MY MERLIN FEELS
MY MERLIN FEELS. LET ME SHOW YOU THEM.
I've caught up to Season 4 - on Episode 8 now - and I think what infuriates me about this show is the untapped potential. You have some very talented actors with amazing chemistry (*COUGH BRADLEY/COLIN COUGH*) which is completely and horribly destroyed by horrible writing, plot, pacing and characterisation. SERIOUSLY.
This is one of the few shows which makes me feel like I'd like to bundle all the actors/set design people in my arms and run out the door with them to my ALTERNATE AND BETTER WORLD where writing is good. Which means...the solutions to the problems can be seen from a mile away and should be recognised by scriptwriters. And I guess it's the characters who make me continue watching, while alternately wishing to repeatedly headdesk. Maybe I should start participating in the Merlin drinking game.
(just a note - there are spoilers in here but I'm trying to focus more on the general problems in the show)
Also, it is long as hell. I ramble.
I think what's holding the show back is pretty much it's conflicting tone. The story should have progressed to a stage where things should be getting progressively darker and more serious, but the yoyo-ing of tone in each episode is what's giving the major mood whiplash that detriments the show. The same show that had Merlin struggle with poisoning a dear friend pull farting jokes and walk into doorways in the next episode or the next season.
Personally, I really really dislike the humour. I don't think it's clever or funny - it's slapstick humour of the Mr. Bean variety and the only reason why that worked in Mr Bean was because the entire show was dedicated to that sort of humour. Sure, you can have a troll episode or a farting episode, but it's almost insulting to the long time viewers that the writers believe the light hearted humour of the, what, fifth episode of the first season can be recycled in the third season or the fourth without it feeling jarring and out of place. I feel like the show is trying too hard to stay to its PG-13 classification and is foregoing valuable plot development which I believe should always be placed above indulging in audiences' preferences - or what is believed to be audience preferences. Seriously, thirteen-year-olds can take more depth than anyone thinks. And by limiting the show to candy-floss-flavoured humour and lightness, you're only enforcing immaturity.
FLOPGANA.
I'm adopted ontd_merlin lingo here. Morgana was such a bamf in Season 1 and some of Season 2. Katie McGrath is gorgeous and she can be capable of so much more. Her descent into ~*evil villainy of evil*~ was the classic example of how to make a character become two-dimensional. Very little moral struggle, an unclear sense of her motivations beyond ~being angry at Uther~, her muddled future agenda and a sudden complete abandonment of all her past attachments and friendships. It gets more ridiculous in Season 4 - even barring the logic questions like how did she furnish her hovel with all these valuable magical items? =__=; - because really? You've killed the object of your revenge and now you're going to...continue to extend that blind hatred and vendetta to his son and seek to kill him too?
If the show wants to play the *descent into madness* angle and show that her obsession with claiming her birthright has overruled her original motivation of being a non violent advocate of magic, they needed to make her lack of reason and obsession a lot more convincing. UGHHH. Even if they insist on Morgana going with her vendetta and taking the throne motive, it only takes a few seconds of hesitation or conflict on the actress' face to add a billion dimensions to her character. Instead, her facial expressions consist of: fear, evil smirk of evil and shocked anger.
MAGIC
The magic in the show is the DUMBEST THING EVER. I love the gold eye flash but seriously? The only offensive any of the magic users have is blowing people off their feet for them to have multiple concussions and pass out conveniently. That old!Merlin and Morgana showdown in 4x06 was actually...terrible. =___=; With all those head injuries, no wonder security in Camelot is about as effective as a wide open door with the sign "TAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT" hanging over it. I also hate how the fight sequences basically consist of Merlin being knocked to the ground/against a wall, then him using one spell and causing some fatal wound. For once, I'd like to see Merlin block a spell like the BAMF he should be and then proceed to pwn the opponent after a fair battle. Why must he always be overpowered when he is clearly supposed to be amazing and an ~unparalleled~ sorceror ): And also, why doesn't he just use his magic on Morgana? ): It's not like she has evidence to bring to Arthur.
ARTHUR
I'm still waiting for a decent writer to come along and somehow show that Arthur has known about Merlin's magic all along or Gwaine has or something just because every major decision he makes is so monumentally dumb, because the writers need some way to work the ~plot of the week~ into the story and can't think of a better way than to have a character make an almost comically OOC move. Yeah, good job condemning Gaius of all people, disregarding the fact something similar has already happened in the previous season, or still not listening to Merlin even though, time and time again, his advice has proved correct. And yeah, don't go noticing that the SLIMY CREEPY CHARACTER IN BLACK is not the villain, even though they're all kind of colour-coded for your convenience. For once, I'd love for Arthur to actually use whatever he has left of his brain after being concussed all the time and think for himself.
