Merlin 2x08

[such_heights]

WOW. Okay, I am still parsing. My gut reaction is that is by far my favourite of the series so far, even though the ending made me crazy, though I suppose that is to be expected.

First off - Morgause. LOVE. ENDLESS LOVE. And she didn't even die! a;sldkjas;a fandom, please write SO MUCH FIC FOR HER, omg. <33333 Thank you for that one, show!

Second, Morgana. By the standards of this season, she was pretty awesome! But then, my standards are super low. However, she had Bechdel-passing conversations with both Gwen and Morgause and didn't look terrified all the time. I thought we were going to get more of her than simply a magic bracelet, but alas. Maybe that will be developed! I am full of optimism right now!

Third, Arthur. OH THE ANGST. OH THE DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS ANGST. That was all amazing! Bradley James really knocked it out of the park as well. I basically heartclutched (I do actually do this when watching TV, it's very embarrassing) for the entire second half of the episode. ARTHUR, OH BABY, OH SWEETHEART, ALL HE WANTS IS A HUG FROM HIS MUM. :((((( Also, the fight with Uther was just - a;sldkjas no words, only flail!

Third, Merlin&Arthur. OH BOYS. D: The conversation they had at Morgause's altar about magic was just HEARTBREAKING, especially as it didn't last.

Oh, stupid retconning episode ending. >:( I wish that this show was more into overarching development over and above a couple of things at a time, because after all of that emotion it feels really cheap to go back to as if none of it had happened. Could there not have been a middle way, whereby maybe Arthur doesn't believe Uther's responsible for Igraine's death but keeps his better outlook on magic? I don't know, I haven't figured out how that would work yet, but listening to him tell Merlin about how evil sorcery was at the end was both really sad and really frustrating. HE HAS TO FIND OUT BY THE END OF THE SEASON. SURELY.

But I adored 90% of this episode, so I'm counting it as a win! Also, MORGAUSE HAD BETTER NOT DO A NIMUEH AT THE END OF THE SEASON. I am just saying.

eta: Also, I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for providing me with so much vid footage for the next Merlin vid I'm planning! \o/

Comments

[miarrow]

OH GOD YOU ARE RIGHT. ARTHUR GOT AN AWAKE HUG FROM HIS MOM.

A HUG. WHILE HE WAS FUCKING AWAKE.

ICON TIME!

[such_heights]

HE DID HE DID. It was beautiful. D:

[fly-to-dawn.livejournal.com]

Oh god, yes to everything - especially the retconning! It's like the writers kind of want to take the next step forward to revealing sekrit!backstory/Merlin's magic but are scared to do so. Gah. But yes, that was the only complaint from me! Mostly I am flaily about MORGAUSE ♥ ♥ ♥

[such_heights]

I know - it's okay, writers, you're allowed to do multi-episode plots that don't involve trolls! *sigh* BUT MORGAUSE OMG YAY.

[gorgeousnerd]

All of this, so much! I was vaguely disappointed that Morgause and Morgana are related in this canon -- they had such chemistry, and siblings aren't really my thing -- but man oh man, Morgause fighting Arthur and winning was fantastic.

[such_heights]

It really was! And I am shipping them anyway, special hell or no special hell. :D

[gorgeousnerd]

Yeah, I totally am too. I've read a little fic here and there, and I love it so much.

[lefaym]

OMG, I KNOW, WASN'T THIS AWESOME?

I WISH THAT EVERY EPISODE COULD BE LIKE THIS.

[such_heights]

YES. THIS, BUT WITHOUT THE ~it was all a dreeeeeeam~ FEELING TO THE END. THEN I WOULD BE CONTENT.

[youarefree]

I agree with all of this. Especially this: "I wish that this show was more into overarching development over and above a couple of things at a time, because after all of that emotion it feels really cheap to go back to as if none of it had happened."

I was very upset about this. Like, during that whole fight when Arthur was screaming all of those things at Uther, and he finally was seeing who Uther really was and then it just all got ruined. I really think it was possible to not kill Uther off without having Arthur lied to. Uther could just claim he was tricked or magicked into getting Nimueh's help, or Arthur could have been physically restrained and cooled down a little so that he still was really mad at his father but not patricidal. I dunno. I'm just pissed. Why do people keep lying to Arthur?! I mean, the truth hurts, but it has to be dealt with. *fumes*

[such_heights]

I know, it was so frustrating! Merlin's an idiot who's unable to think on his feet - there was seriously so many other ways he could have talked Arthur down. But no, magical reset button must come out. SIGH.

[aoftheis]

I'm very frustrated by all the emotional retconning, but I suppose that if the previous trajectory had continued all four of them would have had to marry each other by the end of season two. Not that I would mind that. :D But yes, I do wish that so many plots weren't driven entirely by a) Uther and Gaius lying, c) everyone except Merlin being really dumb and refusing to listen to anything Merlin says.

Morgause is fantaaastic. I want her and Morgana and Gwen to go off and kick ass together. \o/

[such_heights]

Haha, well, yes! The writers really need to find new ways to create dramatic tension.

I want exile!fic SO MUCH OMG. For, like, everyone, but that particular combination would be delightful!