In which shit goes down
Dec. 6th, 2009 04:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kylezyJust as a warning, I haven't had time to process my angry thoughts, so this might not make sense?
EDIT: Updated to include some positives.
Blergh. That episode was really unsettling. I'm torn between admiration for all involved, for making me feel the way I do now, and disappointment, because I have some serious hatred for the characters this week.
Let's start with Merlin, who doesn't deserve my angry face, he was brilliant. My issue is that throughout the whole episode he actually made me feel physically ill. The suffering and anxiety that plays across his face is heart wrenching to me. I can't even find the right words to describe it. It physically hurt to see Merlin in the distress he was in tonight and when my only issue with someone is that their acting is so outstanding it brings out my emotions...let's just say well played, young Morgan, well played.
Arthur. *does eyebrow of doom* I know he's meant to be a prat but I'm pretty sure I'm not actually supposed to hate him at any stage. And in this episode? I. Hated. Him. He's amusing when he's picking on Merlin for being useless because you can understand where his frustration is coming from (Merlin, after all, is NOT the best servant in the world). There is no way you can empathise with him though when your lead character is as desolate as Merlin appeared tonight. I can understand being shitty when he has to lie to Daddy and also when Merlin has just embarrassed himself and Arthur by breaking into Morgana's room, but for the rest of the show he's just an arse.
Morgana. So. I love evil!Morgana. But I wanted to slap a bitch tonight. Is it just me or did defying her whole kingdom just come out of nowhere? I know she's crazy enough to try and kill Uther, we've seen that before, but that was last season. I can't really remember but nothing has happened since then to piss her off, has it (and by this, I mean, have we seen her anger played out on screen)? And I know she'd obviously care more for her own kind, sorcerers, but in warning them of the knights arrival, she guaranteed innocent knights would be killed. They might not share Uther's views, they're just doing their job. So they've got to die because she's a fool who gets conned into helping people she doesn't really know? I don't like that Morgana. Have her go evil, for sure, but have her go evil for fucking legitimate reason, please.
OH, the acting all high and mighty when evil!guy (I can't remember his name) was sentenced? That really shit me. He confessed not only to 'defying' Uther but STEALING FROM HIM. OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO DIE FOR THAT, WTF DID SHE EXPECT? I'd be on her side if he'd done nothing wrong and Uther was condemning an innocent man, but HE WAS GUILTY. Find a real reason to be pissed off or GTFO Morgana.
Mordred. *Sigh* You're a creepy little motherfucker, aren't you? Again, I like evil!Mordred but Merlin's earned a lifelong enemy because he tripped him over? What kind of fuckery is that? You tripped me, so in the future I will kill your best friend. EVEN STEVENS!
Slash Dragon. Patience grasshopper. Merlin never said when he'd release you. That was never part of the deal.
I hate that I feel this way about the episode because I'm usually the one that stands back from any bitching, saying 'umm dudes, it's just a tv show, you're taking this shit too seriously'. RAGH, FEELINGS MAKE HULK'S TUMMY SQUIRMY.
That said, here are today's redeeming features, or why I might consider maybe watching this again sometime in the distant future.
Arthur and Morgana banter. We haven't seen enough of this and it's been a good while since the last time. I think, in the writers' haste to put Gwen in as Arthur's love interest, they had to distance him from Morgana as much as possible. Since Arthur and Gwen have snogged, I think us ridiculously dumb viewers get that A/M is not on the table now, thanks guys!
Gaius. Oh I hope you don't die! He normally annoys me in each episode with the 'I FEAR THE WORK OF A SORCERER' and 'MERLIN, DON'T USE MAGIC' but he was so kind and lovely tonight!
Arthur not dobbing on Merlin to Daddy. Okay, I aww'ed at this point but it didn't last long.
Five minutes to...thicken.
The episode didn't end in either a) Gaius and Merlin laughing or b) Arthur saying something mean to Merlin as they walk off the set. That's got to be a first for a while, yeah?
Leave your comments if you've seen the episode, I'd love to know what you all thought!
EDIT: Updated to include some positives.
Blergh. That episode was really unsettling. I'm torn between admiration for all involved, for making me feel the way I do now, and disappointment, because I have some serious hatred for the characters this week.
Let's start with Merlin, who doesn't deserve my angry face, he was brilliant. My issue is that throughout the whole episode he actually made me feel physically ill. The suffering and anxiety that plays across his face is heart wrenching to me. I can't even find the right words to describe it. It physically hurt to see Merlin in the distress he was in tonight and when my only issue with someone is that their acting is so outstanding it brings out my emotions...let's just say well played, young Morgan, well played.
Arthur. *does eyebrow of doom* I know he's meant to be a prat but I'm pretty sure I'm not actually supposed to hate him at any stage. And in this episode? I. Hated. Him. He's amusing when he's picking on Merlin for being useless because you can understand where his frustration is coming from (Merlin, after all, is NOT the best servant in the world). There is no way you can empathise with him though when your lead character is as desolate as Merlin appeared tonight. I can understand being shitty when he has to lie to Daddy and also when Merlin has just embarrassed himself and Arthur by breaking into Morgana's room, but for the rest of the show he's just an arse.
