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No Merlin thread?

On Once Upon a Time Today, Snow White is sitting down writing a letter, when the huntsman finally catches up to her to extract the pretty young things heart for his evil queen, because she accepted that no matter how she ran, she was going to be caught.

There is no way that Gwen could make it on foot all the to Camelot.

I see two possibilities that would have been superior than Gwen trying to leg it to Camelot.

1. Allying with Morganna. Pretending to at least. And whether that just leads to a little girl on girl, as Morganna realizes how wonderful the irony would be if Gwen was her "Queen" to rule beside as she laughed at Arthur taking what he wanted. "if I'm really you queen, kiss my feet. Good. Now my ankles. Good. My knees, now my calves... Just a little higher Gwen... "

2. Crucifixion. Imagine, blood spraying out as Morganna's hammering spikes into her ankles and wrists, and what Arthur will do when he wonders what that new tree is on the horizon vantage of his bedroom window? It's no worse than what Goneril did to her father, and that's happening all over Britain in community theaters always.

**sigh**
 
Thought it was very good, nice for Gwen to get something to do but, yeah she is still the weakest link. Loving McGrath's acting more and more. Every time she does something evil you can almost see a glimmer of something in her eye that's appalled at what she's doing.

Turning Gwen into a doe was really unexpected, thought Merlin could have done more.

And ill Arthur have much of a kingdom left soon? He keeps giving bits away, at this rate he'll only have the castle left soon!
 
Well that was a terrible episode. Complete rehash of the previous season finale, out-of-place wacky Arthur is a simpleton plot, no explanation on how Agravaine took over Camelot, and Morgana going beyond bad guy to cartoon caricature who goes around kicking puppies for the fun of it. And why is Agravaine so in love with Morgana anyway? He hates Uther for the death of his sister and by extension Arthur, but that doesn't explain why he's head-over-heels with Uther's other child.
 
No, no, Agravaine made it quite clear this week.

(My spell check is insisting that I want to type aggravation, not Agravaine.)

Well the actor did it with his eyes, and perplexing sighs.

(Fuck, that rhymes.)

I can only imagine that when she was much much much much stupidly younger, Morganna had declared her intentions, possibly she was maybe 7 or 8, followed him around like a puppy, chanting things like "I love you, I'm going to marry you, you're the perfect man." One of those girlie crushes it doesn't take any strength to resist because it's just foolishness from walking sperm.

However even though she has chesticles now, Morganna's still a little too young for him, but it's actually a seedy option he could take if he just had some balls to say something, if not for knightly codes about how women will recognize the honour in your heart and lean towards it, but he's a gentleman so he's waiting till she's just even a littler older, because obviously she still feels the same as she did, to someone his age, that crush she had seems like 5 minutes ago, which to her was nine life times ago and Morganna probably can't even remember, but promises were made...

He thought he was going to be king.

After all Agravaine had done for that witch it was the least she could do, even if she didn't love him totally, if not secretly, not that she ever mentioned it... Why doesn't she mention his love for him any more? "How odd that is" he must think?

But her loins, it would seem, seem to be interested in someone else now with a big honking army and Agravaine's just an old man who has all but served his purpose ready for the scrap heap.

Aggravain's becoming superpissed.

He missed his window.

....

Last week we could see the jealously, but in no episode before that could we see much but the care for an uncle for his niece (he is getting ready to betray at the last moment?) even though they're not blood related. He hates Uthur. Wants to kill Arthur because he's Uthur's Kid, but so is Morganna! Madness!

okies.

My real gripe.

Merlin on the battlement with that rocket propelled grenade launcher with infinite grenades by any other name "magic staff", ripping into Morganna's sortie.

The second the seat of Camelot fell and Morganna took over, magic was legal.

Look Ma, it's Albion.

He can take her in single combat.

Look Ma, Albion delayed.

And if he wins that duel, Arthur will burn him at the stake.

Why not cast that zombie will removing spell on the enemy, one at a time or in packs?

Send them off to kill their friends?

By the way, remember when the cgi skeletons attacked a few seasons back, did it seem like there was standing cgi army of 20 thousand hosted within the walls of Camelot?

Old Klingon Proverb, a running man can slit 6 thousand sleeping throats in a single night.

