New Merlin on BBC
- Thread starter Starkers
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My freeview signal kept messing up during tonight's episode.
Seemed to be a decent episode and while nothing really spectacular happened plotwise it was nice that they showed Mordred again, and that his power is increasing, and tying Morgana and him together somewhat and there was some nice character moments too with Arthur showing he is actually thinking about Gwen... and Merlin (even if he is wrong about what's going on with him).
So I suppose there was some nice character moments even if the episode wasn't fantastic overall.
Seemed to be a decent episode and while nothing really spectacular happened plotwise it was nice that they showed Mordred again, and that his power is increasing, and tying Morgana and him together somewhat and there was some nice character moments too with Arthur showing he is actually thinking about Gwen... and Merlin (even if he is wrong about what's going on with him).
So I suppose there was some nice character moments even if the episode wasn't fantastic overall.
I can't see it at BBC Online, but I did find it on youtube. I liked it! I do hope there's no big reset or that these events are so easily forgotten, but I liked the seeds of Morgana's magic that have been planted the far. I was afraid she'd go bad too quick, or Merlin would reveal all, but it was just a hint enough of legends to come. Bad ass Mordred and some mistaken signals and humor on Arthur's part. Next week's preview also doesn't look reset, with Arthur apparently pretty jealous over Lancelot.
More thoughts to come, most likely.
More thoughts to come, most likely.
Now this episode was actually good, first one this season that actually felt it occurred after the events of season 1.
I hate the preview for the next episode. Gwen and Lancelot had contact (briefly) for a couple of days. And he is professing his undying love (what garbage). Then we have Arthur voicing his opinion on Gwen, and sorry but this show sucks, sucks at showing teh attraction building between love interests. Sucks Bad. Why is it so difficult to actually show to characters falling for each other with at least a semblance of believability.
I mean in general how they have built Merlin and Arthurs relationship, Arthur and Uthurs relationship and Merlin and Gaius relationship are all handled far, far better. Why is the romantic interactions just so awful on this show?
I hate the preview for the next episode. Gwen and Lancelot had contact (briefly) for a couple of days. And he is professing his undying love (what garbage). Then we have Arthur voicing his opinion on Gwen, and sorry but this show sucks, sucks at showing teh attraction building between love interests. Sucks Bad. Why is it so difficult to actually show to characters falling for each other with at least a semblance of believability.
I mean in general how they have built Merlin and Arthurs relationship, Arthur and Uthurs relationship and Merlin and Gaius relationship are all handled far, far better. Why is the romantic interactions just so awful on this show?
The male relationships are handled better because the writers are men? I do think they take advantage of the fact that the audience is supposed to know how the romantic relationships turn out. You know its going to happen so here it is, quickly wrapped. Is it juvenile to be so melodramatic? Is that what they're going for? The lovey dovey stuff is silly sometimes, but it doesn't deter my watching the show.
It does me, as I judge the show based on every criteria, and if I find one part of the episode poor, it detracts from my enjoyment.
Now on episodes where it is a very minor aspect (for example last season's final) then If I would have graded the rest of the episode a 93% (just numbers they don't reflect my actually feelings both good or bad), but I found the romantic element a 30%, it might only drop my final grade to a 91% (on an episode where it was a very brief moment).
That episode probably isn't a good example, as it was really the only example of Gwen expressing emotional feelings about Arthur that I thought was handled well.
And so far it hasn't been a big factor (or elements of the stories), but the preview for next week just shoved two relationships (that in no way shape or form have developed) down as important to the full story.
And its funny they handle the friendship between characters well (both between Men, or between women, or between men and women). They handle the parental or guardianship relations well. But they have yet (and I do hope it changes) to do any romantic relationship well.
Now take the first episode this season. It had a little Gwen/Arthur but that was just a very secondary reason why the episode didn't work for me. The primary one was that the arthur/merlin interaction was completely wrong for where this show left off, it truly matched how he treated Merlin back in episode #2 and 3. And that was a very significant amount of the episode.
Really the only thing that I can see that could have caused this dramatic change in their relationship is that Arthur was truly pissed off at Merlin for leaving (we don't know how long he was gone, though I would assume based on how long he was gone when Arthur was dying, that it couldn't have been more then a couple days tops). But I don't think his absence for a couple days would do it.
I do know that the show is aimed at a young and general audience. And I do like a lot of the friendly jabs, and insults. But I just wished that they took a little more mature or adult way in handling these relationships.
