Merlin: 5:03 The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

[tanous]

I don’t know.  I should probably admit that I was expecting/hoping for a different episode than the one we got, so I’m actually reviewing the wrong thing. I know too that I’m stlll wearing my Traumatised By S4 Pt 2 goggles. But I can still see that there was alot to appreciate.  We were given the, now rare, treat of an episode centred almost

Comments

[tanoshi_ame]

I was just left wishing for a better script, wondering what a writer capable of character depth who actually gets them, could have done with it.
I think this is exactly why it's harder to review this ep. Focus on the right characters plus their actors' top-notch performance did more than save, they elevated the written content on a much larger scale this time. I enjoyed most scenes because of every acting decision, every little thing these talented men did, especially Colin for those small but deliberated and meaningful gestures. My response to Bee's review mirrored most of what's raised here, but in a more positive/forgiving light. Though now that I think about it, it was also more about praising the acting and ignoring the writing, so that explains it I guess.

I'm sad that Uther wasn't given a more deserving farewell. Poltergeist!Uther did not line up with Veil!Uther at all and there was nothing Anthony could do about it. I love Merlin in this ep as it feels like he was more calling out on Arthur's crap than the usual placating, I'm-on-your-side speech. However, I also agree that this owes NOT to the writing but Colin's choices alone. Which unsurprisingly leads to the same age-old question, will all of this mean anything at last?

Also, Arthur's reconciled that he's not his father. Great. Except we are never shown how Camelot is different, let alone better, from when Uther ruled it. It would have made a tie in my book, Uther's logic and Arthur's natural instinct. Except Arthur has to mention Gwen now and then and every time that happens, he sounds like a worst king possible. At least nobody could deny that Uther was more dedicated to his kingdom than Arthur could ever be. I'm tired of how often Gwen's character has to sabotage everybody else's, even indirectly.

For all the good feelings I have about 5.03, it probably doesn't extend any further than that. 5.04 seems 'meh'? I'm more terrified of 5.05. Have you read the synopsis? 'Greatest sacrifice' they said... God forbids it's a reveal so... greatest Mary Sue sounds big enough? :P

[tanous]

Hi again :) I agree with all you've said - about Bees fab review too. I wish I could see the episode in as uncomplicatedly positive a light as she does, I really do. I *want* to adore it unreservedly for the stuff it did give us like a fourhander with Colin, Bradley, Richard and Tony. I mean thats heaven right there! Its just the missed opportunities of having Tony there, having Uther turned into a panto villain after the ending he got with Arthur in S4 (wonder what *that* will do to Arthur's daddy issues) and the total la la laing past the tapdancing neon elephant in the corner of the room - ie magic. As you say we have no idea how Camelot is better under Arthur - we're just told. What has he changed beyond knighting and marrying peasants? I agree too that the pushing of the Disney romance has certainly damaged Arthurs character in the past- all that Uther said was right - he *should* have married to help the kingdom not to make himself happy - but so far we haven't seen too much of it to judge this year. Definitely though making Gwen into an achingly predictable, perfect and flawless queen while Arthur is a very imperfect and flawed (and human) king isn't helping at all.

Ive seen a few people panicking about 5.05... but Im a bit lost. Whats the issue? I dont think we stand a chance of a reveal this early from spoilers about the later eps involving hangings and Merlin still in costume etc (unless they were all set up as red herrings to mislead us :-P - -wouldn't that be brilliant???). It sounds from what I saw that Arthur makes yet another disastrous error of judgement - sigh. So whats the speculation? she asked vaguely :-P

[tanoshi_ame]

Well, the issue is that it sounds horribly likely that the "greatest sacrifice" to make up for Arthur's error and one that Arthur apparently isn't prepared to make - since it's 80% not gonna be Merlin or magic-related - might very well be Her Sue-ish Majesty. I recall seeing BTS pics where Bradley rescued a Gwen-doll from a lake or something, so it's hard not to make connections. Hoping very much to be proven wrong though.

