Comments | tanous: Merlin: 5:03 The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

tanous

Merlin: 5:03 The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

Oct 24, 2012 04:09

I don’t know. I should probably admit that I was expecting/hoping for a different episode than the one we got, so I’m actually reviewing the wrong thing. I know too that I’m stlll wearing my Traumatised By S4 Pt 2 goggles. But I can still see that there was alot to appreciate. We were given the, now rare, treat of an episode centred almost ( Read more... )

Comments 67

marvelpku October 24 2012, 14:02:40 UTC

Logic is never a thing in Merlin ( ... )

tanous October 25 2012, 07:26:56 UTC

Hi Marvel, I do agree with alot of this, though I think I liked the episode more than you did, if only for Arthur and Merlin/Colin and Bradley - and Richard and Tony too. My issue is with wasted potential and the reset of Uther but beyond that I was very appreciative of the way the show allowed Bradley and Colin to indulge themselves and us. :-D

I agree that the statements about Gwen are a bit of a joke when you see whats onscreen but tht relationship has always I contend, been about telling not showing. I wouldn't mind it if the PTB werent so desperate to push it as something its clearly not that they distort other relationships and characters - and the one that suffers most and most consistently is undoubtedly Arthur. And yeah it was awkward agreeing with Uther on many things when we were being so clearly signposted to believe Uther was totally wrong. Hmmm.

darlulu October 24 2012, 21:16:53 UTC

It was undeniably a fun watch, but it wasn’t in any way the seminal episode it could/should have been with the return of the character who created just about all of the issues they’re now facing.

I hadn't looked at it quite that way, but on second thought, I agree. Uther cast a long shadow, but you'd never know it based on this ep. He felt very much divorced from this supposed golden era Arthur reigns over. There was no hint that all that is wrong in the present (the magic ban, Morgana, even Mordred and all those like the father sorcerer in 501/502 who blame Camelot/Arthur for Uther's legacy) can be traced back to Uther, and yet it's true.

The impression still is that Merlin is now there as an occasionally useful bodyguard and Arthur’s closest friend, only because of his love for and faith in Arthur the man, whatever he does. Not because of destiny or freeing magic, since he seems to have no interest in either.I'm not gonna lie, while I struggle with the notion that Merlin seems to have cast off all personal responsibility for ( ... )

gatepromise October 25 2012, 05:39:04 UTC

Sadly, the same part that Arwen fans probably embrace when they say they loved how Arthur was willing to surrender Camelot just to be with Gwen in S3. (God, I hate admitting that parallel, but it's a fair comparison.)My head canon reassures me that Arthur probably didn't mean this, anymore than he meant to run away to be a farmer (with Merlin doing all the hard labor of course), it was more lip service, it was said in the heat of the moment, and his father would never have allowed it besides....but then my other canon, the jaded, realistic one, reminds me that he gave away ancestral lands for Mary Sue in season 4, when he was king and should have been putting the kingdom and people before all else. Arthur become a buffoonish, self-indulgent moron in the face of the Arwen, and the show tries to sell this as a good thing. *shakes head in bewilderment* What's even more amazing (not in a good way) is that when they are together, Arthur & Gwen act like the king and queen of olden days, respectful, polite, affectionate, dutiful, but nothing ( ... )

tanous October 25 2012, 08:04:52 UTC

Can I just say that I love this post to pieces? You make so much sense and yes - while part of me is thinking 'But what about magic users Merlin?' another part is accepting the fact that Merlin is there now it seems because of his love for Arthur and Arthur's love for him which makes him a crap Emrys but still a sympathetic character. And as you say its there for everyone to see - even hardened reviewers of national newspapers see it, even though its not the canonical romance they're meant to be buying into. :P The looks are incendiary sometimes I agree ( ... )

darlulu October 25 2012, 20:52:27 UTC

For all Colin says that merlin fears he'll be executed if his magic is revealed (which doesn't say much for Arthur), its sometimes seems as if its played as if Merlin is more worried about losing Arthur, than having a real fear of execution.

That's exactly how I've read it since, like, early S2. Even at the end of S1, I think Merlin knew Arthur wouldn't sentence him to death if he knew about his magic, but I think he did fear being sent away.

