Well, kids, it’s that time of year again. No, I don’t mean the holidays, I mean the time of year where Merlin realizes that oh, yeah, they have to tell some sort of great, epic love story between Arthur and Gwen and how epic and destined they are. And so to do that they bring in a pretty, pretty princess to tempt Arthur, at the last minute Arthur decides Gwen is his truest of true loves (even though there has been, up until that point in the season, exactly zero evidence of that actually being the case) and she rides away into the sunset.This happens every year around episode ten or eleven like clockwork, and frankly, I’m getting kind of tired of re-re-re-writing my reaction to this episode.
Because really, if I had to find one way to describe this week’s episode, it was sloppy and half-assed. Not only was the plot a tired rehash, but the characterization was just weird. Who wrote this? Was it a comissioned writer who had only seen one episode of the show once, a long time ago, and while drunk? Who was that teenaged girl posing as Merlin this episode? Why was he so insistent that Gwen and Arthur were destined to be together? Since when are they destined to be together? Was there some conversation he had with the dragon that I missed? And was it just me, or was Gwen just a convenient stand-in for Merlin so they could drop yet another anvil about how Merlin and Arthur’s epic destiny is going to be tested when Merlin betrays Arthur by revealing his magic? (And if they’re going to draw the parallel of Merlin’s betrayal by lying to Arthur being of equal, if not greater, magnitude in terms of heartbreak as Gwen’s “betrayal” by being enchanted to mack on another dude, am I the only one who thinks the showrunners then lose the right to be surprised when people think Merlin and Arthur are gay?) And what was with Arthur? Since when does he just threaten exile anyone who so much as looks at him wrong? Is “I’m going to exile you” the medieval equivalent of when you’re in kindergarten and mad at someone, so you tell them you’re not going to invite them to your birthday party?
It’s not that this episode’s premise is an inherently bad episode they keep writing, is the thing I decided this week. The Perfectly Nice Person (But Not The One For Me) is a tried-and-true relationship trope that is used over and over again on almost every show in almost every relationship. And if I had never seen an episode of Merlin before so I didn’t know a) how regularly they used this exact same plot in the exact same numbered episode every year or b) had any reason to care about Arthur and Gwen together as a couple because I wasn’t aware that both of them had more chemistry with Merlin/Morgana/any of the knights of the round table/random guest stars/their horses than each other, I might even be kind of rooting for those crazy kids. The problem is, I do watch this show. I do know how screwed up Arthur and Gwen’s relationship is, and therefore I am seething about the hypocrisy that Saint Guinevere must remain in exile for being a dirty, dirty philanderer whereas it is perfectly okay for Arthur to go court any princess that waltzes through Camelot without anyone saying boo. And now Gwen’s buying into that logic, too? Oh, girl. No. Stay away from Camelot. Get your groove back.
Actually, that would have been an awesome twist — the beginning of a spin-off show called Guinevere Gets Her Groove Back. Instead of this episode going the way it did, Gwen would stay with Helios (aka: that creepy rape-y guy) in a Game of Thrones-esque twist. (Sorry, I felt bad for digging their chemistry because it was sketchy and objectively awful, but it also worked for me.) She’d find out about Morgana’s plan, but instead of running away she’d become friends with Morgana again and talk her out of being evil and instead go back to smoldering attractively. Arthur would marry Awesome Burping Princess, who was clearly angling for a threesome with Merlin, and Gwen would eventually visit Arthur’s court and they’d talk it out and realize yeah, they’re better off this way than how they were, no hard feelings, besties for life! Also Agravaine falls in a fire. The end.
