Epic Merlin Rewatch: S01E13 Le Morte d'Arthur
Firstly, Saturday's episode was pretty damn wonderful, yet again. Secondly, I'm going to start watching season 2 and doing recappy reviews asap. Oh, what a hard life I lead! :D
EPIC MERLIN REWATCH OF MERLIN EPICNESS
Season 1 Episode 13: Le Morte d’Arthur
Quick summary: Arthur gets bit by a Questing Beast and is dying with no hope of a cure. Except, Merlin goes to Nimueh (boo! hiss!) and makes a deal- take his life for Arthur's. Except, what the deal really is is a life for a life, and its not guaranteed that fate will decide its Merlin to has to die. So it goes Hunith's dying, then Gaius' dying, then oh wait its actually Nimueh and no good guys die.
- This episode marks the debut of Bradley James's naked chest. HURRAH! Arthur spent most of this episode half naked and asleep and, despite loving Arthur, I can't complain one bit.
- I like how Arthur did a sort of double take at the giant creature attacking them. Slow mo running! And is that Leon? It looked like him, despite the fact that I'm pretty sure they hadn't cast Rupert Young at this point. I think he’s there in spirit. Or maybe I just want to see him and I'm projecting. I saw slow mo and flowing hair and thought of him. Perhaps, as my friend suggested, he was so awesome that he retroactively sent his presence back in time to help them. Merlin/Terminator crossover, yes?
- So the Questing Beast appears in times of upheaval. What’s being upheaved? Its an omen? One was seen the night Igraine passed away, i.e. the night magic messed shit up for Uther and therefore for Camelot. Essentially, the Questing Beast raises the stakes- one bite from it and you die, no take backs, no cure. The instant Gaius said this, you know someone is going to get bit. I wonder who when the episode is called Le Morte d'Arthur? ITS A MYSTERY.
- This episode was set back in the dark ages when Morgana had scary dreams and Gwen was there to comfort her and they generally acted like good friends. However, Morgana, please note for future reference that becoming the typical 'hysterical woman' does. not. work. NO ONE is going to listen to your prophetic dreams when you scream them in the streets, people will just think you're a crazy person.
- Arthur speechifying! Being all kingly. FOR THE LOVE OF CAMELOT! I love it when he does that.
- That footprint looks right out of Jurassic Park.
- Good FX for this show on the Questing Beast, I thought.
- Arthur dying seems to bring out the melodrama in everyone. Merlin dramatically sweeps the table clear for him to be laid on (hello, have you heard of a bed? you know, the one about 2 feet away?). The knights dramatically carry Arthur in a very messianic manner. Not to mention Uther doing the classic crying, carrying his son in his arms thing. How that is comfortable for anyone I have no idea.
- The powers of the old religion? Is the old religion paganism? Have we had any mention of religion other than magic being part of the 'old religion'? I'd like more on this, show.
- Hey, Uther, maybe if you hadn’t killed all the magical people or pissed the rest of them off, Arthur would have someone to save him from the magical creature!
- The Arthur/Gwen scene. This is the first proper squee-worthy scene, right? I mean, I know there was that one in Moment of Truth when she told him off and he appreciated it and actually noticed her, but this is the first time it got epic. Gwen here shows how much she values Arthur, as a king (we'll get to the sexy sexiness next season), and how she sees the differences between Uther and Arthur. Despite him being a bit of a clotpole sometimes. I suppose Gwen has had a bit of a journey regarding how she views Arthur this season- in the first episode she seemed quite disapproving of him and his bullying ways (no wonder), but now she's practically fangirling. And the bit where Arthur recalls some of what she said and totally teases her about it has me in pieces. These two are SO CUTE. Ok, I'm done fangirling now. Oh, who am I kidding, I'm never done fangirling! :D
- Return of Nimueh. Does she have dreds, or is her hair just a bit skanky? What dress is she wearing? A ragged ballgown, maybe from the days in Uther’s court? Nimueh says “Arthur was never destined to die at my hand.” Then why did she set him up to die back in episode 4?
- So its the gods who decide who shall die instead of the sorcerer themselves? Interesting. Does this imply then that there is someone up there calling the shots? That there is a mystical old religion entity acting all Godly?
- Morgana grabs Merlin in the middle of a hallway and yanks him into an alcove in order to warn him. She does the same move in S3. But more eyeliner and evil is involved.
- The Slash Dragon says that he and Merlin are kin. Is this a first indication of the Dragonlord stuff? Or is this just a 'we're both magical therefore we must be BFFs thing?