I don't feel it can ever reach its potential while Merlin is hiding and lying, and Arthur has no real clue who he actually is. I kind of feel that Merlins love for Arthur and Arthur's love for Merlin are interwined with the importance of the reveal - in this case the personal is political :-pAgreed. I'm one of the fans that thinks we'll get a reveal by season's end, but I am worried the writers will fuck it up and give us a simplistic sort of resolution where a) Arthur finds out and feels betrayed, exiling Merlin on the spot only to b) forgive Merlin and accept magic, when he inevitably ( ... )

Thread 8

englaroma October 24 2012, 21:27:19 UTC

Your review is up! *is excited* I watched the episode quite early this week and have had to resort to ranting on other people's reviews instead. :D ( ... )

marvelpku October 25 2012, 05:06:09 UTC

I think one thing they should stop is to push wisdom to Gwen.

We all know Merlin is the one called WISE and also greatest socerer of all time. Well, Gwen is totally a redundant set-up in this show without any meaningful storyline (except to fulfill some Mary Sue audience's dream).

tanous October 25 2012, 08:53:03 UTC

Ha ha! I was away for the weekend so I came late to the party!

I really agree with you 100% ere - the actors are basically telling their own story! I hope youre wrong about the anti-climactic magic reveal. I may be disillusioned as all hell about the show, but I'm still clinging to the idea that after 5 seasons to prepare for it, they'll actually put a bit of effort into it? *Feels naive* :-p

Next week - I would imagine you're probably on the money yeah. Im sure Mithian or someone will be required to say Arthur made the right choice at some point since the PTB's insecurity over the Arwen thing seems to know no bounds. :-P Im sure her wisdom will be taken out for a quick trot around the paddock- maybe this is where she tells off Little Arthur for going off on quests with his mates instead of staying home and learning from her how to be a good king. *ahem*

marvelpku October 26 2012, 16:30:41 UTC

I think they are not only insecure about Arthur and Gwen, these kind of pair is seldom successful in the mainstream audience (to be hoest, nothing racism here, but a simple fact), but they are also quite aware that Angel Colby lack the chrisma to be a big star. They push all the romance & get every man in the show say she is beautiful but I don't think many audience buy in that (except certain part of audience, you know what I mean).

Thread 11

dis-expectations and Mer/Colin nuggets sham_alot October 27 2012, 00:06:42 UTC

**registered and delurks ( ... )

Re: dis-expectations and Mer/Colin nuggets tanous October 27 2012, 11:12:36 UTC

Hi There :) Believe me I share your pain looking at these spoilers. Im trying to convince myself that must be wrong because with all the important stuff they still have to deal with (Mordred, the magic ban, the reveal) they wouldnt waste 4 or 5 episodes on Mary Sue? But then I wouldn't have believed they'd massacre the Lancelot legend and try to rest a whole half season on the Disney romance. So Im not sure my optimism is very sound. :P ( ... )

ungalad October 27 2012, 01:32:16 UTC

Actually, I enjoyed the episode a lot. I had a blast. Not for the writing, of course, but for the performances and UTHER. I was totally cheering for him. Funny that you mention that all his rant while he and Arthur were in the veil was kinda true. I felt that too when I was watching, and I remember thinking that Arthur was gonna go back to Camelot, divorce Gwen and un-knight the knights just to please his father, hah. I was kinda disappointed he didn't. D: OK, I wasn't disappointed, but considering the way he's been written since mid-season 4, who could've blamed me for expecting that ( ... )

tanous October 27 2012, 11:28:50 UTC

So do I!!! Why ISNT it? :-(

Having seen the spoilers Im already starting to view 5.03 as a work of genius. :-p WHY was I bothered about resetting Uther and missing the opportunities presented by his return - I should have been grabbing on to the great moments with both hands! :P Im actually not sure if there's any character development for Arthur because he was talking about his father at the end as if they'd just had a row over dinner rather than Uther disllusioning him forever, though I agree that your interpretation shouldbe correct. I thought at least it might help advance Arthurs character by freeing him of his father worship but he really just said he believe the route he was taking was right. No mention of magic or anything. I can only hope you're right though ( ... )