Merlin 4.12
Dec. 18th, 2011 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which we start what looks like a splendid season finale.
May I start with a pure shoutout of fannish joy? HUNNITTTTTTTTHHHHHHH!
Not sighted on screen since season 1, and Merlin's mother definitely was on top of my list of guest stars I wanted to see again. This was just delightful. Also in a way that felt not contrived; it made sense for Merlin to seek refuge in Ealdor after Camelot was taken, and for him to have sent Gwen there as well. (At least I assume it was Merlin since he asks Hunith how Gwen is doing and thus clearly is informed about her presence. Of course, Gwen could have decided to go there as well on her own.) (Depending on how the finale goes, I think Hunith and Gwen conversations have just joined the plot bunnies which are after me.) I was positively bouncing during the Ealdor scenes, people.
I approve of not dragging the capture of Camelot out; we got the lengthy siege and fighting scenes last season, so just a few to give you a sense of what's going on at the start of the episode, not the end, was the right way to make this not feel repetitive. The Camelot scenes afterwards prove two things; making the knights people one cares about pays off, as here we (or rather I) are invested in their fates, more, I admit, than I was in Leon's last season (though I liked Sir Leon, just not as much as I like all the knights this season), and Agrivaine continues to be one of the best villains the show has come up with, as he starts to disagree with Morgana not just about her not valueing him enough (that was expected) but about her treatment of her people (that wasn't). There's a precedent; Morgause last season looked somewhat discomfited when Morgana gave the order to shoot the crowd as well, as Agrivaine now took her order to burn the grain to enforce loyalty with obvious distaste. But he goes further than this in his horrified reaction to Elyan's torture.
Of course, the main plot thread was the Merlin and Arthur on the road show. Which was also all kinds of layered. Merlin was enjoying the spell taking Arthur's will from him and the results a bit more than was comfortable, but I found that entirely ic; Merlin's affection for Arthur has a good deal of anger in it much of the time, and Merlin himself never was free of payback wishes; what makes him Merlin instead of Morgana is, among other things, that he knows to prioritize, and his top priority isn't himself. All their scenes before and after the spell, with Arthur as himself, were terrific, most of all the fireside chat where we finally got verbal canon as to how Arthur feels about Morgana's betrayal (and now Agrivaine's). That he wonders whether said betrayals were because things he did wrong as prince and king showcases both Arthur's strengths and flaws. Starting with the flaws: he's actually pretty good at being a king (and was at being a prince), it's the personal conduct has its problematic sides (though not towards Morgana and Agrivaine). But just as Morgana back when she was still in Camelot made the measure of her opposition to Uther not how tyrannical Uther behaved, but how he behaved towards her and whether or not she felt appreciated enough (aszahrawithaz put it in a review of The Fires of Idrisholas, "Morgana makes political decisions as if they were dating decisions", Arthur's problem is the reverse. (I.e. if he's a good prince-or-king, then he doesn't have to work on the personal relationships, hence it needing Gwen or Merlin to point out to him when his arrogance is hurtful.)
Strengths: Arthur's reaction to these betrayals is neither "well, they were scum anyway" or "punishment! revenge! they (and a lot of bystanders) will pay for this" but: a) admission of affection (in an Arthur way, saying that he cared for them rather than that he loved them) and b) wondering why they betrayed him, whether it was his fault, as opposed to raging about it. Seeking to understand. If he will be the greatest king that Merlin promises, then because Arthur asks these questions, and is able to learn.
Speaking of (perceived) betrayal: actually the only reason I still want the fact that Morgana bespelled her to come up is to on behalf of Gwen's peace of mind, not in regards to her and Arthur. Their understated reunion was just lovely, and I liked that neither party asked for or offered apologies, yet also didn't pretend Shade!Lancelot and the banishment didn't happen. The "I lost you" and "and I you" conveyed so much, and in a way accepting each other without declaring what happened was due to magical interference first is more powerful than it would have been otherwise. However Gwen still needs to know on her own behalf, and I do hope (which the trailer encouraged me to) we'll see a lengthier confrontation between her and Morgana in the finale that might include this information.
