fic: Season 5 episode codas

[slashweaver]

And I realise once more that I haven't been posting here about my episode codas... the last one of which I wrote last night after watching the final episode.

You can find the full series of fics here on AO3. To misappropriate a song, 'it is complete now, two ends of time are neatly tied'.

Comments

[altocello]

I am with you in terms of tears. I keep saying that, but it's true. I was absolutely weeping with Merlin, for Merlin, in those last scenes. And your thoughts on Arthurian legends, and how they are as much about how it all ended, are so spot on.

I will miss your codas. There were something I looked forward to, every week. I think your thoughts on the evolving nature of them, and how Merlin and Arthur's intimacy grew to the point where they didn't need to express it through sex were spot on. And now you've given me yet another reason to re-watch, to see if I can track the change in Colin's body language through the years.

I loved the touches they shared in this last episode, though. It's the most intimate we've seen them in canon, and kudos to the boys for not shying away from it.

And the music. Did you notice the music? They played the love theme, when Arthur asks Merlin why he didn't tell him sooner, and Merlin speaks of how some are destined for particular things. I will have to go armed with (another) box of tissues, and rewatch it specifically for the music. You can do the locations. We can weep together.

And yes, thank you for being a part of my experience as a Merlin fan, long may we squee! <3

[slashweaver]

Ah, the crying... I think it's stopped now, but then it might start up again next time I watch the episode! I suspect it will be like listening to Albinoni's Adagio, or Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - they are so very beautiful as well as so sad, so pure. The only human thing to do in response is weep.

I am more grateful than I can say for your kind words about the codas. It means a lot to me that they meant anything at all to you! :-)

Kudos to Colin and Bradley indeed. They put their hearts and souls into the characters, and were honest, and unselfconscious. They astound me.

You know what? I still haven't managed to listen to the music in the episode. :-) Thank you so much for pointing out that they used the love theme, and at such a time. That's just awesome. Whatever we may feel about the moments in which this show hasn't lived up to its potential - at least they pulled out all the stops, and overdid themselves with the finale. I'll forgive them an awful lot in return for that!

Long may we squee indeed! :-D

[altocello]

I totally agree, and think that this episode will make me weep whenever I watch it, simply because that's what one should do. I also find myself listening to music and inserting the characters into the songs, along the lines of an art meme a friend of mine posted recently, and I've found new insight into those songs and sudden floods of tears that way. Heavens, when the shuffle threw "Into the West" by Annie Lennox at me, I almost had to pull the car over to the side of the road! Not to mention "The Call" by Regina Spektor. And "Same Deep Water" by The Cure. Yikes.

Your codas were wonderful. <3 I know the challenge isn't the same, as the episodes have already aired, but I would love to see something similar for s3 and s4, just because I'm greedy, and a completionist, lol.

Honest and unselfconscious, yes, those are the words! As well as astonishing.

I still have yet to find that box of tissues and go back and watch it with the music firmly in mind. I keep getting distracted by the plot, which is what is supposed to happen, lol. And I totally agree with your feelings of forgiveness for other inadequacies, that last episode really was a GRAND finale. <3