But of course, instead of that, we got the same thing we’ve seen a million times before, so I’m just re-hashing what I’ve said before. And if they do it again, I’m making myself review-writing Mad Libs. Arthur is set to marry an awesome princess for strategic reasons. He angsts about it for [percentage] of episode, has [large number] of conversations with Merlin about it, in which he is ostensibly talking about Gwen but it is [adjective of magnitude] clear he’s actually talking about Merlin. At the last minute he and Merlin have a heart-to-heart discussion where Merlin urges Arthur to [remember his destiny/follow his heart/remember he is the greatest king, ever, and his hair is the color of sun-ripened wheat]. Arthur does not marry the princess. He and Merlin then have a discussion which, in order to minimize the seriousness, Arthur [berates/teases/berates/insults] Merlin’s [competency/wisdom/intelligence/looks]. Quirky music plays.
I mean, the way I see it is, why should I keep putting in effort into re-writing these reviews if the writers aren’t going to put effort into writing their own show?
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Dec 12, 2011 @ 16:53 EST5EDT
I geniuely try very very hard to like A/G, but the way this show push it just drives me FAR FAR away from get any good feelings to this pair.
I’ve never heard such huge JOKES in this episode like Merlin said something like “Gwen is the one sacrifice most for Camelot and Arthur” and Arthur said something like “kingship and kingdom means nothing to him without Gwen”. I think only childish fan girl can write these lines but NO, they are written by a new writer in this show and approved by the producers. Audience is NOT fool. How can they write something like these either without logic (but shoving) or otherwise ruin the character (Arthur the once and future king, it must be huge joke too).
Ironically, the show always tell the audience to follow the heart and marriage is NOT arranged, but meanwhile, the show ITSELF is manipulative. They want to show people from different background get together and form a perfect marriage, blah blah blah. The only reason I can think of that why they push it so hard is because either IT IS POLITICAL right or Commercial reasons (every show need some romance, is it? and this show must be very very straight).
LOL, I heart these reviews. Every single one feels like you’ve been rooting around in my brain (okay I don’t get stuck re-writing the same review again and again).
I’m sad for what they’re doing to the characters lately. My faith in the show is quickly dwindling, and my fears that the finale will disappoint anyone who cares about anything except an A/G reunion are growing by leaps and bounds…but it helps knowing that I’m not the only one seeing these things when I watch. Here’s hoping the last two get back to the arc they seemed to be telling in the first seven episodes. Or at least put a fork in this A/G relationship drama so we can get back to what’s important: Merlin, Merlin’s magic and his role in helping Arthur bring about the golden age of Albion, and Merlin’s relationship with Arthur. The rest is filler and white noise for me.
Oh, do I need to rant about this again? Like you Julia, I have had enough of the princess-of-the-week-plot-and-Gwen-is-Arthur’s-true-love. And I was really annoyed with Merlin. How dare he become so arrogant and dictate the fate of Arthur’s love life? (Wow! Even as I am writing this I want to burst out laughing because of the utter lack of depth of this topic. Writers are sick and Arthur and Gwen suck!) Gauis was right to tell that to his face. It wasn’t Merlin’s fault but the writers for trying so damn hard to let us swallow/like Gwen. They must be under the mistaken impression that with Merlin strongly encouraging this relationship, fans would follow in wake. They need to rework their scripts. It has not bloody worked even now. Is Gwen really so breathtakingly gorgeous that every male is attracted to her? That is just not believable. Have you seen Morgana? I don’t think it’s because of her character either, as most of her devoted fans would say, because really after less than 1 minute of screentime and at first sight, they find Gwen’s character attractive? No folks, the writers are trying so hard once again to convince us that Gwen is that attractive, no one can resist her. That was really — wow — stupidly, insanely, hilariously, idiotic, and mediocre writing! Also, as I’ve said before, can the story now shift to Merlin? I am okay with Arthur (not really a fan of him since Season 3), but can we please focus on MERLIN?? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE????
The A/G stuff must be one of the HUGE jokes I’ve ever seen on TV.
I don’t object the idea of Prince and Maid and fairytale story and I fully understand the family show business should be heteronormative. But ever since the beginning of this story, the bad writings just destroys everything. It is childish, simpering, shallow to an unimaginable level. And with some of the MOST ridiculous lines which makes me DESPISE the whole story so much.
