heather11483 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heathershaped) wrote2009-11-07 03:26 pm
heathershaped) wrote2009-11-07 03:26 pm
Entry tags:
in which 'witch' is still a perjorative and 'warlock' is not
Merls 2x07, The Witchfinder. THIS EPISODE.
+ This is one of the darker episodes we've had, really intense and well-played by everyone. Colin was brilliant especially. He does a good job with intense stuff, it reminded me of his performance in the Mordred ep last season.
+ Charles Dance was awesome - creepy, definitely, but played with a certain amount of camp as well, like you'd expect from this show. I couldn't help but snort around the third time he popped out from around a corner. The interrogations were great; I would've like to've seen more of them.
+ Really, all women just want to look pretty? Really, show? Never change.
No seriously, change.
+ Can we talk about the fact that I kind of like the Dragon lately? WTF. I think his laughing last week endeared him to me or something, but it was nice that he showed some compassion while still not really giving a crap about Gaius. It just really fit, idk. And I like how he was unimpressed by Gaius being persecuted, like "uh, hi, allow me to introduce you to EVERYONE OF MY KIND." That reaction was perfect.
+ Merlin was so lovely and in-character and heartbreaking. I loved that first scene; you have to feel for the guy. He just wants to have some fun with his powers, and have some fun period, and all this happens. I still don't like the message it sends and the overall pattern on this show when it comes to people using magic that's not in direct assistance to the kingdom.
Though it's a bit lulzy that the thing that sends the kingdom into a tailspin was cloud ponies. And he loves Gaius so much, aw. HE IS SO PRESH. ♥
+ Gaius ... I always feel so conflicted about him. Not impressed with what he did in the past, but he clearly loves Merlin and this is the second time he's tried to sacrifice himself to make up for what he did. I'm not down with how he treats Morgana or how he justifies things to himself, but he's not evil. His speech to Uther was great -- though he doesn't have a lot of moral capital, what with being okay with Uther's actions until it happened to him? But on the face of things, he was right. And Uther looked so chagrined. It was a poignant moment for them.
+ Arthur is still growing up! I'm constantly impressed with his ability to stand up to Uther effectively. He was also so adorable with Merlin. There's such a real bond between them. All protective and trying to stop Merlin from doing things to get him in MORE trouble, at the same time wanting to help him. Oh, boys. ♥ I loved Merlin trying to punch Arthur, too.
+ MERLIN AND GWEN ARE BACK. It's like the TPTB could sense how starved I have been for their BFFery and then decided to rain this episode down on my head. LOOK AT THEM. SOLVING MYSTERIES. PUTTING THEIR HEADS TOGETHER. I have missed detective!Gwen from season one! Oh show, let her find out about his powers! They would be unstoppable! How does she not know already? Seriously, I love their interplay. The combined urgency Merlin feels to ACT, with her urging him to slow down and think. DREAM TEAM. They saved the day TOGETHER. <33333
+ GWEN. Guinevere. So much character stuff to chew on this week. Did ya'll see her? Swinging her agency all over the place? Getting shit done? Taking action in her own way? I AM SO PROUD OF HER. It just got better and better. I love that the writers took advantage of Gwen's connection with the other commoners. Another tiny glimpse into her life! She knew just where to go, she knows the people in the lower town. Also, she knew Merlin would need more proof, that Uther would never listen, and it saved him from an outcome like what happened in 1x03. She understands how things work because she sees it every day, and seeing her bring that to the table was so damn awesome.
+ Gwen/Arthur. Okay I'm sorry, that was awesome. Last week we got to see that she's feeling more comfortable approaching him, relating to him as a fellow idealist, speaking up without taking it back. And he listens to her, he has ALWAYS listened to her, and this is the first time she was like "holy shit he'd listen to me!" So she went and appealed to him, and for the first time it wasn't just because she couldn't hold herself back -- it was because she realised there was something she could do, at least try to do, and she did it. She didn't TRY to hold herself back, because Gaius was about to die, and oh Gwen. <3333
And SOMEONE ON THE WRITING TEAM REMEMBERED TOM. This is a huge fucking deal to me. Because it wasn't Arthur's fault, but he DID stand by at the time, and Gwen might like him, but she still carries that pain, pretty damn close to the surface too, and she channeled that into trying not to let it happen again. It was the first time the writers sort of quasi-addressed one of the things that stand between them as a couple, namely the amount of pain the Pendragon men have put her through. She called him out, dudes, and it was glorious. She might've given him the push he needed, but for me it wasn't about Gwen making Arthur better; it was about Gwen. She spoke her piece, in a way, and took action. And you know what, the two times she has ever sort-of voiced her pain about her father in a roundabout way, it was around Arthur. So, more of that please. Let's keep going in that direction. They will be the most kickass monarchs in all the land.
