Merlin 4.05 - It's Not Easy Being King
Okay, I know that's not really the title, but I don't remember what it actually was and I haven't read my flist yet and I'm so late on this because yesterday was my BFF's bday and I was fete'ing her into the wee hours and my thoughts are so teal this week that probably nobody's going to read it anyway.
And on that note....
To be honest, I'm not sure I actually enjoyed this episode, but as a card-carrying Arthur-holic, I was completely riveted. The friends I was watching with made good fun of me for how completely enraptured I get when I watch my show -- how can I help it?
Also, I got to watch it on stellarmeadow's giant HD TV, which made everyone even prettier than usual.
Sir Merlin!
Is there anyone who didn't really enjoy seeing Merlin dressed up as a knight? I just loved that. I hope once he has his official place in King Arthur's Court, they let him dress like that all the time (maybe with some flourishes). I'd prefer it to the traditional pointy hat and robes we always foist in him in fic.
And how great was Merlin's face when he grinned and agreed that it was a trap and all the knights appeared above him? LOVED THAT. A perfect teaser, much more traditional smashcut to the credits than we usually see.
I Just Can't Wait To Be -- No, On Second Thought, I Could Wait A Bit
Okay, so here's the episode everyone wanted last week -- Arthur is king now. What is he going to do about it? I have to admit that emotionally, I feel a little bit of impatience. Every season it seems like Arthur has to prove he's worthy to be king with increasingly ridiculous trials (because nothing proves leadership skills like stealing a rusty fork from a crumbly old man).
Plus, let's face it, I've spent 3 years reading fic about Arthur's ascension, so I kind of just want him to get on with it. In fic, Arthur's always ready to be the King Arthur of legend by the time he takes the throne. Sweep Guinevere off to the altar, restore magic and justice to the kingdom, and let Merlin come out of the closet in a flurry of rainbow sparkles, after which he can just sit back and enjoy the congratulatory blowjobs.
And yet... I really like the way they're writing this. This makes sense to me, given who Arthur is. He's lived his entire life in Uther's shadow, trained from birth to be the kind of prince and king that Uther was, valuing security and might over all other considerations. Since Merlin came on the scene, we've watched Arthur slowly learn different values, and in his year as regent, he's made some steps, but he still needs to make that conscious decision to be his own man and rule as he sees fit, not as Uther would have done.
AND THEN HE DID. AND I WAS SO PROUD. Oh, my Arthur. And I CAN'T WAIT to see what happens next, in terms of his reign and decisionmaking and Agravaine vs Merlin's place as his most trusted advisor.
SIDEBAR: I always really enjoy seeing the rulers of other kingdoms, both because I love getting more context for the canon universe of Albion and also because it gives us more random names to use in AUs. But sheesh, how many of the Five Kingdoms are there, actually? I think we must be on at least, like, Kingdom 5b by now.
LONELY, SO LONELY
So Arthur thinks he needs to be ALONE ATOP HIS LONELY MOUNT OF KINGSHIP. Woe!
So he has to push away:
* The Knights -- awwwwwwww. Love Merlin sitting with them and providing Arthur-speak translation as Arthur creeps a peek at the camaraderie he must deny himself. Woe! And love the knights coming in and reassuring Arthur that THEY ARE TOTALLY COOL WITH DYING FOR HIM. NOT A PROBLEM, BRO. So cute that Elyan seems to be the Spokesknight now.
SIDEBAR: I am... probably a little too excited, in a ficcish way, about seeing Arthur's campaign tent. SO PRETTY. EXACTLY LIKE I PICTURED.
* Gwen -- well, saw that coming. I felt so bad for Arthur, but Gwen... I just feel like she doesn't have much actual emotion tied up in her relationship with him. Not that I'm complaining. That works for my purposes!
* Merlin -- this I was much more interested in! Oh, the soulful looks! The angst!
THE NOW-CANONICAL BEDSHARING
...what? I think it makes sense! Arthur is letting Merlin know they can't be inappropriately close like they normally are. "I won't share a bed with you," Arthur says, and Merlin is like, oh, no, I would never presume! "Don't be here when I come back," Arthur says, and Merlin gives him that wounded look, like he's realized Arthur really means it this time. Ergo, Merlin is usually there when Arthur returns/retires for the evening, and on more than one occasion, has shared the bed with Arthur.
