Merlin: looking towards the future

[trude]

There were some things about Merlin’s second series that were better than series one; somewhat tighter plots in the stand-alone episodes, less cheesy special effects, prettier dresses for Gwen…but on the whole, I think the series suffered from being in a place where the introductory phase of the show is over but they can’t really make any great leaps forward if they want to drag the big arcs out over four or five years. On the top of my head, the only major things I can think of that were there in season two that weren’t there in season one are the following:

1. The Gwen/Arthur romance, which was awfully cute, but didn’t really develop much between episode 2 and episode 13.
2. Morgause . And I like her a lot, too, but there is still a risk that she’ll be killed off the next time she shows up, or that she never shows up again.
3. Morgana discovers her own magic. This could have been the Big Arc of the series, but they screwed that up royally. Grrr. Arrgh.

So the rest of the time we had Merlin having no plan whatsoever for most of the time and running to ask the dragon for advice with regular intervals, Gaius being kind of annoying, Uther hating magic and Arthur being a spoiled brat with a heart of gold. And reset button, reset button, reset button.

And then in the last two episodes, both Morgana and the Dragon LEFT. And while I think Morgana at least will be back soon enough, I’m actually hopeful that this will be…not the end of the reset button, but the end of the status quo of series 1 and 2. Next series, there will be a new one to reset.

My sort-of wish-list for the characters next series:
Merlin – I hope that he’ll be developing an interest in finding out how his powers work and the limits to them. Also, I’d like him to develop a bit more of a moral code, and start planning for the future a bit. As for other finding out about his magic –yes please, but if it happens I don’t think it will be until the end of the series.

Arthur – continue to make decisions for himself instead of following Uther’s orders. Start to question Uther in a more lasting and less melodramatic way than in “Sins of the father”. I’d like the oft-mentioned wars with neighboring kingdoms to escalate and play a part in this, too.

Morgana - the “She’s evil now! Because it says so in the script!”-thing was as stupid as it gets, but if she has to be evil I hope it will be done properly next series. Have her come back powerful and angry and fight Uther, and fight Merlin and fight freaking Gaius, and break with Arthur and with Gwen in ways that mean something, and collaborate with Morgause, and collaborate with Alvarr until she realizes what a little weasel he is and kills him with her brain. And later on (in series four or something), let her have some kind of reconciliation with Arthur and/or Gwen (I don’t think she will ever trust Merlin again, or vice versa).

Gwen – I’m really worried about my girl right now. The last couple of episodes has underlined how bad the writers are to include her in other people’s plots, even if she tends to be in character in the few scenes she gets. I was hoping that with Morgana gone, she’d be less worried about losing her job (if that has indeed been the case) and more likely to speak up against Uther and working on creating the future Camelot she wants, not just waiting for Arthur to do it. But if Uther is getting weaker and Arthur and Gwen getting closer turns out to be a trend, that seems less likely to happen. (Though I don’t think that Gwen and Arthur will be going steady from now on, public hug or not.)
What it still boils down to is that when Arthur finally proposes (not happening in series three, but anyway), I want Gwen to have the option to say no and still have things that are hers. Things that aren’t named Lancelot. (I still ship G/A and G/L madly, though. Never said I was consistent about these things.)

Gaius – Less screen time.
Uther – stop channeling Giles, it freaks me out.

And as for our dear recurring cast:
Morgause – continue being badass, continue wearing fabulous clothes, continue to stay alive and turn out to be related to every damn person on the show. And then have sex with them.

Lancelot – actually be successful at this brave & noble knight-thing, not just enthusiastic about the concept. Also some development of his friendship with Arthur, Merlin or both. And I want to see him develop a rapport with Gwen that goes beyond; “You’re beautiful! “ “You’re heroic” “Let’s make out!” “Yes!”. And I want her to get an opportunity to punch him in the face.

Hunith – SCREEN TIME. And I know this will not happen, but I would really, really like to see Merlin going back to Ealdor and having a long, emotional talk about Balinor with her. Fanfic, anyone?

Mordred – get a vacation.

Sir Leon (if he’s still alive) – a personality, so I would actually care the next time he’s facing horrible, fiery death.

Geoffrey of Monmoth –a decent IR system.