MERLSSSSSSSSSS

[heathershaped]

BACK IN MY LIFE AND ALL IS RIGHT IN THE JUNGLE.

Which is just a figure of speech; all is not in fact right. But YAY NEW EPISODE.

+ HOLY PRODUCTION VALUES BATMAN. That was one slick looking episode. I mean, Merlin is always pretty, but they're doing it bigger and better. Next series I predict some on-location shooting in New Zealand and also hobbits.

+ The music was out of control, though. Many of the scenes would've been better in eerie silence.

+ Morgana! CONFESSION: I can't really say I'm on Team Evil (I mean sort of, but it's complicated) but I am definitely on team Morgana With Agency and Purpose. Such an improvement from last season and much more fun to watch. Also, HOT. Particularly with Morgause. Katie's best scenes were easily with Emilia. I prefer her performance when she's being "evil" to when she's being apologetic and reuniting with Uther; she's clearly having a blast with it. :D Also, THEIR SCENES ARE SO GAY <3 Morgana keeps staring adoringly at her and telling her there's nothing she can't do, and they're all up in each other's space, and just go and settle down in some luxurious castle plz.

I was hoping more would be made of the fact Morgana didn't know they were halfsies last season, but I'm at least glad Morgause did tell her at some point off camera.

+ No development of Merlin and Arthur this week. That's probably because it's a two-parter (I've heard good things about next week), but their scenes together didn't really suit the tone of the episode? I forgot to check who wrote this episode, but the 100% slapstick was a bad move. I know the show likes to balance out the light with the dark but it was unsubtle this time, compared to say, 2x12. And felt like S1 stuff tbh. But hey, Arthur got his top off!

+ Bad weave aside, Cenred is hot, and his scenes with Morgause were super-fun to watch.

+ Crazy!Uther was great, if a little flat (more development/backstory would've helped). The kid was VERY creepy and I loved Ygraine in the well. They're also really highlighting Uther's devotion to Morgana, which of course has always been very strong but is interesting given certain theories I've been reading.

Also, Uther drowns babies. Drowns. Babies. >>>>:

+ I like how Merlin actually believed Morgana at first (as implausible as that was because she was not even a little convincing). I love him but he deserves to be tormented a bit after the hemlock experimentation. I lol'ed when Morgana called him out in the forest. He was getting so good at lurking last season, what happened?

+ How much do I love that Gwen wasn't buying Morgana's act for a hot second? It's just so true to her character as the most observant. I mean, if they're going to break up, which I've begun to make peace with, at least acknowledge there used to be something there -- and having Gwen notice visibly that something's up is encouraging. It's nowhere near the level I was hoping for - bare minimum is bare - but at least it's an acknowledgement of a change.

+ Speaking of Gwen, that's all we get? Damn, show. UNACCEPTABLE. There are only so many Gwen-Lite eps in a row that I'm going to be prepared to deal with, is all I'm gonna say about that.

+ The initial hug between Arthur and Morgana was lovely. The second side-hug not so much. By that point it was like the show was saying "I don't know if y'all heard the first eight times, but Morgana is being duplicitous."

+ Speaking of Arthur! I thought he was lovely. Between being all caretakey toward Morgana, and freaking out about taking over the kingdom. I think that was part not wanting to accept the danger of his father dying but also part legit freaking out am I ready for that oh god. Which, aww. ♥

+ Morgana killing the guard and then going back to kill him again. :////// I MEAN. I think they could do with a few more layers or reticence and hopefully Morgana's "evil" gets a little more complicated as the series progresses. She didn't even flinch. And don't get me wrong, I don't think it's all that abrupt that she's come back shady as hell; a year away with Morgause, nearly being murdered by Merlin, the general trajectory of her arc over the whole series, etc. And I definitely understand wanting Uther dead. But it's sort of major that she hasn't got much regard for innocent people. I still MUCHLY prefer this Morgana to the disempowered one of last season, though. And I love her clothes.

I think that's all I have to say! omg so many reax posts and parties and threads floating around, I can't keep up with the internet rn.



(gif totally not by me)

Comments

[copracat]

I was totally unspoiled! Evil Morgana is aces. I thought there was a bit of a clue to a potential 'true' relationship between her and Uther in how he dismissed Gorlois' influence on her. But who knows?