- Seriously, somebody whip those guards or something. A hobbled grotesque figure walks past and the guards do nothing. *shrug* Nothing strange here, it is Camelot. No wonder Camelot is under constant threat!
- Merlin totally fails as a son. He only remembers his mother when she's right there, making him feeling guilty about leaving her in a muddy village while he's having pillow fights with the prince.
- Arthur/Merlin is very slashy in this episode. Its like the fandom got hold of the script for a page or two before the actual writers scrabbled back for control.
- Gaius troubles me quite a lot due to his shady past and constant condescending tone, but I liked him in this episode.This is Gaius’s redemption. He genuinely sacrifices himself for Merlin and in a way to make up for being a coward and hiding and letting all his fellow magicians get burned. However, personally, I felt it was a little bit of a cop out that Gaius survived when we knew someone had to die. Its cheating that the person to die is Nimueh. Especially since the BBC made a big deal out of someone dying and then for it to be Nimueh is just...fail.
- Very good finale episode. Ties up all Merlin’s bonds with each character and what they mean to him and have taught him (when he said goodbye to each person), has a few kickass action sequences and some great speechifying. However, Merlin should’ve left a series of letters to guide Arthur to get over him and become king. Like PS I Love You.
BEST LINES:
Gwen: You’re not going to die, Arthur. I’m telling you. Because I know that one day, you will be king. A greater king than your father will ever be. That’s what keeps me going. You are going to live to be the man I’ve seen inside you, Arthur. I can see a Camelot that is fair and just, I can see a king that the people will love and be proud to call their sovereign. For the love of Camelot, you have to live.
Arthur: I sometimes wonder if you know who I am.
Merlin: Oh, I know who you are. You’re a prat. And a royal one.
Arthur: Are you ever going to change, Merlin?
Merlin: No, you’d get bored.
Arthur: Sometimes I think I know you, Merlin. Other times-
Merlin: Well, I know you. You’re a great warrior. One day, you’ll be a great king.
Arthur: That’s very kind of you.
Merlin: You must learn to listen as well as you fight.
Arthur: Any other pointers?
Merlin: No, thats it. Just...don’t be a prat.
Gaius: Merlin is the one man who can bring magic back to this land. At Arthur’s side he can help forge a new kingdom, a world of peace and beauty that we can only dream of.
EPIC MERLIN REWATCH OF MERLIN EPICNESS
Season 1 Episode 13: Le Morte d’Arthur
Quick summary: Arthur gets bit by a Questing Beast and is dying with no hope of a cure. Except, Merlin goes to Nimueh (boo! hiss!) and makes a deal- take his life for Arthur's. Except, what the deal really is is a life for a life, and its not guaranteed that fate will decide its Merlin to has to die. So it goes Hunith's dying, then Gaius' dying, then oh wait its actually Nimueh and no good guys die.
- This episode marks the debut of Bradley James's naked chest. HURRAH! Arthur spent most of this episode half naked and asleep and, despite loving Arthur, I can't complain one bit.
- I like how Arthur did a sort of double take at the giant creature attacking them. Slow mo running! And is that Leon? It looked like him, despite the fact that I'm pretty sure they hadn't cast Rupert Young at this point. I think he’s there in spirit. Or maybe I just want to see him and I'm projecting. I saw slow mo and flowing hair and thought of him. Perhaps, as my friend suggested, he was so awesome that he retroactively sent his presence back in time to help them. Merlin/Terminator crossover, yes?
- So the Questing Beast appears in times of upheaval. What’s being upheaved? Its an omen? One was seen the night Igraine passed away, i.e. the night magic messed shit up for Uther and therefore for Camelot. Essentially, the Questing Beast raises the stakes- one bite from it and you die, no take backs, no cure. The instant Gaius said this, you know someone is going to get bit. I wonder who when the episode is called Le Morte d'Arthur? ITS A MYSTERY.
- This episode was set back in the dark ages when Morgana had scary dreams and Gwen was there to comfort her and they generally acted like good friends. However, Morgana, please note for future reference that becoming the typical 'hysterical woman' does. not. work. NO ONE is going to listen to your prophetic dreams when you scream them in the streets, people will just think you're a crazy person.
- Arthur speechifying! Being all kingly. FOR THE LOVE OF CAMELOT! I love it when he does that.
- That footprint looks right out of Jurassic Park.
- Good FX for this show on the Questing Beast, I thought.