How can they RUIN Arthur’s character (the once and future king)to a childish brat without responsibility and like a damsel in distress? (I don’t know how the producers can allow themselves to HUMILIATE an ICONIC character of their own country so much). How can they make Merlin the prat which DECIDES other people’s love life? How can they make Lancelot a zombie and Gwen a heartless so-called perfect “robot” (which can turn on and turn off her feelings like switching a lamp)?
Who are fans of these stories and characters? I can’t imagine other than DESEERATE school girls? (and I am sure a huge part of audience are kids and they won’t care about the romance story at all and fart jokes will be more interesting to them, which I feels cute, yes, because they are little kids).
I am now get the feelings that the cast should really move on now. A childish show is a limit place for their growth and career development.
If it was me on charge of the show, the writer would be searching a new job right NOW…
The disappointement never cease, it grows bigger, and bigger…
Seriously… Arthur CAN’T say that kind of stuff (“I’m going to exil you !”) to Merlin his DEAR and LOYAL friend, he is what ? 5 year old ? and Merlin is not the one to choose the destiny of other people for god’s sake ! he is too wise for that…
Can’t they stay like their character was mean to be ? or it is too much to ask I guess.
I think I have to accept that the show I once loved for Merlin and Arthur is dying… And yeah the cast should move on, it is not worthy of them at all.
i agree it was a rehash, but truly, if one does ship arwen, it was a good episode where Arthur says some good lines if only right at the end.
but for non-arwen shippers, this episode was horrendous. As a passive observer of arwen, i detested the fact that gwen was all “i can’t go back, i freaking cheated on him”, and i know this is the reality that the characters see, BUT REALLY. why did the writers feel that it was necessary to put in that line? i don’t usually like people screaming MISOGYNY in my face, but letting the audience know that gwen didn’t cheat and then showing her punishing herself for it is just plain stupid. doesn’t make me sympathetic about gwen, it makes me wonder why the writers placed everything on gwen.
But the worse part about the entire episode was Arthur. He was moody throughout the entire episode, and I get that he is mooning over gwen, but there was no need (like julia says!) to make him go I’LL EXILE YOU IF YOU SPEAK GWEN’S NAME- that was ridiculous. Even if Merlin was going over the line, a logical person would just DISMISS HIM. And the last 2 scenes were disgustingly placed- first arthur is all EXILE MERLIN HOW DARE YOU THINK BAD OF MY UNCLE and the next he’s all like MERLIN ADVICE PLEASE. He just struck me as extremely schizo. And this is totally not about merthur, but if arthur is going to be pissed off like this much longer with merlin trying to be cheerful and all that and leaving the 2 main characters in disjoint (and making the scenes in general awkward), the show loses much of the bro relationship all fans regardless of ship enjoy.
I think that was possibly the worst yet – hard tie with 4.09 but only for the damage 4.09 did. This one was as you say a complete rehash. Elena without the fairy. Cross fertilised with the appalling S3 character assassination ep whose name escapes me, in which Arthur offered to give up his throne for Gwen.
The relationship between Merlin and Arthur was appalling but Im not surprised about that any more. With Gwen out of the picture, they cant allow any real, civil A/M interaction thats not about the wonder of Gwen. But what about what they did to each character seperately? Merlin was completely the Voice of The Producers – the bizarrely invested A/G fangirl outraged at the concept of anyone interfering with True Love. Or its fate now apparently. Thats a new one. The fact they wrote him as a meddling, petty, spiteful child and we were supposed to approve is beyond depressing. But Merlin has become a plot device, changing from episode to episode to enable the action and progress for other characters while going absolutely nowhere himself.
And then theres Arthur. So who exactly is Arthur? After this week I’m not at all sure i know. I thought he was a king ruled by duty and stoicism, who lives to serve Camelot and help his people. Or… maybe not.
