Merlin: 5:09 With All My Heart

[tanous]

Merlin... the show that teaches its fans what Stockholm Syndrome is all about. This week my expectations were so low that I expected literally nothing, other than more slaps in the face to the fans who give a shit about Arthur and/or Merlin. I expected another ordeal of grandiose tries at fairytale moments, flowery gestures and gruesomely soppy

Comments

[undead_begonia]

Yesterday I rewatched the ending of the second season of Robin of Sherwood (Praed) - just to get me in the mood for main character death, don't you know. I cried. Now THAT was the way you do a love relationship, and THAT was the way you kill off a hero.

I don't think, no matter what they do on Merlin in the next 4 episodes, that I'm going to cry at the end. I just don't care about these characters any more.

I think you're right. This ending is going to be the most infuriating in the whole of fandom since Blakes 7, since Quantum Leap. And it's up against some pretty stiff competition, when you think about it.

[arwyn_t]

Ahh yes... Robin of Sherwood. Or Babylon 5. Robin & Marion, John Sheridan & Delenn. *That*is how you write romance and *that* is how you kill off a hero. I still cry my eyes out with those. With Merlin? So sadly, not anymore. Arthur is so not a Once and Future King and Merlin so not worthy of magical praise that I will be relieved by the end. And it doesn't even pain me to think that anymore.

[tanous]

I will never be in the mood for main character death. I am a walking breathing marshmallow.

I dont care how artistic it is and how well its written I still loathe endings that rip my guts out - I know some people love it but unremitting, unresolved angst has never been my thing. (as opposed to resolved angst which I love). So if I cant cope with a well thought out, well written one, Im expecting to be strapped into the little white jacket with the long arms after 5.13. :(

Quantum Leap? I watched that a few times casually...didnt they let the guy get home??? Blakes 7 I watched that on DVD - still goes down in the annals as the worst finale ever. Well...in my annals anyway. :P

[gatepromise]

No! Sam never got to go home in Quantum Leap! I was a fan and I cried when that show ended. It was terrible. It was like a Hitchcock film.

Don't worry, T. There's a great big padded room ready for all of us after 5.13. You won't be alone; we'll keep each other company.

(I'm afraid I'm shit at cheering people up when I'm expecting the worst too...)

[undead_begonia]

I don't mind an ending which is emotionally tumultuous and at the same time cathartic, I'm really not afraid of plunging into those emotions and having a good wallow

[merlenhiver]

None of the characters have actually BEEN on a mythological journey and they've failed to convince that death or exile or lonely immortality is the inevitable consequence of that journey that they've taken us on over the last five years.

THIS! That's why their story feels so shallow. Personally, I love a well-done tragic ending too, I WANT to shed some tears over my favourite characters. But why should I waste my tears over this kind of crap character development? They've done nothing since 4x07 to warrant me being terribly upset over Merlin's or Arthur's tragic ending. So yeah, at this point, I'd actually prefer a little more Disney for those two.

[tanous]

I SO dont want to shed tears over my favourite character :P Merlin has shed too many tears as a character and got nothing for it and Arthur - all that hope unfulfilled. I want the targic ending averted or postponed but I know that is NOT going to happen

[tanous]

I do see your point, and its very much a personal taste thing, but I AM a happy ending girl. I do always want a coherent happy ending or I'll even take a bittersweet ending with hope (like Life on Mars for example) but all out tragedy? Im just not into it as an entertainment choice. I appreciate the genius of say Romeo and Juliet or Mme Butterfly but I would never actively seek them out as a way to relax. I realise for many people angst and tragedy well done are cathartic but for me I welcome escapism. Having said that, I do hate being patronised and Merlin does do that all too often. Its ironic though they've suddenly decided that Disney and anything they care to make up, is good enough for 4.09 but only Mme Butterfly and an absolute embrace of legend will do for 4.13.