Great review!! First review that I read today that says in detail what I want to say about the whole Arthur trusting Agravaine bit. Everyone seems so angry and disappointed that Arthur trusts him, but I think the audience are quick to jump on that because we see that Agravaine is evil and makes visits to Morgana. For us it's easy to see that Agravaine is a baddie. For Arthur who does not know all that, knowing how he feels about his mother and Aggravaine's little speech last episode about betraying Arthur's mother, I can see things from his side too.
Plus the fact that Merlin and Gaius do keep him in the dark on a lot of matters does not leave him with a lot of information and Gaius did look like he was keeping something back. I loved that last scene between Arthur and Gaius and the one between Merlin and Arthur in the council chambers.
Yeah I feel, for me, apart from the whole pantomime villian aspects of AGravaine we see, Arthur has no reason not to trust him. I know we hadn't heard of him on the show before, but you have to almost get over that in a way and think of how, to Arthur, he's his loving Uncle. His only family left from his mother's side. He was apparently there all year, supporting him when Uther was ill. Plus the fact that Agravaine is portrayed as being able to talk himself easily out of a situation. He knows what strongs to pull with Arthur. He knows that playing to his emotions about his mother/father and Camelot can sway him
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Great and thorough review. I didn't like this episode at all, so I find it especially rewarding to read reviews from people who did, and yours is detailed enough that I really see where you're coming from. Also love your hilarious snark throughout!
What is it about this show that they depict the mentally unstable as having unbrushed hair? First Uther, now Morgana. At least we know Gwaine's ok
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I loved your review, as ever! And I agree with it 100%. The ep didnt have bells and whistles but it had something more important in my book - character movement & continuity from past episodes. OK its frustrating as a viewer to see Arthur listening to Agravaine when he seems so obviously The Bad Guy to us, but your analogy of Iago is spot on. He knows Arthur's buttons (ooh matron! :p) and he pushes them unerringly. In fact he seems a pretty sound judge of character all round (his distraction for Merlin for example - a present that'd please Arthur). Also the advice Agravaine gives is, on the surface, sound - as far as Arthurs experience goes. Its the advice Uther would give probably
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Plus the fact that Merlin and Gaius do keep him in the dark on a lot of matters does not leave him with a lot of information and Gaius did look like he was keeping something back. I loved that last scene between Arthur and Gaius and the one between Merlin and Arthur in the council chambers.
Thanks for this recap/review!
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That's a good question! Perhaps someone else gave them a better offer (like a ship).
Oo that's a good way of putting it. He is the kinnd of person to keep it locked up tight inside.
Yeah I can't even recall if she was in that episode...
Apparently the Anglo-Saxons had five kingdoms so that might be where the writers got the idea from. It's daft but... this is Merlin.
Me too! It was just SO GOOD.
I think it really did move the serious themes on quite a bit. It was unstated but that worked for the drama.
I have a poll in my LJ. I suspect garland making or getting George drunk. All whilst running around naked because Merlin isn't there to dress him.
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Five Kingdoms = Nine Rulers. Who's sharing??
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