Why else would Arthur feel the need to clarify that? *innocent blink*
SIDEBAR: MOAR MERLIN/ARTHUR
Now that I'm thinking about the Merlin/Arthur, I can't stop!
* "I'm your friend!" -- okay, I feel much better that Merlin has no problem just coming out and saying it, and Arthur doesn't deny it, even though he's trying to separate himself. Makes the "we could have been friends" speech from 4.01 much more palatable as an in-joke.
*"Old friend" -- this phrase just never works, unless the people involved are at least Uther-age. But I applaud the sentiment.
* "I should have listened to you, Merlin" -- HOLY COW. Has Arthur ever said this before? The most we usually get is "I never listen to you, Merlin" when he's in the act of listening to Merlin. Big step forward for Arthur to admit it so bluntly; beautiful for their relationship and for Arthur's growth as king.
Poor (Sacrificial) Lamb
I LOVELOVELOVE Arthur slipping over to the enemy camp and humbling himself to Queen Annis. LOVE. For the character development reasons, of course, but there was also something about the way he surrendered himself to the guards at the edge of the camp that really did something for me. I can't quite say it right, but it was like something out of a book.
Hands up everyone who knew Arthur was going to offer himself up as champion! *loses count*
SIDEBAR: All the knights crowding forward, eager to be chosen -- SO CUTE. Also, Merlin standing up high and countering Morgana's magic -- SO HOT.
I find it so interesting how Arthur is always so eager to offer himself up as the sacrifice for his people. He really does feel like it's his duty to die for his people, which is exactly the opposite of what Uther raised him to believe. It's also the opposite of logic, but that's okay. It makes me wonder what the psychological root is -- yet another way of making up for his guilt over his mother's death, perhaps?
With all the great FX and scenery this series, how did we afford Lindsay Duncan?
I love Queen Annis so much. Now there is an interesting and believable ruler. Did they ever say the actual name of her kingdom?
SIDEBAR: Why did Arthur address her (and her husband) as Your Highness when she's Queen (and presumably Caerleon was king)? Is there an internal logic here that I'm missing?
I really loved that she was implacable in her search for vengeance/justice for her husband, but when Arthur proved himself in combat, she was willing to keep her word and leave with respect and admiration for Arthur. I felt like she ended up understanding what was going on with Arthur -- that he made a terribly wrong decision, but is determined to become a better king. She chose the hope of peace over the satisfaction of her own grief. Much better role model for our Arthur.
And oh! Her line to Morgana that "You came to me in Gorlois's name, but you are more like Uther than you realize." What an amazing line, and utterly flawless delivery. She put Morgana in her place as a petulant child, whose selfishness renders her unfit to be a true sovereign. "His Father's Son," yes (see, I remembered), but also her father's daughter, and where Arthur is struggling to leave Uther's shadow, Morgana continues falling further into it.
For the first time this season, I'm actually interested to see what happens next with Morgana, too. Will Annis's words have any effect, do you think?
SIDEBAR: Katie McGrath's eyes were freaking AMAZING this week. I love the crazy witch makeup -- makes her look a bit mad, but also luminous. Or okay, maybe it was just that I was watching on a better TV than usual. But wow. Also, cool to see her eyes flashing like Merlin's when she casts spells (I noticed that more than usual this week).
Okay, I'm sorry, you're going to look at me with Uthurian disappointment now
I am not particularly a Gwen/Arthur shipper (even in this episode, which had more actual chemistry between them than we've seen yet, I maintain that Gwen loves the hope of the king-to-be rather than the man). Also, she really, really needs to get something real to do or at LEAST have a non-Arthur related conversation with someone before I'm going to be able to have any investment in her.
But I have to admit, when Arthur grabbed her and kissed her at the end, that first hard kiss, my toes curled. Literally curled so I could no longer see my pedicure (if I'd been capable of looking away from the screen at any point during the whole ep).
I put that down entirely to how hot Bradley was. Bare feet. Deshabille. Lounging in bed. And then the kiss and then the shot of his incredible jaw line.
*fans self* Oh wow. Guess that new kingly confidence is just coming through in all sorts of areas!
And I bet he'll be sharing that rumpled bed with Merlin tonight. OH yeah.
