Merlin S5 | SciFiBulletin: spoiler-free 05.05 reviews

[gealach_ros]

SciFiBulletin: Merlin: Review: Series 5 Episode 5 (Spoiler-free) [7/10]
[click to read]Merlin: Review: Series 5 Episode 5: The Disir (Spoiler-free)

Merlin faces an agonising choice when the opportunity to bring magic to the kingdom is offered…At one point in this episode, when Merlin seems on the point of making a decision that will condemn a man to die, Gaius

Comments

[sallyna_smile]

"Merlin faces an agonising choice when the opportunity to bring magic to the kingdom is offered…"

There should be a drinking game somewhere in this fandom....

[po_nochka]

I'm sure Colin & Bradley enjoyed muchly this season as it seems they have more scenes together then ever and they required more emotions and acting.

I also see why they had to make Mordred "a favourit knight" to distruct Arthur, as this bromance would turn into romance without much effort with all the lingering looks and serious conversations.

I so wish the show did not take this path though

[kattale]

Wow, that's a much more insightful review than the usual frivolous comments we usually hear. A little spoilery though, with the whole Merlin and man condemned to death thing. Interesting.

[rocknvaughn]

I'm getting very frustrated with where it appears TPTB are going with this season. The enthusiasm I've had for the first 3 (1/2) episodes is dwindling. I feel like they are messing with the characterization of certain characters (Merlin especially) too much and they are rushing to push this season to fruition in such a short time that everything is going to come off half-assed.

Sorry for being such a downer, but I'm really bummed. :(

[doylefan22]

This episode is going to make me want to throw things at Arthur and Merlin. This is just going to be a set up for the end and Merlin's inevitable failure to do what Kilgharrah told him he was destined to in series 1 - help Arthur set up a golden age of Camelot.

I can understand perhaps the want to do the 'dramatic' ending. I'm not quite sure I understand the decision to never have the golden age take place (and it certainly wasn't those 3 years between series unless we're supposed to believe that golden Camelot was still a kingdom of prejudice and oppression!).

[hpsensations]

Ditto!

TPTB said that they were fascinated by the idea that an Utopian kingdom like Camelot of the legends is doomed to fail in the end, so I guess that's how they're going about it in the series. Except that there was no golden age whatsoever and Arthur's reign lasts only 4 years!

[doylefan22]

I honestly get the impression that they were so in love with the 'drama' of the failure that they haven't really stopped to think that, by just showing it fail and hand waving 'oh there were so okay years', they've created a story that is doomed to end in such an unsatisfying way that it tarnishes the whole show.

I mean, I'm not sure I want to re-watch the show knowing that in the end Merlin and fails and Arthur becomes only an okay king. It doesn't HAVE to have a happy ending but even if they go for the 'oh Arthur might return again one day when Albion needs him' that doesn't negate that Camelot as a 'golden kingdom' never happened. So what was the point in Merlin's journey at all? Might as well have let Arthur die in episode 1!

[po_nochka]

I so hear you there!
I always thought that because they turn the legend upside down, they will end the show on a positive note with everyone living on in piece. The gloomy end was the reason I've never watched any of the Arthurian movies.