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Merlin 4x07 review
You'd think I'd stop waxing rhapsodic about how on fire this season is by this point, but I can't. I guess it's a byproduct of three years of (extremely) lowered expectations to be delighted by how they keep turning in excellent episode week after week.
I admit I'm not a big fan of Gaius, primarily because of how he's consistently betrayed every magic user who's not Merlin (and I do think his deceit and paternalistic attitude towards Morganna played a significant role in how she turned out), so I went into an episode which featured him heavily with mixed feelings. So imagine my surprise when not only did a find this a compelling episode, but that Gaius actually behaved in a way that's contrary his character traits that I have issue with (and of course it's always a treat when extremely talented Richard Wilson is given more to do than “looking really disapproving”). The interrogation scene where Gaius refused to condemn magic was excellent by itself, but I got legit chills during that last conversation between Gaius and Arthur. For all of Merlin and Arthur's closeness, I think Gaius accomplished more in terms of potentially swaying Arthur in his intractable position against sorcery, than all of Merlin's (adorably) rambling efforts to that goal (accompanied by generally guilty and/or petulant expressions).
The more the season progresses, the more my conviction that killing Uther was a brilliant move is reinforced, and the subsequent consequences of his death are so satisfying from a storytelling perspective, I haven't even had a chance to miss ASH (and I ADORE the man). Unlike what some Merlin/Arthur fics may suggest, taking Uther out of the equation has not led into instant happiness, free magic and copious buttsex!land (ok, so the latter is probably unlikely on a children's show). More than any recurring or one-off villain, Uther served as the steady antagonist, the oppressive force that made all the secrecy and lies necessary in the first place. While Arthur's sense of betrayal and potentially negative reaction if Merlin was outed as a sorcerer was always a consideration, there was always the sense that Arthur was merely following his father's lead, but not necessarily agreeing with it, as demonstrated by his ambivalence when executing some of Uther's crueler orders. However, losing his father (and the circumstances of his death) and the weight of the crown have made Arthur significantly harder (and there are four words I'd never thought I'd type in a Merlin review in a serious context) than he ever was before, something inevitable both from the Watsonian and Doylist perspective: in the absence of Uther, somebody needs to take on the role of the antagonist within Camelot, and as good of a go as Agravaine is making at it, he's can't smarm about twirling his metaphorical mustache for ever (though given the plague of stupidity currently affecting Camelot, I wouldn't swear to that). Arthur being the person Merlin most fears betraying takes on a whole new meaning when he's the one with the authority and potentially the willingness to dish out the fiery death, which just ups the emotional stakes and makes for excellent television all-around. Not that things are as simple as Arthur turning into Uther 2.0 where magic is concerned, and the show reminded us this with two things: Arthur apparently giving some consideration to Gaius' words at the end (and obviously his apology) and the fact that when he was more or less convinced that the guilty Gaius had fled, he let him go.
Interestingly enough, Merlin was absent from both of those scenes, so I can't imagine how Arthur must currently look through his eyes. The scene where Arthur and Agraivaine were declaring Gaius a traitor could have been a bit anvilly, what with the unsubtle (LIES AND YEARS OF BETRAYAL) parallels, but the performances, Colin Morgan's especially, made it so much more. The raw pain in Merlin's voice, the way he couldn't even look at Arthur after a point, the line about Gaius not leaving without saying goodbye to him-damn it, you silly show, stop trying to make me cry! And side note, I can totally fanwank Gaius and Merlin's decision not to tell Arthur about his treacherous uncle after this. Because while Arthur might be the chill, unconventional King who's friends with his servant in most scenes, he then turns around and acts in a way that serves as a stark reminder that he is the King, and they essentially live and die at his whim. For all of Merlin and Arthur's friendship and Gaius' years of loyal service, it was laughably easy for Agravaine to play Arthur like a fiddle, because as a nobleman and family, his word always counts more than theirs.
Some random thoughts about everything else:
-And the extravagant fanservice continues: Merlin and Arthur's morning routine was a welcome lighthearted moment in an otherwise heavy episode, and I'm very amused by what some of Arthur's Kingly Duties entail.
-So where is Alator's homeland supposed to be exactly? I think they were aiming for “Scotland”, but that doesn't explain the Generic Vaguely “Exotic” Décor. Actually, it's easier on my brain to pretend that the show takes place in an alternate reality with vague similarities to Earth's past but susbtantial differences as well, a bit like Westoros. That would explain the wonky geography and random anachronisms.
-I'm kind of warming to Agravaine, despite the fact he makes everyone around him appear to be unobservant idiots (to be fair, the same can be said of Merlin). I don't know whether it's performance, the fact that I'm finding his skeevy relationship with Morganna kind of interesting or that, unlike 99% of characters on the show, he's good at quick thinking and convincingly lying.
-You'd think Merlin would be more suspicious when Agravaine asks him to covertly put a weapon in the King's chambers in the middle of the night-it turned out he merely wanted him out of Gaius' chambers, but seriously, that boy never learns!
