Arthur's Bane Part Deux
First, I have no idea if I'm doing this right. Let's hope.
Ok. Arthur's bane is himself. Hmm. Well I suppose we actually already knew that because he's blind to true loyalty and rewards those he barely knows. His own worst enemy, indeed.
So, I read the reaction posts. I must have watched a different episode than other people because I am furious at this shite. Merlin the character is continually belittled by the lack of magic use and reveal. I read the reviews from last weeks ep and was pleasantly surprised that I am not the only one who expects more from this show. TPTB had a brilliant idea with the concept of this show that they they have tossed in the rubbish bin. In the beginning, I watched the show and took it for what it was; "family entertainment". Now that they say they are 'more mature', I'm giving them no 'benefits of the doubt'. They have royally fucked up this show and it's characters that, in legend, are the greatest of all. For example: The scene where Arthur, Morgana, and Mordred are together in the cave and Merlin turns up. Merlin gets knocked around (AGAIN - FFS!!!) and he's dizzy. Ok, I would expect the person unable to weild magic, if that someone is not touted to be the GREATEST SORCERER WHO EVER LIVED. If anything, I would expect this Great Sorcerer's magic, seeing as he IS magic, to react to the danger of Arthur by instict (maybe I read too much fanfiction, but it makes sense). But no. As usual, Merlin is impotent. Morgana is still the one dimension baddie, crazy bitch priestess. In Morgana's character I don't expect any changes. I saw shades of grey last season when Uther died and when Lancelot came back, but ultimately, she won't change. She's the long suffering Wile E. Coyote of this show. Then, THEN, instead of giving us something from Merlin, showing us that even when he can barely think he can still be badass, Mordred saves the day. I do like how Alex is playing Mordred. At this time, he is an enigma. Because I saw spoilers, I knew Mordred would become a Knight, but, admittedly, I didn't expect him to stab Morgana. That actually was quite surprising. But why have Merlin there? As far as I can see, to bait us on the reveal and once again, show the TITLE CHARACTER as ineffective. Although I want a big, Big, BIG magic reveal......the heavens open, lightening from Merlin's fingertips, the earth cracks, eating the enemy alive, black clouds swirling down and rain pelting the landscape, etc., this could have been a good setup for a reveal/fallout and a new story arc. Merlin goes back to see Aithusa (oh poor baby!), does his Dragonlord awesomeness, and Arthur hears. Arthur is shocked into silence. We see the fear, anger, betrayal play across his face. Then cut to Merlin and the horror, sorrow, fear, and pleading playing in his eyes (you know it would be brilliantly acted by both of them). Quietly, in a voice like death itself, cold and emotionless, Arthur tells Merlin never return to Camelot. Merlin cries and pleads or, because of what he sees in Arthur's face and hears in his voice, is stunned and cannot speak. Arthur leaves him there, telling the Knights Merlin has died. Think how Gwaine would react! More friggin' fantastic acting. But, instead of being even remotely creative, we get the same wonky crap they've been serving us for five, count them, FIVE years. I AM SOOO ANGRY!!! Oh, and let's not forget Gwen. Although I am excited she is not a doormouse for Arthur anymore, suddenly she's smarter and more coniving than Arthur and Uther? Really? REALLY?!! I was very happy Gaius told Gwen ultimately for some, nothing has changed since Arthur took the throne and they are not happy. I will NOT be able to contain my already seeping rage if it's Gwen who convinces Arthur magic is not all evil and to rethink the laws. I WILL STALK BBC/SHINE; and I live in California, USA. That's a long-arse way to go to get some revenge. Merlin deserves his day. He's earned it. WE'VE earned the right to watch it happen, with happy faces and love all around.
Now tell me, who the frickin-frack came up with the idea that the key looks like an alien? Totally wrong CGI for this show, IMO. I did like that she called Gwaine "fair Knight". I don't know why, but it struck me as a wonderful characterization of Gwaine. Shall I mention that for some reason, TPTB think by giving us shirtless men and even more push-up bras, we'll be happy with the total decimination of Arthur's and Merlin's characters? Didn't work on me. If anything, I am insulted they think that. "Family show" my arse. In some ways, they have enough of that to rival "Game of Thrones"... oh and don't tell me they didn't rip-off from them. Look at where Morgana lives. It's the Wall for Christ sake! Winter is Coming..... also wolves.
I was happy to see Merlin and Arthur working together when they escaped Morgana's henchmen. They didn't even need to communicate verbally. Just read each others signals (I'm glad Merlin's finally learned some of them!). I think Arthur was shocked by Merlin's viciousness regarding killing Mordred. He looks upon Merlin as a soft-hearted, kind man. We know Merlin wanted Arthur to do it for two reasons: So that Mordred the threat would be dead, and so that he (Merlin) didn't have to.
