Hm.

[selenak]

I.) Last night I was at the opera. This year, the Munich opera did the entire Ring and last night they showed the final part, the Götterdämmerung. Unfortunately, after the three previous productions were all well sung and imaginatively staged (the first production in which bringing masses of people who aren't in the script on stage actually worked

Comments

[zahrawithaz]

I was well and truly stunned when I saw people interpret it as "slut shamming". What the hell? thought I. You really have to ignore every scene between Merlin and Gwen ever, and every scene relating to Gwen which Merlin is in ever, until that point, to make that assumption.

Yes! Exactly! I was really shocked as well. (Especially when it led to "Gwen should dump both boys & hook up with Morgana," who has actively been trying to kill Gwen for over a series now.) You also have to ignore everything we've ever learned, ever, about Gwen's intense sense of privacy and disinclination to show her vulnerabilities, even to people she's close to, to read Merlin's farewell as antagonistic instead of respectful.

I really like your point about Morgana & Merlin both having a blind spot of too-narrow focus. Arguably in Morgana's case, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, because while her conviction that Emrys is thwarting her is very far off-base at the beginning of the series, she's actually right in the finale (with "Servant of 2 Masters" serving as a crucial turning point).

And Merlin arguably learns from his mistake in 4x09, by saving Gwen's life twice afterward, especially in the finale, when he saves her rather than Arthur, who needs Isolde to save him...and also thinking in councilor terms, as you say, in setting up the sword in the stone...hmmm. Wow, this is making me rethink the character arcs in this series quite a bit! Thanks much for this--the point that Merlin screws up because he's following an old script is a great one.

Re plot bunny: The problem you mention is a serious one, and I agree that making it a reveal story would deflect too much attention to Merlin (besides, having him struggle & then reveal a smaller truth to Gwen is much better characterization fodder, like you did in the Arthur/Merlin/Freya story).

There is always the Shakespearian out of having Gwen confront Morgana in disguise, magical or not, though that might curtail some of the emotional impact. The show would almost certainly solve the problem by having Gwen get an enchantment from "Emrys," though that poses the problem of whether Gwen is pro-magic enough to trust him. (I am a bit fascinated by the fact that "Emrys" & Gwen have never met, because his interactions with Arthur, Uther, Morgana, the knights, etc. are so much about him saying what he would never dare say; I do wonder how that would work with Gwen, though I doubt it would be as comic.)

But isn't it possible to have Gwen & Morgana meet in circumstances in which it's not in Morgana's best political interest to harm Gwen directly--say, a conference at Queen Annis's court at which Morgana & Gwen are both seeking allies and all are sworn to a temporary peace? A little open political rivalry could replace murderous magic, at least for a time.

(This is totally not a blatant attempt to get you to write Queen Annis. *whistles innocently*)

[selenak]

By Jove, I think I've got it. Thanks to you mentioning Annis.

How does this work for you: shortly after Gwen's coronation, Camelot receives a message that Annis is marrying her daughter to Prince X., and invites various Albion royalty for the festivities. The invitation to Arthur and his new wife is a gesture of politeness; while Arthur gained her respect, he did kill her husband and the bride's groom, and so he's supposed to decline. However, someone has a brainwave. If Gwen goes instead of Arthur who is detained by plot device X in Camelot anyway (or simply needs to supervise rebuilding after the most recent war), it will allow her to strengthen relationships with Annis' kingdom, perhaps even build up a genuine friendship with the Queen, her daughter and Prince X the likely next king (Gwen didn't do anything to any of them, is good at making friends, and Arthur knows Annis is an honorable woman who will judge Gwen on her own merits), and this will introduce her to various Albion royalty as Camelot's new queen under Annis' tutelage. (Snub her, and you snub your hostess.) So, a win-win scenario.
Merlin comes along with Gwen (they also need at least one of the knights as an escort - I wanted to add Elyan, but given they have to impress nobility, it would make sense for it to be Sir Leon), and the journey provides the first occasion for the two of them to talk about the last year at leisure. Which is when Merlin after some to and thro decides to come out with the truth about Shade!Lancelot. (Maybe because they're passing the lake?) Gwen is stunned, and after a while puts two and two together with the bracelet, working out the spell part, and that Morgana must have been responsible.
Turns out Morgana is at the wedding, too, recovered from her wounds thanks to dragon breathing, still in need of a human ally and also in need of making a second, better impression on Annis. Or maybe she's given up on Annis and is going for Annis' daughter and/or Prince X instead, trying to persuade them to overthrow Annis as she overthrew Uther? Just to keep with the generational theme and Morgana's ability to project parental issues. Anyway, this is why she doesn't kill Gwen (or Merlin) on sight. Gwen is determined to have it out with Morgana and ask her again why, with more of an explanation than "it's what you represent", but she hasn't forgotten that she's now queen and here to forge new connections, either, hard as it is. So the story would have Gwen on the one hand working through her emotions (the realisation she has been mind-messed with, her feelings about Morgana, and her past exile in this new light) and on the other squaring off against various Albion royals, many of which would be pre-determined to snub her if they can get away with it, and sympathize with Morgana, having to see her former maid as queen etc. (maybe Morgana presents the story as Gwen having caused a rift between her brother and her in order to become Queen?), which gives Morgana the opportunity to make allies. In the end, Gwen's diplomacy and determination wins out re: most of the guests, she and Merlin get to polish up their detective act by sussing out the conspiracy between Morgana and Annis' daughter and/or prince X against Annis, and Gwen returns home with the knowledge of what really happened, some measure of air cleared between her and Morgana, and some new allies besides.

[zahrawithaz]

I am smiling with glee at this description!

Love the brainwave about sending Gwen to the wedding (something I can imagine the OT3 coming up with in combination); the massive potential for Gwen showing her queenliness, and of course the divide between how she feels and her duty, which is so Gwen, in many ways; Gwen being a detective on two counts; the prospect of Merlin & Gwen, the last people to have seen Morgana, encountering her again; Morgana continuing to plot; the potential for Gwen/Merlin friendship; and of course Gwen finally getting the resolution she so richly deserves. Plus, Queen Annis + Queen Guinevere = A+!

I really hope you write this!