+ Something I am getting increasingly frustrated with: WRITERS, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MORGEEZY. What are ya'll trying to do to my girl? Now that she knows about her powers she's not allowed to be fierce? I get that she's afraid and I would be too, but it's starting to be a problem for me, and I don't blame Morgana - I just have trouble with the writers' decisions here and why they seem bent on making a damsel out of her. It doesn't make sense, she should be getting more powerful. HOW COME SHE COULDN'T KILL CHARLES DANCE? She would totally have killed Charles Dance. Maybe it just bugs me seeing her so afraid and alone. *hugs her* I can't wait for her to get her feet back under her and start kicking some ass. She's survived so much already.
+ I did appreciate seeing the connection b/t Morgana and Gwen. The scene where they were at the window, and later when Gwen was worried about her.
+ Overall, this season is still kicking ass and I loved this episode. And next week?? OH MY GOD. :D :D :D
+ This is one of the darker episodes we've had, really intense and well-played by everyone. Colin was brilliant especially. He does a good job with intense stuff, it reminded me of his performance in the Mordred ep last season.
+ Charles Dance was awesome - creepy, definitely, but played with a certain amount of camp as well, like you'd expect from this show. I couldn't help but snort around the third time he popped out from around a corner. The interrogations were great; I would've like to've seen more of them.
+ Really, all women just want to look pretty? Really, show? Never change.
No seriously, change.
+ Can we talk about the fact that I kind of like the Dragon lately? WTF. I think his laughing last week endeared him to me or something, but it was nice that he showed some compassion while still not really giving a crap about Gaius. It just really fit, idk. And I like how he was unimpressed by Gaius being persecuted, like "uh, hi, allow me to introduce you to EVERYONE OF MY KIND." That reaction was perfect.
+ Merlin was so lovely and in-character and heartbreaking. I loved that first scene; you have to feel for the guy. He just wants to have some fun with his powers, and have some fun period, and all this happens. I still don't like the message it sends and the overall pattern on this show when it comes to people using magic that's not in direct assistance to the kingdom.
Though it's a bit lulzy that the thing that sends the kingdom into a tailspin was cloud ponies. And he loves Gaius so much, aw. HE IS SO PRESH. ♥
+ Gaius ... I always feel so conflicted about him. Not impressed with what he did in the past, but he clearly loves Merlin and this is the second time he's tried to sacrifice himself to make up for what he did. I'm not down with how he treats Morgana or how he justifies things to himself, but he's not evil. His speech to Uther was great -- though he doesn't have a lot of moral capital, what with being okay with Uther's actions until it happened to him? But on the face of things, he was right. And Uther looked so chagrined. It was a poignant moment for them.
+ Arthur is still growing up! I'm constantly impressed with his ability to stand up to Uther effectively. He was also so adorable with Merlin. There's such a real bond between them. All protective and trying to stop Merlin from doing things to get him in MORE trouble, at the same time wanting to help him. Oh, boys. ♥ I loved Merlin trying to punch Arthur, too.
+ MERLIN AND GWEN ARE BACK. It's like the TPTB could sense how starved I have been for their BFFery and then decided to rain this episode down on my head. LOOK AT THEM. SOLVING MYSTERIES. PUTTING THEIR HEADS TOGETHER. I have missed detective!Gwen from season one! Oh show, let her find out about his powers! They would be unstoppable! How does she not know already? Seriously, I love their interplay. The combined urgency Merlin feels to ACT, with her urging him to slow down and think. DREAM TEAM. They saved the day TOGETHER. <33333
+ GWEN. Guinevere. So much character stuff to chew on this week. Did ya'll see her? Swinging her agency all over the place? Getting shit done? Taking action in her own way? I AM SO PROUD OF HER. It just got better and better. I love that the writers took advantage of Gwen's connection with the other commoners. Another tiny glimpse into her life! She knew just where to go, she knows the people in the lower town. Also, she knew Merlin would need more proof, that Uther would never listen, and it saved him from an outcome like what happened in 1x03. She understands how things work because she sees it every day, and seeing her bring that to the table was so damn awesome.