Next Week
Oh MYYYYYYYY. *saucer eyes*
Hands up anyone who's worried about continuing to breathe through certain scenes next week? *loses count again*
Okay, off to read all of your reactions now and hope people aren't tired of discussing the ep yet. We should discuss Merlin all week, Y/Y?
And on that note....
To be honest, I'm not sure I actually enjoyed this episode, but as a card-carrying Arthur-holic, I was completely riveted. The friends I was watching with made good fun of me for how completely enraptured I get when I watch my show -- how can I help it?
Also, I got to watch it on stellarmeadow's giant HD TV, which made everyone even prettier than usual.
Sir Merlin!
Is there anyone who didn't really enjoy seeing Merlin dressed up as a knight? I just loved that. I hope once he has his official place in King Arthur's Court, they let him dress like that all the time (maybe with some flourishes). I'd prefer it to the traditional pointy hat and robes we always foist in him in fic.
And how great was Merlin's face when he grinned and agreed that it was a trap and all the knights appeared above him? LOVED THAT. A perfect teaser, much more traditional smashcut to the credits than we usually see.
I Just Can't Wait To Be -- No, On Second Thought, I Could Wait A Bit
Okay, so here's the episode everyone wanted last week -- Arthur is king now. What is he going to do about it? I have to admit that emotionally, I feel a little bit of impatience. Every season it seems like Arthur has to prove he's worthy to be king with increasingly ridiculous trials (because nothing proves leadership skills like stealing a rusty fork from a crumbly old man).
Plus, let's face it, I've spent 3 years reading fic about Arthur's ascension, so I kind of just want him to get on with it. In fic, Arthur's always ready to be the King Arthur of legend by the time he takes the throne. Sweep Guinevere off to the altar, restore magic and justice to the kingdom, and let Merlin come out of the closet in a flurry of rainbow sparkles, after which he can just sit back and enjoy the congratulatory blowjobs.
And yet... I really like the way they're writing this. This makes sense to me, given who Arthur is. He's lived his entire life in Uther's shadow, trained from birth to be the kind of prince and king that Uther was, valuing security and might over all other considerations. Since Merlin came on the scene, we've watched Arthur slowly learn different values, and in his year as regent, he's made some steps, but he still needs to make that conscious decision to be his own man and rule as he sees fit, not as Uther would have done.
AND THEN HE DID. AND I WAS SO PROUD. Oh, my Arthur. And I CAN'T WAIT to see what happens next, in terms of his reign and decisionmaking and Agravaine vs Merlin's place as his most trusted advisor.
SIDEBAR: I always really enjoy seeing the rulers of other kingdoms, both because I love getting more context for the canon universe of Albion and also because it gives us more random names to use in AUs. But sheesh, how many of the Five Kingdoms are there, actually? I think we must be on at least, like, Kingdom 5b by now.
LONELY, SO LONELY
So Arthur thinks he needs to be ALONE ATOP HIS LONELY MOUNT OF KINGSHIP. Woe!
So he has to push away:
* The Knights -- awwwwwwww. Love Merlin sitting with them and providing Arthur-speak translation as Arthur creeps a peek at the camaraderie he must deny himself. Woe! And love the knights coming in and reassuring Arthur that THEY ARE TOTALLY COOL WITH DYING FOR HIM. NOT A PROBLEM, BRO. So cute that Elyan seems to be the Spokesknight now.
SIDEBAR: I am... probably a little too excited, in a ficcish way, about seeing Arthur's campaign tent. SO PRETTY. EXACTLY LIKE I PICTURED.
* Gwen -- well, saw that coming. I felt so bad for Arthur, but Gwen... I just feel like she doesn't have much actual emotion tied up in her relationship with him. Not that I'm complaining. That works for my purposes!
* Merlin -- this I was much more interested in! Oh, the soulful looks! The angst!
THE NOW-CANONICAL BEDSHARING
...what? I think it makes sense! Arthur is letting Merlin know they can't be inappropriately close like they normally are. "I won't share a bed with you," Arthur says, and Merlin is like, oh, no, I would never presume! "Don't be here when I come back," Arthur says, and Merlin gives him that wounded look, like he's realized Arthur really means it this time. Ergo, Merlin is usually there when Arthur returns/retires for the evening, and on more than one occasion, has shared the bed with Arthur.
Why else would Arthur feel the need to clarify that? *innocent blink*
SIDEBAR: MOAR MERLIN/ARTHUR
Now that I'm thinking about the Merlin/Arthur, I can't stop!