The last exchange between Merlin and Mordred was good. Merlin effectively told Mordred he's on to him. Merlin may not know what's going on exactly, but Mordred knows Merlin ain't no fool. I really like how Colin is playing Merlin this year. He's frustrated, angry, desperate to be seen and heard, tired, lonely, and about ready to break (IMO). It makes me hope something for him will change, whether it be a reveal, or that Merlin will finally say "Arthur, you're an arse and I am SOOO done with you. Get yourself killed, just don't pester me. I have herbs to grind." Now, of course, one of those scenario's definitely will not happen, and unfortunately, as much as I don't want to believe it, the other probably won't, either.
I think the first half of season 4 (sorry-series 4) ruined me. I had never expected too much from this show until then. I've been watching from the very beginning, always hoping for a reveal, and then during s3, completely gave up on getting one. So, I went into s4 with no hopes other than to be entertained by Bradley and Colin and drink up some Merthur. But then things changed. It was so good. SO GOOD. Then it turned to shite. Yes, there was some marvelous acting and writing here and there, but the overall arc went in the toilet. My sister is the one who convinced me to stick with it. She's of the mind that it is what it is and now we know what NOT to expect from it. I did like the first ep this season. I read the pre-reviews of ep2 and expected some satisfaction. Not a reveal, but at least to feel the excitement I felt for the first ep. IMO, this ep did not deliver. The story an characters are reset to the same bullshite as s3 and s4. So far (and I know it's early), the only difference is that Merlin is mad and tired and Gwen is Queen. Some folks thought in ep1 that, after Merlin saved Arthur and carried him away and did magic one foot from Arthur's open eyes, saying a spell and all glowy eyed, when Arthur awoke and asked "what happened", Merln was actually angry Arthur hadn't seen or heard. I felt that, too. Could be totally wrong, but that's how I read it.
I have to mention that, although the music has always been lovely, so far this season it's been as breathtaking as the photography. The piece in ep1 when Merlin saw the vision...OMFG. It was perfect. Oh, and that vision. Holy Christ. I was crying. It was horrible to see Arthur mortally wounded. See? SEE! These are the feels I want. Happy and hearbreaking to the point of tears. I guess I ask too much.
*rant and review over*
Ok. Arthur's bane is himself. Hmm. Well I suppose we actually already knew that because he's blind to true loyalty and rewards those he barely knows. His own worst enemy, indeed.
So, I read the reaction posts. I must have watched a different episode than other people because I am furious at this shite. Merlin the character is continually belittled by the lack of magic use and reveal. I read the reviews from last weeks ep and was pleasantly surprised that I am not the only one who expects more from this show. TPTB had a brilliant idea with the concept of this show that they they have tossed in the rubbish bin. In the beginning, I watched the show and took it for what it was; "family entertainment". Now that they say they are 'more mature', I'm giving them no 'benefits of the doubt'. They have royally fucked up this show and it's characters that, in legend, are the greatest of all. For example: The scene where Arthur, Morgana, and Mordred are together in the cave and Merlin turns up. Merlin gets knocked around (AGAIN - FFS!!!) and he's dizzy. Ok, I would expect the person unable to weild magic, if that someone is not touted to be the GREATEST SORCERER WHO EVER LIVED. If anything, I would expect this Great Sorcerer's magic, seeing as he IS magic, to react to the danger of Arthur by instict (maybe I read too much fanfiction, but it makes sense). But no. As usual, Merlin is impotent. Morgana is still the one dimension baddie, crazy bitch priestess. In Morgana's character I don't expect any changes. I saw shades of grey last season when Uther died and when Lancelot came back, but ultimately, she won't change. She's the long suffering Wile E. Coyote of this show. Then, THEN, instead of giving us something from Merlin, showing us that even when he can barely think he can still be badass, Mordred saves the day. I do like how Alex is playing Mordred. At this time, he is an enigma. Because I saw spoilers, I knew Mordred would become a Knight, but, admittedly, I didn't expect him to stab Morgana. That actually was quite surprising. But why have Merlin there? As far as I can see, to bait us on the reveal and once again, show the TITLE CHARACTER as ineffective. Although I want a big, Big, BIG magic reveal......the heavens open, lightening from Merlin's fingertips, the earth cracks, eating the enemy alive, black clouds swirling down and rain pelting the landscape, etc., this could have been a good setup for a reveal/fallout and a new story arc. Merlin goes back to see Aithusa (oh poor baby!), does his Dragonlord awesomeness, and Arthur hears. Arthur is shocked into silence. We see the fear, anger, betrayal play across his face. Then cut to Merlin and the horror, sorrow, fear, and pleading playing in his eyes (you know it would be brilliantly acted by both of them). Quietly, in a voice like death itself, cold and emotionless, Arthur tells Merlin never return to Camelot. Merlin cries and pleads or, because of what he sees in Arthur's face and hears in his voice, is stunned and cannot speak. Arthur leaves him there, telling the Knights Merlin has died. Think how Gwaine would react! More friggin' fantastic acting. But, instead of being even remotely creative, we get the same wonky crap they've been serving us for five, count them, FIVE years. I AM SOOO ANGRY!!! Oh, and let's not forget Gwen. Although I am excited she is not a doormouse for Arthur anymore, suddenly she's smarter and more coniving than Arthur and Uther? Really? REALLY?!! I was very happy Gaius told Gwen ultimately for some, nothing has changed since Arthur took the throne and they are not happy. I will NOT be able to contain my already seeping rage if it's Gwen who convinces Arthur magic is not all evil and to rethink the laws. I WILL STALK BBC/SHINE; and I live in California, USA. That's a long-arse way to go to get some revenge. Merlin deserves his day. He's earned it. WE'VE earned the right to watch it happen, with happy faces and love all around.
