Oh thank you for this review. Dead on. I might have more to add later, but you're the first person I've seen hit on the weird detachment between M/A in this ep. Last week I attributed it to a combination of writer (ugh) and intent (Arthur's odd obsession with Mordred, who conveniently disappeared this week so he wouldn't run into Morgana too early in the season). I had worried about a rift this season, but if they just have them become increasingly distant by design, or because B&C are for some reason choosing to do so...it would be worse
( ... )
I think there's good reason to believe that the only reveal we get will be exactly what you describe...either Merlin will be trapped in his Dragoon persona, thus fulfilling both the expectation of legend and sticking it to the idiots like us who have kept watching for five years...or it will happen so close to Camlann that they'll successfully avoid any consequence and fall out
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Re: A Horrible Thoughttanoshi_ameNovember 11 2012, 19:41:11 UTC
Okay, happy to be back on the same boat with you again. This episode. What indeed. I was bored out of my mind for the first three quarters, then the last part basically found me wondering if I'd somehow missed something, because the whole thing looked so much like they'd mistakenly cut all the relevant parts and kept the fillers only. Watching this felt like playing a hack-n-slash game on a handheld while walking a Haunted House of some themed park, and neither could hold your attention for more than 5 minutes
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Re: A Horrible Thoughttanoshi_ameNovember 11 2012, 19:41:27 UTC
About Merlin and Arthur, I agree with you. Wasn't sure what to make of the handclasp, and the repeated line 'I made you a promise'. They didn't fit the situation nor A,M's mannerism. Oh, and I'm not too thrilled about watching again so I probably can't check, but when Merlin slipped down the hill (what's the point of this scene again?) I kind of disliked Arthur's face there. Somewhat cold and impatient. Really hope I'm wrong on this though. Then again, there's also the Tower scene where Arthur dismissed Merlin again. Gods. I was okay when it happened in 5.04 but this time Merlin practically got everyone there, so when it's done Arthur's back to not taking his advice seriously again?? I blame.... Gwen
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Re: A Horrible ThoughttanousNovember 12 2012, 13:24:21 UTC
Yeah Im still lost as to what it was that was off.The arm clasp was as I said I think for Merlin/Arthur fans - a compensation for Overcompensation but no - it made no sense and we had no idea what Arthur thought about Merlins promise. The but where he fell down the hill was pretty pointless but I thought they showed quick anxiety followed by blankness. Bradley was trying to show silent urgency I think. I found it fascinating that it WAS silent - I honestly expect endless emoting about his inability to survive with out Gwen but maybe they've learned something. Or it was Julian Jones who as I said seem to have some grip on the characters. Well - better than the others anyway
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Re: A Horrible Thoughttanoshi_ameNovember 12 2012, 17:14:37 UTC
I have a feeling this is a bit like last week's episode when we just had to agree to disagree, so I'm afraid what I say isn't very convincing though. :P
I've been thinking about what we've gained and lost with the M/A dynamic this year. The humour, lessened for sure, though not a total absence. I get the reasons why it has been toned down so it doesn't bother me much. Anyway. 5.01 and 2 got it down, 5.03 has the horseplay which was intended for the same purpose I think, if one overlooks the innuendo. I really like 5.05 'I haven't seen you smile' scene because here we have Arthur trying to cheer Merlin up with humour. Last time it happened, I think it was the Freya episode? I like how Arthur's face in that scene was very gentle, very easy and honestly curious, it's like he's saying 'What happened? Three days ago you obviously still enjoyed my company and even laughed at my jokes. What changed?' Everything about it suggests that their easy banter is still very much there for Arthur to try to goad it out of Merlin. While 5.04 and 6
( ... )
I agree with what you said. I actually enjoyed the ep somehow because I decided I wasn't going to let it upset me with its crappiness, LOL, and because I didn't expect anything good from it at all. But enjoy it as in "oh look, it's a bit like a fairy tale, this is fun... nah that was ALL the knights had to go through? So very lame -_-" and "Oh look! Morgana's being nice to Gwen? Perhaps they're trying to give her more than one direction, maybe they'll be allowed to talk a bit and sort out what the hell happened that made them fall apart like that in the first place? Nah, that was Morgana just trying to give her Stockholm syndrome, and since it didn't work, she probably put a spell on her." And "Oh cool, they're giving Elyan some lines--WAIT WHY THE HELL DID ELYAN HAVE TO DIE?!?!?!" It seemed pretty racist to me, tbh. :/
The casual sacrifice of Elyan to bolster a minor arc make me more convinced this is the last season. I just don’t understand why its all so very half hearted.I got the same feeling too, and I think it's pretty shitty
( ... )
Suicidal or suicidally stupid? Its true that he certainly doesn't seem very happy does he? In fact the happiest we've seen him this season was rescuing the knights in 5.01 and teasing Merlin about looking like a cats arse. He told his father he feels very alone and he dies seem almost... isolated? Apart from Merlin who he tales everywhere like Merlins attached by invisible strings. I do see what you mean - he seems endlessly willing to die, but I think thats just writers absolute determination to stress him those positive qualities of a king - bravery and nobility - over and over, because lets face it, they've robbed him of most of the rest, poor sod, including the intelligence to know how best to use bravery and nobility. I suspect his apparent death wish just an accidental byproduct of really bad character writing
( ... )
Yeah, re: Arthur's suicidal missions, it's obviously bad character writing, but it still makes me curious. I tend to think a looot about Arthur, LOL. XD
I suspect theres already some general bewilderment as to whats going on and what happened to smiley, cheeky Merlin. :(Indeed. Sometimes I see Merlin as a soap opera. A Mexican soap opera that is, because I'm Mexican, LOL. Merlin is of course the main character, and Arthur his true love. XD So there's always a very, very long while before the ending of a soap opera in which the main couple ain't together because of reasons. Writers just stall and stall and stall and stall, and if it gets good ratings, they stall even more and viewers are pulling at their hairs because "they were just about to make up and get together and they didn't because of some random stupid thing!!! WHYYY
( ... )
Regarding Bradley being in LA. Georgia King (Princess Elena) is here because she stars in a show called "The New Normal". Since they had been dating (per rumors and pics) I assumed he was here to visit her, with the bonus of getting his name out there for potential work.
