Merlin 4.13

Yuletide and Christmas tv simultanously make it difficult to remain up to date with one's reviews. Here's the one for the finale for what has become my favourite season of the show so far.

( You're making this up! )

Yuletide I

If you're looking for the archive itself to browse at your own leisure, here it is. This is just a first bunch of recs, more to come!

History:

Still Climbing after Knowledge Infinite

In which young Will from Stratford hangs out with a couple of other Elizabethan playwrights, spars and flirts with Kit Marlowe, and figures out his own writing voice. Just delightful.

Todos Los Bienes Del Mundo (1598)

That Philipp II. during his brief time as Mary's husband in England got at least emotionally involved with his sister in law and future arch nemesis, Elizabeth, is a tantalizing possibility brought up now and then in biographies. (Not least because of the apocryphal story that he confessed as much.) Here is old Philipp reflecting on their youth, talking to his best enemy. Very well done, not least because it's believably from the Spanish pov.

American Gods:

The Man in the Gaberdine Suit

In which Shadow returns to America, meets gods old and new, and has a decision to make. Captures the style of the novel really well, and the (surviving) characters.

Being Human:

Passing Bells

A Nina pov, set after the third season, and a terrific character exploration of her and through her of the other characters and their situation. Bonus point for including Tom.

Deadwood:

The Outward Gift

Lovely exploration of the tender, damaged relationship between Joanie Stubbs and Calamity Jane. Awesome use of Charlie Utter as well.

Some Like It Hot:

Scenes from a floating oasis

In which, after the movie, four people on a yacht try to figure out what comes next. A charming ensemble story that showcases the ambiguities in everyone very well.

The Sarah Jane Adventures:

Queens of the Marsh

In which the inevitable happens and Rani meets the Rani as Our Heroes try to solve the latest weirdness, which involves alien frogs. It's the kind of story you can imagine on the show, and everyone is delightfully in character. Clyde's drawing talent is put to good use and Rani shows off her budding journalist skills which pleases me muchly.

Galaxy Quest

Episode Thirty Three: The Dark Reflection

In which Gwen, back in the day, gets the script for the Galaxy Quest version of the Mirrorverse episode and is awesome. I love this both for the way it is pretty realistic about tv writing (sadly not just in the 70s) and yet allows Gwen to play the game better than the sexist she's dealing with. It's funny, acerbic, and leaves you whistling. My head canon now, definitely.