Now tell me, who the frickin-frack came up with the idea that the key looks like an alien? Totally wrong CGI for this show, IMO. I did like that she called Gwaine "fair Knight". I don't know why, but it struck me as a wonderful characterization of Gwaine. Shall I mention that for some reason, TPTB think by giving us shirtless men and even more push-up bras, we'll be happy with the total decimination of Arthur's and Merlin's characters? Didn't work on me. If anything, I am insulted they think that. "Family show" my arse. In some ways, they have enough of that to rival "Game of Thrones"... oh and don't tell me they didn't rip-off from them. Look at where Morgana lives. It's the Wall for Christ sake! Winter is Coming..... also wolves.
I was happy to see Merlin and Arthur working together when they escaped Morgana's henchmen. They didn't even need to communicate verbally. Just read each others signals (I'm glad Merlin's finally learned some of them!). I think Arthur was shocked by Merlin's viciousness regarding killing Mordred. He looks upon Merlin as a soft-hearted, kind man. We know Merlin wanted Arthur to do it for two reasons: So that Mordred the threat would be dead, and so that he (Merlin) didn't have to.
The last exchange between Merlin and Mordred was good. Merlin effectively told Mordred he's on to him. Merlin may not know what's going on exactly, but Mordred knows Merlin ain't no fool. I really like how Colin is playing Merlin this year. He's frustrated, angry, desperate to be seen and heard, tired, lonely, and about ready to break (IMO). It makes me hope something for him will change, whether it be a reveal, or that Merlin will finally say "Arthur, you're an arse and I am SOOO done with you. Get yourself killed, just don't pester me. I have herbs to grind." Now, of course, one of those scenario's definitely will not happen, and unfortunately, as much as I don't want to believe it, the other probably won't, either.
I think the first half of season 4 (sorry-series 4) ruined me. I had never expected too much from this show until then. I've been watching from the very beginning, always hoping for a reveal, and then during s3, completely gave up on getting one. So, I went into s4 with no hopes other than to be entertained by Bradley and Colin and drink up some Merthur. But then things changed. It was so good. SO GOOD. Then it turned to shite. Yes, there was some marvelous acting and writing here and there, but the overall arc went in the toilet. My sister is the one who convinced me to stick with it. She's of the mind that it is what it is and now we know what NOT to expect from it. I did like the first ep this season. I read the pre-reviews of ep2 and expected some satisfaction. Not a reveal, but at least to feel the excitement I felt for the first ep. IMO, this ep did not deliver. The story an characters are reset to the same bullshite as s3 and s4. So far (and I know it's early), the only difference is that Merlin is mad and tired and Gwen is Queen. Some folks thought in ep1 that, after Merlin saved Arthur and carried him away and did magic one foot from Arthur's open eyes, saying a spell and all glowy eyed, when Arthur awoke and asked "what happened", Merln was actually angry Arthur hadn't seen or heard. I felt that, too. Could be totally wrong, but that's how I read it.
I have to mention that, although the music has always been lovely, so far this season it's been as breathtaking as the photography. The piece in ep1 when Merlin saw the vision...OMFG. It was perfect. Oh, and that vision. Holy Christ. I was crying. It was horrible to see Arthur mortally wounded. See? SEE! These are the feels I want. Happy and hearbreaking to the point of tears. I guess I ask too much.
*rant and review over*