Merlin: 5:02 Arthur's Bane - Part 2

[tanous]

So... that’s the opener done and dusted then, of what might be the last season. Aaannnd how did we all feel about it?  Me… I felt …it wasn’t at all bad as an episode of a BBC family swords and dragons show at teatime (and no later).  If you knew next to nothing about the past seasons, or the characters.

If you did know of course, if you are, in fact

Comments

[marvelpku]

Dear, dear. You are the best.

No worry about Gwen, the producers/writers or whatever use the same techinques to push up her boobs for pushing up her Mary Sue style. Why her boobs were just dangling on the screen?
For fathers (as said by producers) or for losers looking for inappropriate dressed prostitute?

[tanous]

Hi Marvel, well for me Gwens chest was the very least of it this week (and the knights were showing alot of flesh too to be fair). For all that it was indeed out there, I barely noticed it as we witnessed the most shameless Mary Sue-ing we've seen yet - all that ruthless cunning seething inside her as she soothed brows and carried jugs. She cant just be Absolutely Good and Absolutely Beautiful she must also be Absolutely The Best Queen Ever even if that shows up poor old Arthur (whose character continuity matters alot less tot he producers).

Gwens character is a lost cause really - Its pretty clear now that it will never progress (what we've seen isn't character progress or development btw - its more of the same, ramped up to comical levels) but many fans seem to want only a Mary Sue and no flaws so... maybe character complexity is an outmoded concept. :-p

[marvelpku]

Well, we have Bradley on our side. You know what I mean. We can always watch for Bradley's sake and we can use our remote control to fast forward what's apparently packed with dangling boobs here and there. LOL.

BTW, the review comment and all the responses here are phenomenal. You have provoke so much insightful thoughts from the fans. You are fabulous :).

[tanous]

Aw thanks Marvel :) I agree that the reply posts are phenomenal. I so love hearing everyones thoughts :-)

[sforthewicked]

"Merlin’s hidden magic is now unimportant- we saw it here. It’s the same old tokenistic crap - it works to make a horse rear; he’s unable to use it when it matters. His magic in fact is actually getting in the way of the plot these writers want to follow. Merlin the great sorcerer is, it seems, an inconvenience and has been all but written out. Merlin the interfering manservant, who can dabble in magic a bit when required, is the character they seem to want to have

[tanous]

Ah. I hate to tell you this, but Howard Overman is, I believe, the guy responsible for some of the most shamelessly Gwen-worshipping scripts the show has produced. He is the archetypal sunbeams and violins man isnt he?- he's the one who had Arthur, the man honed in duty to Camelot and his people, offer to give up his throne for a woman he actually didnt know all that well at that point

[sforthewicked]

Remember though. Overman wrote 4x03, one of last season's least Arwen episodes and the one that 'changed the game'. We knew they would kill Uther back then, but no one expected it to be done so early in the season.
You could be right, of course, about it being a Gwen episode, but I doubt it.
The guy that released the episode 5x03 teasers said:
"This is very much a Merlin and Arthur episode, they are in just about every scene together and I love how their companionship is really coming together this season so far :D"
Not saying that this is a magic reveal episode, but it could be a 'I'm sorry son, I lied to you about how/why your mother died' episode...

[tanous]

Ah well 4.03 - that means he wrote Arthur being spun round on a table with an apple in his mouth, the Dragoon nonsense, and the magic necklace reset which had Gaius not even trying to tell Arthur what happened and no explanation for it. Not my favourite episode - but I admit a work of genius compared with 4.08 onwards. :-p

Im really reassured to hear its a M and A episode though - thrilled!!!! I'd have been gutted to see Uther wasted on yet more establishment for Queen Mary Sue as The Greatest Queen Ever Ever Ever (though there'll be some of that I expect - but I find I have so little faith left in the writers Id expect nothing more. So - you've cheered me up - thank you! I share your hope for real interaction that actually moves things forward without a reset.:-D

Where did you see that comment btw?

[bluebeeangel]

"Though since when are Saxons, Scottish? Actually, best not ask"
I don't think I've studied the Saxons since middle school, but even I was sitting there thinking...did I miss that day at school...have I gone through my whole life with a large gaping gap in my Saxon knowledge?

