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Merlin 4x05 review
-I admit it: I've never found Arthur hotter than while he was doing his whole “heavy is the head that bears the crown” routine, complete with morally dubious choices and isolating himself.
-Arthur/Gwen continue to not even attempt to be sneaky, which I guess is more understandable now that Uther is no longer in the picture, and none of them had yet wised up to Agravaine's shadiness. Having said that, I found Arthur's denial to Agravaine that his romantic (marital) prospects have little to do with affairs of state unrealistically naïve. It would be one thing if I outright stated “to hell with convention, I'm King and will make my own rules”, but after a lifetime of Uther's lectures and expectations, surely he's more savvy to royal politics than that?
-LOL, Arthur is working out his sexual frustrations with Merlin, though not in the way shippers would hope for.
-Morganna's hair and outfit were fabulous in this episode. Sadly, the bitchin' styling was not enough to distract from how much the weakness of her performance was exposed by simply sharing a scene with the fabulous Lindsay Duncan. When Annis was what she wanted from her, my brain couldn't help supplying “...acting lessons”.
-Merlin's line about this being the last time Arthur and him slept in a proper bed seemed like such an obvious lead up to a sharing the bed joke, but I was floored that they actually said the words on the show. You can practically hear the squee of a thousand slashers while watching the scene.
- Dude, Gwen took Arthur's breakup speech much better than I would have, considering than a few seasons ago he was singing a whole different tune to “when I am King” regarding their relationship.
Though of course, if she'd been anything but 100% supportive to him (even when he's being kind of a douche) would have incurred the Wrath Of Fandom (not that she doesn't get it anyway, but for my own sanity/faith in humanity, I obviously avoid the online places where such comments are common). Her quietly devastated delivery of “I'm not appropriate” kind of broke my heart though.
-The knights declaring their dedication to Arthur was absolutely perfect, from Elyan being the one to voice their unequivocal loyalty to Arthur (he really is becoming the designated voice knightly ideals) to Leon's nod to Arthur at the end (which was a lovely way to hint at the fact that out of all the current knights, he's got the longest history with Arthur). And then of course, Merlin calling Arthur “Sire” afterward.
-From the episode title alone it was obvious that this was all about Arthur finding himself at a crossroads as to what kind of King he would be compared to his father, but the turning point was Arthur admitting to himself he made a mistake-this, more than anything else, set him apart from Uther. Uther might have at times admitted he was wrong in the ways he dealt with Arthur and Morganna, but that's about mistakes he made as a father, never anything he did as King.
-Did Annis recruit all her men in a biker bar? I was amused by how much scruffier they were than Arthur's men (Gwaine is rocking the longish hair/beard combo, but he looks more “L'Oreal for Men” and less “metalhead”).
-Arthur and Merlin's interaction before the battle was the right mixture of touching and funny, though I admit that “old friend” made me think of Xavier and Magneto in a particularly giggle inducing way.
-Ok, so there were plenty of things that made me think of A Of Ice And Fire/Game of Thrones in this episode: the Shades Of Ned Stark For Duty Beheading (obviously implied, because this show is kind of the polar opposite of ASOIAF in terms of tone), how very Starky Annis came off to me (domain, attitude and attire) and the flaming sword, but them casting Cregor Clegane's long-lost cousin as Annis' champion pretty much clinched it for me.
- “You came to me in the name of Gorlois, but I fear you're more than Uther than you realised”. Oooh, BURN! Annis: fabulous right down to her exit line. Between this and last week, this season has had some fantastic one-off characters.
- That last Arthur/Gwen scene was hot. I know they have to keep things strictly PG on the show (and isn't it sad that the only implied sex scene we'll likely ever get on the show was between Uther and a TROLL), but in my mind, the fadeout was followed by some very “inappropriate” activities indeed.
-Arthur/Gwen continue to not even attempt to be sneaky, which I guess is more understandable now that Uther is no longer in the picture, and none of them had yet wised up to Agravaine's shadiness. Having said that, I found Arthur's denial to Agravaine that his romantic (marital) prospects have little to do with affairs of state unrealistically naïve. It would be one thing if I outright stated “to hell with convention, I'm King and will make my own rules”, but after a lifetime of Uther's lectures and expectations, surely he's more savvy to royal politics than that?
-LOL, Arthur is working out his sexual frustrations with Merlin, though not in the way shippers would hope for.
