It looks like this ends in mid-sentence, but I'm going to reply anyway!
I'm really glad to hear that you enjoyed the episode, and also that you feel hopeful as well. I'm kind of keeping my mouth shut about the show, mostly because I'm a newcomer and I know how that can make for a different viewing experience than when you've stayed with a fandom for years, and become invested in the story at a different pace. But I loved this episode! And I'm anxious, but I do feel hopeful that in Arthur's fate as in everything other aspect of the legend, the show will have a creative take. :)
Oh, good grief. Thanks for pointing out that the entry got cut off. I have no idea why I can't get this damn thing to post. It's fixed now, so you can see my much more cheerful thoughts about the episode. *g*
I am hopeful! They've worked hard to give Arthur a happy ending when it comes to things like his marriage, so I don't see why we can subvert the legend when it comes to things like his death, too. *g*
Aw, I'm glad I got to read your happy thoughts! The OT3 moment was one of my very favorite things ever. That's like, the kind of thing I'm forever writing into fic, but never expect to get in my shows. ♥
The equality of Merlin and Arthur's relationship this season is taking my breath away. Arthur still makes a half-hearted effort to keep up the old "terrible servant" line, but it's so much for show that Merlin barely even acknowledges it any more. And even Arthur seems to be tiring of it-but it reassures him.
Merlin needing to hear that Arthur would have gone back for him kinda broke my heart a lot, but in the good way.
And even Arthur seems to be tiring of it-but it reassures him.
That's a great way to put it! The whole "why do I put up with you?" shtick seems to be something they both reach for in moments of stress. It's like a little touchstone representing the fundamental strength of their relationship.
When the Great Dragon told Merlin he had to take his next chance to ensure Mordred's death, I wailed, "nooooo, you can't kill Mordred!"
I just...I can't make myself be sorry; I want him dead! I'm not sad that Merlin can't like him, I was PROUD OF HIM for refusing Gaius's unsubtle request to use magic to heal him. You know, I want to love this kid, and his wee earnest face, and the way he looks at Arthur with such hero worship. But I am so completely convinced that he's going to ruin EVERYTHING that I am tense from the moment he appears onscreen, to the moment he leaves. Either he's going to kill Arthur, or he's going to destroy the trust and relationship between Merlin and Arthur by weaseling in between them, or he's going to be the one to be like, "I have magic and you love me like a son, therefore magic is not evil (but I'm totally going to end you and/or Merlin with it) AND LOOK MERLIN HAS IT TOO" and ruining a reveal, and in any of those cases, I will have to slay something. If the writers are too far away, I'll have to find
( ... )
(answering in pieces because LJ is still giving me fits when I try to post anything)
Killa helpfully pointed out that my entry cut off right before I listed all the happy things I liked about the episode, so I meant to end on a more upbeat note. *g*
Hee! Yes, thinking too much about it can definitely bring on a headache. And after hearing the actors at Cold Con this weekend saying that TPTB don't really have a plan or pay much attention to continuity, I suspect it's not worth twisting our brains into knots trying to figure out exactly what all this means! The Js have probably long forgotten that they put Dragoon in Morgana's vision of Camlann.
But I am so completely convinced that he's going to ruin EVERYTHING that I am tense from the moment he appears onscreen, to the moment he leaves.
See, and this is totally how I was back in S1. I refused to even watch Mordred's first episode for about 2 years after it aired. I only knew poor little Asa Butterfield from screen caps I couldn't avoid.
But I guess I just really don't think *anything* is set in stone at this point. Mordred could go evil, or he might not, or he might be sincere now and then turn evil later. For now, I think he's sincere and I think there's still the possibility that destiny can be averted and everyone can have a happy ending.
Yes, I recognize that this is probably a bad case of denial, but I don't know how else to get through this season without a nervous breakdown. *g*
Well, I didn't spend so much time writing it, but I did spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to get LJ to post it!
I can't wait to read your Mordred story! Whether he turns out evil or not, I think I'm going to need a large amount of Mordred fic by the end of this season.
I do think Merlin is teetering on a very sharp edge. Everyone with knowledge of this prophecy is pressuring him to act fast to save Arthur, but he's just had a horrifying demonstration of how much he's in over his head.
I still don't know what to think about this episode. I've watched it a couple of times (and last night with my daughter who was furious with Merlin). There was so much good stuff here but I can't seem to get over Merlin telling Arthur no.
TPTB have no idea what they are doing so I'm not really sure what to expect for the future. If it were me, I'd have Mordred be the good guy until the end and the vision that Merlin saw was of Mordred fighting someone else to save Arthur and Arthur getting stabbed by a 3rd party (maybe Morgana). And then Merlin using magic to heal him - while Arthur is awake!
I just don't know. But I will be a wreck if they really kill off Arthur.
There was so much good stuff here but I can't seem to get over Merlin telling Arthur no.
I know, that's really hard to get past. I completely understand why he did it, but it felt so very wrong even before the Disr's revenge became clear. I think it's worse now than when he did it to keep Arthur from killing Uther in S3.
