Review - Merlin BBC - 1x07 - The Gates of Avalon
Review: Merlin BBC - 1x07 - Gates of Avalon
Okay, so I started off watching this thinking that I'd would do a review like I had done before where I'd type up my reactions as I watched. Only I got too sucked into the episode!
So, my thoughts on the episode might be a little scattered.
Definitely one of the best episodes filmed to date.
I spent so much time laughing that I kept having to stop and go back because I kept missing dialogue. Only to break into guffaws all over again. *snickers*
The scene that broke me? And made me go from smiling and chuckling to completely losing it with laughter?
Merlin in the stocks, the first time. Saying as he gets pelted with vegetation: "Forgot how much fun this was."
Not only is it a hilarious line, the expression on Merlin's face and the nod to continuity from the first episode makes the whole thing brilliant. *giggles* Just remembering is enough to set me off again. And it's been a few hours since I've seen it.
Truly, the show was so full of such brilliant and hilarious gems of awesome that I shouldn't even try to quote them all because I'll end up writing up half the episode.
I was expecting to quickly grow annoyed with Arthur fawning over the chick [err, I didn't catch her name. I was probably too busy laughing], but considering how quickly she put the whammy on him, so much of his interest can be waved away as mojo.
This is verified with Arthur's own reaction of disbelief that the asked his father to marry her at the end of the episode. Hehehe.
I also got the impression from how indecisive he first acted, that Arthur doesn't often meet girls that genuinely catch his interest. And Morgana is beautiful but also his foster sister. From their antagonistic interactions, I think they probably grew up picking on each other. *amused* I think it also explains Arthur rather jerkish reaction to Morgana trying to warn him about the chick. Heh.
Oooh, losing track of where I was going. Arthur, was hilarious in his nervousness. Which I found to be amusing and Merlin did too, because he kept encouraging Arthur and playing matchmaker.
And we get more evidence that Merlin's skill at picking girls sucks like a sucking thing, first Nimue then this chick for Arthur. *rolls eyes* Really boys just stick to each other. You are meant to be. Two sides, one coin. Duh, soulmates.
I did get a kick out of Merlin telling Arthur he can't lie. Well, that certainly explains why he seems incapable of keeping his magic hidden. Silly Merlin.
I like that Morgana trusts Gwen so completely that she can tell her about her dreams without thinking that she'd go to Uther or any such nonsense. And I really love that Gwen believes her unhesitantly. *sighs happily at them* Gwen is the only true ally that Morgana has. waves tiny flag of OTPness
Which bring me to the one thing that made me roll my eyes and grump. Gaius, why in the hell don't you tell Morgana she is a seer?
Seriously, simply trying to tell her that they are dreams is the stupidest move ever. Not only are you making her doubt her self, doubt her sanity but you are also isolating her. Making her think that this one man, who has always helped her, treated her, is so unwilling to believe her. It's just going to make her unwilling to come to you to tell you of her dreams and what is in them, after all you keep acting like what she says is nonsense. And that next time could be really important!
*thwaps Gaius* TELL HER THE TRUTH!
She isn't a moron! She knows that her ability to dream the future is an ability that is pretty magical in nature and that could put her life at risk from Uther's magical blind spot. It's not like she didn't figure out for herself that she's seeing the future. And she didn't tell Uther!
*lets out a sigh* I'm willing to turn a blind eye to a lot when watching shows. But that really ticked me off. And I like Gaius. I don't want to dislike him. D=
Speaking of things I can usually ignore. I found myself scratching my head in wonder as to how Merlin got heavy, armored and water-logged Arthur back to Camelot. He better have used magic. =D
Also, I kept expecting that chick's long cloak to end up catching on things. The sheer length of it made my eyes roll during their stroll in the wood, talk about impractical. I bet the poor actress kept getting yanked to a stop while shooting that scene.
