~ Merlin 3x01 ~

[dk323]

The Tears of Uther Pendragon:

Remember back in S1 where the writers actually tried to make an attempt of putting out a whole host of ships? And it felt like each character (the main four at least: Arthur, Merlin, Morgana and Gwen) had a nice part to play. True, Gwen was in the background a lot in S1, but she still had her moments and the writers developed her friendship with Merlin even if it wasn't until later S1 where hints of Arthur/Gwen started to appear (versus the ONCOMING TRAIN!! Arthur/Gwen of S2).

Seeing how each series is progressing is reminding me how much more balanced S1 was...they managed to handle Morgana and Gwen's characters much better...unlike in S2 where the writers decided to get rid of any Arthur and Morgana interaction (not shippy, just any interaction would have been logical as they are siblings...whatever, writers Oo) and then they floundered all, "Oh no...what the hell do we do with Morgana now? Oh...well, we'll just develop Arthur/Gwen in S2 and no one cares about Morgana, right? We'll just give her a couple episodes here and there and suddenly turn her evil...everyone will get a nice surprise at that! No one will see it coming!" (cause you barely developed Morgana's character in S2, so it just ended up being faulty characterization...*IDEK with the writers anymore*).

I've read a comment about how some of the Merlin/Arthur scenes in 3x01 could have been cut/shortened to give Gwen more scenes (besides her epic flower arranging and whatever else she was doing...oh, Morgana's inexplicably cold behavior toward her...whoa, what has Gwen ever done to you? IDEK). While I frowned a bit at some of the Merlin/Arthur scenes being called "pointless", that person did have a point... I was thinking that at least Arthur putting the bucket on Merlin could have been cut...that just ruined the moment for me and it looks like I'm not alone here. But that's the main thing I could think of...or the Arthur pretending to be Merlin "fighting"...that could've been something else to cut.

Yes, it's more than clear that all those lovely Merlin/Arthur scenes were mostly for the comedic aspect of the episode (they pretty much all took place before the episode really went downhill...into dark territory I mean with Uther's madness). But I do mostly watch for the Merlin/Arthur scenes...though I even admit to missing more serious/emotional Merlin/Arthur scenes since all we got was comedy/funny scenes between them. Considering this *is* a two-parter, the imbalance was intentional in a way...since it appears their more serious scenes will be in the second half. So knowing that, I'm all right with their scenes in this episode (the banter, the teasing is always something to look forward to :)) particularly the "Is your little bottom sore?" line from Arthur to Merlin. I had forgotten about that line, but then I was reminded of it and then I pretty much giggled ridiculously at the slashiness of the line. THEY DO THIS INTENTIONALLY. :P (and I love them for it *nods*).

I don't mind that Gwen's presence was minimal in this episode... My trio is Merlin/Arthur/Morgana...so the fact they each had a good amount of screentime made me happy. I love that Morgana had a significant role to play here even if her evil smirks got tedious after a while (we geeeet it, you're EVIL). Haha, was anyone else gobsmacked that Arthur and Morgana were actually talking to each other/interacting at all? I was like, "What?? Am I watching the right show? I thought they would ignore each other like they did in S2...some sort of long-term sibling silent treatment for a reason the audience wasn't privy to :P"

I snagged an icon of Arthur/Morgana hugging in 3x01 (I know it's fake from Morgana's POV, that's why the icon's not attached to this post :P) because it could very well be a moment from "The Heart of King Arthur"...I was thinking after their daughter Kahlan is born (like comforting each other since "Oh no, Kahlan's a Confessor...what do we do? How do we raise her?" /end drama). I think I'm a closet Arthur/Morgana shipper now, maybe (ok, it's more shipping Arthur/Morgana in "The Heart of King Arthur"...which is a bit weird since it's my own fic, but it was months in the making so it's hard not to feel attached to characters/relationships in a fic you write, you know?)...I'm interested in seeing how long it'll take for Arthur to discover that Morgana is *bad news* on the show.

CENDRED/MORGAUSE = THE NEW OTP. They totally did it with one another, yes they did. I love it when new characters (Cendred) come in and are AWESOME and I want to squee all about Cendred's crazy leather attire and "you can't control me" attitude toward Morgause. I want more of them so badly...*nods*

I love Morgana's pretty new outifits...the red cloak/dress...and purple cloak...cheers for new "I'm an evil sorceress, watch out" outfits. (Just wean yourself off the evil smirks please ;)).

