Merlin 4 impressions
Dec. 17th, 2011 03:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wiseheartPlease be aware that this entry is full of spoilers re: eps 1-3 of Season 4. So if you don't want to get spoiled, don't look behind the tag. Thanks.
So, I watched the first 3 episodes yesterday, which seem to be considered the better ones of this season (as opposed to the following three, which I'll watch during the weekend). Below are the two groups of things I liked or didn't like. Feel free to comment, agree, disagree, discuss, whatever. I love Merlin and could chat about it for Ages.
What I liked:
- The way Arthur and Merlin dealt with each other. There was lots of banter, as always, but also mutual respect and even moments of true friendship. I know it would be foolish to hope that the PTB won't ruin it for the sake of so-called funny scenes in the future, but I'm enjoying it as long as it lasts.
- Anthony Stewart Head. The man is incredibly talented. Just sitting there and staring into empty air most of the time, he can express more than other actors with thousands of words. And the scenes between Uther and Arthur had me crying.
- Lancelot. Because even I need to have a shallow moment from time to time. Santiago Cabrera is beyond gorgeous. I think I might have gotten a hing to Lancelot/Merlin slash. I'm kidding, I'm kidding! But Lancelot is truly the best friend Merlin ever had - or will ever have.
- The fact that we've finally gotten rid of Morgause. I never liked her; she wasn't a convincing villain, not for me. IMO, the casting wasn't right, either; but again, practically all women are miscast in Merlin.
- The Great Dragon. God, I love that beast! Even though cheapening him as deus ex machina doesn't serve him well.
What I didn't like:
- Agravaine. The bloke is so oily, you can see from ten leagues that he's a bad guy. Plus, it was tactically stupid to reveal him as one working with/for Morgana so early. Dramatically, it would have been much more interesting to make us believe that he honestly supported Arthur. Of course, with that face...
- Morgana. What the heck was she doing, living alone in a hut somewhere in the woods? Oh, please! She's a spoiled princess who might be able to wield a sword but always needed Gwen's help to lace up the back of her dress, to beging with. And now she manages to take care of herself, all on her own? Living under primitive circumstances isn't something you can learn easily, especially with no-one around to teach you. And in a whole year, she never found any supporters/servants/whatever? While caring for a severely crippled Morgause? No way!
- Gwen. She's taking on more an more traits of an annoying Mary Sue. Especially berating the Lords of the realm (Agravaine, before all else), and then seriously believing that they'd want her counsel? And visiting them in their chambers? Honestly, how addled in the brain can she be? And Arthur refused to marry Elena, who was a real Princess and an all-around nice girl (at least after being freed from the Sidhe) - for that?
- Gwaine. He completely lost any personality he might have had in the previous season. And not just him. The knights have become completely exchangeable. Cardboard caricatures, every single one of them.
- Killing off Lancelot. I do understand why they did it, though. Firstly, that elimianted the love triangle problem. Secondly, who would seriously believe that any girl would choose Arthur when they could have Lancelot? His hotness would have overshadowed all lead characters, therefore he had to go. Very sad, but logical.
More when I've seen the other 3 episodes. All in all, I liked it. And Colin Morgan is as talented as he's adorable. They just ought to feed him better, or else there will be nothing of him left for Season 5.
So, I watched the first 3 episodes yesterday, which seem to be considered the better ones of this season (as opposed to the following three, which I'll watch during the weekend). Below are the two groups of things I liked or didn't like. Feel free to comment, agree, disagree, discuss, whatever. I love Merlin and could chat about it for Ages.
What I liked:
- The way Arthur and Merlin dealt with each other. There was lots of banter, as always, but also mutual respect and even moments of true friendship. I know it would be foolish to hope that the PTB won't ruin it for the sake of so-called funny scenes in the future, but I'm enjoying it as long as it lasts.
- Anthony Stewart Head. The man is incredibly talented. Just sitting there and staring into empty air most of the time, he can express more than other actors with thousands of words. And the scenes between Uther and Arthur had me crying.
