Merlin 4x01
Oct. 2nd, 2011 09:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trude
Colin Morgan, I’ve missed your acting. And your ears. But mostly your acting.
An opener that focused more on the action plot than on introducing viewers to the new status quo in Camelot. Which is an understandable choice, but it did mean that some things/characters/relationships felt a bit short-changed, Evil Uncle Agravaine in particular was just there.
Is Morgause gone for good? (Or will the veil-closing blood sacrifice that is bound to happen in the next episode bring her back?) If this is the last we see of her it was nice to see her go out on her own terms, but it doesn’t reflect particularly well on Morgana that she still does what Big Sis tells her to. (And I still want Morgause back-story, dammit.)
As for Morgana by herself (and with Agravaine) she’s sort of the Dumbest Supervillian Ever. “Oh, I just released something unspeakably evil, which no-one – myself included – can control or fight, but it will kill my stupid brother and all those boring poor people with no lines, so I can be queen of…nothing? “
For my fluffy, happy, functional ship, aka Merlin/Lancelot, this was clearly the Best Episode Ever. Sharing household tips! Exchanging meaningful looks! Lancelot running to Merlin’s side the moment he collapses! Fetching blankets! (And then during the night Lancelot obviously huddled together with Merlin under said blankets, with the noble purpose to help Merlin regain his normal body temperature.)
Perceval and Gwaine stealing chickens from the palace kitchen – dudes, you’re knights of Camelot. I’m sure you’ll get food anyway.
Perceval and Elyan saving little kids – for the win.
The only watsonian reason I can think of for Gwen being Uther’s nurse is that she’s someone who Gaius trusts and can work with. That she puts up with the job for Arthur's sake makes sense, but on the whole the scenario feels pretty forced.
The Gwen – Lancelot scene was also one that suffered because we don’t really know what has been going on with these characters over the past year. I can totally buy Gwen’s…formalness as her being sick with worry over Arthur and not really reflecting on how she acts, or whether it’s a good idea to ask Lancelot of all people of this particular favor. But I don’t know if I should interpret his smile when he sees her as the sight of her always making him happy, or as a sign that they’ve actually been on pretty friendly terms for a while now and he was reasonably expecting a nice chat. (But no, I don’t think she came across as ZOMG! COLD BITCH! or that he came across as SUDDENLY COMPLETELY CRUSHED! And my poor broken little G/L-shipper heart took some faint joy in that Lancelot is Gwen’s go-to guy when things look really, really desperate.)
Arthur, you really are growing into a great king, aren’t you. (Even if you’re NOT THERE YET.) Loved his scenes with Uther and with Gwen, did think his interactions with Merlin felt a bit off until the scene in the castle ruin. Which on the other hand was awesome. Still not sure how he’ll deal with magical Merlin when that day comes, incredibly grateful that there was no comedy violence – let’s continue with that.
An opener that focused more on the action plot than on introducing viewers to the new status quo in Camelot. Which is an understandable choice, but it did mean that some things/characters/relationships felt a bit short-changed, Evil Uncle Agravaine in particular was just there.
Is Morgause gone for good? (Or will the veil-closing blood sacrifice that is bound to happen in the next episode bring her back?) If this is the last we see of her it was nice to see her go out on her own terms, but it doesn’t reflect particularly well on Morgana that she still does what Big Sis tells her to. (And I still want Morgause back-story, dammit.)
As for Morgana by herself (and with Agravaine) she’s sort of the Dumbest Supervillian Ever. “Oh, I just released something unspeakably evil, which no-one – myself included – can control or fight, but it will kill my stupid brother and all those boring poor people with no lines, so I can be queen of…nothing? “
For my fluffy, happy, functional ship, aka Merlin/Lancelot, this was clearly the Best Episode Ever. Sharing household tips! Exchanging meaningful looks! Lancelot running to Merlin’s side the moment he collapses! Fetching blankets! (And then during the night Lancelot obviously huddled together with Merlin under said blankets, with the noble purpose to help Merlin regain his normal body temperature.)
Perceval and Gwaine stealing chickens from the palace kitchen – dudes, you’re knights of Camelot. I’m sure you’ll get food anyway.
Perceval and Elyan saving little kids – for the win.
The only watsonian reason I can think of for Gwen being Uther’s nurse is that she’s someone who Gaius trusts and can work with. That she puts up with the job for Arthur's sake makes sense, but on the whole the scenario feels pretty forced.
The Gwen – Lancelot scene was also one that suffered because we don’t really know what has been going on with these characters over the past year. I can totally buy Gwen’s…formalness as her being sick with worry over Arthur and not really reflecting on how she acts, or whether it’s a good idea to ask Lancelot of all people of this particular favor. But I don’t know if I should interpret his smile when he sees her as the sight of her always making him happy, or as a sign that they’ve actually been on pretty friendly terms for a while now and he was reasonably expecting a nice chat. (But no, I don’t think she came across as ZOMG! COLD BITCH! or that he came across as SUDDENLY COMPLETELY CRUSHED! And my poor broken little G/L-shipper heart took some faint joy in that Lancelot is Gwen’s go-to guy when things look really, really desperate.)
Arthur, you really are growing into a great king, aren’t you. (Even if you’re NOT THERE YET.) Loved his scenes with Uther and with Gwen, did think his interactions with Merlin felt a bit off until the scene in the castle ruin. Which on the other hand was awesome. Still not sure how he’ll deal with magical Merlin when that day comes, incredibly grateful that there was no comedy violence – let’s continue with that.