[heathershaped]

Oh man, I was spoiled ROTTEN. But yeah, Morgana is so fun to watch this season. I just need more Gwen and I'll be happy.

I thought there was a bit of a clue to a potential 'true' relationship between her and Uther in how he dismissed Gorlois' influence on her. But who knows?

YES. That was quite the anvil. This should be interesting...

[sophinisba]

Ahhhhh, so much agree! Especially this:

I can't really say I'm on Team Evil (I mean sort of, but it's complicated) but I am definitely on team Morgana With Agency and Purpose.

And also Arthur caring for Morgana and not knowing how to deal with what's happening to his father. (((Arthur)))

Even though I sometimes say I don't want any more nice Arthur/Merlin modern AUs, I want one where they're together already and Arthur's dealing his father's health problems, and dealing badly. I want that very much the way an angst fan wants angsty difficult fic (but am embarrassed to say so at the Fleet because I feel like I should care more about Team Evil?).

In conclusion, show needs less evil smirk of evil and moar Gwen.

[heathershaped]

Oh, Team Evil. I wish I could do more than ogle you. It's just... I want Uther dead, but that's about the only thing I do agree with them on. I find them interesting to watch and totally hot, especially Morgause, but I can't get behind the classism and lack of regard for innocent people. I don't think people like Gwen would be any better off under their rule.

I guess my team doesn't quite exist yet? It resembles Team Camelot, but without Uther, haha. I still care very much about Arthur, and Merlin is very morally compromised but needs better guidance, and I wish Gwen were around more because she would lead the absolute perfect team. The show needs as much of the three of them balancing each other as possible; that's when they're at their best and most inspiring.

[sophinisba]

I can't get behind the classism and lack of regard for innocent people. I don't think people like Gwen would be any better off under their rule.

So much this. And I'm also uncomfortable with the way it seems to be dividing so many fans between Arthur/Merlin fans and feminists who want the witches to take over, which leaves Gwen, you know, arranging flowers. I was on team OT4 and now that Morgana's gone I'm on team OT3. Except um for the part where Arthur's on Uther's side which forces Merlin and Gwen to be with him. Gah so messy and I wish I trusted the writers more.

(Also I enjoyed seeing Merlin in chains. NGL.)

[heathershaped]

Merlin in chains was super-hot, ngl. That whole scene was gorgeous.

The de facto divide in fandom is kind of silly! I'd certainly fit more in the feminist camp, but I don't want the witches to take over because they're shady too, but then I don't ship Arthur/Merlin as much as I used to, also Gwen arranging flowers will not do at all, so where does that leave me? ha.

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

m also uncomfortable with the way it seems to be dividing so many fans between Arthur/Merlin fans and feminists who want the witches to take over, which leaves Gwen, you know, arranging flowers.

Oh, God, THIS. These battle lines feel too close to RL for comfort. Yes, let's narrow this down to a battle between testosterone and estrogen and ignore all the intersectional problems here....Really, really DNW.

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

I find them interesting to watch and totally hot, especially Morgause, but I can't get behind the classism and lack of regard for innocent people. I don't think people like Gwen would be any better off under their rule.

THIS. THIS. THIS.

Unfortunately a lot of the Team Evil enthusiasm in fandom seems to be occasion to revel in exactly the aspects I find most disturbing. With shades of "you look like me so therefore you must be right/have exactly the motivations I would have in your circumstances" which is rarely the basis for anything good, in fiction or in life.

Would love to see your team dominating the stories. (I think in my head Gwen leads a team, Merlin and his pet dragon join her, and Arthur is applying but still in the prove-himself-worthy stage.)

[heathershaped]

That IS something that bothers me about the Team Evil fervor, because while I do understand it -- Morgana's back, is actually doing stuff, and also Merlin/Uther/Gaius have been wrongwrongwrong at times -- it sort of misrepresents what M and M are actually doing in a way I can't quite get behind. A lot of it's not all that different than what they're supposedly fighting against: not a great deal less harmful to innocents and no less exclusive of marginalized groups. And frankly there's always been a bit of projecting onto Morgana that I think you've touched on a time or two as well, and it leads to what I think are some misunderstandings of who she's always been.