THE KNIGHTS
I hate how they've pretty much been reduced to stock background characters. 4x08 was the first time we see them actually interact as 'characters' with their individual personalities and even that's not saying much since they're all bewitched. What was the point of dragging them all in if they're just going to be replacing the stock knights who follow Arthur around (only they can't die EVER on missions) This brings me to my next ginormous complaint about the show:
CONTINUITY
UGH. smh. Basically, each episode is episodic to the point you could easily believe several weeks have passed between each episode's events. I'm all for expanding the world of monsters, but each monster of the week doesn't feel like it has a place in the overall narrative. Only the ending few episodes tend to focus on the more serious aspect of the show and it's just not enough. An engaging story for this format, in my opinion, should have a slow build-up or thread that runs through all the episodes and each event should contribute to the overall narrative that's forming.
Instead, it's a clumsily pieced together Frankenstein of a narrative - all the ~plot~ scenes feel shoved in and completely unrelated. If the abundance of monsters (the Bastet, the Lamia, the Questing Beast or whatever) are hints at the strengthening old religion magic or something, that would be at least more interesting, and perhaps it could be an overarching theme about the magical world being freed from the repression by Uther's reign. Instead, so many episodes introduce a new monster, said monster is killed at the end of the episode and...yeah. That's it. They don't serve to enhance relationships or anything either - if anything, most of the monsters serve to weaken the already tenuous character relationships.
Traumatic events appear to have no lasting psychological effects on anyone and personally, I think it's showing how a certain character is haunted by their past actions that give the actions themselves depth. Sure, Merlin having to poison Morgana is a terrible, weighty thing for him to do, or his choice to lie to Arthur about Ygraine's death, but the fact that he's back to being the usual clumsy butt of the joke just trivialises the entire choice. Lancelot frikkin' sacrifices himself for magic, Merlin's lost the ONE FRIEND WHO TREATED HIM WITH DECENCY (apart from Gaius) and the next episode, Merlin is joking around without a care in the world. UGH. UGH. UGH. Maybe he just gets over loss really well. For someone supposedly the most ~powerful wizard ever~, Merlin's choice of using magic is terribly inconsistent and plain silly sometimes. ): He kills Nimueh but can't manage a significantly weaker and under-taught Morgana? =____=
Character relationships continuity also sucks. Refer to Morgana's abrupt disregard of all affection and loyalty to EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING for power. WTF. It wasn't even a prominent aspect of her character to begin with. And Merlin suddenly forgetting that the Slashdragon had pretty much tried to destroy Camelot...and letting said dragon guilt trip him into things. I won't even get started about the Merlin/Arthur dynamic and that major relationship regression that was such a huge problem in Seasons 2 and 3 ): The only consistent guy who treats Merlin right is perhaps Lancelot. *WIBBLES*
GENERAL LACK OF COMMON SENSE
Jesus take the wheel, I can't even with this show in this department. So many convenient *being knocked unconscious* moments, the fact that after three seasons of people sneaking into the castle, you'd think they would've tightened the security a bit, the fact that no one ever notices when people are behaving out of character/possessed or they don't remember when something similar has occurred before, the fact Morgana never questions how Merlin can escape supposedly impenetrable traps, the way Merlin pretty much fights by making trees/rocks/things drop on people and he still has no chain mail, the fact the KING/PRINCE OF CAMELOT is allowed to go on dangerous, solitary missions, the fact Arthur can suddenly propose to Gwen despite class difference and Medieval hierarchy as of 4x09 (actually, scratch that, I think the show would implode if it tried to add a political/realistic element to it).
And why don't people communicate? A lot of the time, I can't figure out what reasons characters have to hide things from others.
4x06 with bad!Merlin was such a wasted, wasted opportunity. So much potential for a darker twist to the story and Merlin had to go and become the most INEPT MURDERER EVERRR and the whole thing degenerated into the usual slapstick 'comedy' fest.
The Agravaine thing is getting so frustrating. The reveal is getting more frustrating too. Colin Morgan remains an engaging actor and I wish there was more opportunity for Bradley James to demonstrate his ability. And, of course, all the knights & Gwen & Morgana.