[tanous]

Ah I see - yeah that sounds feasible. How many times is she going to have to be rescued this season- from Uther, from Morgana AND from whoevers the baddie in 5.05? We're weaving between Boadicea! Barbie and Victim! Barbie just to give her a role- which lets face it she doesn't naturally have. Its a 'how can we shove Gwen/Terry and June into this one?' dilemma each script conference Id imagine :-p Do we know if the writer's a Disney man, or does he do more grown up stuff?

Im increasingly convinced that, because they cant *show* Arthur being in madly in love with Gwen (and they really cant) they have to *tell* us endlessly and if speculation is correct about 5.05 - are they going to do it yet again and waste an episode on it? As if massacring the whole second half of last season wasnt enough? I would like to think that Gwen being taken by Morgana and the subsequent agonising that'll go on would be enough on the telling us how Disney this Twu Lurve is, without having to do it twice. But maybe its not a question of wasting an episode - maybe they're just out of ideas without moving things forward at all? Thats a sad thought.

[tanoshi_ame]

Oh hey,I just read this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/46/merlin-ep6.html

So, as hilariously dull as it sounds, I'm somewhat feeling better reading it because 1) Gwen can't be the victim for two straight episodes, right? and 2) The "juicy plot" for Gwen finally happens so maybe it will be the last we'll see of her in any major capacity, hopefully. :P

Possible spoilers

[tanous]

Ah well according so someone who claims to have been told the gist of the eps to come - there are three episodes - count them - three on top of the kidnap ep in which Gwen is enchanted by Morgana thus presumably playing evil (and of course she has to be enchanted to do anything less than pure perfection.. Anyone still awake?) Then an ep where she's unenchanted by Merlin and Alator and another where shes off with Elyan in a quest of some kind. And she will undoubtedly be fulfilling her Mary Sue quotient in all the others. So, the apparent last season of Merlin may not be focussing on Merlin or indeed on Mordred. But on guess who?

These are the supposed spoilers - from here:
http://www.tv.com/shows/merlin/forums/series-5-spoilers-thread-90585-3342857/?page=62
:
5x04: Princess Mithian and king Odin return. Arthur vows to help. Morgana (disguised as an old woman) plots Camelot's destruction.

5x05: Mordred's life is in danger. Arthur is willing to deal to save his life, as he feels like he owes him now.

5x06: The one where Gwen is kidnapped by Morgana. Gwen is tortured. Morgana puts a spell on her.

5x07: An assassin is amidst a group of visiting guests from an enemy land looking to sign peace with Camelot. Gwen, under Morgana’s spell, stirs up some trouble ---> Lord Bayard? Queen Mab?

5x08: Merlin takes a young Druid under his wing ---> I guess that's Daegal (Alfie Stewart), the young man in brown clothes that Merlin protects and who can be seen sneaking into the castle.

5x09: This one marks the end of the “enchanted Gwen” storyline. Merlin is the one to undo the spell but he needs to recruit the help of Alator.

5x10: This one is centered around Gwen. No more details are given ---> Gwen and Elyan adventure one?

5x11: This one is deficed as “calm before the storm”. No more details are given ----> Gwen/Arthur picnic episode, random lady being hanged?

5x12: The storyline with Gwaine’s treacherous girlfriend is just a front of sorts for the real plot that will set up part 2 (ep 5x13).

5x13: Merlin goes to the crystal cave again to try and see the future but could he change a tragic future from taking place?

Re: Possible spoilers

[tanoshi_ame]

.... Okay. So the whole latter half of this series sounds very torturous. And with the exception of 5x13, I'm having a hard time imagining how a reveal will fit into any of these eps. Uh... I don't want to assume anything here but this doesn't exactly inspire positive feelings. Katie at SDCC said something like 'this season is all about Merlin now', now I wonder about it...

Re: Possible spoilers

[tanous]

Me too. They're being so ridiculously mysterious. We don't even know if theres another season. I'd have thought they'd realise they need to give some incentive to keep watching once the dead hand of Terry and June falls over the mid section of the series.

Re: Possible spoilers

[ungalad]

Oh gawd. It looks painful to watch, to be honest. :S ARGGGGH.