(haha, Merlin's on the wait list, but Arthur still has to retake a few placement tests. But yeah, my desire for more 2x07-like stories (leaving out the helpless!Morgana of course) is massive. It's the dynamic I love best.)

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, yes. There's plenty to criticize the show for in terms of its treatment of female characters, and I understand the reaction in some ways, but I find the insistence that M & M are heroic figures a) not true, when they are replicating so many of the same problems of privilege and b) flattens the limited character complexity M & M actually have and reinforces the old bind where female characters have to be saints or sinners instead of the complicated, sometimes messed-up people they are. If you take away Morgause's desire to wield power and Morgana's heavy psychological baggage, you have much less interesting people.

The projections onto these characters disturbs me deeply. The Love of My Life has said this much better, but I really believe there's a connection between the inability to read what a story or show is telling you except in terms of whether or not it's the story you want to hear, and how we treat people in real life (she in fact writes about the connection between this and the treatment of black and trans people).

I am all for criticizing this show, but I think first it's worth taking the time to figure out what story it's telling, and that's manifestly not a story in which Morgana and Morgause are blameless rebels. (I don't think they're completely evil, either, at least not yet, but "fun to watch" does not equal "morally right.") I also hate the way a lot of fandom insists on erasing the class narrative in the show--there are problems with that class narrative, certainly, but we can't even get to the point of critique if people refuse to see that it's there.

I'm hopeful about this road trip episode people keep talking about! Please some OT4 action! With Gwen prominently featured!

[themadlurker]

HOLY PRODUCTION VALUES BATMAN. That was one slick looking episode. I mean, Merlin is always pretty, but they're doing it bigger and better. Next series I predict some on-location shooting in New Zealand and also hobbits.

*laughs* Merlin could definitely use some hobbits. Of course, Uther would probably try to persecute them and then he'd be at war with Cendred's kingdom + the Shire, which would not end well.

And don't get me wrong, I don't think it's all that abrupt that she's come back shady as hell; a year away with Morgause, nearly being murdered by Merlin, the general trajectory of her arc over the whole series, etc.

That year is an excellent excuse. I highly doubt the writers could have pulled off the character development as plausibly if they'd tried to write it out over the course of a series.

OH SHIT

♥__♥ Do you know who made the gif? that is splendiferous.

[heathershaped]

But really, how does the Shire defend itself apart from getting everybody high and thereby incapacitating them? Hardly a fair fight for Uther, though he IS nearly out of knights.

peopleareshapes over on LJ made that!

[jeeps]

but see, the Shire has Gandalf on its side. ;)

[trude]

+ Morgana! CONFESSION: I can't really say I'm on Team Evil (I mean sort of, but it's complicated) but I am definitely on team Morgana With Agency and Purpose. Such an improvement from last season and much more fun to watch. Also, HOT. Particularly with Morgause. Katie's best scenes were easily with Emilia. I prefer her performance when she's being "evil" to when she's being apologetic and reuniting with Uther; she's clearly having a blast with it.

My hope is that Morgana will eventually replace Uther as the "bad guy the good guys put up with because s/he's theirs. Can't see Merlin (or Gaius)ever feeling that way, but I think Arthur and Gwen could.

But yes, Morgana-with-agency was a joy to watch, ethical complications aside. Katie M. was obviously having a blast. I actually did like her early scenes with Merlin and Uther, nice parody of weepy Morgana from series two. (She could have done a bit less smirking behind people's back's, though.)

Between being all caretakey toward Morgana, and freaking out about taking over the kingdom. I think that was part not wanting to accept the danger of his father dying but also part legit freaking out am I ready for that oh god.
I got a bit too annoyed with bullying Arthur to concentrate on him, but yes this was good.

[heathershaped]

Morgana will eventually replace Uther as the "bad guy the good guys put up with because s/he's theirs.

I love this idea, because Morgana and Uther share a ridiculous number of traits, and it would actually make sense!

Looking at those early scenes with Uther and Merlin as a parody definitely helps. And haha, a couple of times she even smirked in front of a room full of people.

Bullying Arthur was super-annoying. It's just old at this point, and undermines everything that happened before. I guess they put that stuff in for the kids, because I did like him a lot in the second half of the episode, but still.