All I can think of is how ridiculous the story is. The producers can't handle multi-dimensional storylines. I don't know why Mr. Capps and Mr. Murphy will realize they are not the material for high conceptual shows (although they continue to flattering themselves without shame). There are too much things on plate, the producers just don't know how to write different streams of the story and integrate them into one good story. I always wonder where the hell is Exalibur? The legendary blade with dragon breath and brought back to Merlin by Freya from Avalon. No one remember that and that story arc. (Except in 413, Merlin made a total story behind it to make Arthur regain the confidence of himself, anyway, after that happened, I never believed in any story the producers made).
Excaliburadrienne5413November 12 2012, 17:09:04 UTC
HA! Marvel, that's so funny you mention Excalibur. Just this morning my sister and I were discussing dropped stories, etc. and Excalibur was one of the topics. Have you noticed Arthur doesn't even USE Excalibur? In the vision in s5e1 he does, but regularly on the show, he's not using it. I thought it was strange in s5e1 when the bandit recognized Arthur by his sword, I thought WHAT? He doesn't have Excalibur. Sometimes he carries two swords in the hilt thing on the horse, but I'm not sure the other sword is Excalibur, either. Hmm. Once again, things make NO SENSE.
Excalibur! I know! Why did they bother beyond ticking it off the list with Queen Mab, The Fisher King, Tristan and Isolde, The Cup of Life and on and on.
There was so much great material - one of the richest canons out there with amazing characters all waiting to be used - squandered and chucked away while we put up with episodes they're so clearly struggling to make up and make sense of. Does anyone get the feeling with this season that they just...aren't really interested? Maybe they have something else on the go series-wise and this is just to fulfil the contract and fill the space? It certainly feels like it sometimes, and Eoin sounded very disillusioned at Coldcon. I'll know to steer well clear of anything with these producers names on it in future though, thats for sure.
Does anyone get the feeling with this season that they just...aren't really interested? Maybe they have something else on the go series-wise and this is just to fulfil the contract and fill the space?
That's exactly the feeling that I'm getting from S5. As if they don't really care about their own story (not to mention the characters) anymore and are just going through the motions. It's frustrating!
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I've been thinking about what we've gained and lost with the M/A dynamic this year. The humour, lessened for sure, though not a total absence. I get the reasons why it has been toned down so it doesn't bother me much. Anyway. 5.01 and 2 got it down, 5.03 has the horseplay which was intended for the same purpose I think, if one overlooks the innuendo. I really like 5.05 'I haven't seen you smile' scene because here we have Arthur trying to cheer Merlin up with humour. Last time it happened, I think it was the Freya episode? I like how Arthur's face in that scene was very gentle, very easy and honestly curious, it's like he's saying 'What happened? Three days ago you obviously still enjoyed my company and even laughed at my jokes. What changed?' Everything about it suggests that their easy banter is still very much there for Arthur to try to goad it out of Merlin. While 5.04 and 6 ( ... )
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The casual sacrifice of Elyan to bolster a minor arc make me more convinced this is the last season. I just don’t understand why its all so very half hearted.I got the same feeling too, and I think it's pretty shitty ( ... )
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I suspect theres already some general bewilderment as to whats going on and what happened to smiley, cheeky Merlin. :(Indeed. Sometimes I see Merlin as a soap opera. A Mexican soap opera that is, because I'm Mexican, LOL. Merlin is of course the main character, and Arthur his true love. XD So there's always a very, very long while before the ending of a soap opera in which the main couple ain't together because of reasons. Writers just stall and stall and stall and stall, and if it gets good ratings, they stall even more and viewers are pulling at their hairs because "they were just about to make up and get together and they didn't because of some random stupid thing!!! WHYYY ( ... )
Reply
Reply
There are too much things on plate, the producers just don't know how to write different streams of the story and integrate them into one good story. I always wonder where the hell is Exalibur? The legendary blade with dragon breath and brought back to Merlin by Freya from Avalon. No one remember that and that story arc. (Except in 413, Merlin made a total story behind it to make Arthur regain the confidence of himself, anyway, after that happened, I never believed in any story the producers made).
Reply
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There was so much great material - one of the richest canons out there with amazing characters all waiting to be used - squandered and chucked away while we put up with episodes they're so clearly struggling to make up and make sense of. Does anyone get the feeling with this season that they just...aren't really interested? Maybe they have something else on the go series-wise and this is just to fulfil the contract and fill the space? It certainly feels like it sometimes, and Eoin sounded very disillusioned at Coldcon. I'll know to steer well clear of anything with these producers names on it in future though, thats for sure.
Reply
That's exactly the feeling that I'm getting from S5. As if they don't really care about their own story (not to mention the characters) anymore and are just going through the motions. It's frustrating!
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