Merlin 5x01: Arthur's Bane Part One

[zahrawithaz]

I have misgivings posting about this when the rest of the fandom is so far ahead of me (never mind that this episode seems to need its second half more than many other two-parters), but I do adore this show. Nice to see it back!

Comments

[zahrawithaz]

Thanks

[zahrawithaz]

I think that despite her limited screentime, she's has had the most consistent character development.

I agree with this. Though I think Uther has been just as consistent in his development, just in the opposite direction, from a position as a strong if seriously flawed ruler to a man made increasingly weaker by his love for his children and own flaws. Like Gwen's arc, his movement from the strong villain we all fear to the pathetic man who has bequeathed a troubled world to his heirs is a strong through-line from S1 to S2, where so many other hitches occur.

Very interesting--I saw Arthur reaching out to Merlin more as a sign of character growth on Arthur's part, but you make a good point that it may in fact be the deepening of their friendship.

[selenak]

Your meta is back! Excellent.

The Round Table has been established, and my theory about why it happened offstage the same as why the show skips Guinevere’s early days as queen; we’ve actually already seen it.

Agreed. I have a problem with the three years gap, but it's not about the Round Table or Guinevere, whom we indeed have seen becoming queen. BTW, I'm also glad that the show gives me enough leaveway so that my idea about Gwen shortly post s4 can still happen. (I did write a new Gwen story due to the new season, but it wasn't that one - it was a missing scene of 5.03 one.) That it was Gwen who suggests going through Annis' land works really well with it. :) (And was a good way to demonstrate Gwen-as-co-ruler in a show, not tell manner.)

Magic is still outlawed, as Sefa’s defense makes clear, and Arthur is deeply distrustful of sorcerers.That would be my three years gap problem. Also the non-promotion of Merlin (as opposed to everyone else; also there's no sign Arthur treats the knights who weren't nobles differently than those

[zahrawithaz]

Thank you!

And OMG--you mean I'm not only terribly far behind on actually watching the show, but on your stories?! I must catch up.

That would be my three years gap problem. Well, yeah. I don't know what to do with that, except to presume that it's going somewhere. I hope

[ravenya03]

Yay, I've been looking forward to this!

we’re supposed to notice that our two heroes’ stupidity flows from their individual weaknesses: Merlin’s monomaniacal focus on Arthur’s safety

This reminds me of a writing workshop years ago, when it was pointed out to me that a character flaw doesn't necessarily have to be a "flaw" - it can be a virtue taken to extreme. This is definitely the case with Merlin and his "protect Arthur at all costs" mantra. I get increasingly surprised when I spot various bits of fandom gushing over how touching it is, especially this season when it's very deliberately being framed as something that is NOT a good thing.

I mean, he was advising Arthur to abandon the quest to save the knights because it put his life in danger - which essentially amounts to Merlin throwing Gwaine and Percival under the bus.

And this becomes even more pronounced as the series goes on - no spoilers here but: episode 5. Oh, episode 5!

But he has nothing else, and interacts with no one outside Arthur, except Kilgharrah (with whom

[loriale]

I agree with you. Gwen is a capable ruler, she is clearly comfortable with ruling, and that was delightful to watch. I think that some guards must have been particularly afraid after she was crowned (or after she was established as a trusted adviser), and some of them probably didn't show up at work the next day