Making this show's version of Tristan and Isolde an outlaw couple who are both sword fighters is an intriguing spin. Of course the mythical Tristan and Isolde are most famous for being two thirds of a love triangle with a king they both betray because of their (magically triggered) passion, Marke. Crazy speculation which I don't think will be the case because I suspect these versions of Tristan and Isolde will only share the names of their mythical counterparts, not the backstories, but hear it anyway - if the show uses at least some of the backstory, well, Tristan and Isolde of mythic fame lived in the woods together for a while before returning to court, and if these two are adulterers, Arthur could find out in the second part of the finale, and given how observing them in the first part drove home to him (even more than usual) what he lost when banishing Gwen, his and Gwen's response to this could contribute to wrapping up this part of their story.
As I said, though, in all likelihood I don't expect these parallels to be drawn. What I do hope for is that Tristan and Isolde both will end up as knights of Camelot (otherwise why make Isolde a swordfighting woman? last season set the precedence of Arthur knighting Lancelot, Gwaine and Percival and overturning the code that excluded non-nobles, this season could change the status of women, since we're in a fantasy realm anyway). What I fear is that one or both of them get killed, which would be a shame; now that Gwaine has been won over to the pro-Arthur side, Tristan could become the next knight up for the job of truthteller/loyal opposition, and Isolde would be the first swordfighting woman not destined for future villainhood (since we never saw Queen Annis fight).
More unspoiled (and please don't tell me if you know) speculation: with all the talk of the five kingdoms in this episode and through the entire season, I think the next, final season of Merlin will be about the uniting of Albion, and it will start in the finale with at least some of the guest stars of this season (the sorceror who switched to Merlin's side, possibly Mithian and Annis) who all share the quality of starting out as antagonists or possible antagonists and ending as allies, coming to Arthur's aid in the recapturing of Camelot.
May I start with a pure shoutout of fannish joy? HUNNITTTTTTTTHHHHHHH!
Not sighted on screen since season 1, and Merlin's mother definitely was on top of my list of guest stars I wanted to see again. This was just delightful. Also in a way that felt not contrived; it made sense for Merlin to seek refuge in Ealdor after Camelot was taken, and for him to have sent Gwen there as well. (At least I assume it was Merlin since he asks Hunith how Gwen is doing and thus clearly is informed about her presence. Of course, Gwen could have decided to go there as well on her own.) (Depending on how the finale goes, I think Hunith and Gwen conversations have just joined the plot bunnies which are after me.) I was positively bouncing during the Ealdor scenes, people.
I approve of not dragging the capture of Camelot out; we got the lengthy siege and fighting scenes last season, so just a few to give you a sense of what's going on at the start of the episode, not the end, was the right way to make this not feel repetitive. The Camelot scenes afterwards prove two things; making the knights people one cares about pays off, as here we (or rather I) are invested in their fates, more, I admit, than I was in Leon's last season (though I liked Sir Leon, just not as much as I like all the knights this season), and Agrivaine continues to be one of the best villains the show has come up with, as he starts to disagree with Morgana not just about her not valueing him enough (that was expected) but about her treatment of her people (that wasn't). There's a precedent; Morgause last season looked somewhat discomfited when Morgana gave the order to shoot the crowd as well, as Agrivaine now took her order to burn the grain to enforce loyalty with obvious distaste. But he goes further than this in his horrified reaction to Elyan's torture.
