to be ambivalent (going by what Agravaine said, because I can't trust Katie's acting), but at this point, I've given up on looking for any layers and three-dimensionality where Morganna is concerned. Though I will say that styling-wise she is looking fierce this season!
I loved how Merlin and Arthur's friendship was repeatedly acknowledged in this episode, though of course it was tainted by all the Secrets And Lies. I'm glad that Gaius thinks one day Merlin will tell Arthur who he is, because at this point, I'm not holding my breath. We got to see Arthur crowned (which I really thought they'd keep for the end of the show), we might get to see Queen Gweneviere, and Merlin will continue to (very badly) sneak behind everyone's back. Hell, at this point, I'd settle for somebody else being in on the secret-Gwen, Gwaine, Percy for all I care, anybody!
Well, at least Gwen no longer has to care for the man who killed her father. I loved what Angel did with what little she was given-clearly concerned for Arthur, but any kind of grief for Uther as Uther would have been as inconsistent as...Morganna's characterization for the last couple of seasons.
That final scene was gorgeous (and the light a nice contrast to the shadows dominating the first three quarters of the ep) and appropriately epic.
I don't normally comment on the trailers for next week, but: BALTAR! <333333
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The coronation was just that :-)
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I'm glad that Gaius thinks one day Merlin will tell Arthur who he is, because at this point, I'm not holding my breath.
I'm going to be so pleasantly surprised when the show stops disappointing me in this regard! :D
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I'm going to be so pleasantly surprised when the show stops disappointing me in this regard! :D
On that day, we shall throw a PARTY!
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Of course I'm delighted with the UK version of Free Agents (with a hilarious degenerate Tony Head) which we are getting to see on BBC America, so I won't miss him moping around on Merlin.
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Hm, Free Agents sounds interesting, I might check it out.
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And yeah, definitely check out the UK version of Free Agents, it is a hoot (particularly Tony Head's role).