I'm glad that Morgana knows Morgause is her sister now...figure it's been a year, she would know by now. ;)

Morgause and Morgana catch Merlin in the act and he's all tied up in magically bound chains with nowhere to go and then giant scorpions/sekrets come to eat him. Oh noes! Someone commented that if Merlin's supposed to have the power of life over death...after killing Nimueh in S1...then couldn't Merlin have killed the scorpions and then had butterflies be born in their place?

But then that would have been a bit too cracky I suppose...one moment, giant killer scorpions, the next awww look at the pretty, colorful butterflies! :P

I fear Merlin will suffer the MAGIC!FAIL syndrome this season. *sad face* I heard that he'll mostly just use his Dragonlord powers ("Hey Kilgharrah! I'm tied up, come fetch me!" ...to which the dragon says, "I'm not your dog! *frowny face*") and also focus on his mental powers aka the advisor role versus the "I can kill you with the power of my mind awesome magical powers") *resigned sigh*

Aww, I was actually feeling a bit sorry for Uther there when he was going mad...but then the sodden boy showed up and then it was revealed that Uther drowned magical children who looked suspiciously like Merlin...SO THERE IS NO SYMPATHY FOR YOU, UTHER. How could you??? Fail.

Next episode:

Merlin: I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!

The Titanic sinks.

The Dragon: I TOLD YOU SO.

Comments

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was rather sympathetic toward Uther until the little kid showed up. I'd known about drowning the kids (we'd see that one page of script when we were at Pierrefonds in April) but I thought they'd cut it.

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Oh, interesting. Well, the audience would certainly have been left with a different (maybe better) impression of Uther if the drowning kids bit had been cut. As it stands, I'm glad they did keep it in because considering how anti-magic Uther is, I could see him going to such lengths to eradicate it. Just another reason to dislike him, I suppose. :\

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

I loved the side-hug between Morgana and Arthur. I don't know if it was fake, fake. She hates Uther but perhaps she has some affection for Arthur. I want to believe this. Though I'm miffed that both Morgana and Morgause think Camelot would be leader-less with Uther gone mad. HELLO? IS ARTHUR NOT A LEADER?

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Oh you mean the hug later on where they're at Uther's bedside? I do agree with you that I do think she still holds some affection for Arthur. He hasn't really done anything yet to personally slight her (compared to Uther and Merlin). That makes it intriguing as to what Morgana wants to do with Arthur...if she wants to get rid of Uther with Morgause's help, then what'll happen to Arthur? Will Morgana just let him be?

And you have a good point there...Arthur's still alive and well and even with Uther gone mad, Arthur is more than capable of taking on the leader role (no matter how adverse Arthur was to doing so because he hated the thought of usurping his father). Despite Arthur's reluctance, when push does come to shove, he will do what he has to. So Morgana and Morgause's thinking was a little faulty there...

[a8c-sock.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with you. The relationships worked a lot better in S1. There was a balance there that has been lsot. As soon as the epic A/G love story began Arthur stopped interacting much with Morgana, Gwen stopped itneracting much with her good friend Merlin, Morgana and Gwen started fallling out for no apparent reason and Merlin and Arthur's relationship entered a weird holding pattern.

What has Gwen been doing is my big quesion. Her entire role in the show has pretty much been reduced to Arthur's love interest. It's like she doesn't even really exist outside fof that. Her characterisation is becoming love interest with no depth. *sigh*

I do think they should have cut the bucket bit. That scene was working up until that piont.

I think they they use Merlin/Arthur for comic relief in heavy episodes because the writing is too lazy or uncreative to find other ways. But mostly I was happy with it.

Whether I will be after an entire season of this without enough balance we shall see.

Oh the evil smirks. After awhile I just couldn't take them seriously.

But awww Arthur/Morgana hug.

I'll be interested to see of the two of them keep interacting.

(I admit if Arthur/Merlin/Morgana woud make a heck of a threesome...until canon does something to stop me thinking that)

Cendred/Morgause ftw! They are sort of awesome together. I like how there's a histpry and relationship there. And they both know each other well.

Morgana has some lovely new outfits.

You know I wish we saw more of what Merlin is capable of. As someone out it the more we see of pther magic users the less special Mlerin seems to be. Morgause can do magic without incantation, Mordred is as powerful etc. What is is abotu Merlin now that's so special?

I would love to see him actually use the power of life and death. It's a big thing. But from what Colin has been saying in interviews it does seem as if we're not going to see much magic. Which is a shame because it was a such thing back in season 1, even parts of season 2.

