I have to agree with you. The relationships worked a lot better in S1. There was a balance there that has been lsot. As soon as the epic A/G love story began Arthur stopped interacting much with Morgana, Gwen stopped itneracting much with her good friend Merlin, Morgana and Gwen started fallling out for no apparent reason and Merlin and Arthur's relationship entered a weird holding pattern.
What has Gwen been doing is my big quesion. Her entire role in the show has pretty much been reduced to Arthur's love interest. It's like she doesn't even really exist outside fof that. Her characterisation is becoming love interest with no depth. *sigh*
I do think they should have cut the bucket bit. That scene was working up until that piont.
I think they they use Merlin/Arthur for comic relief in heavy episodes because the writing is too lazy or uncreative to find other ways. But mostly I was happy with it.
Whether I will be after an entire season of this without enough balance we shall see.
Oh the evil smirks. After awhile I just couldn't take them seriously.
But awww Arthur/Morgana hug.
I'll be interested to see of the two of them keep interacting.
(I admit if Arthur/Merlin/Morgana woud make a heck of a threesome...until canon does something to stop me thinking that)
Cendred/Morgause ftw! They are sort of awesome together. I like how there's a histpry and relationship there. And they both know each other well.
Morgana has some lovely new outfits.
You know I wish we saw more of what Merlin is capable of. As someone out it the more we see of pther magic users the less special Mlerin seems to be. Morgause can do magic without incantation, Mordred is as powerful etc. What is is abotu Merlin now that's so special?
I would love to see him actually use the power of life and death. It's a big thing. But from what Colin has been saying in interviews it does seem as if we're not going to see much magic. Which is a shame because it was a such thing back in season 1, even parts of season 2.
I felt sorry for Uther up to the whole - he drowned children! bit.
I'm glad that I'm not alone regarding the more balanced S1 opinion... sure, S2 had its improvements, but the writers just didn't strive for balance as much as in S1. I think they were forced to change things for S2...and getting Arthur/Gwen in there was the best solution for them as they needed a romantic het ship in the show. After all, Arthur and Morgana were more brother/sister, even if they're not so by blood on the show, they have the legends working against them. That decrease (or practical non-existence in S2) of Arthur and Morgana interacting was unfortunate because, looking back, their interaction was almost on par and worth watching as the interaction between Arthur and Merlin.
And when Arthur/Gwen came in full force in S2...it was like Gwen was pretty much doing the same thing with Arthur that Morgana and Merlin were doing with him in S1...but with a more romantic twist. Still the twist wasn't enough to really draw me in. It's just all, "Oh, they're sticking to the legends now? *sigh*" Well, there is always Lancelot/Gwen and how in the legends, Arthur/Gwen usually married for political reasons -- it wasn't true love Disney-style or anything like that.
I agree about Gwen -- they need to develop her character more outside being a love interest. One good way would be her to find out about Merlin's magic, and maybe that'll strengthen the friendship between them...and force Gwen to debate how to handle the reveal...and it'll make her interactions with Arthur interesting if she knows about Merlin and wondering if she should tell Arthur about it (or persuade Merlin to finally tell him).
The only good thing about the bucket bit was how silly (in a good, giggly way) Merlin looked with the bucket on his head. I could just imagine the frowny/bitch face he was sporting underneath the bucket. ;) ("Arthur is SUCH a royal prat" :P) But the actual act of Arthur putting the bucket on his head -- did not like. :\
Yes, it does seem that way regarding using Merlin/Arthur as comic relief... well, at least their dramatic/emotional scenes are worth the silly moments. Boys need to blow off steam somewhere, and unfortunately, Merlin is the perfect target for Arthur since they spend a lot of time together. But we all know Merlin can and will get his "revenge" on Arthur when the situation entails it. *nods*
I'm grateful that Arthur and Morgana started off S3 with actual interaction. *gasps* :P Hopefully the writers will continue to have them interact...we will see.
Arthur/Merlin/Morgana just seems to work best...it's not exactly a warm and fuzzy trio going by the show (Merlin vs. Morgana, clueless Arthur not knowing Morgana is against Camelot), but I still like them as a trio/threesome. Even though it's doubtful we'll see the three of them working together now, at least with the same agenda...since most certainly Morgana's goal is different than Merlin and Arthur's.
I thought they did a great job with establishing the relationship between Cendred and Morgause. :)
I'm not too thrilled about the magic!fail this season...I would love to see more progression of magical skills from Merlin considering, yes what you said about the heights he achieved in S1 (with killing Nimueh). *sad sigh*
I can't wait for the next episode. :) I know you already saw it at BFI, but I hope you enjoy watching it again and getting a second impression from it...catch details you may have missed and all that...;)
I thought S2 had some great improvements on the plot and story-telling front but this wasn't backed up with the character relationships.
I do wonder why they oushed A/G int here so early without takign the time to build up a proper friendship between them first. I think they did suddenly think they needed a het ship. A shame since Arthur and Gwen weren't really at the true love tage. think it's coloured my entire perception of that pairing and the way it was handled coupled with the legends means I'll never root for it. I like the Arthur/Morgana dynamic and the Merlin/Morgana one but Artur/Gwen just seems...bland in a way. Forced almost.
I think if they ever bother withthe reveal it will be Gwen who finds out first and persuades Arthur Merlin is nto evil. which rankles me a bit since I think it is imposrtant Arthur shows some intelligence and perhaps finds otu and works it out on his own. That look at the beginning of 3x01 before he makes the hide and seek remark suggested he might be getting a wee bit of a clue. But apparently not.