And just so I am not all negative, I did really enjoy this last episode. Both in plot (usually not this shows strong point, at all), but also in its humor (part of its charm), and its interpersonal relations (Episode did well with Arthur/Merlin, Gaius/Merlin, Merlin/Morgana, Morgana/Uthur, Morgana/Gwen, and Morgana/ Gaius. So I was very pleased. And would love to see that quality stay or even improve.
I agree there is some surprising star quality in the friendships and paternal interaction. Wilson and Head really level up a conversation with the younger stars. What I dont' understand is why all the sudden are the romances and big issues getting rushed? Isn't this show planned for 5 years? If Arthur and Gwen get together now, if Morgana goes bad this season, not a lot will be left for the remaining years. It's as if they;re subletting slow development in fear of not getting to a topic. That's why I think two part episodes might be nice-give things a chance to stew. If next week's episode was a two parter, maybe it wouldn't seem so much heavy love so soon. Lancelot should have been at least semi-regular for this reason. If they keep on this advanced pace, they'll need more characters soon enough. And yet, we've not dug deep with who we have. I'd love to see a storyline dedicated to who in the heck Merlin's father was!
I was wondering curious about that. Becuase in season one, we see very little Gwen/Arthur interactions really only two stick out her bringing him food in Merlin's home village (and telling him off), and her at his death bed. Both were well done in my opinion. Then this season its like her lets throw his face in her boobs, and have him sleeping in her bed, and declaring his feelings towards her. Bam, Bam, Bam... Its like they found out they are getting cancelled at the end of this season. Or they were told quick lets sex it up, so they have to hurry them together.
It just seems wrong.
It just seems wrong.
Anthony Stewart Head has said at least four, and that he probably won't be involved for the show's duration.
I disagree. At some point, Arthur is going to have to unite the kingdoms of Albion. When Uther dies, Arthur becomes king of Camelot, but he won't be the High King. Arthur's campaign to conquer (or unite) Britain could span an entire season (or two).
I'm curious if they would keep Merlin's origin from Robert de Boron -- have Merlin as the son of a demon, perhaps even Satan himself.
I'd like to see a "seduction of Merlin" story, where he has to investigate the Dark Arts. I keep hoping that Nimeuh isn't dead. (And I wonder if the producers would keep one element out of the medieval legends -- Merlin and Nimeuh as lovers.)
Niumeuh's toast. the Lady of Lake is going to be a seperate character.
I liked this weeks, although they kinda wasted Colin Salmon, it was the sort of role anyone could have done. Loved the interactions between Arthur and Merlin (as always) and does anyone else see Uthur going stark raving mad before the end of the season?
I don't think they're rushing Arthur/Gwen, lets face it they haven't got them togeather yet, just made the attraction a lot clearer. As for Lancelot, didn't he and Gwen patently fancy one another in series 1?
As for Morgana, personally I'd like to see them speed up her fall.I'm hoping we get at least one season with Arthur as king with an out and proud Merlin by his side.
I don't think they're rushing Arthur/Gwen, lets face it they haven't got them togeather yet, just made the attraction a lot clearer. As for Lancelot, didn't he and Gwen patently fancy one another in series 1?
As for Morgana, personally I'd like to see them speed up her fall.I'm hoping we get at least one season with Arthur as king with an out and proud Merlin by his side.
^I agree with you. I don't think there's anything rushed. Gwen has clearly had a thing for Arthur since the first episode, and Arthur has just begun to realise he fancies Gwen... I don't see the problem since there is no actual romance or relationship yet.
They do seem to be wasting good actors on these bit parts don't they? I wish he had escaped to come back later.
They do seem to be wasting good actors on these bit parts don't they? I wish he had escaped to come back later.
yes, Lancelot blatantly fancied Gwen. i remember a bit where he and Arthur were talking and Arthur thought Lancelot fancied Morgana before realising it as Gwen he was interested in.
I just got the first series box set today(which appears to be a repackaging of the previous 2 vols) I plan on watching soon, probably after I finish Buffy season 7.
England has gained some exciting scenery 
I'd always kind of imagined Camelot in Wessex, but clearly this Camelot is not.
I much preferred this episode, a definite improvement on the previous two, and while some weak acting on Morgana's part damaged the drama of the plot, Merlin was at his very best, as was Uther.
I'd always kind of imagined Camelot in Wessex, but clearly this Camelot is not.
I much preferred this episode, a definite improvement on the previous two, and while some weak acting on Morgana's part damaged the drama of the plot, Merlin was at his very best, as was Uther.
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