Basically, I love the show because of the actors and the glimpses of awesome, but it makes me headdesk so badly and want to cry because it could have been great and an interesting alternative take on the Arthurian legends, but it must just settle for being just another entertainment show ):
Discussions welcome C:
I've caught up to Season 4 - on Episode 8 now - and I think what infuriates me about this show is the untapped potential. You have some very talented actors with amazing chemistry (*COUGH BRADLEY/COLIN COUGH*) which is completely and horribly destroyed by horrible writing, plot, pacing and characterisation. SERIOUSLY.
This is one of the few shows which makes me feel like I'd like to bundle all the actors/set design people in my arms and run out the door with them to my ALTERNATE AND BETTER WORLD where writing is good. Which means...the solutions to the problems can be seen from a mile away and should be recognised by scriptwriters. And I guess it's the characters who make me continue watching, while alternately wishing to repeatedly headdesk. Maybe I should start participating in the Merlin drinking game.
(just a note - there are spoilers in here but I'm trying to focus more on the general problems in the show)
Also, it is long as hell. I ramble.
I think what's holding the show back is pretty much it's conflicting tone. The story should have progressed to a stage where things should be getting progressively darker and more serious, but the yoyo-ing of tone in each episode is what's giving the major mood whiplash that detriments the show. The same show that had Merlin struggle with poisoning a dear friend pull farting jokes and walk into doorways in the next episode or the next season.
Personally, I really really dislike the humour. I don't think it's clever or funny - it's slapstick humour of the Mr. Bean variety and the only reason why that worked in Mr Bean was because the entire show was dedicated to that sort of humour. Sure, you can have a troll episode or a farting episode, but it's almost insulting to the long time viewers that the writers believe the light hearted humour of the, what, fifth episode of the first season can be recycled in the third season or the fourth without it feeling jarring and out of place. I feel like the show is trying too hard to stay to its PG-13 classification and is foregoing valuable plot development which I believe should always be placed above indulging in audiences' preferences - or what is believed to be audience preferences. Seriously, thirteen-year-olds can take more depth than anyone thinks. And by limiting the show to candy-floss-flavoured humour and lightness, you're only enforcing immaturity.
FLOPGANA.
I'm adopted ontd_merlin lingo here. Morgana was such a bamf in Season 1 and some of Season 2. Katie McGrath is gorgeous and she can be capable of so much more. Her descent into ~*evil villainy of evil*~ was the classic example of how to make a character become two-dimensional. Very little moral struggle, an unclear sense of her motivations beyond ~being angry at Uther~, her muddled future agenda and a sudden complete abandonment of all her past attachments and friendships. It gets more ridiculous in Season 4 - even barring the logic questions like how did she furnish her hovel with all these valuable magical items? =__=; - because really? You've killed the object of your revenge and now you're going to...continue to extend that blind hatred and vendetta to his son and seek to kill him too?
If the show wants to play the *descent into madness* angle and show that her obsession with claiming her birthright has overruled her original motivation of being a non violent advocate of magic, they needed to make her lack of reason and obsession a lot more convincing. UGHHH. Even if they insist on Morgana going with her vendetta and taking the throne motive, it only takes a few seconds of hesitation or conflict on the actress' face to add a billion dimensions to her character. Instead, her facial expressions consist of: fear, evil smirk of evil and shocked anger.
MAGIC
The magic in the show is the DUMBEST THING EVER. I love the gold eye flash but seriously? The only offensive any of the magic users have is blowing people off their feet for them to have multiple concussions and pass out conveniently. That old!Merlin and Morgana showdown in 4x06 was actually...terrible. =___=; With all those head injuries, no wonder security in Camelot is about as effective as a wide open door with the sign "TAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT" hanging over it. I also hate how the fight sequences basically consist of Merlin being knocked to the ground/against a wall, then him using one spell and causing some fatal wound. For once, I'd like to see Merlin block a spell like the BAMF he should be and then proceed to pwn the opponent after a fair battle. Why must he always be overpowered when he is clearly supposed to be amazing and an ~unparalleled~ sorceror ): And also, why doesn't he just use his magic on Morgana? ): It's not like she has evidence to bring to Arthur.
ARTHUR
I'm still waiting for a decent writer to come along and somehow show that Arthur has known about Merlin's magic all along or Gwaine has or something just because every major decision he makes is so monumentally dumb, because the writers need some way to work the ~plot of the week~ into the story and can't think of a better way than to have a character make an almost comically OOC move. Yeah, good job condemning Gaius of all people, disregarding the fact something similar has already happened in the previous season, or still not listening to Merlin even though, time and time again, his advice has proved correct. And yeah, don't go noticing that the SLIMY CREEPY CHARACTER IN BLACK is not the villain, even though they're all kind of colour-coded for your convenience. For once, I'd love for Arthur to actually use whatever he has left of his brain after being concussed all the time and think for himself.