I felt sorry for Uther up to the whole - he drowned children! bit.

Looking foward to the next one.

[dk323.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that I'm not alone regarding the more balanced S1 opinion... sure, S2 had its improvements, but the writers just didn't strive for balance as much as in S1. I think they were forced to change things for S2...and getting Arthur/Gwen in there was the best solution for them as they needed a romantic het ship in the show. After all, Arthur and Morgana were more brother/sister, even if they're not so by blood on the show, they have the legends working against them. That decrease (or practical non-existence in S2) of Arthur and Morgana interacting was unfortunate because, looking back, their interaction was almost on par and worth watching as the interaction between Arthur and Merlin.

And when Arthur/Gwen came in full force in S2...it was like Gwen was pretty much doing the same thing with Arthur that Morgana and Merlin were doing with him in S1...but with a more romantic twist. Still the twist wasn't enough to really draw me in. It's just all, "Oh, they're sticking to the legends now? *sigh*" Well, there is always Lancelot/Gwen and how in the legends, Arthur/Gwen usually married for political reasons -- it wasn't true love Disney-style or anything like that.

I agree about Gwen -- they need to develop her character more outside being a love interest. One good way would be her to find out about Merlin's magic, and maybe that'll strengthen the friendship between them...and force Gwen to debate how to handle the reveal...and it'll make her interactions with Arthur interesting if she knows about Merlin and wondering if she should tell Arthur about it (or persuade Merlin to finally tell him).

The only good thing about the bucket bit was how silly (in a good, giggly way) Merlin looked with the bucket on his head. I could just imagine the frowny/bitch face he was sporting underneath the bucket. ;) ("Arthur is SUCH a royal prat" :P) But the actual act of Arthur putting the bucket on his head -- did not like. :\

Yes, it does seem that way regarding using Merlin/Arthur as comic relief... well, at least their dramatic/emotional scenes are worth the silly moments. Boys need to blow off steam somewhere, and unfortunately, Merlin is the perfect target for Arthur since they spend a lot of time together. But we all know Merlin can and will get his "revenge" on Arthur when the situation entails it. *nods*

I'm grateful that Arthur and Morgana started off S3 with actual interaction. *gasps* :P Hopefully the writers will continue to have them interact...we will see.

Arthur/Merlin/Morgana just seems to work best...it's not exactly a warm and fuzzy trio going by the show (Merlin vs. Morgana, clueless Arthur not knowing Morgana is against Camelot), but I still like them as a trio/threesome. Even though it's doubtful we'll see the three of them working together now, at least with the same agenda...since most certainly Morgana's goal is different than Merlin and Arthur's.

I thought they did a great job with establishing the relationship between Cendred and Morgause. :)

I'm not too thrilled about the magic!fail this season...I would love to see more progression of magical skills from Merlin considering, yes what you said about the heights he achieved in S1 (with killing Nimueh). *sad sigh*

I can't wait for the next episode. :) I know you already saw it at BFI, but I hope you enjoy watching it again and getting a second impression from it...catch details you may have missed and all that...;)

[a8c-sock.livejournal.com]

I thought S2 had some great improvements on the plot and story-telling front but this wasn't backed up with the character relationships.

I do wonder why they oushed A/G int here so early without takign the time to build up a proper friendship between them first. I think they did suddenly think they needed a het ship. A shame since Arthur and Gwen weren't really at the true love tage. think it's coloured my entire perception of that pairing and the way it was handled coupled with the legends means I'll never root for it. I like the Arthur/Morgana dynamic and the Merlin/Morgana one but Artur/Gwen just seems...bland in a way. Forced almost.

I think if they ever bother withthe reveal it will be Gwen who finds out first and persuades Arthur Merlin is nto evil. which rankles me a bit since I think it is imposrtant Arthur shows some intelligence and perhaps finds otu and works it out on his own. That look at the beginning of 3x01 before he makes the hide and seek remark suggested he might be getting a wee bit of a clue. But apparently not.

I just hope the humour scenes between the biys don't outweigh the emotional ones. Becuase they are young they are bound to blow off steam and their relationship will always have that element of it. I just hope they get the more serious bonding moments too.

Arthur/Morgana/Merlin is my new favourite threesome. It does work well. Even given the fact Morgana is 'evil' this year. I hope they all get to interact more. i would love it if the three fo them had some decent interaction together.

The magic!fail is another thing that makes me sad. We should be seeing magic. We should.