I just hope the humour scenes between the biys don't outweigh the emotional ones. Becuase they are young they are bound to blow off steam and their relationship will always have that element of it. I just hope they get the more serious bonding moments too.
Arthur/Morgana/Merlin is my new favourite threesome. It does work well. Even given the fact Morgana is 'evil' this year. I hope they all get to interact more. i would love it if the three fo them had some decent interaction together.
The magic!fail is another thing that makes me sad. We should be seeing magic. We should.
What has Gwen been doing is my big quesion. Her entire role in the show has pretty much been reduced to Arthur's love interest. It's like she doesn't even really exist outside fof that. Her characterisation is becoming love interest with no depth. *sigh*
I do think they should have cut the bucket bit. That scene was working up until that piont.
I think they they use Merlin/Arthur for comic relief in heavy episodes because the writing is too lazy or uncreative to find other ways. But mostly I was happy with it.
Whether I will be after an entire season of this without enough balance we shall see.
Oh the evil smirks. After awhile I just couldn't take them seriously.
But awww Arthur/Morgana hug.
I'll be interested to see of the two of them keep interacting.
(I admit if Arthur/Merlin/Morgana woud make a heck of a threesome...until canon does something to stop me thinking that)
Cendred/Morgause ftw! They are sort of awesome together. I like how there's a histpry and relationship there. And they both know each other well.
Morgana has some lovely new outfits.
You know I wish we saw more of what Merlin is capable of. As someone out it the more we see of pther magic users the less special Mlerin seems to be. Morgause can do magic without incantation, Mordred is as powerful etc. What is is abotu Merlin now that's so special?
I would love to see him actually use the power of life and death. It's a big thing. But from what Colin has been saying in interviews it does seem as if we're not going to see much magic. Which is a shame because it was a such thing back in season 1, even parts of season 2.
I felt sorry for Uther up to the whole - he drowned children! bit.
Looking foward to the next one.
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And when Arthur/Gwen came in full force in S2...it was like Gwen was pretty much doing the same thing with Arthur that Morgana and Merlin were doing with him in S1...but with a more romantic twist. Still the twist wasn't enough to really draw me in. It's just all, "Oh, they're sticking to the legends now? *sigh*" Well, there is always Lancelot/Gwen and how in the legends, Arthur/Gwen usually married for political reasons -- it wasn't true love Disney-style or anything like that.
I agree about Gwen -- they need to develop her character more outside being a love interest. One good way would be her to find out about Merlin's magic, and maybe that'll strengthen the friendship between them...and force Gwen to debate how to handle the reveal...and it'll make her interactions with Arthur interesting if she knows about Merlin and wondering if she should tell Arthur about it (or persuade Merlin to finally tell him).
The only good thing about the bucket bit was how silly (in a good, giggly way) Merlin looked with the bucket on his head. I could just imagine the frowny/bitch face he was sporting underneath the bucket. ;) ("Arthur is SUCH a royal prat" :P) But the actual act of Arthur putting the bucket on his head -- did not like. :\
Yes, it does seem that way regarding using Merlin/Arthur as comic relief... well, at least their dramatic/emotional scenes are worth the silly moments. Boys need to blow off steam somewhere, and unfortunately, Merlin is the perfect target for Arthur since they spend a lot of time together. But we all know Merlin can and will get his "revenge" on Arthur when the situation entails it. *nods*
I'm grateful that Arthur and Morgana started off S3 with actual interaction. *gasps* :P Hopefully the writers will continue to have them interact...we will see.
Arthur/Merlin/Morgana just seems to work best...it's not exactly a warm and fuzzy trio going by the show (Merlin vs. Morgana, clueless Arthur not knowing Morgana is against Camelot), but I still like them as a trio/threesome. Even though it's doubtful we'll see the three of them working together now, at least with the same agenda...since most certainly Morgana's goal is different than Merlin and Arthur's.
I thought they did a great job with establishing the relationship between Cendred and Morgause. :)
I'm not too thrilled about the magic!fail this season...I would love to see more progression of magical skills from Merlin considering, yes what you said about the heights he achieved in S1 (with killing Nimueh). *sad sigh*
I can't wait for the next episode. :) I know you already saw it at BFI, but I hope you enjoy watching it again and getting a second impression from it...catch details you may have missed and all that...;)
Reply
I do wonder why they oushed A/G int here so early without takign the time to build up a proper friendship between them first. I think they did suddenly think they needed a het ship. A shame since Arthur and Gwen weren't really at the true love tage. think it's coloured my entire perception of that pairing and the way it was handled coupled with the legends means I'll never root for it. I like the Arthur/Morgana dynamic and the Merlin/Morgana one but Artur/Gwen just seems...bland in a way. Forced almost.
I think if they ever bother withthe reveal it will be Gwen who finds out first and persuades Arthur Merlin is nto evil. which rankles me a bit since I think it is imposrtant Arthur shows some intelligence and perhaps finds otu and works it out on his own. That look at the beginning of 3x01 before he makes the hide and seek remark suggested he might be getting a wee bit of a clue. But apparently not.
I just hope the humour scenes between the biys don't outweigh the emotional ones. Becuase they are young they are bound to blow off steam and their relationship will always have that element of it. I just hope they get the more serious bonding moments too.
Arthur/Morgana/Merlin is my new favourite threesome. It does work well. Even given the fact Morgana is 'evil' this year. I hope they all get to interact more. i would love it if the three fo them had some decent interaction together.
The magic!fail is another thing that makes me sad. We should be seeing magic. We should.
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