The Uther and Merlin scenes were made of win in this episode. Poor, poor Merlin. The king now thinks he is an absolute moron. I bet it's just going to make him even more incredulous that Arthur was willing to up against him to try to save him. *snickers*
Poor, poor Merlin, stuck in the stocks from trying to help Arthur. Three times! *falls over laughing*
Tomato, tomatoe, potato, potatoe...*snickers*
I was really fascinated by the scene where Arthur went to go ask Uther to let him marry the chick. Not only because I was cheering Uther on. But also by the level of harshness from Uther.
It showed, how tightly Uther controls Arthur's life. Sure, Arthur has gone up against him before, and is starting to argue more and more with him. But BAM! With that one scene it showed how little freedom Arthur actually has to make his own choices. At least the important life, and to the future of Albion, choices.
It literally made me slack-jawed at it. No wonder, Arthur often acts as Uther's perfect soldier/knight. That's what Uther has trained him to be. And no wonder he was such a bully in the first episode. Arthur is probably only now beginning to see that he can make his own choices and doesn't have to follow blind in his father's footsteps. That just because he is his father's son, it doesn't make him his father.
I mean, Uther could have agreed and decide to set the wedding in a year to give Arthur time to think about it. Or even have taken Arthur aside to tell him that he first needed to get to know the girl for much longer. Of course, that wouldn't have fitted the plot. =D
Things I enjoyed at the shallow level: Arthur's bed, Merlin straightening Arthur's bed, Merlin comment about Arthur being dressed [because it made me wonder how often he comes upon an undressed Arthur. Undressed Arthur.....mmmmm...] *coughs*, Arthur's red eyes, the quite literal boom-sticks, Merlin's goofy and adorable smiles and Gaius setting his desk on fire. =D
Merlin running through the wood had me bouncing up and down and yelling at Merlin to move faster! Arthur was drowning! But it ended very, very well, with Merling pulling Arthur out of the water. *sighs happily*
And then Arthur in his bed... >.> <.< >.> I'll be in my bunk.
Pretty much this episode was made of win. And one that I can see myself watching multiple times.
Next Time: Eep! Child sized future killer of Arthur! And the Dragon! YAY!
Okay, so I started off watching this thinking that I'd would do a review like I had done before where I'd type up my reactions as I watched. Only I got too sucked into the episode!
So, my thoughts on the episode might be a little scattered.
Definitely one of the best episodes filmed to date.
I spent so much time laughing that I kept having to stop and go back because I kept missing dialogue. Only to break into guffaws all over again. *snickers*
The scene that broke me? And made me go from smiling and chuckling to completely losing it with laughter?
Merlin in the stocks, the first time. Saying as he gets pelted with vegetation: "Forgot how much fun this was."
Not only is it a hilarious line, the expression on Merlin's face and the nod to continuity from the first episode makes the whole thing brilliant. *giggles* Just remembering is enough to set me off again. And it's been a few hours since I've seen it.
Truly, the show was so full of such brilliant and hilarious gems of awesome that I shouldn't even try to quote them all because I'll end up writing up half the episode.
I was expecting to quickly grow annoyed with Arthur fawning over the chick [err, I didn't catch her name. I was probably too busy laughing], but considering how quickly she put the whammy on him, so much of his interest can be waved away as mojo.
This is verified with Arthur's own reaction of disbelief that the asked his father to marry her at the end of the episode. Hehehe.
I also got the impression from how indecisive he first acted, that Arthur doesn't often meet girls that genuinely catch his interest. And Morgana is beautiful but also his foster sister. From their antagonistic interactions, I think they probably grew up picking on each other. *amused* I think it also explains Arthur rather jerkish reaction to Morgana trying to warn him about the chick. Heh.
Oooh, losing track of where I was going. Arthur, was hilarious in his nervousness. Which I found to be amusing and Merlin did too, because he kept encouraging Arthur and playing matchmaker.
And we get more evidence that Merlin's skill at picking girls sucks like a sucking thing, first Nimue then this chick for Arthur. *rolls eyes* Really boys just stick to each other. You are meant to be. Two sides, one coin. Duh, soulmates.
