Merlin 2.9: The Lady of the Lake
Late to this party, so just a few comments for the sake of completeness. I adored this episode but, dear gods, it really did have plot holes you could fly a space ship through. Writer Julian Jones is clearly after an award for services to fandom as this really ramped up the Arthur/Merlin interaction. IT WAS PRETTY DAMN SQUEETASTIC. Like watching fanfic.
But let’s start with Freya. I liked Freya - once I’d got over the whole Norse Goddess thing, and even that isn’t entirely unsuitable, with its connotations of love and magic, if you can forget the idea of Vivienne as LotL. I’m sure Show will be dealing with this later. Pre-episode (I haven’t read any reviews) there was some worry that Freya would be very much a victim. And I guess she was, but the interaction with Merlin was very, very sweet. Those kisses were so intense and emotional. Romantic rather than sexy. Realistic? Nope. But that kind of young love thing is rarely realistic - it’s all pedestals and roses and running away to be together forever. Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how very young and alone Merlin really is. I love Merlin wanting to look after someone and be loved and appreciated for what he does. It’s not really a stretch to see it as Merlin projecting how he’d like someone to be with him.
Angsty Colin Morgan FTW. Laura Donnelly does what she can with some thankless dialogue. (Not to mention the plotholes of doom. If Freya had been in the cage for several days how come nobody noticed her transforming? Plus, I've watched Being Human, post transformation Freya is going to need a whole new set of clothes, that Druid dress she’s rocking is not going to be intact, fashionably frayed or not.) Freya and Merlin look very pretty together.
But, bloody hell Show, is it not possible to show all the women together in a single episode? Once again we have missing Morgana - am trying to rationalise this by the idea that she is growing apart from all at Camelot but then I’d like to see some scenes of isolation. Gwen gets one scene - and it’s a sweet scene and AC makes the most of her part, but Season Two really is the season of marginalisation of the women. Listen Show, the female characters are GREAT. And they’re GREAT on their own accounts, on their own MERITS, not just in RELATION to the males. ‘Kay?
Freya does seem fairly powerless despite the whole cursed giant panther problem. Frankly, apart from Mordred, all of the Druids seem strangely passive. I can’t quite buy into this - I’m totally on-board with the non-violent culture but not to use magic in self-defence seems odd. Perhaps only some Druids use magic - Merlin’s candle wooing seemed to impress Freya. Or she was being kind as one does with (strangely obsessive, smitten, wizard) BFs.
Gaius acts according to his own strange moral code rightly pointing out that numerous innocents to not deserve to die at Freya’s hand, er paw. Merlin once again demonstrates his own strange moral code which pretty much adds up to ‘protecting those I love and not worrying about anyone else’. At least Merlin is consistent in his dodgy values. Gaius changes with the seasons.
Uther worries about magic. (Could be any ep then.)
Highlander fans will appreciate the presence of Horseman Richard Ridings as Halig.
Then we come to Merlin and Arthur. Or Merlin/Arthur.
What can I say? It was like having all your birthdays come at once, opening all your presents and then finding a complete new set to open all over again.
Bathtime!Arthur. Nuff said. **flails** (Shameless objectification of Bradley James continues.)
Facial!Merlin. (What is this obsession Show has with soaking its stars?)
‘Hide the sausage.’ **blinks** You could not make that up. (Does Arthur not pay Merlin? Is there some reason he couldn’t go down to the pie shop and buy a bit of food? Or just go down to the castle kitchens and collect some?)
Protective!Arthur x two (Saving Merlin from Halig, the noogie of love)
Transvestite!Merlin (Suits you!)
Fanon/canon merge alert. SHOW knows its audience and clearly reads fanfic.