- Lancelot. Because even I need to have a shallow moment from time to time. Santiago Cabrera is beyond gorgeous. I think I might have gotten a hing to Lancelot/Merlin slash. I'm kidding, I'm kidding! But Lancelot is truly the best friend Merlin ever had - or will ever have.
- The fact that we've finally gotten rid of Morgause. I never liked her; she wasn't a convincing villain, not for me. IMO, the casting wasn't right, either; but again, practically all women are miscast in Merlin.
- The Great Dragon. God, I love that beast! Even though cheapening him as deus ex machina doesn't serve him well.
What I didn't like:
- Agravaine. The bloke is so oily, you can see from ten leagues that he's a bad guy. Plus, it was tactically stupid to reveal him as one working with/for Morgana so early. Dramatically, it would have been much more interesting to make us believe that he honestly supported Arthur. Of course, with that face...
- Morgana. What the heck was she doing, living alone in a hut somewhere in the woods? Oh, please! She's a spoiled princess who might be able to wield a sword but always needed Gwen's help to lace up the back of her dress, to beging with. And now she manages to take care of herself, all on her own? Living under primitive circumstances isn't something you can learn easily, especially with no-one around to teach you. And in a whole year, she never found any supporters/servants/whatever? While caring for a severely crippled Morgause? No way!
- Gwen. She's taking on more an more traits of an annoying Mary Sue. Especially berating the Lords of the realm (Agravaine, before all else), and then seriously believing that they'd want her counsel? And visiting them in their chambers? Honestly, how addled in the brain can she be? And Arthur refused to marry Elena, who was a real Princess and an all-around nice girl (at least after being freed from the Sidhe) - for that?
- Gwaine. He completely lost any personality he might have had in the previous season. And not just him. The knights have become completely exchangeable. Cardboard caricatures, every single one of them.
- Killing off Lancelot. I do understand why they did it, though. Firstly, that elimianted the love triangle problem. Secondly, who would seriously believe that any girl would choose Arthur when they could have Lancelot? His hotness would have overshadowed all lead characters, therefore he had to go. Very sad, but logical.
More when I've seen the other 3 episodes. All in all, I liked it. And Colin Morgan is as talented as he's adorable. They just ought to feed him better, or else there will be nothing of him left for Season 5.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-20 03:53 pm (UTC)I have conflicted feelings about season 4. I think it's good in general - there are no silly filler episodes. But I really hated the way they dismissed the Gwen/Lancelot relationship. (This refers to a later episode - not #2.)
I imagine there were several reasons for killing Lancelot:
- By reversing the chronology, so that Gwen is involved first with Lancelot, then with Arthur, the writers are presumably opening the way for an Arthur/Gwen happy ending. Although I don't like that personally, it does make sense for _Merlin_ because the series is about the establishment of Arthur's kingdom, whereas Guinevere and Lancelot belong with the fall of the kingdom.
- Since S.C. is a 'guest star', they can't have him hanging around with the other knights saying one or two lines per episode. They either have to do something significant with him or not have him in the episode at all.
- S.C. is going to be a regular on J.J. Abrams' new show, so perhaps he has less time to do _Merlin_.
The revelation that Agravaine was a villain didn't bother me, though. He's such a notorious character that as soon as I heard his name, I knew he would be bad :)
Morgana... I think she's meant to have become more self-reliant. She's certainly learned a lot of magic during the past year. She might not need to dress herself since she wears the same black gown continuously...
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-20 05:48 pm (UTC)The almost-war with Caerleon particularly was a missed opportunity to deal with Gwaine's past, IMO. At least Arthur and Merlin's relationship seems to be on the mend. And I liked Queen Annis, despite the furry clothes.
I still haven't watched Ep #6 - need to steel myself for the Merlin whumpage. All in all, it isn't bad, but I still think it was strategically bad to reveal Agravaine so early. They are so far away from the actual myths that they could have made him a positive character, actually. Why, if Elyan the White is played by a black actor and Guinevere is a servant, everything would be possible.
And I still mourn the departure of Uther and Lancelot. Especially Lancelot. Yeah, I'm that shallow. But with all the other knights lobotomized, it's sad not to have the only one with an actual personality (plus hotness).