Merlin: 5:09 With All My Heart

[tanous]

Merlin... the show that teaches its fans what Stockholm Syndrome is all about. This week my expectations were so low that I expected literally nothing, other than more slaps in the face to the fans who give a shit about Arthur and/or Merlin. I expected another ordeal of grandiose tries at fairytale moments, flowery gestures and gruesomely soppy

Comments

[undead_begonia]

Yesterday I rewatched the ending of the second season of Robin of Sherwood (Praed) - just to get me in the mood for main character death, don't you know. I cried. Now THAT was the way you do a love relationship, and THAT was the way you kill off a hero.

I don't think, no matter what they do on Merlin in the next 4 episodes, that I'm going to cry at the end. I just don't care about these characters any more.

I think you're right. This ending is going to be the most infuriating in the whole of fandom since Blakes 7, since Quantum Leap. And it's up against some pretty stiff competition, when you think about it.

[arwyn_t]

Ahh yes... Robin of Sherwood. Or Babylon 5. Robin & Marion, John Sheridan & Delenn. *That*is how you write romance and *that* is how you kill off a hero. I still cry my eyes out with those. With Merlin? So sadly, not anymore. Arthur is so not a Once and Future King and Merlin so not worthy of magical praise that I will be relieved by the end. And it doesn't even pain me to think that anymore.

[tanous]

I will never be in the mood for main character death. I am a walking breathing marshmallow.

I dont care how artistic it is and how well its written I still loathe endings that rip my guts out - I know some people love it but unremitting, unresolved angst has never been my thing. (as opposed to resolved angst which I love). So if I cant cope with a well thought out, well written one, Im expecting to be strapped into the little white jacket with the long arms after 5.13. :(

Quantum Leap? I watched that a few times casually...didnt they let the guy get home??? Blakes 7 I watched that on DVD - still goes down in the annals as the worst finale ever. Well...in my annals anyway. :P

[gatepromise]

No! Sam never got to go home in Quantum Leap! I was a fan and I cried when that show ended. It was terrible. It was like a Hitchcock film.

Don't worry, T. There's a great big padded room ready for all of us after 5.13. You won't be alone; we'll keep each other company.

(I'm afraid I'm shit at cheering people up when I'm expecting the worst too...)

[englaroma]

Wohooo, second comment! And your review is up early, too! *hearts

[darlulu]

They showed *everything* that wasn't important: the horse ride, comedy scenes of wheeling away Gwen, the awkward breakfast between Arthur and Gwen, endless repeatings of how much Arthur loves Gwen and how that can change everything.

What they didn't show? Well, everything else.

So true. :(

[tanous]

I agree with every word. The choices they made were so stupid, but we'll probably never know if they were writing choices or choices made in the edit

[merlenhiver]

Im totally bloody confused about Merlin and the Old Religion. I thought he was part of it by default because he's Emrys and IS magic, but the showrunners never explain anything because I don't think they know themselves.

That was one of my biggest wtf?moments after this episode. If I remember correctly, the Dragon told Merlin at one point that he is of the Old Religion, as well as the Dragon himself. But now they are treating it as if Merlin's sorcery is somehow different from Old Religion magic. So what kind of magic does Merlin possess? They never said there was any other kind.
But why am I even trying to make sense out of it, as you said, TPTB don't seem to know it themselves. :(

[gatepromise]

Thanks for another wonderful review, tanous. I know we're all feeling pretty downcast, disheartened and resigned these days and appreciate your still making the effort

[gatepromise]

*Runs to sweeter's embrace*

Care to share the Aithusa spoilers, or maybe just post a link? I could use some positive news right about now, and I'm certain I'm not alone.

Yeah, the selective memory of some fans re: those visions of Arthur's demise. See what happens when the villain is cute and fluffy like Mordred. I really wish more had done with him, tho. Again, so many missed opportunities, sigh.

As far as the Angel hour being thwarted by Dolma: Not. Even. 1% Sorry...

[gatepromise]

Hey, do you think it's possible, maybe, maybe, that Arthur actually suspected that Dolma is Merlin? His "Where is Merlin, anyway?" Could this be a last ditch effort to make Bradley happy and to actually make it seem as though Arthur has half a brain and KNOWS about Merlin's magic, has been playing along for some time

[tanous]

I dont think they're sick of each other either. Now the interviews are over, what d'you think? It looks as if Arthurs not aware of the magic, though I suppose Bradley was promoting the whole season and he could have been talking about not knowing at 5.01? Maybe? No? Oh well :(

I never wanted a reveal in which Arthur knew and kept it secret but now Id take anything. Stockholm girl that I am.

[tanoshi_ame]

Again, very spot on review. I feel the same. It's ridiculous how easy to... accept it just because how low expectation has become. As for the reveal, the length they go just to dodge it is frustrating, but as I said before, I want Gwen to have no part in it so in someway I'm glad. Can't imagine how horribly it could play out if Merlin decided to out himself because of True Love. Gross. Keep away, Gwen. My 'watch for Colin' mantra must have worked already. Keep up for the next 4 eps and I'm good. Trust Colin to make every of his scenes gold, and I love how without words he still makes it clear where Merlin stands on the relationship with each character. Though I also agree that Arthur, Gaius, Mordred and Morgana are pretty enjoyable this episode too. Actually, I always see more subtlety in Morgana than Gwen, but I'm glad it comes across again stronger this time. Gwen, well I normally don't make a point of it either, but yeah, boobs in your face, cannot not see. Also kind of sad that's about all I can remember from her

[englaroma]

"This is something that's bugged me for a while, this insistence form loads of people in fandom that Merlin and Gwen are BFFs when it's as clear as day they are not."

It really baffles me too - it's like saying that Merlin and Morgana are still friends. The moment someone becomes a threat to Arthur, Merlin considers them his enemy, it's been made pretty clear. I have no doubt that if Freya had ever wanted to kill Arthur, he would have turned away from her too.

And let's not forget that this is the Gwen who had Merlin thrown in the dungeon and flaunted her superiority in front of him, safe in the assumption that Merlin wouldn't dare say a word to Arthur. (Which makes it even more disappointing that we didn't get to see the conversation that led up to Arthur and Merlin spying on Gwen.)

[tanoshi_ame]

"Will they finally get their first kiss?"
Pffff. Saw that one. Was stunned for a second that a "first kiss after marriage" notion might exist somewhere. Though that might as well be a first kiss after copulating, if we're talking continuity.

It's ridiculous how TPTB started to sell S5 as a story of 4 main characters when it was always about M/A before. Gwen is obviously irrelevant, has always been without Lancelot; Morgana whose story actually has an importance gets less screen time than Gwen so what are we supposed to think? Tch.

I choose to give Colin the credit for Merlin's very matter-of-fact approach to saving Gwen.I can definitely think like that. Sometimes what amazes me more than Colin's acting is how he interprets and internalizes these new characteristics for Merlin in the first place. These little things, like this instance, are all great material for fics, too bad most writers prefer to either ignore or take them in a horribly contorted way. I'm still waiting for a Merlin+Mordred fic that actually reflects the dynamic