The Disir

[adrienne5413]

Holy crap.  This ep was beautiful, heartbreaking, brilliantly acted, and has utterly destroyed everything (IMO) this show started as.  I was spoiled for the big line, but Colin's delivery made me cry.  Actually cry

Comments

[merlenhiver]

Thank you for your review! I was braced for the worst, but I actually found myself enjoying much of the episode. Colin broke my heart. That scene by the fireside - overused as it is - there was so much tenderness there between the boys and a real interest on learning more about Merlin's point of view on Arthur's side. When have we ever had that? Merlin talking about feeling the magic of the place ... that was just beautiful. And I just loved Bradley's acting in this ep, from start to finish.

What I took away from the ep is that Merlin now actually cares more about Arthur than he does about magic - and therefore ultimately, himself. He's willing to sacrifice everything in order to keep Arthur alive, even the one thing that should (?) mean more to him than anything. It's an interesting choice, I think, to write him like this. I'm not sure if I agree with it, but Colin sold it to me here.

[adrienne5413]

Hello! Thanks for commenting. It is tragic what's happened to Merlin and Arthur's story. That word "Tragic" has been used A LOT in describing this ep. You are absolutely right in saying Merlin has chosen Arthur over all things, including magic and his own people. Hands down, the epic fireside chat is the nail in the coffin. I feel Merlin is now so vainglorious to be completely and totally unsympathetic. The writers/PTB have taken away any compassion I had for him. Everything he will do in the future will be suspect. That sounds very harsh, but Merlin has made such a selfish choice, in the end. He has damned an entire race of people for his solitary goal, which was not the original ideal he was 'destined' for. Keeping Arthur safe, yes; destroying the people he is King to, no. Let's not mince words. He is their King. Magic worshippers bow to him. All of them. He might even be a God. I'm not sure. Emrys means 'immortal' in Welsh, I believe. So is he their God

[merlenhiver]

They love each other with such desperation and dysfunction, to their own destruction.

Word. The problem is, do TPTB even realize what they've done to these characters?

I don't want to hate on Merlin, but the fact is, he's not the hero of his own story anymore. He doesn't set anything in motion, he cowers behind his fears and doesn't act where he should have a long time ago - for himself, and for his people.
I can't believe TPTB would destroy his character so completely. The desperation of his love for Arthur is touching, sure, but in the end, it disqualifies him as the man they told us he would be one day.
I really don't know what to expect of this show anymore.

[witchyemerald]

I agree at this point I feel a huge reveal is what should happen. However if Merlin keeps denying he has Magic Arthur will never trust him when he fines out.

And, I can see why Arthur still has a problem with magic since he has scene nothing but bad come from it. But, Merlin had a chance to point out some good things about it too. Healing and defense.

To me its like a sword (or gun) in the wrong hands yea people will get hurt, but its the person not the object (or magical power in this case) that is bad.

[adrienne5413]

Merlin has had multiple opportinities just in this ep alone to lead Arthur in the direction of magic being something gentle and kind. He hasn't taken it. It's a shame because you know it'd be awesome how Bradley and Colin would play it

Thanks so much for commenting!

[bluebeeangel]

"This ep was beautiful, heartbreaking, brilliantly acted, and has utterly destroyed everything (IMO) this show started as."
Nicely put. That's how I feel too. It wasn't my favourite episode ever, but some of the scenes and themes that came out of were excellent.

"It seems by the trailer the next ep will not touch on what has happened today."
That's what I'm afraid of. That's what happened with episode 4, it seemed to forget most of the brilliant things that had happened in the first three episodes and it was one of the reasons why it was so poor (there were many reasons though). It's a shame because the show starts this brilliant ball rolling, goes down an interesting path and then stops for a week, and halts the narrative.

" I have to say, Merlin willing to sacrifice Mordred was a big step for him I always feel that Merlin is a good person and doesn't want to hurt people. Unless it involes Arthur. If Arthur is even a tiny bit at risk, or Arthur is at risk of finding out about Merlin’s secret, then he won’t even think twice about

[adrienne5413]

Hello! Nice to hear from you! I don't know how to do the italics for quoting, so I'll do it this way

[bluebeeangel]

"When you say Merlin not having control over when it happens, not ready for it, how do you mean? That the situation is out of control or Merlin's magic is out of control? That Merlin is doing magic and Arthur accidentally sees?"Yeah, I think I'd like it in an accidental way, rather than Merlin choosing the time to tell Arthur or feelng he has to use it in front of him. To have it revealed for him or for Arthur to accidently see, will be Merlin's worst nightmare. He's always so set in his ways about having control, but in the end it always turns out that because he was so focused on just one strategy, he failed to see the problems of it or other repercussions. His moral compass has wavered more and more over the years. He has always made bad impulsive choice that can overcome him.I just think that one of these times he's gonna be so focused on helping Arthur, that he's going to forget to bring his guard up. But as long as it's epic in it's aftermath, I'm not too picky