I did get a kick out of Merlin telling Arthur he can't lie. Well, that certainly explains why he seems incapable of keeping his magic hidden. Silly Merlin.
I like that Morgana trusts Gwen so completely that she can tell her about her dreams without thinking that she'd go to Uther or any such nonsense. And I really love that Gwen believes her unhesitantly. *sighs happily at them* Gwen is the only true ally that Morgana has. waves tiny flag of OTPness
Which bring me to the one thing that made me roll my eyes and grump. Gaius, why in the hell don't you tell Morgana she is a seer?
Seriously, simply trying to tell her that they are dreams is the stupidest move ever. Not only are you making her doubt her self, doubt her sanity but you are also isolating her. Making her think that this one man, who has always helped her, treated her, is so unwilling to believe her. It's just going to make her unwilling to come to you to tell you of her dreams and what is in them, after all you keep acting like what she says is nonsense. And that next time could be really important!
*thwaps Gaius* TELL HER THE TRUTH!
She isn't a moron! She knows that her ability to dream the future is an ability that is pretty magical in nature and that could put her life at risk from Uther's magical blind spot. It's not like she didn't figure out for herself that she's seeing the future. And she didn't tell Uther!
*lets out a sigh* I'm willing to turn a blind eye to a lot when watching shows. But that really ticked me off. And I like Gaius. I don't want to dislike him. D=
Speaking of things I can usually ignore. I found myself scratching my head in wonder as to how Merlin got heavy, armored and water-logged Arthur back to Camelot. He better have used magic. =D
Also, I kept expecting that chick's long cloak to end up catching on things. The sheer length of it made my eyes roll during their stroll in the wood, talk about impractical. I bet the poor actress kept getting yanked to a stop while shooting that scene.
The Uther and Merlin scenes were made of win in this episode. Poor, poor Merlin. The king now thinks he is an absolute moron. I bet it's just going to make him even more incredulous that Arthur was willing to up against him to try to save him. *snickers*
Poor, poor Merlin, stuck in the stocks from trying to help Arthur. Three times! *falls over laughing*
Tomato, tomatoe, potato, potatoe...*snickers*
I was really fascinated by the scene where Arthur went to go ask Uther to let him marry the chick. Not only because I was cheering Uther on. But also by the level of harshness from Uther.
It showed, how tightly Uther controls Arthur's life. Sure, Arthur has gone up against him before, and is starting to argue more and more with him. But BAM! With that one scene it showed how little freedom Arthur actually has to make his own choices. At least the important life, and to the future of Albion, choices.
It literally made me slack-jawed at it. No wonder, Arthur often acts as Uther's perfect soldier/knight. That's what Uther has trained him to be. And no wonder he was such a bully in the first episode. Arthur is probably only now beginning to see that he can make his own choices and doesn't have to follow blind in his father's footsteps. That just because he is his father's son, it doesn't make him his father.
I mean, Uther could have agreed and decide to set the wedding in a year to give Arthur time to think about it. Or even have taken Arthur aside to tell him that he first needed to get to know the girl for much longer. Of course, that wouldn't have fitted the plot. =D
Things I enjoyed at the shallow level: Arthur's bed, Merlin straightening Arthur's bed, Merlin comment about Arthur being dressed [because it made me wonder how often he comes upon an undressed Arthur. Undressed Arthur.....mmmmm...] *coughs*, Arthur's red eyes, the quite literal boom-sticks, Merlin's goofy and adorable smiles and Gaius setting his desk on fire. =D
Merlin running through the wood had me bouncing up and down and yelling at Merlin to move faster! Arthur was drowning! But it ended very, very well, with Merling pulling Arthur out of the water. *sighs happily*
And then Arthur in his bed... >.> <.< >.> I'll be in my bunk.
Pretty much this episode was made of win. And one that I can see myself watching multiple times.
Next Time: Eep! Child sized future killer of Arthur! And the Dragon! YAY!