Is he the Once and Future King- the greatest king ever to be? Or is he a pathetic, wallowing, petulant, over sentimental adolescent who puts his feelings before his responsibilities? Apparently we’re again supposed to applaud when he confesss himself to be the latter. The conversation with the princess was aimed at us; in fact Bradley may as well have delivered it to camera.
‘Im useless without Gwen and I don’t care about the kingdom Ive offered to die for over and over and which my father has groomed me to rule and love all my life. I can only be the Once and Future King with Gwen’s Wise Counsel and other perfections. (Producer’s aside : ‘Who’s Merlin?’) In fact my people and my kingdom dont matter next to Disney True Love. And just to prove it I’m going to give away some crucial lands for which many people have already died and Im going to throw away an alliance which could significantly help Camelot because – all that matters is Gwen even if she never comes back I have decided to pine eternally. I have proved that I cant fall in love in a matter of days with someone else, which is the key requirement for a political marriage for me. Gwen trumps any princess even though she’s from humble origins. Get that? Humble origins! I love her more than my duty and my responsibility. And most importantly I love her infinitely more than Merlin who I actually kind of despise Thats very important- I hope you got that bit. Now Im going to ‘follow my heart’ because thats what I want to do. And sod being a good king who swore to out his people before his own wishes because this is Epic Romance. Thank you very much.’
That scene destroyed several seasons of Arthur’s character integrity for a moment of cheap romance (I’d truly hoped that episode in S3 when he offered to give up his throne for Gwen was just a moment of hormonal madness by the producers and blanked it out – but no – they meant to do it).
So having accomplished that and changed Merlins character and motivations yet again, they took the time as ever to reinforce the perfection of Gwen. Even bandit leaders on a rampage fall for her and want to take her away from all this. How can she possibly be mucking out pigs? What an outrage. She may be a servant as we are constantly reminded but servants clothes and menial tasks are for Merlin. We all know that.
The plot – I found myself actually rooting for Morgana – how bad is that? I liked her version of a photocopier though she’s an epic fail at killing people. She always goes for the fancy stuff. But at least she wants to be queen.
Which brings us to the upcoming finale. Does anyone believe now heres going to be a magic reveal? Not me. Dragoon is in apparently place to make sure the producers can cheat their way out of it again and I fear the pay off – like the whole second half of the series – is going to centre around Arthur’s stunningly dull and unrealistic love life. Because that what we ALL care about.
There’ll be lots of sword fighting though, so thats alright. And some magic probably, a bit of hurling people into trees maybe but Merlin? Possibly just breaking the odd branch, putting the occasional arrow off course? Maybe making Morgana burp. Dragoon is the one to watch- will he be the one to show Arthur Excalibur? I wouldnt put it past the producers. I’ve come to hate Dragoon and what the producers use him for- as the ultimate ‘cake and eat it’ cop out to keep Merlin in his place?
How long can they keep Merlin in stasis as a character? Seriously? Every other character is allowed to develop, progress, but they hold Merlin in that eternal half life of hiding who he is and being alternately despised and patronised by the guy he’s secretly propping up. Its such an artificial position for a character in ongoing series its distorting his character unforgiveably. For that matter once A and G marry whats left for him as a role? The producers have desperately, compulsively pushed the message that all that matters to Arthur is Gwen; that his destiny and his kingdom dont matter without her? (yes I know its totally unbelievable when you see them together but we have to go with the flow) Why would he need Merlins emotional support, or his advice or even his presence most of the time? All that matters is Gwen. Shes the other side of the coin. The producers have pushed that compulsively. This show isnt about Merlin any more IMO – its about Arthur and Gwen and his lukewarm kingship. Merlin and Morgana are very much the token magic side show with characters that become less coherent by the episode. Depressed about the way this is going? You betcha.
What happened to S4? How could it have gone wrong so fast and so completely? End of howling rant. :p
I just don’t know how can these producers allow themselves to HUMILIATE the Iconic figure of their own country to this extent.
Well said, Max!
You know, I started to wait for your responses and reactions on the episodes just as much as I wait for Julia’s. :) Must be because I agree with both of you whole-heartedly.
