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.