If they kill Arthur, I will not cope well at all. I can't even wrap my head around it at this point, as much as I worry about it.
Excellent summation. I'll just post a link to this instead of my own review. It killed me whenever Arthur mentioned that Mordred had saved his life more than once. Merlin's saved you 100's of times! Argh.
I really don't think they'll kill off Arthur, but then, I said the same when the rumors started about Ianto getting killed. Look how well that turned out.
Ugh, seriously. I mean, I'm convinced that the producers have a soft spot for Arthur and will find a way to subvert the legend yet again to his benefit. But then again, I was convinced that RTD had a soft spot for Ianto and would never kill him right up until the moment Jack started weeping over Ianto's corpse.
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I'm really glad to hear that you enjoyed the episode, and also that you feel hopeful as well. I'm kind of keeping my mouth shut about the show, mostly because I'm a newcomer and I know how that can make for a different viewing experience than when you've stayed with a fandom for years, and become invested in the story at a different pace. But I loved this episode! And I'm anxious, but I do feel hopeful that in Arthur's fate as in everything other aspect of the legend, the show will have a creative take. :)
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I am hopeful! They've worked hard to give Arthur a happy ending when it comes to things like his marriage, so I don't see why we can subvert the legend when it comes to things like his death, too. *g*
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The equality of Merlin and Arthur's relationship this season is taking my breath away. Arthur still makes a half-hearted effort to keep up the old "terrible servant" line, but it's so much for show that Merlin barely even acknowledges it any more. And even Arthur seems to be tiring of it-but it reassures him.
Merlin needing to hear that Arthur would have gone back for him kinda broke my heart a lot, but in the good way.
Reply
That's a great way to put it! The whole "why do I put up with you?" shtick seems to be something they both reach for in moments of stress. It's like a little touchstone representing the fundamental strength of their relationship.
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I just...I can't make myself be sorry; I want him dead! I'm not sad that Merlin can't like him, I was PROUD OF HIM for refusing Gaius's unsubtle request to use magic to heal him. You know, I want to love this kid, and his wee earnest face, and the way he looks at Arthur with such hero worship. But I am so completely convinced that he's going to ruin EVERYTHING that I am tense from the moment he appears onscreen, to the moment he leaves. Either he's going to kill Arthur, or he's going to destroy the trust and relationship between Merlin and Arthur by weaseling in between them, or he's going to be the one to be like, "I have magic and you love me like a son, therefore magic is not evil (but I'm totally going to end you and/or Merlin with it) AND LOOK MERLIN HAS IT TOO" and ruining a reveal, and in any of those cases, I will have to slay something. If the writers are too far away, I'll have to find ( ... )
Reply
Killa helpfully pointed out that my entry cut off right before I listed all the happy things I liked about the episode, so I meant to end on a more upbeat note. *g*
Hee! Yes, thinking too much about it can definitely bring on a headache. And after hearing the actors at Cold Con this weekend saying that TPTB don't really have a plan or pay much attention to continuity, I suspect it's not worth twisting our brains into knots trying to figure out exactly what all this means! The Js have probably long forgotten that they put Dragoon in Morgana's vision of Camlann.
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See, and this is totally how I was back in S1. I refused to even watch Mordred's first episode for about 2 years after it aired. I only knew poor little Asa Butterfield from screen caps I couldn't avoid.
But I guess I just really don't think *anything* is set in stone at this point. Mordred could go evil, or he might not, or he might be sincere now and then turn evil later. For now, I think he's sincere and I think there's still the possibility that destiny can be averted and everyone can have a happy ending.
Yes, I recognize that this is probably a bad case of denial, but I don't know how else to get through this season without a nervous breakdown. *g*
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Alex is adorable with his tweets and his smile. I just love his take on Mordred, too.
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I can't wait to read your Mordred story! Whether he turns out evil or not, I think I'm going to need a large amount of Mordred fic by the end of this season.
I do think Merlin is teetering on a very sharp edge. Everyone with knowledge of this prophecy is pressuring him to act fast to save Arthur, but he's just had a horrifying demonstration of how much he's in over his head.
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TPTB have no idea what they are doing so I'm not really sure what to expect for the future. If it were me, I'd have Mordred be the good guy until the end and the vision that Merlin saw was of Mordred fighting someone else to save Arthur and Arthur getting stabbed by a 3rd party (maybe Morgana). And then Merlin using magic to heal him - while Arthur is awake!
I just don't know. But I will be a wreck if they really kill off Arthur.
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I know, that's really hard to get past. I completely understand why he did it, but it felt so very wrong even before the Disr's revenge became clear. I think it's worse now than when he did it to keep Arthur from killing Uther in S3.
If they kill Arthur, I will not cope well at all. I can't even wrap my head around it at this point, as much as I worry about it.
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I really don't think they'll kill off Arthur, but then, I said the same when the rumors started about Ianto getting killed. Look how well that turned out.
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