Of course, the main plot thread was the Merlin and Arthur on the road show. Which was also all kinds of layered. Merlin was enjoying the spell taking Arthur's will from him and the results a bit more than was comfortable, but I found that entirely ic; Merlin's affection for Arthur has a good deal of anger in it much of the time, and Merlin himself never was free of payback wishes; what makes him Merlin instead of Morgana is, among other things, that he knows to prioritize, and his top priority isn't himself. All their scenes before and after the spell, with Arthur as himself, were terrific, most of all the fireside chat where we finally got verbal canon as to how Arthur feels about Morgana's betrayal (and now Agrivaine's). That he wonders whether said betrayals were because things he did wrong as prince and king showcases both Arthur's strengths and flaws. Starting with the flaws: he's actually pretty good at being a king (and was at being a prince), it's the personal conduct has its problematic sides (though not towards Morgana and Agrivaine). But just as Morgana back when she was still in Camelot made the measure of her opposition to Uther not how tyrannical Uther behaved, but how he behaved towards her and whether or not she felt appreciated enough (as
zahrawithaz put it in a review of The Fires of Idrisholas, "Morgana makes political decisions as if they were dating decisions", Arthur's problem is the reverse. (I.e. if he's a good prince-or-king, then he doesn't have to work on the personal relationships, hence it needing Gwen or Merlin to point out to him when his arrogance is hurtful.) Strengths: Arthur's reaction to these betrayals is neither "well, they were scum anyway" or "punishment! revenge! they (and a lot of bystanders) will pay for this" but: a) admission of affection (in an Arthur way, saying that he cared for them rather than that he loved them) and b) wondering why they betrayed him, whether it was his fault, as opposed to raging about it. Seeking to understand. If he will be the greatest king that Merlin promises, then because Arthur asks these questions, and is able to learn.
Speaking of (perceived) betrayal: actually the only reason I still want the fact that Morgana bespelled her to come up is to on behalf of Gwen's peace of mind, not in regards to her and Arthur. Their understated reunion was just lovely, and I liked that neither party asked for or offered apologies, yet also didn't pretend Shade!Lancelot and the banishment didn't happen. The "I lost you" and "and I you" conveyed so much, and in a way accepting each other without declaring what happened was due to magical interference first is more powerful than it would have been otherwise. However Gwen still needs to know on her own behalf, and I do hope (which the trailer encouraged me to) we'll see a lengthier confrontation between her and Morgana in the finale that might include this information.
Making this show's version of Tristan and Isolde an outlaw couple who are both sword fighters is an intriguing spin. Of course the mythical Tristan and Isolde are most famous for being two thirds of a love triangle with a king they both betray because of their (magically triggered) passion, Marke. Crazy speculation which I don't think will be the case because I suspect these versions of Tristan and Isolde will only share the names of their mythical counterparts, not the backstories, but hear it anyway - if the show uses at least some of the backstory, well, Tristan and Isolde of mythic fame lived in the woods together for a while before returning to court, and if these two are adulterers, Arthur could find out in the second part of the finale, and given how observing them in the first part drove home to him (even more than usual) what he lost when banishing Gwen, his and Gwen's response to this could contribute to wrapping up this part of their story.
As I said, though, in all likelihood I don't expect these parallels to be drawn. What I do hope for is that Tristan and Isolde both will end up as knights of Camelot (otherwise why make Isolde a swordfighting woman? last season set the precedence of Arthur knighting Lancelot, Gwaine and Percival and overturning the code that excluded non-nobles, this season could change the status of women, since we're in a fantasy realm anyway). What I fear is that one or both of them get killed, which would be a shame; now that Gwaine has been won over to the pro-Arthur side, Tristan could become the next knight up for the job of truthteller/loyal opposition, and Isolde would be the first swordfighting woman not destined for future villainhood (since we never saw Queen Annis fight).
More unspoiled (and please don't tell me if you know) speculation: with all the talk of the five kingdoms in this episode and through the entire season, I think the next, final season of Merlin will be about the uniting of Albion, and it will start in the finale with at least some of the guest stars of this season (the sorceror who switched to Merlin's side, possibly Mithian and Annis) who all share the quality of starting out as antagonists or possible antagonists and ending as allies, coming to Arthur's aid in the recapturing of Camelot.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 01:31 am (UTC)I would so read that fic.
I was totally surprised that Agravaine was surprised by Morgana's ruthlessness towards "her" people. I hope we get some sort of pay off for that.
I agree that the Arthur/Gwen reunion was perfect because they have this horrible thing that happened but they still love each other and they want to be back together. I also hope that Gwen gets to find out about Morgana's spell for her own sense of self. I cannot wait for the confrontation hinted at in the trailer.