* "I'm your friend!" -- okay, I feel much better that Merlin has no problem just coming out and saying it, and Arthur doesn't deny it, even though he's trying to separate himself. Makes the "we could have been friends" speech from 4.01 much more palatable as an in-joke.
*"Old friend" -- this phrase just never works, unless the people involved are at least Uther-age. But I applaud the sentiment.
* "I should have listened to you, Merlin" -- HOLY COW. Has Arthur ever said this before? The most we usually get is "I never listen to you, Merlin" when he's in the act of listening to Merlin. Big step forward for Arthur to admit it so bluntly; beautiful for their relationship and for Arthur's growth as king.
Poor (Sacrificial) Lamb
I LOVELOVELOVE Arthur slipping over to the enemy camp and humbling himself to Queen Annis. LOVE. For the character development reasons, of course, but there was also something about the way he surrendered himself to the guards at the edge of the camp that really did something for me. I can't quite say it right, but it was like something out of a book.
Hands up everyone who knew Arthur was going to offer himself up as champion! *loses count*
SIDEBAR: All the knights crowding forward, eager to be chosen -- SO CUTE. Also, Merlin standing up high and countering Morgana's magic -- SO HOT.
I find it so interesting how Arthur is always so eager to offer himself up as the sacrifice for his people. He really does feel like it's his duty to die for his people, which is exactly the opposite of what Uther raised him to believe. It's also the opposite of logic, but that's okay. It makes me wonder what the psychological root is -- yet another way of making up for his guilt over his mother's death, perhaps?
With all the great FX and scenery this series, how did we afford Lindsay Duncan?
I love Queen Annis so much. Now there is an interesting and believable ruler. Did they ever say the actual name of her kingdom?
SIDEBAR: Why did Arthur address her (and her husband) as Your Highness when she's Queen (and presumably Caerleon was king)? Is there an internal logic here that I'm missing?
I really loved that she was implacable in her search for vengeance/justice for her husband, but when Arthur proved himself in combat, she was willing to keep her word and leave with respect and admiration for Arthur. I felt like she ended up understanding what was going on with Arthur -- that he made a terribly wrong decision, but is determined to become a better king. She chose the hope of peace over the satisfaction of her own grief. Much better role model for our Arthur.
And oh! Her line to Morgana that "You came to me in Gorlois's name, but you are more like Uther than you realize." What an amazing line, and utterly flawless delivery. She put Morgana in her place as a petulant child, whose selfishness renders her unfit to be a true sovereign. "His Father's Son," yes (see, I remembered), but also her father's daughter, and where Arthur is struggling to leave Uther's shadow, Morgana continues falling further into it.
For the first time this season, I'm actually interested to see what happens next with Morgana, too. Will Annis's words have any effect, do you think?
SIDEBAR: Katie McGrath's eyes were freaking AMAZING this week. I love the crazy witch makeup -- makes her look a bit mad, but also luminous. Or okay, maybe it was just that I was watching on a better TV than usual. But wow. Also, cool to see her eyes flashing like Merlin's when she casts spells (I noticed that more than usual this week).
Okay, I'm sorry, you're going to look at me with Uthurian disappointment now
I am not particularly a Gwen/Arthur shipper (even in this episode, which had more actual chemistry between them than we've seen yet, I maintain that Gwen loves the hope of the king-to-be rather than the man). Also, she really, really needs to get something real to do or at LEAST have a non-Arthur related conversation with someone before I'm going to be able to have any investment in her.
But I have to admit, when Arthur grabbed her and kissed her at the end, that first hard kiss, my toes curled. Literally curled so I could no longer see my pedicure (if I'd been capable of looking away from the screen at any point during the whole ep).
I put that down entirely to how hot Bradley was. Bare feet. Deshabille. Lounging in bed. And then the kiss and then the shot of his incredible jaw line.
*fans self* Oh wow. Guess that new kingly confidence is just coming through in all sorts of areas!
And I bet he'll be sharing that rumpled bed with Merlin tonight. OH yeah.
Next Week
Oh MYYYYYYYY. *saucer eyes*
Hands up anyone who's worried about continuing to breathe through certain scenes next week? *loses count again*
Okay, off to read all of your reactions now and hope people aren't tired of discussing the ep yet. We should discuss Merlin all week, Y/Y?