I just hope the finals will make up for these past few episodes of the season’s second half. And I sincerely hope that your predictions about Dragoon won’t be coming true. I love old!Merlin as a character because he’s funny and brilliant but… no. Please, just no.
I hope I’m wrong too. I really do: the combination of Dragoon not Merlin, giving Arthur Excalibur and the massive character-shredding A/G cheesefest we all know is coming doesn’t bear thinking about. :(
Thanks so much for the kind words btw!! But… Im really just piggybacking off Julias’s insights! :p
“had any reason to care about Arthur and Gwen together as a couple because I wasn’t aware that both of them had more chemistry with Merlin/Morgana/any of the knights of the round table/random guest stars/their horses than each other, I might even be kind of rooting for those crazy kids. The problem is, I do watch this show. I do know how screwed up Arthur and Gwen’s relationship is, and therefore I am seething about the hypocrisy that Saint Guinevere must remain in exile for being a dirty, dirty philanderer whereas it is perfectly okay for Arthur to go court any princess that waltzes through Camelot without anyone saying boo. And now Gwen’s buying into that logic, too? Oh, girl. No. Stay away from Camelot. Get your groove back.”
I agree with everything here. I’m used to ships being canon that I don’t like but anything focusing on Arthur/Gwen is just outright awful and painful to watch. I still enjoyed the episode because the actors were great, Mithian was lovely and I enjoy the subtly developed tension between Merlin and Arthur (as if any of the “betrayal” talk and Merlin’s pushing for forgiveness was really about Gwen).
So while this was a reused trope, I still think they handled it more maturely than in the past seasons and it wasn’t a completely standalone episode.
I hope you dont mind me commenting but I have to say, though I dearly wish I agreed with you, I do actually think it *was* about Gwen. I don’t think they’re that subtle at all, especially since a reveal seems still far away. When they do that kind of subtext they generally flag it up clearly – as when Agravaine was telling Arthur about Gaius ‘betrayal’ and Merlin was listening. Merlin was simply shown in this ep as being obsessed with getting A and G back together because they’ve now become not just ‘True Love’ but ‘fated’ (Producers Voice) and bizarrely he was shown as feeling he should best decide who Arthur marries. Sigh. I think it was meant to be lighthearted. It was certainly childish emotionally from beginning to end – I M O.
If they *were* trying to be subtle and implying it was all about Merlin though, I’d bet it went flying over the heads of 99% of the audience sadly. Me included. :(
As far as I can see, Merlin as a character is becoming steadily less important in the show as anything other than a device to move other people’s plots along, which is one reason i doubt they’d consider using one of their A/G fluff-fests to look at Merlin’s ill written relationship with Arthur. Arthur and Gwen’s lovelife after all is the underlying main storyline and focus of S4, as it was of S3 and a fair bit of S2. I actually do wonder how long they can drag it out when theres no dramatic tension there at all. And how long they can continue to have Arthur behaving to Merlin as if he’s a particularly disobedient dog. Hey ho.
lol, I know that probably wasn’t meant to be funny but the “And how long they can continue to have Arthur behaving to Merlin as if he’s a particularly disobedient dog. Hey ho.” made me laugh even though I have to agree with you :( I hate how Merlin gets treated (but not just by Arthur, no one treats him as well as they should) and Arthur is slowly devolving back into that horrible bully he was in the first episode.
Okay, I just found all your reviews and might I say, where have you been all my fandom life? Because you plucked the words right out of my brain where I couldn’t and formed a coherent review. Thank you so much for being the first reviewer to show the other side. I’ve never read one that didn’t just suck up to the show and call everything brilliant and wonderful and we’re going to go with everything the writers insist happens. Thank you for being honest.
That all being said up there, this episode pained me to watch, but something more pressing came to mind upon viewing.