-So Morganna hired Alator to torture the truth out of Gaius, and then decided it wasn't worth sticking around for and just went to randomly chill in her hut? Because she doesn't see that place enough? I'll chalk up this lapse in judgment to brain damage resulting from her spending as much time unconscious lately as Arthur did in previous seasons (actually that theory would explain SO MUCH about Arthur too!)
-Yay, a Gwen/Merlin scene! I'm happy the show hasn't completely forgotten their friendship. And it's nice that the show referred to Arthur and Gwen actually talking about things, even if it was onscreen.
-Speaking of forgotten Merlin friendships, GWAINE! It was SO nice to see him used in a non-comic relief capacity (he even got to do some random CSI:Camelot-ing). I liked that he was determined to help Merlin, even if the latter was being overly cold with him.
-Everytime Gwaine was referred to “hothead” by Morganna and Agravaine, my brain kept supplying “hotass” instead. Though after Gwaine appeared to fall for Agraivaine's ludicrous (like, Clark from Smallville “Adrenaline” explanation levels of unconvincing) “er, I was just checking his vitals. With my big knife” excuse, I had to amend it to “DUMBASS”. Which applies to everybody where Agravaine is concerned. Seriously, Gwaine had better at least have some doubt on Agravaine after this, not the least because a knight's word is worth more than a servants.
-Oh, Jesus, Morganna, if you want to kill someone, just DO IT, don't preface it with a five minute verbal spoilery preview. In the words of Faith from Buffy: “What are you, the narrator?”.
-I LOVED Alator double-crossing Morganna, and the visual of him actually bowing before Merlin. This season is doing a much better job at giving nuanced depictions of magic users.
-Next week! Leon gets to have lines! Random potentially hostile guest star gets to be encased in Percy's manly (and inexplicably chainmail-less) arms! Gwen gets to leave the castle!
I admit I'm not a big fan of Gaius, primarily because of how he's consistently betrayed every magic user who's not Merlin (and I do think his deceit and paternalistic attitude towards Morganna played a significant role in how she turned out), so I went into an episode which featured him heavily with mixed feelings. So imagine my surprise when not only did a find this a compelling episode, but that Gaius actually behaved in a way that's contrary his character traits that I have issue with (and of course it's always a treat when extremely talented Richard Wilson is given more to do than “looking really disapproving”). The interrogation scene where Gaius refused to condemn magic was excellent by itself, but I got legit chills during that last conversation between Gaius and Arthur. For all of Merlin and Arthur's closeness, I think Gaius accomplished more in terms of potentially swaying Arthur in his intractable position against sorcery, than all of Merlin's (adorably) rambling efforts to that goal (accompanied by generally guilty and/or petulant expressions).
The more the season progresses, the more my conviction that killing Uther was a brilliant move is reinforced, and the subsequent consequences of his death are so satisfying from a storytelling perspective, I haven't even had a chance to miss ASH (and I ADORE the man). Unlike what some Merlin/Arthur fics may suggest, taking Uther out of the equation has not led into instant happiness, free magic and copious buttsex!land (ok, so the latter is probably unlikely on a children's show). More than any recurring or one-off villain, Uther served as the steady antagonist, the oppressive force that made all the secrecy and lies necessary in the first place. While Arthur's sense of betrayal and potentially negative reaction if Merlin was outed as a sorcerer was always a consideration, there was always the sense that Arthur was merely following his father's lead, but not necessarily agreeing with it, as demonstrated by his ambivalence when executing some of Uther's crueler orders. However, losing his father (and the circumstances of his death) and the weight of the crown have made Arthur significantly harder (and there are four words I'd never thought I'd type in a Merlin review in a serious context) than he ever was before, something inevitable both from the Watsonian and Doylist perspective: in the absence of Uther, somebody needs to take on the role of the antagonist within Camelot, and as good of a go as Agravaine is making at it, he's can't smarm about twirling his metaphorical mustache for ever (though given the plague of stupidity currently affecting Camelot, I wouldn't swear to that). Arthur being the person Merlin most fears betraying takes on a whole new meaning when he's the one with the authority and potentially the willingness to dish out the fiery death, which just ups the emotional stakes and makes for excellent television all-around. Not that things are as simple as Arthur turning into Uther 2.0 where magic is concerned, and the show reminded us this with two things: Arthur apparently giving some consideration to Gaius' words at the end (and obviously his apology) and the fact that when he was more or less convinced that the guilty Gaius had fled, he let him go.
