Merlin: 5:07 A Lesson In Vengeance

[tanous]

So, another episode down and six to go till the (bitter?) end of S5 and possibly, if rumours are to be believed, the entire show. And …where are we now?

Well, actually,  we’re back in S4. Or is it S3?  Deep anyway in the Merlin producers thumb-sucking comfort zone of ‘Merlin trying singlehandedly (save Gaius - the device to enable us to know his

Comments

[miacalendar]

Evil Gwen! has to have consequences. In the original stories (I know, hahaha) it was Gwen's betrayal w/Lancelot that brings about Camlann. Mordred finds out that Arthur plans to let them go, decides he is a weak king, and goes against him.

Gwen's betrayal is should be a catalyst for Camlann. And all we get is filler, so the writers get to opt out on the magic reveal. I don't understand why they think changing the format of the show is so terrible. Watching stagnant characters in stagnant situations, THAT is terrible. Changing things is how STORIES develop. I wish all TV writers were forced to go to Joss Whedon writing bootcamp....

[merlenhiver]

I wish all TV writers were forced to go to Joss Whedon writing bootcamp....

*cheers*

I actually distracted myself from the abysmal writing on Merlin by watching "Firefly". It was a revelation. So THAT'S what continuous character development looks like again! So there are shows that don't just sacrifice their characters to the plot-of-the-week because one of their traits doesn't fit where the writer needs the story to go (instead of letting it evolve naturally from the characters)!

Honestly, Joss should just take over the whole industry, if you ask me ... on the other hand, then I'd probably be glued to the TV constantly ... :P

[tanous]

Firefly - now that was TV writing!

[arwyn_t]

Oh yes! Joss Whedon or J.Michael Straczynski. "Firefly" or the predecessor "Babylon 5". *Those* were the days of excellent story+character telling

[arwyn_t]

You know, reading the comments here and in another LJ, it got me thinking: Were we wrong, us adults, to believe in "Merlin" in the first place

[merlenhiver]

My problem is, even with that in mind, that the writers showed us that they can do better in the first half of Season 4. And call me petulant, but they did make a promise to us viewers throughout the seasons - that we were going to see Arthur bring magic back to Camelot, a united Albion and (implicitly) Merlin at the head of the state at Arthur's side

[arwyn_t]

Well, in the first half of series 4, the donkey thought it was a horse, or a spell transformed it into a horse for a while, till it faded. :P

I understand what you say, Merlenhiver. I do and I agree. We saw potential, we believed promises, but in the end got nothing, not because of lack of *will*, but of *skill* of TPTB. The producers could not fathom a magic reveal and the writers could not write one. So here we are. The spell broke, the horse got back to being a donkey.

I am not excusing TPTB, not at all. On the very contrary. I am calling their delusions of grandeur, their incompetence, their lies. They were promising horse races, upgrades to top stallions, but in reality had only donkeys in their stables.

We were cheated alright. Majorly. And it's more than laughable. It's downright disrespectful, insulting and immature.

[tanous]

^^^^^

This!!! This is what I feel. You just said it in fewer words. I wish I could do that.:P

Poor Old Arthur

[tanous]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mddquuBPng1rqi2jfo1_r1_500.jpg

(from tumblr)

[seravia]

Wonderful review.

Stepford Arthur suddenly materialized, to display and constantly declare, his slavish devotion to his wifeLove that you referred to Arthur as "Stepford Arthur," because really, what else can he be in this episode? Gwen's a good ruler, we got it. But why does Arthur's character have to suffer for it? Arthur isn't a doormat, but he might as well be

[tanous]

Hey there:) I agree with all that and yeah - it seems to me Merthur survives on chemistry, despite writing that gives them not alot on the surface emotionally; Arwen survives on purple overwriting and cringingly overwrought declarations. We cant see the chemistry so they have to scream at us that its there.
I've seen people suggesting actually that Arthurs Stepford behaviour in the last episode - his slavish obedience to Gwens's 'advice' and little boy worship were a sign of the great power of Arwen because he's not enchanted and look how besotted he is! Which really just kind of made me cackle away to myself a bit while also just kind of thinking...what

[seravia]

Hi. :) I completely agree about Arwen and Merthur. I annoys me to death they way they write Arwen. I might've tried to get on board if they didn't insist on slapping us in the face with their kisses in front of sunlit windows and simpering after each other. Although some people do believe that Angel and Bradley have amazing chemistry. I don't know where they see it, but to each their own, I guess.

The great power of Arwen? Seriously? People actually think Stepford Arthur /helps/ Arwen? If anything, his behavior is a testament to how little Arthur and Gwen know each other. To bow to Gwen's every whim without question and not even notice his wife isn't acting like herself? That's not being blinded by love, it's... really just bad writing.

The cloddingly (ooh new word!:P) obvious use of dramatic irony seems to just pass them bySigh. It really does, doesn't it? I'll admit I've latched on to the idea that Merlin is the only one Arthur can trust from A Servant of Two Masters, but there have been so many contradictions to it

[bluebeeangel]

“Stepford Arthur listens mindlessly to obviously terrible advice not to go an see Tyr immediately… suddenly a man with no independent will, telling Gwen like someone who really has been brainwashed, that she’s ‘right as always’. And when its proved that she wasn’t ‘right as always’ he forgets she gave the advice. “ Yeah, I do agree that while Evil!Gwen actually made their scenes interesting, Arthur is still the Arthur I hate within their scenes. My annoyance was diluted by Gwen spitting out platitudes with gritted teeth, but I think we just have to accept that this relationship, and Arthur within it, has been screwed for four seasons. While I love Arthur outside of their scenes, naïve and idiotic as he is, he does become completely bland within them. No one cares about Gwen and Arthur. Well accept Gwen/Arthur shippers. I respect anyone’s opinions and respect how ever weird and unusual their favourite pairing will be. If people want to ship Percival and Aithusa, then they have my full support. However, I don’t know what the Gwen/Arthur

[bluebeeangel]

“There was actually more passion and UST between Dragoon and the Cook than between Terry and June, even though T & J were being written with grim and blatant intent, to show the Disney Twu Lurve in all it’s dull glory”
There really was more chemistry between 30 seconds of Dragoon and Cook, than between 5 seasons of Terry and June. I still don’t know whether it’s intentional or not. I always thought the formality was intentional, then last season when Lancelot died I thought it wasn’t, then this season I thought it was, then I thought it wasn’t, and then this episode when they had Gwen spout the same shit and practically throw up a little in her mouth at it I go back to thinking that it is written intentionally crappy. Who the frick knows anymore?!

The contrast is evident when you have a couple of nice Merlin/Arthur scenes in there too, isn’t it? They are brilliant, yet they aren’t the best we’ve ever had on the show. It just makes the Gwen/Arthur dynamic look ridiculous, even on a normal day.