I liked the beginning of Series 4, I really did. I could hardly believe the same people who had written Series 3 were writing this fantastic show but this. *shakes head* Ever since Ep 8 I can’t stand it. Suddenly the Twu Lurve obsessives are back and strangling their characters for any drop of the Disney romance that they insist A/G is. After the past few episodes (and series) I think it’s time the producers cut the crap and rename the show “Arthur and Guinevere” because lets face it, that’s what this show has become. It’s not about Merlin or his powers or his destiny. Arthur doesn’t even seem to need him as anything more than a bodyguard. When he’s pining for Gwen, he treats Merlin like the gum on the bottom of his shoe or a dog that’s barked at an intruder who turned out to be a guest (which is sad in how close it resembles the ep). When she is there, he’s running to her for advice. Merlin isn’t there to advise, he’s there to be a mouth piece for the producers and their avid shoving of A/G down our throats. I hated fangirl Merlin even more than Zombie Lancelot, and that’s saying something.
They’ve effectively made Gwen the other side of Arthur’s coin so that when Merlin is banished or whatever for having magic, Arthur won’t believably be able to miss him. Realistically, Merlin would go off into the woods and get stuck in a tree or the crystal cave and we’d never see him again because the producers don’t care what happens to their (supposed) central character.
i.e. they tried to not make this a traditional focus on the knights and Arthur and Gwen because it’s been told a thousand times, and they have absolutely failed.
I really thought things were getting better this year, I did. I was sadly, absolutely, spectacularly wrong. And that’s not the slash fan talking, that’s the fan of the show who just wants them to do something that makes sense for the show. The fan that wishes we could stop making the show about Gwen and get back to MERLIN.
That being said, I enjoyed Mithian. At first I wanted her to stick around (they really shot themselves in the foot with her, she was literally perfect for Arthur as a person AND King), but by the end I really wanted Merlin to leave with her so Arthur could get his head out of his ass and realize that Twu Lurve isn’t all there is to life, he’s got a god damn kingdom to run. Any which way, I hated what they did to Merlin this week (see above). Gwen… I’m not even going to get into that one. (Does she have some hidden pheremones or something? Is she a succubus?! Is that why every man falls for her on sight?!! SHE’S A SUCCUBUS ISN’T SHE?!) Morgana was the same characature of a villian she always is and I’ve given up hope that one day she’ll actually be a good villian (JUST KILL HER STUPID! IF YOU WANT GWEN DEAD, DO IT YOURSELF!) Arthur was an ass, a cabbage head to beat all cabbage heads and I’m this close to giving up on him. If he wants to be a jerk (read: the producers want to make him unlikeable) then that’s not my problem.
In conclusion: Didn’t like it, couldn’t care enough to really hate it.
What I want to know is, what the fuck is up with Merlin? I don’t think he called Arthur by his name even once. It was always Sire or My Lord. Since when does Merlin do that? It’s fine a little bit but it was just insane this episode. Plus the whole “I’ll exile you” crap. No you wont Arthur and no one believes you so stop being a whinny brat.
just wanted to add a little bit more of ranting- exactly why did Arthur offer to return all the lands because he did not want to marry the princess? Surely the deal did not have marriage to the princess as the ultimate condition, but more of an icing of top of the cake to cement the relationship sort of thing? Sure, returning all the Contested-since-forever Lands allowed Arthur to utter his line about gwen, and apparently showed his magnamity and that he was sorry and all, but showed his was utterly stupid as a king. He could just apologise and renegotiate, maybe giving 50-50 or something. but oops, i didn’t marry you but neither did i insult your honour so i’ll just unconditionally offer up LAND TO YOU. this is not soppy romance children in the schoolyard thing, this is a King who needs to think of his bloody subjects who are not supposed to suffer because he made a wrong decision. WHERE ART THOU KING ARTHUR, once and future king!
This is exactly why I say how the producers can allow themselves to humiliate the most Iconic figure of their own country to this extent. I don’t even know. The writer of this episode is TOTALLY a new writer to this show. But how can producers allow these lines in the script, I am not sure. The once and future king? A HUGE JOKE under their script.