CHILDREN IN NEED
LOLs. Anachronisms are us. YaY. Gwen and Morgana get more to do than they do in many eps. Scary Uther is scary. Gaius and Merlin family time is love. Shirtless!Arthur/Nightime!Merlin and bonus Pudsy. Admit it, you thought exactly what Show intended you to think when Arthur asked if Merlin hadn’t forgotten something. **MORE WIN**
But let’s start with Freya. I liked Freya - once I’d got over the whole Norse Goddess thing, and even that isn’t entirely unsuitable, with its connotations of love and magic, if you can forget the idea of Vivienne as LotL. I’m sure Show will be dealing with this later. Pre-episode (I haven’t read any reviews) there was some worry that Freya would be very much a victim. And I guess she was, but the interaction with Merlin was very, very sweet. Those kisses were so intense and emotional. Romantic rather than sexy. Realistic? Nope. But that kind of young love thing is rarely realistic - it’s all pedestals and roses and running away to be together forever. Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how very young and alone Merlin really is. I love Merlin wanting to look after someone and be loved and appreciated for what he does. It’s not really a stretch to see it as Merlin projecting how he’d like someone to be with him.
Angsty Colin Morgan FTW. Laura Donnelly does what she can with some thankless dialogue. (Not to mention the plotholes of doom. If Freya had been in the cage for several days how come nobody noticed her transforming? Plus, I've watched Being Human, post transformation Freya is going to need a whole new set of clothes, that Druid dress she’s rocking is not going to be intact, fashionably frayed or not.) Freya and Merlin look very pretty together.
But, bloody hell Show, is it not possible to show all the women together in a single episode? Once again we have missing Morgana - am trying to rationalise this by the idea that she is growing apart from all at Camelot but then I’d like to see some scenes of isolation. Gwen gets one scene - and it’s a sweet scene and AC makes the most of her part, but Season Two really is the season of marginalisation of the women. Listen Show, the female characters are GREAT. And they’re GREAT on their own accounts, on their own MERITS, not just in RELATION to the males. ‘Kay?
Freya does seem fairly powerless despite the whole cursed giant panther problem. Frankly, apart from Mordred, all of the Druids seem strangely passive. I can’t quite buy into this - I’m totally on-board with the non-violent culture but not to use magic in self-defence seems odd. Perhaps only some Druids use magic - Merlin’s candle wooing seemed to impress Freya. Or she was being kind as one does with (strangely obsessive, smitten, wizard) BFs.
Gaius acts according to his own strange moral code rightly pointing out that numerous innocents to not deserve to die at Freya’s hand, er paw. Merlin once again demonstrates his own strange moral code which pretty much adds up to ‘protecting those I love and not worrying about anyone else’. At least Merlin is consistent in his dodgy values. Gaius changes with the seasons.
Uther worries about magic. (Could be any ep then.)
Highlander fans will appreciate the presence of Horseman Richard Ridings as Halig.
Then we come to Merlin and Arthur. Or Merlin/Arthur.
What can I say? It was like having all your birthdays come at once, opening all your presents and then finding a complete new set to open all over again.
Bathtime!Arthur. Nuff said. **flails** (Shameless objectification of Bradley James continues.)
Facial!Merlin. (What is this obsession Show has with soaking its stars?)
‘Hide the sausage.’ **blinks** You could not make that up. (Does Arthur not pay Merlin? Is there some reason he couldn’t go down to the pie shop and buy a bit of food? Or just go down to the castle kitchens and collect some?)
Protective!Arthur x two (Saving Merlin from Halig, the noogie of love)
Transvestite!Merlin (Suits you!)
Fanon/canon merge alert. SHOW knows its audience and clearly reads fanfic.
CHILDREN IN NEED
LOLs. Anachronisms are us. YaY. Gwen and Morgana get more to do than they do in many eps. Scary Uther is scary. Gaius and Merlin family time is love. Shirtless!Arthur/Nightime!Merlin and bonus Pudsy. Admit it, you thought exactly what Show intended you to think when Arthur asked if Merlin hadn’t forgotten something. **MORE WIN**