Merlin - Arthur's Bane Part Two

[seravia]

Arthur's Bane Part Two (Season 5, Episode 2)

Nice slashy follow up to the first part.  Not quite as epic though, I have to say.  Many heart attack inducing moments though.

Comments

[sp_owl]

Well, it just doesn't make sense to me that he'd still be a regular servant and wearing the same thing. I kept thinking he looked so GOOD in that other outfit in this episode!
Honestly, I feel like the writers are putting Gwen in there because she's part of the legend, which they are marginally sticking to, but I'm relieved that they aren't sticking her too far down our throats. I mean, I didn't realize it was going to be a couple of years later, and I was glad of it because we didn't have to see the 'newness' of their marriage. (and I agree with you--they really don't have any chemistry.) Wish Lancelot would come back from the dead again and whisk her off. Poor Arthur.
I can see that Arthur listens to Merlin, but he's still sort of callously demeaning to him. In this way it seems that the years have not passed at all. I feel like Merlin should not only have ANOTHER OUTFIT, but also different duties and slightly more respect in Arthur's eyes. Honestly, I feel they should've had a reveal in this episode. It's kind of ridiculous to keep it all up this long.
PS--I really like Mordred! He'll be a neat threat to Arthur in upcoming episodes.

[seravia]

I really wish Merlin would get another outfit too. Literally ANY other outfit. I wouldn't be surprised if Merlin just never bought himself another outfit because Merlin cares way more about other people that himself. In my own headcanon, he sends all the money he makes back to Hunith. But I find it hard to believe that it's never occurred to Arthur to get Merlin some new clothes.

I'm not too too bothered by Arthur and Merlin's current relationship. I do think that Merlin deserves more respect and some higher position in the royal household. But I kind of see Arthur's rudeness toward Merlin as a defense mechanism. Even after all this time, Arthur isn't good with emotions. I'm willing to take a little prat!Arthur as long as it's not the dominant part of Arthur's personality.

I think they should've had the magic reveal ages ago, but especially in this two parter. There were plenty of moments in the previous seasons where magic reveal would've fit, but in Arthur's Bane, there were two moments where I was genuinely expecting a magic reveal. Happened to me at least once this episode too. I know that "keep the magic secret" is the big "thing" with this show, but it's long overdue. I think the best we can hope for is a magic reveal at the end of this season and then hopefully a sixth season to explore it.

I liked Gwen back in season one. I'm warming to her a bit again in season five. Basically, I liked Gwen just fine when she was her own character. I stopped liking her and she started to become a nuisance when Gwen was defined by being Arthur's love interest. I constantly feel like the writers feel the need to validate Arwen and show us OMG EPIC LOVE with those kisses in front of sunlit windows, the constant "I know you'll be a great king," and now trying to make Gwen the smartest one there. I think they want the wholesome fairytale romance and wanted to get the Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot love triangle out of the way before adultery got involved. But yes, I'm totally behind Lancelot coming back from the dead again to whish Gwen away. Arthur's got Merlin, what's he need a Queen for? XD

[merlenhiver]

Arthur's got Merlin, what's he need a Queen for? XD

Hehe. So true. :D I'm always pleased when Gwen doesn't get in the way of the M/A (b)romance, so "Arthur's Bane" scored very high on that list for me.

I agree wholeheartedly that the magic reveal is LONG overdue, so long it's not even funny anymore. I've given up hope on it for the moment - I don't think it's going to happen until the season finale - but this episode has sort of given me another hope that actually might make it okay. It looks like there's going to be a lot of talk about lifting the ban on magic (and thus truly building Albion, where magic reigns free!), something I've been waiting for since the pilot. So if they focus on Arthur coming to terms with magic in general and then have Merlin's reveal at some point ... I might not be so mad about it anymore.
We'll see. But as I said, this episode has given me hope that they are finally going to focus on what really exites me (aside from all the slash, obviously :D).

[sp_owl]

Maybe because I watched all four seasons in one gulp over the summer, I really haven't felt the 'reveal is so overdue' thing until now. It would've worked great in this episode! And they really can't drag it on much longer, because it's going to get ridiculous.
I must say...Arthur's expression while Merlin juggled eggs was priceless! :)

[merlenhiver]

Bradley and his faces! *giggles*

[seravia]

I'm always happy when Gwen doesn't get in the way of Merthur too. Although, to be fair, the chemistry between Colin/Merlin and Bradley/Arthur speaks for itself. :) I was surprised when some reviews of Arthur's Bane kept saying that the Merlin/Arthur relationship was minimal. At least in my opinion, the slash in this two parter was off the scales!

I could understand keeping the magic secret while Uther was still alive and at the beginning of Arthur's reign. I could live with no magic reveal in season four. But three, nearly four years into Arthur's reign, and Merlin still hasn't told him the truth? Ugh. Hopefully they actually manage to show Arthur the good side of magic (beside the glowing ball of blue light) this season.

[sp_owl]

Was it just me, or did Arthur come off as a little less in this episode? In fact, when he fell while they were walking with the other prisoners, I was dismayed because I thought for a minute it was for real and they were making him weaker. But they did have some pretty awesome fight scenes for him (trying to remember--did they always do the slo-mo thing? Not sure if I liked it). Just seemed that not only did Gwen triumph as the smartest (just by thinking of another route! Come on!) but also Arthur came off weak...perhaps by letting Mordred off.
Btw...in the earliest Mordred ep...I remember them saying that Mordred would be the death of Arthur, which (besides being legend) is why Merlin letting him go was so shocking. But in this ep, they kept saying 'a druid' instead. On purpose? (like we're supposed to forget and hopefully trust Mordred) or by mistake?

[seravia]

A little less? I'm not sure. Not in my opinion. I was pretty shocked at Arthur collapsing on the road too. If it were real, I would've had serious issues with it. I wouldn't call Arthur weak for letting Mordred go. He's never been one to kill in cold blood. I think a good portion of the reason Arthur didn't kill Mordred is because he saved Mordred all those years ago, and recently Mordred saved him.

They really like the slo-mo. It's hit or miss usually.

The writers seem to hope we'll forget a lot of things. Like the fact that Arthur knows Mordred has magic. And Merlin mentioned how the dragon said "A druid would kill Arthur." And I'm like... he did? What? Sigh. We all know Mordred's going to kill Arthur. Even without the legend, the prophecy showed us that.

[sp_owl]

yes, that's what I thought--wondered if they changed it to "a druid" to throw us stupid viewers off, lol.

[sp_owl]

Gwen and Lance and Gwen and Gwaine had some chemistry. NOT Gwen and Arthur, and I'm not just saying that because I'm all for Arthur/Merlin.