Morgana. So. I love evil!Morgana. But I wanted to slap a bitch tonight. Is it just me or did defying her whole kingdom just come out of nowhere? I know she's crazy enough to try and kill Uther, we've seen that before, but that was last season. I can't really remember but nothing has happened since then to piss her off, has it (and by this, I mean, have we seen her anger played out on screen)? And I know she'd obviously care more for her own kind, sorcerers, but in warning them of the knights arrival, she guaranteed innocent knights would be killed. They might not share Uther's views, they're just doing their job. So they've got to die because she's a fool who gets conned into helping people she doesn't really know? I don't like that Morgana. Have her go evil, for sure, but have her go evil for fucking legitimate reason, please.
OH, the acting all high and mighty when evil!guy (I can't remember his name) was sentenced? That really shit me. He confessed not only to 'defying' Uther but STEALING FROM HIM. OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO DIE FOR THAT, WTF DID SHE EXPECT? I'd be on her side if he'd done nothing wrong and Uther was condemning an innocent man, but HE WAS GUILTY. Find a real reason to be pissed off or GTFO Morgana.
Mordred. *Sigh* You're a creepy little motherfucker, aren't you? Again, I like evil!Mordred but Merlin's earned a lifelong enemy because he tripped him over? What kind of fuckery is that? You tripped me, so in the future I will kill your best friend. EVEN STEVENS!
Slash Dragon. Patience grasshopper. Merlin never said when he'd release you. That was never part of the deal.
I hate that I feel this way about the episode because I'm usually the one that stands back from any bitching, saying 'umm dudes, it's just a tv show, you're taking this shit too seriously'. RAGH, FEELINGS MAKE HULK'S TUMMY SQUIRMY.
That said, here are today's redeeming features, or why I might consider maybe watching this again sometime in the distant future.
Arthur and Morgana banter. We haven't seen enough of this and it's been a good while since the last time. I think, in the writers' haste to put Gwen in as Arthur's love interest, they had to distance him from Morgana as much as possible. Since Arthur and Gwen have snogged, I think us ridiculously dumb viewers get that A/M is not on the table now, thanks guys!
Gaius. Oh I hope you don't die! He normally annoys me in each episode with the 'I FEAR THE WORK OF A SORCERER' and 'MERLIN, DON'T USE MAGIC' but he was so kind and lovely tonight!
Arthur not dobbing on Merlin to Daddy. Okay, I aww'ed at this point but it didn't last long.
Five minutes to...thicken.
The episode didn't end in either a) Gaius and Merlin laughing or b) Arthur saying something mean to Merlin as they walk off the set. That's got to be a first for a while, yeah?
Leave your comments if you've seen the episode, I'd love to know what you all thought!
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no subject
Date: 2009-12-06 02:21 pm (UTC)Morgana's character needed more lines or more something to explain why she was doing things that had no buildup and reason. Yelling at Uther, getting the crystal for Mordred. Come on, people, Morgana is smarter than that.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-06 02:38 pm (UTC)I was really disappointed with the writing for Morgana. She is positively stronger and smarter than how she appeared, you're absolutely right. She deserves to be treated better.
I'm so glad that you left a comment, I'm really interested in everyone's take on this episode!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-06 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-10 04:51 am (UTC)THIS. I just watched the episode and that was my thought too. While I admit Uther can go overboard in his hatred of all things magic, in that particular case, he was totally in the right. When someone plots to kill/overthrow you, you deal with them, end of story.
Again, I like evil!Mordred but Merlin's earned a lifelong enemy because he tripped him over? What kind of fuckery is that? You tripped me, so in the future I will kill your best friend. EVEN STEVENS!
OMG. YOU, READ MY MIND!! That's EXACTLY what I thought too! That's uncanny, but yes, I thought it was a bit of an overreaction from Mordred. I was expecting something much more... serious?
Merlin never said when he'd release you. That was never part of the deal.
Seems like it's going to happen though. The question now is HOW. Will Merlin be the one to do it? Heck, it might even be Morgana who frees him! XD
no subject
Date: 2009-12-10 06:22 am (UTC)YES. GOD YES, THIS. You said it far more elegantly than me xD
I was expecting something much more... serious?
It should have been. I'm really disappointed that the writers chose to go that way. This is an epic story and the battle between Arthur and Mordred is supposed to be legendary. Now I'm picturing Arthur and Mordred fighting and Arthur goes 'WHY?' and Mordred's like 'BECAUSE I SUFFERED A GREAT INJUSTICE IN YOUR KINGDOM WHEN I WAS A CHILD. I WAS [dun dun dunnnn] TRIPPED BY YOUR SERVANT' *STAB*. And Arthur when he's dying is like, 'goddamn you Merlin, you're so incompetent'.
And legendary stories should not have capslock drama :(
Seems like it's going to happen though.
Yes, he said he'd release him, but he never said when. I'm sick of the dragon whinging about it. Merlin could technically wait 50 years and then do it, that wouldn't be against the rules. Though we know Merlin is not really that kind of guy. GUH, I'm so excited for these last two episodes!