- Arthur dying seems to bring out the melodrama in everyone. Merlin dramatically sweeps the table clear for him to be laid on (hello, have you heard of a bed? you know, the one about 2 feet away?). The knights dramatically carry Arthur in a very messianic manner. Not to mention Uther doing the classic crying, carrying his son in his arms thing. How that is comfortable for anyone I have no idea.
- The powers of the old religion? Is the old religion paganism? Have we had any mention of religion other than magic being part of the 'old religion'? I'd like more on this, show.
- Hey, Uther, maybe if you hadn’t killed all the magical people or pissed the rest of them off, Arthur would have someone to save him from the magical creature!
- The Arthur/Gwen scene. This is the first proper squee-worthy scene, right? I mean, I know there was that one in Moment of Truth when she told him off and he appreciated it and actually noticed her, but this is the first time it got epic. Gwen here shows how much she values Arthur, as a king (we'll get to the sexy sexiness next season), and how she sees the differences between Uther and Arthur. Despite him being a bit of a clotpole sometimes. I suppose Gwen has had a bit of a journey regarding how she views Arthur this season- in the first episode she seemed quite disapproving of him and his bullying ways (no wonder), but now she's practically fangirling. And the bit where Arthur recalls some of what she said and totally teases her about it has me in pieces. These two are SO CUTE. Ok, I'm done fangirling now. Oh, who am I kidding, I'm never done fangirling! :D
- Return of Nimueh. Does she have dreds, or is her hair just a bit skanky? What dress is she wearing? A ragged ballgown, maybe from the days in Uther’s court? Nimueh says “Arthur was never destined to die at my hand.” Then why did she set him up to die back in episode 4?
- So its the gods who decide who shall die instead of the sorcerer themselves? Interesting. Does this imply then that there is someone up there calling the shots? That there is a mystical old religion entity acting all Godly?
- Morgana grabs Merlin in the middle of a hallway and yanks him into an alcove in order to warn him. She does the same move in S3. But more eyeliner and evil is involved.
- The Slash Dragon says that he and Merlin are kin. Is this a first indication of the Dragonlord stuff? Or is this just a 'we're both magical therefore we must be BFFs thing?
- Seriously, somebody whip those guards or something. A hobbled grotesque figure walks past and the guards do nothing. *shrug* Nothing strange here, it is Camelot. No wonder Camelot is under constant threat!
- Merlin totally fails as a son. He only remembers his mother when she's right there, making him feeling guilty about leaving her in a muddy village while he's having pillow fights with the prince.
- Arthur/Merlin is very slashy in this episode. Its like the fandom got hold of the script for a page or two before the actual writers scrabbled back for control.
- Gaius troubles me quite a lot due to his shady past and constant condescending tone, but I liked him in this episode.This is Gaius’s redemption. He genuinely sacrifices himself for Merlin and in a way to make up for being a coward and hiding and letting all his fellow magicians get burned. However, personally, I felt it was a little bit of a cop out that Gaius survived when we knew someone had to die. Its cheating that the person to die is Nimueh. Especially since the BBC made a big deal out of someone dying and then for it to be Nimueh is just...fail.
- Very good finale episode. Ties up all Merlin’s bonds with each character and what they mean to him and have taught him (when he said goodbye to each person), has a few kickass action sequences and some great speechifying. However, Merlin should’ve left a series of letters to guide Arthur to get over him and become king. Like PS I Love You.
BEST LINES:
Gwen: You’re not going to die, Arthur. I’m telling you. Because I know that one day, you will be king. A greater king than your father will ever be. That’s what keeps me going. You are going to live to be the man I’ve seen inside you, Arthur. I can see a Camelot that is fair and just, I can see a king that the people will love and be proud to call their sovereign. For the love of Camelot, you have to live.
Arthur: I sometimes wonder if you know who I am.
Merlin: Oh, I know who you are. You’re a prat. And a royal one.
Arthur: Are you ever going to change, Merlin?
Merlin: No, you’d get bored.
Arthur: Sometimes I think I know you, Merlin. Other times-
Merlin: Well, I know you. You’re a great warrior. One day, you’ll be a great king.
Arthur: That’s very kind of you.
Merlin: You must learn to listen as well as you fight.
Arthur: Any other pointers?
Merlin: No, thats it. Just...don’t be a prat.
Gaius: Merlin is the one man who can bring magic back to this land. At Arthur’s side he can help forge a new kingdom, a world of peace and beauty that we can only dream of.