This review cracks the first laugh I've had since watching the ep. Thanks! Desperately needed it.
This episode I agree is a fine piece in a technical sense: structure, pacing, filming, all sound. It also doesn't fail to deliver the emotional. Only, unlike 5.05, this time I get out of it feeling incredibly sad and sickened. All the physical and emotional abuses of Merlin in one single ep, it's unbearable to watch. Maybe it's Colin deliberately, convincingly playing a pained and wearied and miserable Merlin that makes, in contrast, the ignorance and passivity of other characters much less tolerable. Sure, Arthur might notice something about Merlin. Gaius might implore a search party. But when I'm watching Merlin lying there near death, watching him limp all the way back to save Arthur, watching how the only person who cares and dies for him is practically a stranger...etc, the split second worry Arthur has or Gaius's abandoned attempt at convincing him is far, far from enough. I'm still not over the Knights thing last week so it also adds up.
I always like your interpretation of Arthur, and instinctively I feel that too. However, this week successfully unchecks a few things that I often thought could be argued in his favor. The dressing scene I had to look away because it was too humiliating to watch. Bad enough we have almost nothing besides lip-service to show Arthur's credential as OAFT, now he has to look like a retard as well? The AG preparing for bed scene... I wanted to vomit. Merlin looked about the same. I'm angry at the insensitivity of this. Arthur frantically searched for Merlin when he needed his service, but didn't pay any mind about Merlin being uncomfortable witnessing the display of affection. It's getting really hard to justify their relationship when Merlin has been shown to gradually fall into misery and Arthur's still happy in Ignorant Land (though to be fair, as much as I praise Colin for the former, the latter is totally TPTB's fault and not Bradley's). No, not done yet. The Bath Request. Why was it there? Why did it look like an everyday thing seeing as Arthur did not question it? So not only Arthur but Sue!Gwen is not above abusing her privilege to order their "best friend" around. They obviously have no shame too if the kissy faces is anything to go by. This episode seriously makes me doubt Arthur's respect for Merlin. That it happens in the same ep where Merlin is most abused, I feel sick. I can read your retelling of this ep and still laugh, it's hilarious, but honestly, I'm disgusted at Gwen and Arthur and their sickening romance. Though I still hope they redeem Arthur in 5.10 onwards (because 5.09 is such a lost cause: If I lose her I lose everything!)
I've resigned myself to watching this show for Colin only. Thanks, 5.08!
This episode I agree is a fine piece in a technical sense: structure, pacing, filming, all sound. It also doesn't fail to deliver the emotional. Only, unlike 5.05, this time I get out of it feeling incredibly sad and sickened. All the physical and emotional abuses of Merlin in one single ep, it's unbearable to watch. Maybe it's Colin deliberately, convincingly playing a pained and wearied and miserable Merlin that makes, in contrast, the ignorance and passivity of other characters much less tolerable. Sure, Arthur might notice something about Merlin. Gaius might implore a search party. But when I'm watching Merlin lying there near death, watching him limp all the way back to save Arthur, watching how the only person who cares and dies for him is practically a stranger...etc, the split second worry Arthur has or Gaius's abandoned attempt at convincing him is far, far from enough. I'm still not over the Knights thing last week so it also adds up.
I always like your interpretation of Arthur, and instinctively I feel that too. However, this week successfully unchecks a few things that I often thought could be argued in his favor. The dressing scene I had to look away because it was too humiliating to watch. Bad enough we have almost nothing besides lip-service to show Arthur's credential as OAFT, now he has to look like a retard as well? The AG preparing for bed scene... I wanted to vomit. Merlin looked about the same. I'm angry at the insensitivity of this. Arthur frantically searched for Merlin when he needed his service, but didn't pay any mind about Merlin being uncomfortable witnessing the display of affection. It's getting really hard to justify their relationship when Merlin has been shown to gradually fall into misery and Arthur's still happy in Ignorant Land (though to be fair, as much as I praise Colin for the former, the latter is totally TPTB's fault and not Bradley's). No, not done yet. The Bath Request. Why was it there? Why did it look like an everyday thing seeing as Arthur did not question it? So not only Arthur but Sue!Gwen is not above abusing her privilege to order their "best friend" around. They obviously have no shame too if the kissy faces is anything to go by. This episode seriously makes me doubt Arthur's respect for Merlin. That it happens in the same ep where Merlin is most abused, I feel sick. I can read your retelling of this ep and still laugh, it's hilarious, but honestly, I'm disgusted at Gwen and Arthur and their sickening romance. Though I still hope they redeem Arthur in 5.10 onwards (because 5.09 is such a lost cause: If I lose her I lose everything!)
I've resigned myself to watching this show for Colin only. Thanks, 5.08!
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