Merlin 3.07 The Castle of Fyrion
In which The Moment of Truth gets a dark counterpart.
First of all, I thought this episode would be more Gwen-centric than it was, but as opposed to To Kill A King, I didn't mind because a) ensemble story, and I do love when everyone gets something to do, and b) what happened to Gwen wasn't treated as catalyst for someone else's drama.
The unexpected!brother Elian: can stay. The show did take the trouble to let Gwen point out he wasn't around when she could have needed him (i.e. when their father died), but if he's something of a drifter, that makes sense. It also works in terms of sibling dynamics and Gwen's own determination to be reliable and steadfast.
Speaking of sibling dynamics, this episode unfortunately settles that Morgana is now willing to have Arthur killed (and use Gwen) at the drop of a pin. I would have found it far more interesting characterisation if she had remained conflicted, but apparantly not. Given that there are two scenes - Merlin's first conversation with her when they're alone, and Cendred's comment later - calling attention to the 180% turnaround in feeling on her part, you can't say the writers are unaware, but that this is the direction they want to take her. Morgana's "no, you just poison them" in reply to Merlin's "I could not betray my friends" is the one moment where you can trace her willingness to sacrifice everyone to The Fires of Idrisholas, but even so, as Merlin points out, Arthur and Gwen never turned against Morgana.
Arthur's lie to Uther to cover for his absence, btw, is effective but also painful because the wager is exactly the kind of thing that would/could have happened between him and Morgana in s1 and earlier, which is why Uther buys it completely.
The last time all four young regulars were on a mission to save someone, they did so for friendship, were united, and while there was angst (i.e. death of Will and Merlin being more convinced than ever can't out himself to Arthur), it was overall an optimistic episode. This episode, on the other hand, has the four going on a mission where there are lies and different goals from the start. Friendship is still something celebrated - I remain extremely happy on how this season treats the Merlin-Gwen relationship, it's the third episode in a row where the Merlin/Arthur one is presented in the right balance, and the way Gwen/Arthur are supportive and there for each other despite not being able to be "officially" together instead of making everyone miserable with angst and pining is just what I hoped for. But betrayal is as big a theme; Morgana's willingness to trade in Arthur and Gwen for a crown (while being unwilling to actually face the consequences of them finding out) is basically the same callous indifference Uther has always shown towards the fate of servants (whether Merlin in s1, Gwen in s2, or now Gwen again), only turned towards everyone not herself and Morgause. (And we still haven't seen Morgana make any sacrifice on Morgause's behalf, so I'm not sure how strong that last feeling for someone other than herself is.)
Speaking of Morgause, I like that script and acting took the time to let Arthur respond to seeing her again, because other than two brief glimpses in Fires of Idrisholas, he hasn't done so since Sins of the Father. Her relationship with Cendred continues to be cliché-free; mutual using with a genuine interest in each other, I'd say.
We're still dlue an explanation of how Morgause and Morgana are still sisters after Uther's paternity revelation, which I think the show will eventually get around to, though not any time soon.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/620066.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
First of all, I thought this episode would be more Gwen-centric than it was, but as opposed to To Kill A King, I didn't mind because a) ensemble story, and I do love when everyone gets something to do, and b) what happened to Gwen wasn't treated as catalyst for someone else's drama.
The unexpected!brother Elian: can stay. The show did take the trouble to let Gwen point out he wasn't around when she could have needed him (i.e. when their father died), but if he's something of a drifter, that makes sense. It also works in terms of sibling dynamics and Gwen's own determination to be reliable and steadfast.
Speaking of sibling dynamics, this episode unfortunately settles that Morgana is now willing to have Arthur killed (and use Gwen) at the drop of a pin. I would have found it far more interesting characterisation if she had remained conflicted, but apparantly not. Given that there are two scenes - Merlin's first conversation with her when they're alone, and Cendred's comment later - calling attention to the 180% turnaround in feeling on her part, you can't say the writers are unaware, but that this is the direction they want to take her. Morgana's "no, you just poison them" in reply to Merlin's "I could not betray my friends" is the one moment where you can trace her willingness to sacrifice everyone to The Fires of Idrisholas, but even so, as Merlin points out, Arthur and Gwen never turned against Morgana.
Arthur's lie to Uther to cover for his absence, btw, is effective but also painful because the wager is exactly the kind of thing that would/could have happened between him and Morgana in s1 and earlier, which is why Uther buys it completely.
The last time all four young regulars were on a mission to save someone, they did so for friendship, were united, and while there was angst (i.e. death of Will and Merlin being more convinced than ever can't out himself to Arthur), it was overall an optimistic episode. This episode, on the other hand, has the four going on a mission where there are lies and different goals from the start. Friendship is still something celebrated - I remain extremely happy on how this season treats the Merlin-Gwen relationship, it's the third episode in a row where the Merlin/Arthur one is presented in the right balance, and the way Gwen/Arthur are supportive and there for each other despite not being able to be "officially" together instead of making everyone miserable with angst and pining is just what I hoped for. But betrayal is as big a theme; Morgana's willingness to trade in Arthur and Gwen for a crown (while being unwilling to actually face the consequences of them finding out) is basically the same callous indifference Uther has always shown towards the fate of servants (whether Merlin in s1, Gwen in s2, or now Gwen again), only turned towards everyone not herself and Morgause. (And we still haven't seen Morgana make any sacrifice on Morgause's behalf, so I'm not sure how strong that last feeling for someone other than herself is.)
Speaking of Morgause, I like that script and acting took the time to let Arthur respond to seeing her again, because other than two brief glimpses in Fires of Idrisholas, he hasn't done so since Sins of the Father. Her relationship with Cendred continues to be cliché-free; mutual using with a genuine interest in each other, I'd say.
We're still dlue an explanation of how Morgause and Morgana are still sisters after Uther's paternity revelation, which I think the show will eventually get around to, though not any time soon.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/620066.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.