Just continuing my gushing... Katie looked great.

Evil suits her.

What the frack was she doing for the first three seasons?
 
I found it a step up from the last few episodes, but the season still feels more like the show is simply having a finale, rather than building to one. Katie is fun to watch playing evil, but I wish they'd had her find out Uther had killed her father rather than making her Uther's daughter. It would make her rivalry with Arthur more sensible now that Uther is dead.

In the earlier seasons they were usually able to see each others positions and compromise if not simply agree which they frequently did in opposing Uther's bad ideas. The rivalry for the throne with Arthur just feels forced now. I also wish they hadn't killed off Morgause. She was fun and helped Morgana's character seem more interesting by having her balanced in deciding whether to believe Morgause or Merlin and Arthur.
 
Arthur might not be Uthurs kid.

Who knows what the magic used to invent that impossible pregnancy really did?

Arthur could be a magical creature who's just too thick to notice his magical powers.

Morganna could be the only heir to the Throne, and Arthur is just a pretender.

Possibly a troll?

Even if he isn't a changeling (shut up.), being born with magic under the law of Camelot requires that he's burnt at the stake, which means that Morganna is on the throne anyway, and then she's obviously sensible enough to "repeal" the magic moratorium before they start lighting the fires for her.

Has she?

I know it's only been a day, and she's been busy killing off her kingdom because they won't worship her. But has she actually told the people that magic is legal again?

Unless she wants the humans to fuck off, so that Camelot can become a safe harbour for the druids and all the other magical beings after al the human farms have been abandoned?

That Bald bloke thought she was going to usher in Albion, and she was on board with that, but does she have any long term plans past killing Arthur which isn't such a long term plan any more?

Imagine if your ruler banned electricity, and the next guy in power brought it back? Arthur is too young too remember, but odds are that every one had an enchanted this or that or a simple spell to make hard work just a little less gruelling...

Telling the people that they can cast spells again, should really guarantee her rule more so than starving their children? It's like in the Simpsons that time, David vs. Goliath, and when Bart/David came back and killed Goliath/Nelson, the people shat a brick claiming that he was an awesome ruler ten times the king that Bart/David had ever been and he was so going to spend the rest of his life in jail.

When ever there's exposition about how "the people" are feeling, I often wonder if someone's not just telling pork pies, because without an infrastructure for mass communication exactly how do people like Gwen poll the outer reaches of the rim of Camelot who would probably takes months to notice a change in government?

When she says "The people" she obviously means wives bitching in their quilting circle... Not that she could trust anything they say around her because the temporal vernacular for her position in court is "the kings whore".
 
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I was pleasantly surprised, after insisting I wouldn't watch it. It was fine mainly because they played it for laughs.
 
I found it a step up from the last few episodes, but the season still feels more like the show is simply having a finale, rather than building to one. Katie is fun to watch playing evil, but I wish they'd had her find out Uther had killed her father rather than making her Uther's daughter. It would make her rivalry with Arthur more sensible now that Uther is dead.

In the earlier seasons they were usually able to see each others positions and compromise if not simply agree which they frequently did in opposing Uther's bad ideas. The rivalry for the throne with Arthur just feels forced now. I also wish they hadn't killed off Morgause. She was fun and helped Morgana's character seem more interesting by having her balanced in deciding whether to believe Morgause or Merlin and Arthur.

The trouble is Morgause had to make way for Morganna to be the main villain, same as Uther had to give way for Arthur sooner or later, otherwise Morgana is just a henchwoman.

Well that was a terrible episode. Complete rehash of the previous season finale, out-of-place wacky Arthur is a simpleton plot, no explanation on how Agravaine took over Camelot,

ER...that'll be the siege tunnels that allowed him to bring all the enemy forces inside the defences?

I liked it, yeah it is a bit of a rehash of last series, but I still liked it. Simpleton Arthur was funny, I liked seeing Miranda Raison, liked the Arthur/Gwen bits, and yes Gwaine got to kick bottom at last...

So PERcival and Leon must still be free I'm guessing?
 