-Morganna's hair and outfit were fabulous in this episode. Sadly, the bitchin' styling was not enough to distract from how much the weakness of her performance was exposed by simply sharing a scene with the fabulous Lindsay Duncan. When Annis was what she wanted from her, my brain couldn't help supplying “...acting lessons”.
-Merlin's line about this being the last time Arthur and him slept in a proper bed seemed like such an obvious lead up to a sharing the bed joke, but I was floored that they actually said the words on the show. You can practically hear the squee of a thousand slashers while watching the scene.
- Dude, Gwen took Arthur's breakup speech much better than I would have, considering than a few seasons ago he was singing a whole different tune to “when I am King” regarding their relationship.
Though of course, if she'd been anything but 100% supportive to him (even when he's being kind of a douche) would have incurred the Wrath Of Fandom (not that she doesn't get it anyway, but for my own sanity/faith in humanity, I obviously avoid the online places where such comments are common). Her quietly devastated delivery of “I'm not appropriate” kind of broke my heart though.
-The knights declaring their dedication to Arthur was absolutely perfect, from Elyan being the one to voice their unequivocal loyalty to Arthur (he really is becoming the designated voice knightly ideals) to Leon's nod to Arthur at the end (which was a lovely way to hint at the fact that out of all the current knights, he's got the longest history with Arthur). And then of course, Merlin calling Arthur “Sire” afterward.
-From the episode title alone it was obvious that this was all about Arthur finding himself at a crossroads as to what kind of King he would be compared to his father, but the turning point was Arthur admitting to himself he made a mistake-this, more than anything else, set him apart from Uther. Uther might have at times admitted he was wrong in the ways he dealt with Arthur and Morganna, but that's about mistakes he made as a father, never anything he did as King.
-Did Annis recruit all her men in a biker bar? I was amused by how much scruffier they were than Arthur's men (Gwaine is rocking the longish hair/beard combo, but he looks more “L'Oreal for Men” and less “metalhead”).
-Arthur and Merlin's interaction before the battle was the right mixture of touching and funny, though I admit that “old friend” made me think of Xavier and Magneto in a particularly giggle inducing way.
-Ok, so there were plenty of things that made me think of A Of Ice And Fire/Game of Thrones in this episode: the Shades Of Ned Stark For Duty Beheading (obviously implied, because this show is kind of the polar opposite of ASOIAF in terms of tone), how very Starky Annis came off to me (domain, attitude and attire) and the flaming sword, but them casting Cregor Clegane's long-lost cousin as Annis' champion pretty much clinched it for me.
- “You came to me in the name of Gorlois, but I fear you're more than Uther than you realised”. Oooh, BURN! Annis: fabulous right down to her exit line. Between this and last week, this season has had some fantastic one-off characters.
- That last Arthur/Gwen scene was hot. I know they have to keep things strictly PG on the show (and isn't it sad that the only implied sex scene we'll likely ever get on the show was between Uther and a TROLL), but in my mind, the fadeout was followed by some very “inappropriate” activities indeed.
no subject
I'm still really happy w/this season... but I have to admit that when I went to find 'Merlin' last night I got all excited about finding the new season of 'Misfits' instead (my favorite show is back on the air! Yay!)
Now I still have to watch Dexter and Downton Abbey (all the best TV shows are on my computer).
no subject
My personnal wish for Gwen at the moment would be for her to be Gaius' apprentice. Merlin's heart's obviously not in it, and she's assisted him a few times.
I still haven't watched the new Misfits, but I'll get around to it soon.
no subject
Lindsay Duncan is so fabulous. I was so chuffed they got her - she was so perfect as a well-established Queen, perfectly capable of picking up her husband's crown and busting some heads with it.
Actually the bit with the knights all trooping in to tell Arthur how they'd all die for him bugged me enormously, because of how utterly they were missing the point. He knows that already. It is, in fact, the problem, and they just rubbed it in a bit harder. On the plus side, it seems to be what finally prompted him to action. But.
Haha, 'old friend'. I get what they were trying to do, but it was so awkward! That's 20 years worth of fighting together, not 4.
“You came to me in the name of Gorlois, but I fear you're more than Uther than you realised”. Right? That was glorious.
Apparently I picked exactly the right time to
be bullied tostart actually watching the show. :oDno subject
Hm, I see what you mean about it being obvious, but I'm easily emotionally manipulated by stuff like that.
"Old friend" will never stop being hilarious.
And yay for you getting on board with Merlin! This season is so improved in quality compared to previous ones, it's ridiculous.