Interestingly enough, Merlin was absent from both of those scenes, so I can't imagine how Arthur must currently look through his eyes. The scene where Arthur and Agraivaine were declaring Gaius a traitor could have been a bit anvilly, what with the unsubtle (LIES AND YEARS OF BETRAYAL) parallels, but the performances, Colin Morgan's especially, made it so much more. The raw pain in Merlin's voice, the way he couldn't even look at Arthur after a point, the line about Gaius not leaving without saying goodbye to him-damn it, you silly show, stop trying to make me cry! And side note, I can totally fanwank Gaius and Merlin's decision not to tell Arthur about his treacherous uncle after this. Because while Arthur might be the chill, unconventional King who's friends with his servant in most scenes, he then turns around and acts in a way that serves as a stark reminder that he is the King, and they essentially live and die at his whim. For all of Merlin and Arthur's friendship and Gaius' years of loyal service, it was laughably easy for Agravaine to play Arthur like a fiddle, because as a nobleman and family, his word always counts more than theirs.
Some random thoughts about everything else:
-And the extravagant fanservice continues: Merlin and Arthur's morning routine was a welcome lighthearted moment in an otherwise heavy episode, and I'm very amused by what some of Arthur's Kingly Duties entail.
-So where is Alator's homeland supposed to be exactly? I think they were aiming for “Scotland”, but that doesn't explain the Generic Vaguely “Exotic” Décor. Actually, it's easier on my brain to pretend that the show takes place in an alternate reality with vague similarities to Earth's past but susbtantial differences as well, a bit like Westoros. That would explain the wonky geography and random anachronisms.
-I'm kind of warming to Agravaine, despite the fact he makes everyone around him appear to be unobservant idiots (to be fair, the same can be said of Merlin). I don't know whether it's performance, the fact that I'm finding his skeevy relationship with Morganna kind of interesting or that, unlike 99% of characters on the show, he's good at quick thinking and convincingly lying.
-You'd think Merlin would be more suspicious when Agravaine asks him to covertly put a weapon in the King's chambers in the middle of the night-it turned out he merely wanted him out of Gaius' chambers, but seriously, that boy never learns!
-So Morganna hired Alator to torture the truth out of Gaius, and then decided it wasn't worth sticking around for and just went to randomly chill in her hut? Because she doesn't see that place enough? I'll chalk up this lapse in judgment to brain damage resulting from her spending as much time unconscious lately as Arthur did in previous seasons (actually that theory would explain SO MUCH about Arthur too!)
-Yay, a Gwen/Merlin scene! I'm happy the show hasn't completely forgotten their friendship. And it's nice that the show referred to Arthur and Gwen actually talking about things, even if it was onscreen.
-Speaking of forgotten Merlin friendships, GWAINE! It was SO nice to see him used in a non-comic relief capacity (he even got to do some random CSI:Camelot-ing). I liked that he was determined to help Merlin, even if the latter was being overly cold with him.
-Everytime Gwaine was referred to “hothead” by Morganna and Agravaine, my brain kept supplying “hotass” instead. Though after Gwaine appeared to fall for Agraivaine's ludicrous (like, Clark from Smallville “Adrenaline” explanation levels of unconvincing) “er, I was just checking his vitals. With my big knife” excuse, I had to amend it to “DUMBASS”. Which applies to everybody where Agravaine is concerned. Seriously, Gwaine had better at least have some doubt on Agravaine after this, not the least because a knight's word is worth more than a servants.
-Oh, Jesus, Morganna, if you want to kill someone, just DO IT, don't preface it with a five minute verbal spoilery preview. In the words of Faith from Buffy: “What are you, the narrator?”.
-I LOVED Alator double-crossing Morganna, and the visual of him actually bowing before Merlin. This season is doing a much better job at giving nuanced depictions of magic users.
-Next week! Leon gets to have lines! Random potentially hostile guest star gets to be encased in Percy's manly (and inexplicably chainmail-less) arms! Gwen gets to leave the castle!
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Gaius talking to Arthur. Merlin's moment of not being able to look Arthur in the face, almost crying. Gwaine helping (and at least he needed a good deal of convincing to buy Agravaine's stupid explanation). Alator bowing. Gosh. So much good stuff.
P.S. Just noticed you have a typo: You accidentally said it was Alator who gave the knife to Merlin.
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I am just following this show through the wilderness of illogicalland.
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Actually, it's easier on my brain to pretend that the show takes place in an alternate reality with vague similarities to Earth's past but susbtantial differences as well... I decided that ages ago. Otherwise I'd be obliged to point out that Camelot Castle is totally anachronistic, as are crossbows, and that's just for starters. And then there would be throwing things and yelling at the TV, and it would just be very messy.
OMG the creepy unconscious!girl stroking! I think it does give him some actual motivation for picking to back Morgana over his sister's son, which has never made a lot of sense to me. He's never been making his own powergrab, which would be understandable, he's been supporting Morgana's, which seems irrational.
I'm telling you, Gwaine got handsy at some point, and they're just starting to patch things up. *eyes the WIP folder* I do not have time to write that fic. I do not have time to write that fic. I do not have time...
Agravaine is dumb enough to have been trying to check Gaius' pulse with his gloves on. Perhaps Gwaine is just used to thinking of him as a moron?
*uses early!Morgana icon, because I can*
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