I have to say, those seige tunnels aren't that well hidden! I'm pretty sure if you just wandered around outside of Camelot you'd find the extrance/exit! :)
 
I found it a step up from the last few episodes, but the season still feels more like the show is simply having a finale, rather than building to one. Katie is fun to watch playing evil, but I wish they'd had her find out Uther had killed her father rather than making her Uther's daughter. It would make her rivalry with Arthur more sensible now that Uther is dead.

In the earlier seasons they were usually able to see each others positions and compromise if not simply agree which they frequently did in opposing Uther's bad ideas. The rivalry for the throne with Arthur just feels forced now. I also wish they hadn't killed off Morgause. She was fun and helped Morgana's character seem more interesting by having her balanced in deciding whether to believe Morgause or Merlin and Arthur.

The trouble is Morgause had to make way for Morganna to be the main villain, same as Uther had to give way for Arthur sooner or later, otherwise Morgana is just a henchwoman.

True for the show, I suppose, but I prefer the more ambiguous Morgana of early tales and when Morgause was the outright villain. It is easier to see that Morgana taking Arthur to Avalon to be healed after his final battle than the later evil Morgana. Still, the show entertains and I am looking forward to the next episode.
 
My problem with Morgana is that she's scripted to be the pantomime villain instead of a scary monster. That "burn their crops" line was so cliche that we were shouting "boooo, hissss, it's behind you!" at the screen. All she needs is to turn up in a puff of stage smoke, wearing a black cloak. Which brings me to Agravaine. Arthur is as thick as two short planks but even he must have noticed that Agravaine always wears black. It was a dead giveaway.
 
True enough, by now Gaius and Merlin should have made up a list like 'The Evil Overlord List' for Arthur and the court to spot bad guys.
 
Hmm, I didn't enjoy that as much as I thought I would. Some good bits but Merlin getting Arthur to have faith in himself for being fooled by people by, er, fooling him cheapens Arthur again. I know, I know the show is called Merlin :)

They seemed to get back into Camelot really easily and much as I adore Miranda Raison her death seemed to lack enough punch. Still some nice sword fights, and who doesn't love a good wedding :)

Somewhat surprised at the end though, does this mean the two dragons are gonna end up taking sides, or was baby dragon just helping, not realising who he was aiding?
 
crorrrrrr... there was a crackin' amount of cleavage in this week's... sorry, but damn... between Katie, Miranda and Angel.... *fans self*

so, yeah...

i totally thought Gaius was a goner. glad to see the back of Agravaine.

gutted Isolde died.

wonder if Tristan will return/stay.
 
crorrrrrr... there was a crackin' amount of cleavage in this week's... sorry, but damn... between Katie, Miranda and Angel.... *fans self*

so, yeah...

i totally thought Gaius was a goner. glad to see the back of Agravaine.

gutted Isolde died.

wonder if Tristan will return/stay.

Tristan and Isolde are a story of tragedy. One or both are going to die.


The show, 5 out of 10, I liked a lot of the visuals, but I am tired of the back and forth over time in the relationship between Arthur and Merlin, perhaps Uther should have been killed off a season earlier so their relationship could get past the friend or servant, wise or bumbler Merlin and also Arthur- ready to be king or not material. I would have been more satisfied had they had Morgana as queen of Camelot for season 4 and used it showing Arthur's growth as a leader retaking Camelot. Also, they might have taken care of Arthur discovering Merlin's magic and developing Arthur and Merlin's future relationship. Well, might have beens are cheap.

Morgana sure went from confident to scared to confident like a roller coaster. Katie did the part well, but it was just unsatisfying in how fast all of the action was done. Clearly she is back for year 5, I wonder if they will have her less evil or more ambiguous in her goals. I do hope they can come up with something other than her taking over the kingdom again for the next finale.

I'll be happy to see what they have on offer for next season. I hope they can tighten up the story by showing character growth rather than falling back on typical character pieces that we have seen already. Arthur talks about not seeing the enemies around him and lacking astuteness, lets hope the writers can show that. The same for falling back on things with Merlin and his bumbling ad hiding his magic. It seems Gwen, Arthur and Morgana are the last people in the kingdom to not know about it.

The falling back on those things in the last several episodes have made the season less than stellar for me. The show is so good when it is on its game, that it is annoying when the writers fall back on things we've seen many times before.
 
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