Can somebody please create a poll to count how many are dissatisfied with Season 4? It would be interesting to see that. You can also add as a subtopic: Who hates Arthur’s love life? LOL
“Fandom: I can’t ship/haaaate this pairing because they have no chemistry whatsoever.
Translation: I can’t ship this guy/girl with the guy/girl I’m most attracted to because they are not a suitable stand in for me, therefore I cannot fathom that my lust object could find this character (who is not me) even remotely attractive.”
Relevant…What? The conversation here always ends up revolving around the ships — this is totally relevant.
A) No, I don’t find Arthur or Gwen that attractive. (No offense, it’s a personal opinion)
B) I’m still completely unsatisfied with A/G and their complete lack of chemistry/investment/good writing/lack of continuity/absolute waste of screen time.
C) Let’s not immediately assume these are personal attacks. Maybe I genuinely find this story arc to be lacking in all aspects (and I do).
Don’t dissolve this into a shipping war where it’s not. Not all of us are down to pairings.
Metumb
??? I *really* dont understand that.
It’s too bad, Metumb, that all you see in the discussions here are ship gripes. When I read the comments, I see people who, yes, have their preferred ships; however, I also see people who are genuinely frustrated with how the story and character development has moved along through s4, especially the latter half. A show we all very much love or we wouldn’t be so invested. It’s unfortunate that, instead of leaving comments regarding the show and maybe giving us new insight into something you’ve seen, you chose to leave comments about the people.
I think it is becasue whenever this storyline comes up, it just ruins too many aspects of this show. I am not against it if there is good writing and reasonable progression. But no, it is childish and forced. The so-called romance is for political right or commercial purpose, but it makes this show NO PURE AT HEART anymore.
Um, Metumb, if the plot is only about the ship, then the boat is REALLY sinking? Right? Glad to know we are on the same page here — that S4 near the end of the season – er – sinks? Or is it sucks?
Thanks! Peace to everyone! Love MERLIN the Warlock, but not everything or everybody in the show. I ship Aithusa, by the way.
i don’t get it methumb! many people for example, don’t ship arwen because they like merthur- that totally isn’t about standing-in right? i for one think arwen looks cute together sure, but merthur rocks my boat. Anyway, compared to tumblr where shipping wars happen all the time, i think the comments largely revolve around plot and continuity and a paragraph about shipping/relationship.
I’m not even sure what to think anymore. S4 started so well. The A/M was great. The A/G was actually kinda nice in a companionship sort of way. I was beginning to enjoy them together. A nice balance had been achieved between the A/M and the A/G.
I’ve read comments that some folks think Dragoon may be the one to give Arthur Excalibur and also Merlin will be able to save Camelot in the guise of Dragoon, thus no magic reveal. I’ve come to terms with no magic reveal (grudgingly), but I have to say, if TPTB rob Merlin of the joy of sharing his accomplishment of Excalibur with Arthur, as himself, it will be tragic. I’m hoping that, as with “The Wicked Day” and the death of Uther coming out of the blue, TPTB will surprise us with something grand in the finale. Due to pics I’ve seen, Merlin’s new clothes will probably be for the wedding and maybe, MAYBE, a change in status to advisor (although, with the way Arthur’s been treating him the last few eps, why WOULD Arthur make him advisor?). I genuinely wish the A/G story would evolve to the wedding (as it’s inevitable) just so we can get past these created hurdles (even though they had a built-in one…yes, producers, I’m looking at Lancelot), and move back to Merlin. MERLIN. You know, the STAR OF THE SHOW. The NAMESAKE OF THE SHOW. Remember him? Most powerful of all wizards? Who, it seems, has been relegated to comedy relief yet again (as in S3), and whose magic seems a trifle compared to Morgana’s. It’s almost to the point that Merlin could easily disappear and no one would notice. Arthur sure wouldn’t. He’s got The Once and Future Queen (WTF).