+ Gwen/Arthur. Okay I'm sorry, that was awesome. Last week we got to see that she's feeling more comfortable approaching him, relating to him as a fellow idealist, speaking up without taking it back. And he listens to her, he has ALWAYS listened to her, and this is the first time she was like "holy shit he'd listen to me!" So she went and appealed to him, and for the first time it wasn't just because she couldn't hold herself back -- it was because she realised there was something she could do, at least try to do, and she did it. She didn't TRY to hold herself back, because Gaius was about to die, and oh Gwen. <3333
And SOMEONE ON THE WRITING TEAM REMEMBERED TOM. This is a huge fucking deal to me. Because it wasn't Arthur's fault, but he DID stand by at the time, and Gwen might like him, but she still carries that pain, pretty damn close to the surface too, and she channeled that into trying not to let it happen again. It was the first time the writers sort of quasi-addressed one of the things that stand between them as a couple, namely the amount of pain the Pendragon men have put her through. She called him out, dudes, and it was glorious. She might've given him the push he needed, but for me it wasn't about Gwen making Arthur better; it was about Gwen. She spoke her piece, in a way, and took action. And you know what, the two times she has ever sort-of voiced her pain about her father in a roundabout way, it was around Arthur. So, more of that please. Let's keep going in that direction. They will be the most kickass monarchs in all the land.
+ Something I am getting increasingly frustrated with: WRITERS, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MORGEEZY. What are ya'll trying to do to my girl? Now that she knows about her powers she's not allowed to be fierce? I get that she's afraid and I would be too, but it's starting to be a problem for me, and I don't blame Morgana - I just have trouble with the writers' decisions here and why they seem bent on making a damsel out of her. It doesn't make sense, she should be getting more powerful. HOW COME SHE COULDN'T KILL CHARLES DANCE? She would totally have killed Charles Dance. Maybe it just bugs me seeing her so afraid and alone. *hugs her* I can't wait for her to get her feet back under her and start kicking some ass. She's survived so much already.
+ I did appreciate seeing the connection b/t Morgana and Gwen. The scene where they were at the window, and later when Gwen was worried about her.
+ Overall, this season is still kicking ass and I loved this episode. And next week?? OH MY GOD. :D :D :D
no subject
I love the way the dragon sees Gaius as a traitor and doesn't care if he dies.
The way Arthur expects Merlin to try something stupid and is prepared for it? Fabulous. One of the scenes, along with Gwen giving him what for, that I had to rewatch.
They will be the most kickass monarchs in all the land.
Inorite!
Maybe it just bugs me seeing her so afraid and alone.
I hate it. I have to close my eyes. I hate the way she has no agency and no support. Merlin has Gaius and they know and they leave her like that and it makes me not like them.
no subject
That Arthur/Merlin scene was perfect. You could practically see Arthur counting down to Merlin doing something dumb. He was like "in 5, 4, 3, 2... AND, time to go get him."
Boys. <3
I do understand that Morgana's theme seems to be isolation and what happens when you have no support or at least kinship (and when I think about that I could smack Merlin and throttle Gaius), but it's getting too hard to watch. They need to get her plot going, whatever it is. As thrilled as I am at Gwen having agency, it's jarring seeing Morgana just drift around afraid, with no agency at ALL.
no subject
no subject
At this rate I can't see how she could even become evil though, unless she went crazy. Even going evil requires her to take some successful action in that direction. Requires her to be formidable. :(
Even when she took initiative in series 1, it wasn't real agency because she was never allowed to be successful at anything. If this thing with the Druids foreshadowed anything, it's that she'll never be able to succeed no matter what, and it's reflective of a pattern in which all of her independent ideas are bad ones.
It's hard for me to be excited about her future at this point unless something changes. I just want her to come into her own, you know?