THE KNIGHTS
I hate how they've pretty much been reduced to stock background characters. 4x08 was the first time we see them actually interact as 'characters' with their individual personalities and even that's not saying much since they're all bewitched. What was the point of dragging them all in if they're just going to be replacing the stock knights who follow Arthur around (only they can't die EVER on missions) This brings me to my next ginormous complaint about the show:
CONTINUITY
UGH. smh. Basically, each episode is episodic to the point you could easily believe several weeks have passed between each episode's events. I'm all for expanding the world of monsters, but each monster of the week doesn't feel like it has a place in the overall narrative. Only the ending few episodes tend to focus on the more serious aspect of the show and it's just not enough. An engaging story for this format, in my opinion, should have a slow build-up or thread that runs through all the episodes and each event should contribute to the overall narrative that's forming.
Instead, it's a clumsily pieced together Frankenstein of a narrative - all the ~plot~ scenes feel shoved in and completely unrelated. If the abundance of monsters (the Bastet, the Lamia, the Questing Beast or whatever) are hints at the strengthening old religion magic or something, that would be at least more interesting, and perhaps it could be an overarching theme about the magical world being freed from the repression by Uther's reign. Instead, so many episodes introduce a new monster, said monster is killed at the end of the episode and...yeah. That's it. They don't serve to enhance relationships or anything either - if anything, most of the monsters serve to weaken the already tenuous character relationships.
Traumatic events appear to have no lasting psychological effects on anyone and personally, I think it's showing how a certain character is haunted by their past actions that give the actions themselves depth. Sure, Merlin having to poison Morgana is a terrible, weighty thing for him to do, or his choice to lie to Arthur about Ygraine's death, but the fact that he's back to being the usual clumsy butt of the joke just trivialises the entire choice. Lancelot frikkin' sacrifices himself for magic, Merlin's lost the ONE FRIEND WHO TREATED HIM WITH DECENCY (apart from Gaius) and the next episode, Merlin is joking around without a care in the world. UGH. UGH. UGH. Maybe he just gets over loss really well. For someone supposedly the most ~powerful wizard ever~, Merlin's choice of using magic is terribly inconsistent and plain silly sometimes. ): He kills Nimueh but can't manage a significantly weaker and under-taught Morgana? =____=
Character relationships continuity also sucks. Refer to Morgana's abrupt disregard of all affection and loyalty to EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING for power. WTF. It wasn't even a prominent aspect of her character to begin with. And Merlin suddenly forgetting that the Slashdragon had pretty much tried to destroy Camelot...and letting said dragon guilt trip him into things. I won't even get started about the Merlin/Arthur dynamic and that major relationship regression that was such a huge problem in Seasons 2 and 3 ): The only consistent guy who treats Merlin right is perhaps Lancelot. *WIBBLES*
GENERAL LACK OF COMMON SENSE
Jesus take the wheel, I can't even with this show in this department. So many convenient *being knocked unconscious* moments, the fact that after three seasons of people sneaking into the castle, you'd think they would've tightened the security a bit, the fact that no one ever notices when people are behaving out of character/possessed or they don't remember when something similar has occurred before, the fact Morgana never questions how Merlin can escape supposedly impenetrable traps, the way Merlin pretty much fights by making trees/rocks/things drop on people and he still has no chain mail, the fact the KING/PRINCE OF CAMELOT is allowed to go on dangerous, solitary missions, the fact Arthur can suddenly propose to Gwen despite class difference and Medieval hierarchy as of 4x09 (actually, scratch that, I think the show would implode if it tried to add a political/realistic element to it).
And why don't people communicate? A lot of the time, I can't figure out what reasons characters have to hide things from others.
4x06 with bad!Merlin was such a wasted, wasted opportunity. So much potential for a darker twist to the story and Merlin had to go and become the most INEPT MURDERER EVERRR and the whole thing degenerated into the usual slapstick 'comedy' fest.
The Agravaine thing is getting so frustrating. The reveal is getting more frustrating too. Colin Morgan remains an engaging actor and I wish there was more opportunity for Bradley James to demonstrate his ability. And, of course, all the knights & Gwen & Morgana.
Basically, I love the show because of the actors and the glimpses of awesome, but it makes me headdesk so badly and want to cry because it could have been great and an interesting alternative take on the Arthurian legends, but it must just settle for being just another entertainment show ):
Discussions welcome C: