Merlin 5.06 - "For A Moment I Didn't Think I Was Going To Win."

[bluebeeangel]

Hello! It's that time of the week again. My Merlin review, for episode six. You'll have to make your way through the Spoilers of Injustice and the Words of Weeping Fandom to...oh crap it, just click on the cut below...

Comments

[xthursdaynextx]

I very much enjoyed your review, especially your observations on the phallic places in this week's ep. Snakes are very overused in this series, aren't they? Maybe it's just the easiest spell to do.

It was really great that Gwen and Elyan were actually given something to do this episode, and allowed to remember they are related. They have both been sorely underdeveloped. Too little too late in Elyan's case, though.

[bluebeeangel]

Thank you very much!

You can't move in Camelot for snakes, apparently. There's always one handy to enchant.

As soon as Elyan got a big amount of screen time and said more than two words to Gwen, we should have known he was done for. I don't think he's had more than one line in the first 5 episodes.

Re: A Horrible Thought

[tanoshi_ame]

I liked that you enjoyed the episode, though for completely different reason from last time. That you enjoyed it gives me hope that maybe this series hasn't reached the point where it plummet S4-styled yet. And while I was bored to death watching it, I'm pretty much with you on all the points raised here. Seriously, I missed the funny implication of Arthur sleeping fully clothed, that says how bored I was. Though, to be fair, I only have myself to blame. See, I read the dialog spoilers and there was a mention of evil Merlin, so I went into this expecting not only Gwen, but the Knights and Merlin to have a little taste of the Tower. What they did with Gwen I think was kind of general haunted-house scare, I didn't feel like I knew what exactly was her deepest fear. Merlin, on the other hand, how much delicious this episode could have been if they'd given Merlin a scare or two because there are loads of things Merlin is terrified of

Re: A Horrible Thought

[tanoshi_ame]

I agree that Angel, Adetomiwa and Katie are the stars of this week. Though to be honest, I was more telling myself how great a performance Angel and Adetomiwa gave us here, than I was really feeling it. Nothing against the actors, it's just that the script made me so bored I was numb for the most part. I guess for such a dull script (plus lack of buildup from past ones), nothing short of Colin-good could ever manage to stir something from me. Morgana on the other hand, her scenes were not boring for me (I love the music!) It's both Katie doing a fantastic job and Morgana having something else to show that gave a demand for attention to these scenes I guess. I love what you said about Morgana, very beautifully put. Such a same so many people think of her as a 2D character but not Gwen when it's quite the other way around. Katie does subtle really well I think.

Maybe if I gave them fancier, adjective riddled names, they’d seem harder too. The Winged Ones Dwelling, The Decaying Green Life and The Seat of Misfortune.LOL. That'd work

Re: A Horrible Thought

[bluebeeangel]

I think the performances of Angel and Adetomiwa, and the loss Gwen suffered of Elyan would have made much, much more of an impact if they'd actually developed the characters and relationship before now. It didn't effect me nearly as much as Lancelot's death(s). I thought they did well considering how little they are always given

Re: A Horrible Thought

[bluebeeangel]

It was curious is the 'Arthur never tells me anything' line was really intentional or just a simple throw away. That's one of my critisisms of Gwen/Arthur. They're just straight down the middle. We're told of the good and don't see any bad

[bluebeeangel]

You're right they didn't clear it up. It was a bit haphazard and confusing. I'm just hoping it's intentional and all will become apparent very quickly this week!

[tanous]

I loved it too - as usual. The review not the ep of course.:-P

[bluebeeangel]

Yeah, T, we can put this one in the 'Agree' column I think ;) (I'll reply to your review tomorrow after work, I'm so behind this week! It's been hectic

[twisting_vine_x]

First off, I finished the episode and ran straight here. Your reviews are pretty much one of the highlights of my week.

And secondly - I am honestly flabbergasted by that ending. So... Morgana's spell kills Elyan, and Gwen is suddenly on her side? Like - enchantment would honestly be the only thing that would make sense to me, because, what. I just. Don't get it. You're so right about how much better it would be for Morgana to be slowly wearing away at Gwen over the course of the entire season.

What a ridiculous shame that not only did they fail to develop this brother-sister bond, beyond them saying hello to each other, but that this was one of the only times they gave Adetomiwa anything to do. It a shame because both he and Angel worked nicely together and he always gives a great performance, much higher than what’s written for him on paper.Amen to that. I wish that all the knights had more back story, actually. Like - we got that with Gwaine and Lancelot (whaaaaa), but I wish I knew something more about Percival and Leon. I mean

[bluebeeangel]

Aww, thank you!

Unfortunately enchatment does seem, time wise, the only thing that would make sense. I really hope it's not though, as it just seems a repeat of last year and at the end of it everything can just be reset without any repercussions or development of any characters.

I would love some Percival and Leon backstory! I'd also like Gwaine to be brought to the front a bit more. He started off a lot more prominant than he is now. He is close to Merlin, but we never really see it and he had this awesome love/hate relationship with Arthur, but we never see that anymore either. It's a shame. All the knights are great characters.

It's almost like season one Gwen never existed. The one that Arthur didn't notice, so could be friends with Merlin and help and be kind without being too boring. She was always the most underdeveloped character of that season, but once they'd made her and Arthur all dewy eyed over each other in season two, that was the only storyline she was ever going to get.