So - yeah Merlin and Arthurs relationship struck me while watching it as fine, and full of its usual helpless charm. If you ignore the fact its stagnant, at least it didnt regress this week. Though it might well next, you can never tell with the jolly boys at Shine.
That's exactly what I though. The thing is it can't develop any more until the reveal. It just can't. I've moaned long enough about it, so at the moment I'm just appreciative that the relationship is static. It's not going backwards. ALthough like you said, next week is a whole new opportunity to regress it.

You really can see the huge contrast in how they write their characters - the one who gets nothing at all wrong - Gwen - and the ones who make endless, disasterous mistakes- Merlin and

[tanoshi_ame]

Love your observation about Arthur and Merlin's respective decision making tendency. Pretty sure the writers didn't mean anything of depth about it, though it's still nice to think. Especially love the bit on Merlin's side. His fallibility when it comes to Arthur and his secret endeared me to the character, at the same time, I need to see how they will bridge the gap from there to the opposite qualities Legendary Merlin supposedly has. I'm too emotionally invested in this, can't bear to see this favourite character turn into a joke now...

[bluebeeangel]

Ha ha! I think the writer's probably didn't mean anything of depth, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a subconcious decision

[tanoshi_ame]

Yes! What you said! Are you still watching SPN? Lack of communication where it matters has always been the problem between Sam/Dean/Castiel. Seems like it's also the case here, mainly from Merlin. At least SPN is acknowledging it now. Merlin... nah. If it's not Bane-y it probably doesn't require attention. One of my main gripes since earlier seasons. Nobody ever realizes that Merlin has issues on a psychological level.

Me too. Normally I'm very interested in exploring the causes and effects of his "negative" side. As it is though, I fear there's simply isn't enough time for both delving in and developing. Abd if this is indeed the finale series, the latter needs to happen.

[tanoshi_ame]

Merlin/Aithusa bit first, lets get the saddest part out of the way. Again, Colin made it a little less intolerable, I could have been convinced that there were reasons to sent Aithusa away. Except there weren't. Aside from potentially exposing Merlin's magic, and that reason just... feels terrible to admit. This is Aithusa, troubled and hurt, not some random victims... I want to defend Merlin's character so much but... damn. I need this to get addressed next week

[merlenhiver]

And no. Please, not Queen Gwen the Magic Ban Lifter. If anything, THIS will be the one that makes me hate this show forever.

You know, I didn't even think of that before I read the comments and reviews, but now ... WORST. POSSIBLE. SCENARIO. EVER. :(

[bluebeeangel]

Really? You don't think that's a good idea? Gwen comes in and rescues the day, freeing all magical beings and uniting Albion? Hey, she can find out about Merlin's magic first! Then she can tell Arthur and convince him that magic is all fine and dandy! Merlin doesn't even have to be involved!

I am of course joking. Gwen even steps a toenail into my magic reveal I will give Morgana permission to put her head on a spike.

[marvelpku]

The producers already cheapened the original Arthurian legend to an unbearable level ever since S2. If they cheapened the only plot which makes sense and created by themselves, then the only thing I could call them is shameless. (The 2 producers are already on my blacklist, I only watch Merlin for Bradley and Colin.

[marvelpku]

I get you.

I am personally never convinved by Angel's acting. She is just too exaggerating and always tortures her face to make expressions. I think she is a mediocre actress. But the producers are ridiculous about her dress. I am wondering is Gwen a Camelot Queen or is she a Camelot prostitute, she might as well dangle her boobs out, then they can move to Starz or HBO).

[tanoshi_ame]

However, I'll add that for this episode I also had problems with the acting - which rarely happens.
Oh god yes! I never comment on Angel's acting, quite believing that no one could have done anything for a character that badly written. I did feel her movements and expressions were exaggerated, and strange in some places this time. Not mentioned elsewhere because of obvious reasons.

[gatepromise]

Hi Sweet. : )

Just glad I'm not the only who felt this way.

And Gwen. I won't say much, I've lost all hope to ever even tolerate her so my saying anything about her characterization is just beating a long dead horse. She's just an unapologetic Mary Sue and I am done with her. However, I'll add that for this episode I also had problems with the acting - which rarely happens. It was over the top and utterly unconvincing, plus I've had it up to here with Angel being required to breathe like she's just ran up some stairs when she's only sitting or standing up so her boobs can jounce around and 'entertain' the dads. And before anyone calls me a hypocrite, lol, I also think the 'shirtless knights' thing they had going on was ridiculous.