Merlin 3.10 Queen of Hearts
Nov. 14th, 2010 09:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakGood old Howard Overman and his OT3 shipping, bless.
Okay, so some of the continuity in this is headache inducing (no mention of Elyan, Arthur acts as if Gwen loving him back is news) and from what I hear there was some switching around of episodes, which would account for this. Otoh, some continuity was just magnificent. Starting with the Gwen-Uther confrontation in which Tom gets brought up in just the way I'd hoped. Gwen was magnificent throughout that scene, with her loathing of Uther all the more effective because she doesn't go into speeches. Two short statements, exactly to the point, and he's done for. Go Gwen!
On a related note, Merlin using his Old Magician disguise to tell Uther at last exactly what he thinks of him after three years of guarding his tongue (with a side line of also telling Arthur, but that's less noteworthy because he does tell Arthur this stuff when undisguised as well) and living in fear was terrific as well. Generally Colin evidently had a blast as Old!Merlin whose scenes were insanely crack-worthy but in a way this show does so enjoyably well.
FINALLY there is a limitation of Morgana smirks, and there's just one smile this episode, and otherwise normal acting. Subtext between her and Morgause is as strong as ever; so is the class snobbery of either sister. (Which, btw, is consistent throughout the series for both.) There is something heartbreaking about all the scenes between Morgana and Gwen, with both faking the friendliness that used to be real. The way they do is characteristic for either; Gwen is polite (with an emphasis on the social difference) and will fake smiles but not trust, whereas Morgana demands and fakes intimacy. Morgana's scene with Arthur is similarly sad because again, she fakes what used to be real, and they're really good at the sibling vibe.
I was a bit concerned when Old!Merlin declared he had enchanted both Arthur and Gwen that now we'd be for a complete tedious reset button wherein Arthur and Gwen spend a lot of episodes believing they never were in love and start it all again etc, but no, phew. Their complete confidence and ease with the reality of their feelings was a lovely touch. Mind you, that Arthur has absolutely no doubt his feelings for Gwen are real (well, he does have experience with love spells now to compare them to) and vice versa begs the question as to what he thinks the old magician did but I suppose the show wants us to handwave that in "he thinks the magician did try to enchant them not knowing they felt that way already".
Re: picknick scene - Arthur day dreaming about being a farmer with Gwen but self aware enough to make a joke at his own expense about taking Merlin along to do the hard work was my favourite gag of the episode.
Again, to return to a favourite theme this season, the Merlin-Gwen friendship is so lovely to see and probably the best written relationship of s3. They're just infinitely squishworthy together. So is Merlin's face in Morgana's vision of Gwen's coronation by Arthur. OT3 for the win!
Not squishworthy but great in the "how messed up are the Pendragons?" category: Uther's reaction to the Arthur/Gwen thing throughout. Starting with the amusement as long as he thinks it's just sex with servants, the immediate switch to banishment when he realizes it's more serious, and the eager jumping on Morgana's "it's magic" suggestion. The moment when Uther touches Arthur's cheek while declaring "my son would never say this" is Uther at his most deeply dysfunctional and possessive. Also, note that while Arthur's "I'll never forgive you for this" has no open follow up later his final conversation with Gwen is the first time he agrees with someone's anticipation of his reign complete with the implication of his father's death.
Lastly: given Morgana's visions have come true so far, I am glad the flash forward didn't show the wedding of Arthur & Gwen but Gwen's coronation as queen, both because there is a difference in both myth and history between consort-of-the-king and crowned queen and because it fits with Gwen's role in the overall narrative; she's important as a co-ruler and co-shaper of the future Camelot, not "just" as a love interest, and that the last scene between her and Arthur ends with them talking about Camelot brings the opening vision full circle.
Okay, so some of the continuity in this is headache inducing (no mention of Elyan, Arthur acts as if Gwen loving him back is news) and from what I hear there was some switching around of episodes, which would account for this. Otoh, some continuity was just magnificent. Starting with the Gwen-Uther confrontation in which Tom gets brought up in just the way I'd hoped. Gwen was magnificent throughout that scene, with her loathing of Uther all the more effective because she doesn't go into speeches. Two short statements, exactly to the point, and he's done for. Go Gwen!
On a related note, Merlin using his Old Magician disguise to tell Uther at last exactly what he thinks of him after three years of guarding his tongue (with a side line of also telling Arthur, but that's less noteworthy because he does tell Arthur this stuff when undisguised as well) and living in fear was terrific as well. Generally Colin evidently had a blast as Old!Merlin whose scenes were insanely crack-worthy but in a way this show does so enjoyably well.
FINALLY there is a limitation of Morgana smirks, and there's just one smile this episode, and otherwise normal acting. Subtext between her and Morgause is as strong as ever; so is the class snobbery of either sister. (Which, btw, is consistent throughout the series for both.) There is something heartbreaking about all the scenes between Morgana and Gwen, with both faking the friendliness that used to be real. The way they do is characteristic for either; Gwen is polite (with an emphasis on the social difference) and will fake smiles but not trust, whereas Morgana demands and fakes intimacy. Morgana's scene with Arthur is similarly sad because again, she fakes what used to be real, and they're really good at the sibling vibe.
I was a bit concerned when Old!Merlin declared he had enchanted both Arthur and Gwen that now we'd be for a complete tedious reset button wherein Arthur and Gwen spend a lot of episodes believing they never were in love and start it all again etc, but no, phew. Their complete confidence and ease with the reality of their feelings was a lovely touch. Mind you, that Arthur has absolutely no doubt his feelings for Gwen are real (well, he does have experience with love spells now to compare them to) and vice versa begs the question as to what he thinks the old magician did but I suppose the show wants us to handwave that in "he thinks the magician did try to enchant them not knowing they felt that way already".
Re: picknick scene - Arthur day dreaming about being a farmer with Gwen but self aware enough to make a joke at his own expense about taking Merlin along to do the hard work was my favourite gag of the episode.
Again, to return to a favourite theme this season, the Merlin-Gwen friendship is so lovely to see and probably the best written relationship of s3. They're just infinitely squishworthy together. So is Merlin's face in Morgana's vision of Gwen's coronation by Arthur. OT3 for the win!
Not squishworthy but great in the "how messed up are the Pendragons?" category: Uther's reaction to the Arthur/Gwen thing throughout. Starting with the amusement as long as he thinks it's just sex with servants, the immediate switch to banishment when he realizes it's more serious, and the eager jumping on Morgana's "it's magic" suggestion. The moment when Uther touches Arthur's cheek while declaring "my son would never say this" is Uther at his most deeply dysfunctional and possessive. Also, note that while Arthur's "I'll never forgive you for this" has no open follow up later his final conversation with Gwen is the first time he agrees with someone's anticipation of his reign complete with the implication of his father's death.
Lastly: given Morgana's visions have come true so far, I am glad the flash forward didn't show the wedding of Arthur & Gwen but Gwen's coronation as queen, both because there is a difference in both myth and history between consort-of-the-king and crowned queen and because it fits with Gwen's role in the overall narrative; she's important as a co-ruler and co-shaper of the future Camelot, not "just" as a love interest, and that the last scene between her and Arthur ends with them talking about Camelot brings the opening vision full circle.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-15 01:26 pm (UTC)And Morgana has to be aware that someone is actively working against her.