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. ( Read more... )
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. ( Read more... )
re: magic. Fair enough on the budget. To an even more basic level though, did they always have to be blasted into the air? Why couldn't some have mimed getting pinned to the ground or wall holding their throat or getting slapped in the face by invisible magic, you know? I wasn't even hoping for flashy magic effects, more like simple variety in the 'choreography', really.
I found Arthur's character to be grating, especially since he has exhibited flashes of intelligence and the leadership he's supposed to show and it's clear the show didn't mean for him to be the medieval equivalent of a dumb jock, but that's how he came across, most of the time? Again, WASTED POTENTIAL bc I think Bradley Cooper did brilliantly in scenes with more gravitas
I'll admit the memory of episodes are a bit fuzzy now but I remember being so excited by Dark!Merlin, you have no idea and being so let down. It would've been an excellent way to highlight just how loyal Merlin is to Arthur (enough to overcome Morgana's yeerk control) or, failing that, for Arthur to maybe just be a little aware of what Merlin is capable of?
I just felt like Arthur's regard for Merlin never seemed to shift from 'cool, dumb manservant who I make fun of'. The show should have slowly progressed so that Arthur became slowly more aware of Merlin's hidden competence and growing respect for Merlin's decisions and the magic reveal would have been a lot more organic that way. I really loved your point (in your tumblr post) about how Merlin never told Arthur about his lies???? like Arthur dies still believing Morgause had lied and EVERYTHING like. GRAGHH
Ahaha maybe that's just a difference in opinion. I don't mind humour, certainly, at appropriate points but it felt tonally jarring to have entire episodes center around humour, if you know what I mean? Especially 'darker' episodes like Merlin being POSSESSED or right after Lancelot's death. Certain moments of light-heartedness is fine though.
Yessss I know ): I really wish they moved the magic reveal earlier because it felt like a cop-out to have the reveal and no exploration of its aftermath (which would have been full of delicious angst and longing gazes I'M JUST SAYIN', or even just like. Things going right for Merlin for a change and Merlin getting the credit he deserves! o m f g).
Instead it was just Arthur being like 'K FORGIVE U BYE NOW 4 1000 YRS'
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Well, I feel like Arthur does have legitimate regard for Merlin, and it's present almost immediately. It's funny, while watching the beginning of the show I was totally rooting for Merlin, and getting angry at Arthur for treating him like shit... but as the show progressed the scales tipped and I suddenly found myself on team Arthur. It's not obvious, since the show is really from Merlin's perspective, but if you think about it from Arthur's perspective?
He's got this servant who's essentially a curiosity because he talks back, and he's super loyal... but aside from that, Merlin is totally useless! He's always disappearing at critical moments, getting himself into trouble, screwing up his chores, acting generally bizarre most of the time, and hanging out at the tavern -_- and Arthur puts up with him anyway, and keeps him with him nearly all the time... and Arthur does ask for his advice more and more as the show goes on, but usually for really personal stuff? Like the whole "would you use magic to save your father" and that sort of thing.
So I think he's willing to put Merlin in that position of trust, except it's Merlin who's kind of holding back the development of their relationship, by keeping this huge secret. Because it's not just the secret magic that's the problem, it's all the other stuff he's secretly doing ALL THE TIME because of the magic.
And Arthur definitely has some brilliant moments of being smart, but they're just so overwhelmed by him being tricked or knocked out or whatever. (and how come he's such a great fighter in non life threatening situations like tournaments, and as soon as he's faced by bandits he gets knocked out?)
Speaking of Arthur, one of my favorite fanfiction tropes is the "Arthur already knows" because there are definitely a few moments in the show where maybe that felt like it could have been the case? Or maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see XD
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I definitely think there has been progression of Arthur's relationship with Merlin, especially in the personal/trust area. Like yes, Arthur definitely relies on Merlin for emotional support and grows to value Merlin's input and trust in Merlin's loyalty (when he's not being a clotpole). I think that's the glue of the story, so definitely I think Arthur totally trusts Merlin in that regard.
But yeah, like you said Merlin holds the development back because he does all these bizarre things and he can't explain why or tell Arthur he 'betrays' him because of magic.
I guess what I'm getting at is that Arthur never completely appreciated (or got a chance to appreciate) that here was Emrys, you know, the most powerful wizard ever, dragonlord, full of old religion powers and capable of killing Nimueh and all that's ever threatened Camelot with a single lightning bolt (not...really, but maybe!)...and he chose to live his whole life as Arthur's manservant and serve and die with Arthur (and asked for no credit, no recognition, no glory for himself).
I wanted Arthur to realise just how capable Merlin was, and realise, knowing all that, that Merlin would've given all that up to keep him alive (and nearly did, so many times). Because that's some powerful love and loyalty. And Arthur glimpsed that at the end, but I wish he had longer to let all of that sink in.
Oh man, "Arthur already knows" is my headcanon and I definitely think the show could have taken it in that direction, especially since they had SO MUCH TIME to work with it...they could've passed it off as 'it was our plan all along!' and no one would have been any wiser because it would've actually been believable (which makes me infinitely more annoyed they didn't)
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