Merlin 4.02 "I Made A Vow, Merlin."
YAAAAAAAWWWWWWN! I’ve got to write my reviews earlier, it’s now almost 1am. Oh, yeah, the yawn was because it’s late, not because the episode was a snooze fest. I’d write earlier, but I willingly choose time to spend with family…well usually almost always willingly. Anyhoo, I majorly digress. On to the review…
Previously on Merlin...
It’s straight on to the credits, and then for our opening scene we see Merlin, like a defrosted turkey on Christmas Eve, thawed out but looking like he won’t make it to the end of the next day. Arthur and all the Knights are in the Generic Castle Ruin courtyard with him. Last week I decided that ‘The Knights’ just wasn’t an appropriate name for those five weird and wonderful boys, so christened them Arthur’s Angels. I believe like every objectified supporting character posse, they need a theme song.
Independent Knights (Arthur’s Angels Theme) by Destiny’s Chicken
Lance, Elyan…
Gwaine and Leon,…
Percy and Team Destiny
Arthur’s Angels, Come On
Question: Tell me what you think about me
I clean my armour and I keep my own keys
Only get a servant when I’m feeling lonely
When it’s all over I get up and leave
Question: Tell us what you think about this
If you use magic you will get dismissed
Shine my own sword, fix my own lance
Never give those druids a second chance
The cloak on my back
I bought it
The horse I’m riding
I bought it
The mead I’m drinking
I bought it
Cause I depend on me
The rat I’m eating
I bought it
The helmet I’m holding
I bought it
The torch I’m waving
I bought it
Cause I depend on me
All those Knights who independent
Throw your hair back at me
All the Sirs that do concur
Throw your hair back at me
All the Nobles at the Table
Throw your hair back at me
All the Peers who face your fears
Throw your hair back at me.
Didn’t know you’d get knocked down like that
Arthur how your Angels knocked down like that?
Didn’t know you’d get knocked out like that
Arthur how your Angels knocked out like that?
Tell me how you feel about this
Serving Camelot is our business
Do our best to be loyal to the throne
The food we steal is just on loan
Question: How’d you like the skills that I brought
The Pendragon crest I wear and flaunt
Got my hair all shiny and it flows real free
We live our lives by royal decree
Chicken of Destiny (Woah)
Killed on duty (Woah)
Magic scares me (Woah)
Arthur’s Angels
Sniff, sniff. Is that the smell of a spin off I sense in the air? Oh, wait…no that’s just Merlin thawing. Which brings me back to the opening scene. I’m usually very good at avoiding spoilers, but I did see the preview clip of this scene. When I say I’m good at avoiding spoilers, it’s not on purpose, they just seem to escape me somehow. Even though I had seen this scene, I still found it so sweet to watch between Merlin and Arthur. You can tell that Arthur is pretty much dumbfounded by Merlin’s actions. Although I do ask the question, how is anyone not questioning Merlin’s rapid defrosting when everyone else that was hit by the Dochra was presumed dead? Are we assuming deleted scene again?
Merlin, bless his little popsicle socks, is trying to convince Arthur that he is fine to continue. He’s lying spread eagled on a horse, looking a lovely polar bear white, slurring his speech like Gwaine at Happy Hour in The Rising Sun, I don’t think Arthur is convinced. Merlin is all “yeah I’m fine…look I can move my eyes and blink and everything.” Lancelot offers to take Merlin back to Gaius. Um…really Gaius? Is that the best plan? He’s got so many dead bodies at the castle he’s made a life size Jenga game from them, Merlin’s at least talking, we want to keep him that way. Lancelot apparently knows a short cut, which he conveniently forgot to mention on the way there. Dude, seriously, I know you’re involved in a few different love triangles, but look alive man for crying out loud! You’ve been walking for 3 days, you only just now remembered a short cut.
Lancelot says that the shortcut is through the valley of the fallen kings. However, in my opinion, he says it in a way like he’s said he’s going to take Merlin back through a brothel. Arthur’s reaction is like Lancelot has just said he’s going to take Merlin back through a brothel. This is now the start of the first ‘triangle’ in the episode. I could call it a ‘love triangle’, but some people will poo poo that concept right off the bat. I’ve had to write quite a few essays in my day about subtext in film relating to gender and sexuality. However, when you’re watching something and you’re so used to critically analysing it gets annoying, so I turn off that part of my brain for things I enjoy like Merlin. However, Merlin is so blatant, that part of my brain that’s switched off now has smoke coming out of it. I really, really don’t know if it’s intentional or if it really is just coincidence, unintentional double entendre and good chemistry.
While I’m still on this scene, I just have to speak about the one shot of Percival carrying a sick Merlin, with the rest of the Angels and Arthur following in the background. I know everyone had seen it before as it was heavily featured in the trailers and promotions, but for me it just looks like a potentially iconic image for the show. It’s just where there’s just a beautifully shot image within the show that not only looks amazing, but has layers of character and storyline behind it.
The most prevalent of these images in Merlin for me is the one from The Labyrinth of Weird Name, on the beach after the maze. Ever since I saw that, I just thought it was a beautifully shot scene and if you take a snapshot of it, the acting, costume, framing, lighting etc just complexly meshes into a beautiful, rich picture. Even with the sound off, that scene is my favourite in Merlin ever, because it looks stunning and perfectly captures the show with one frame. It’s like you can hang it up on a gallery wall. I’m sure there are others throughout the series, but the one from Labyrinth and the one from this episode are my favourites. Anyone disagree? Have different favourites?
Again, while I can’t seem to get off this scene, I just want to talk about how freaked our Sir Leon is about abandoning the quest. I’m beginning to love Sir Leon more and more for being such a teacher’s pet. Where as Lancelot is all relaxed and noble, Sir Leon definitely has some Camelot OCD going on. I know the Angels all have their own little rooms in the castle, but I wish they didn’t. I wish they all lived in a little house together in Camelot. That would make a brilliant reality show. You’d have Gwaine leaving the place in a state and Lancelot tidying up for him so Leon wouldn’t have a manic episode when he saw the mess of the Lounge. I’d imagine Percival would break all the furniture and be in cahoots with Gwaine, and Elyan…I’m not sure what Elyan would do, I’d have to wait until the writers get about sketching out an actual character for him.
So onward the Knights go, but stop to have a little break. I see they are turning Gwaine into the comedy relief of the series. That actually fine with me, it works really well in the Angels dynamic. In this scene, as it turns out, he’s Pooh Bear. This poses the unanswered and frankly urgent question; Which Angel is like which character from Winne The Pooh? I mean Gwaine, really isn’t Pooh Bear is he, I’m thinking Tigger? I’ve got Sir Leon down as Rabbit, for sure. What about the rest?
Aww, Arthur’s pining for Merlin. Sir Leon notices and reassures Arthur that Lancelot will be able to get Merlin back to Camelot. THERE’S THAT BROTHEL FACE AGAIN!!!! From Arthur! Um, jealous much?
We then cut to Merlin and Lancelot at the brothel…or maybe a lake, that makes more sense I suppose. Lancelot hears the voices of the female prostitutes…or drops of water, that make more sense I suppose. Wait, what? That doesn’t make sense, why the hell are these washing up liquid bubbles talking? The Hooker Bubbles are talking about Merlin’s destiny. I like that, I like these bubbles and the concept of the water healing Merlin, working with him and helping them. That’s very sweet and spiritual actually. I like this moment a lot.
Oh look! It’s the Giant Baby Rat tunnels! Continuity alert! Good one show, what was that from, like two seasons ago? Is it me though, or is Camelot and it’s surrounding Kingdoms appear to be based on the movie Labyrinth? Everything constantly moves. Merlin went back and forth from The Isle of the Blessed in Season 1 like it was the corner shop. How is it taking Arthur so long?
I’m loving Bradley’s facial expressions when Gwaine was being sniffed by the Wildereon. I think Arthur actually misses having Merlin around. Compared to the Angels he’s actually not that incompetent. It does feel like Arthur's taken his daycare group out on a field trip.
.
Back at Camelot HQ, Gwen, Gaius and Evil Uncle Aggie seem to be holding down the fort. Yeah, cause those are the three people I’d pick to take charge of my kingdom. Good choice there, Arthur. It appears Uncle Aggie has recruited Geoffrey as a sidekick. I am fully supportive, if they do make that a team. There’s your new spin off right there.
Gwen’s character is actually quite good in this episode (well for this scene...lets not go crazy). I liked the speech to the council, but I could have done with all the name dropping of Arthur, like she was trying to get into the VIP section of a club. However, I like Gwen being a character that speaks up for the people. It helps make a little sense of the Arthur relationship. He also cares about the people and they have that in common. Look at me towing the party line!!! Wow!
We’re back to the Brothel Lake and Merlin’s awake and…oh, Merlin’s awake!! Yay! It’s weird because it’s only been less than 10 minutes since we’ve properly seen him, but I kinda missed him. That was so weird, because it was literally only a couple of scenes. He really does light up the screen and balance the show. I never really realised how much until that moment.
“Yeah, not as quick as Arthur.”
“Oh yeah?”
What the hell was that little bit?? The writers do realised they pulled Merlin into the Guinevere/Lancelot/Arthur love triangle don’t they? I swear on my life, I’m not even looking for it, yet it’s there with flippin flappin bells on!
Ah, finally Morgana huddled up in the Evil Love Shack. I know in a way it seems surprising that Morgana wants Gwen dead, but in her head she betrayed her taking the side of Uther. She gave Gwen a chance and she didn’t take it and it lead to her sister being wheeled around in a market stall.
Back again at Camelot HQ and it’s Busty Gwen “looking after” Zombie Uther.
“Is there something you need?”
Yes, love, run a bloody comb through his hair!
Lancelot and Merlin arrive at the Brothel…oh no wait…it looks like Morgana’s Evil Love Shack. I’m not saying the two aren’t unrelated. As it turns out, it’s neither. Just some frozen dude’s place. Now we’re back with Gwen having afternoon tea with Uncle Aggie. I think Gaius was getting sick of her as he totes knows Aggie wants her dead. He's such a M/A shipper!
I loved, loved the little look of reluctance on Morgana’s face when she knocked down Gwen and the guards. These little bits of humanity still creep in through anger and vengeance.
Elyan’s finally speaking! Will it develop his character anymore? No…no it won’t. False alarm everyone, back to your posts. Pack away the balloons and the ‘Congratulations Elyan’ banners until next episode. Arthur does give him a manly slap on the shoulder as consolation though.
Back in the Love Shack Brothel and Lancelot is trying to get Merlin pissed. This is an incredible scene. I’m really kind of knocked out. All Lancelot cares about is Gwen and all Merlin cares about is Arthur. That’s not me reading the underlying parts of the scene…IT IS ACTUALLY LIKE THAT! It’s cute and beautiful…and right.
Finally, a week after it would have been a good idea, Merlin calls for the Dragon. He get’s their very quickly, he’s not a press snooze on the alarm sort of mythical creature is he?
Dragon, Lancelot. Lancelot, Dragon.
“It will be an empty world without you, young warlock.” I like the Dragon and Merlin being friends now. It’s nice to have a pet.
Okay so Arthur and the Angels have quite a head start so Merlin and Lancelot hop on the Dragon, to get them there before Arthur sacrifices himself. Don’t they? No…No they don’t. Surely they could have asked for a lift? He doesn’t have to go park on the Isle, he can just drop them off at the corner. The next scene that follows they are both on non-flying horses. Yeah good going boys.*Slow clap* Lancelot is getting all philosophical and Merlin’s telling him how he’ll give up his life for Arthur because he’s more important than anything. AGAIN NOT MAKING THIS UP!!!
Back in Generic Castle Ruins 2, and Arthur looks seriously pissed off at the Angels. They are getting right on his wick now. I sense he’s happy he doesn’t have to live with them in their reality show house. Luckily for Arthur, he doesn’t have to look after the Angels by himself anymore and what follows is a supremely cute moment of Arthur trying really, really hard not to hug Merlin. There is the qquestion of how did it Lancelot and Merlin catch up so quickly. Evidently Arthur is really held back by the other four. Then the Angels are all asleep and Arthur and Merlin can finally chat together. Bless. They’ve been separated half the show and now they’re back together the quality of the chemistry and banter is really evident. Everyone is good together, these two are great.
The Official Isle of The Blessed tour guide has apparently invested the money he got last week and bought a new rowing boat that can hold 8 grown men. He’s also got one of those mini Wyven things. I’m sure there was only one last week. That man’s got one hell of a business plan.
Arthur and Merlin were so busy trying to sacrifice themselves for other people, they didn’t even think about Lancelot. Of course it would be him. Of course it had to be him. It couldn’t work being either Merlin or Arthur. It wasn’t Merlin’s time so it couldn’t be him, but it couldn’t be Arthur because Merlin would always try and replace him. It was a vicious circle, it had to be someone else. Of course it would be Lancelot. He is the most noble. It would always be him. It was always destined to be him. Was I the only one who didn’t see that coming?
So Lancelot sacrificed himself for Gwen. He is coming back yeah? He’s not like proper dead, never be in it again? I love Santiago, I think he does the role brilliantly, he was the perfect choice. I assume he is coming back at some point because they’ve got the whole love triangle (rectangle) to develop. That’s going to be amazing, now Gwen’s lost him, she’s going to want him.
Arthur gives Gwen the same manly pat on the shoulder that he gave Elyan earlier. Nice.
Oooooooh! So now Merlin and Gaius know that Aggie knows that Morgana knows that Merlin is Emrys but Aggie and Morgana don’t know that Merlin and Gaius know that they know that they know of Emrys, even though they don’t know that Merlin and Gaius know that Merlin is Emrys. Arthur still knows nothing.
Okay, that’s all little polar bears. Next week looks more comical. I hope they don’t loose the darkness though. I’ve really enjoyed this two parter and I’m really happy with the direction this season has gone in. I can’t believe there is only 11 more episodes left!