Yes, I’m getting bitter. Mostly because, with the first seven eps, the writers, producers, etc., showed us how extraordinary this show could be. What happened???
I’ve heard talk of a Merlin movie, which makes me wonder that, if this is where the Merlin franchise is heading, we won’t have a magic reveal until then. What else can they do with the Merlin character? Especially if A/G are married? He seems completely stopped in growth. Maybe it’s my lack of imagination, but it seems the writers have even less than myself. I say this while desperately holding out hope that something will happen that will blow us away.
As an aside, in 4×10, when Arthur was at the well, what he said was a big deal and not many have commented on that. He basically gave the Druid’s a free-pass with magic (at least that’s how I understood what he said). Also, when that happened, I was very surprised Merlin’s reaction wasn’t shown. I would think Merlin’s reaction would be very important. Did I miss something? Am I reading too much into that scene?
Ah, well, another week of Merlin frustrations.
Julia thank you for your blessedly sane, clear and absolutely accurate examination of “Merlin” so far, you have pulled out the jumbled bewildered disappointment in my head and made it coherent. This series of Merlin began on one story arc then at ep 8 it veered off and became something else entirely, I didn’t really know the “Merlin” who was wandering around in Hunter’s Heart – all those “sires” and “my Lord’s” when he has always used Arthur’s given name in private with Sire reserved for public use, and his self righteous adolescent meddling with Arthur’s marriage. Maybe he’d been replaced by the same shape shifting alien who had previously been impersonating Gawaine for most of this series ? Why has Arthur’s Destiny as The Once And Future King been changed to The Husband Of Queen Guinevere ? The central trait of Arthur’s character was always his overriding devotion to Duty and His People – remember him going out to fight Valiant knowing he would die but “it’s my duty” – his sacrifice at the Labyrinth of Gedref for Merlin and his people. Using “Gedref” as the name for the disputed lands ironically only brought back the memory of that Prince. I want to go on loving “Merlin” but these last four episodes are making that a struggle, maybe the finale may yet redeem it and bring the story back to it’s original arc, we can only hope.
Thats a brilliant post. Thats exactly what they’re making of Arthur. The Husband of Queen Gwen. And using Gedref… Gedref was such a brilliant episode that really showed what Arthur could become and how Merlin could help him. And he did – he guided him through a revelation about what he needed to be. Merlin did it, not Gwen – Merlin changed Arthur, in fact he was the one who changed him enough to see Gwen as more than a servant. Without Merlin, Arthur wouldnt have changed and he certainly wouldnt now be in ‘OMGTwuLurve!’ with Gwen who he hadnt fancied or noticed as a love interest for years. Though they’re suddenly demanding we forget that.
And they choose the lands of Gedref to demonstrate how completely they’ve lost the plot with Arthur’s character. Sigh.
As for what they’re making of the character of Merlin… anything that fits the plot in any given episode; anything that doesn’t advance his own storyline that is. I agree with you- lets hope somehow the people who hijacked the show and gave us great things for the first 7 eps of the series, the people who ran S1 and made it the delight it was, take the wheel again for the finale. From what Ive seen reading around I think its the last chance for alot of fans who’re all out of patience with the show after S3 and these latest blundering, mallet-on-the-head Mills&Boon/AG fanfic episodes. What a criminal waste of a fabulous show.
MaxHeadroon, I agree with you about Gedref. First time I heard it, I was like ‘Oh that place has a great memory of their bond as friends.’ I mean, Arthur did think that he was going to pay the price for killing the unicorn and he willingly drank what he thought was poison. However, at the end, the writers seem to have no scruples giving up that magical place. What a disappointment! In a way, it was a representation of how Arthur has changed — for the worst. I’m guessing they are going to do some magical makeover for him again probably in the last two episodes and in the next season. This is a further testament that the writers are fucking up and are in need of replacement or termination.
Oh I know! Though its the producers I’d like to get in a locked room and harangue for a few hours. Or days. Or months.
Its their fault imo – they guide the tone and the storylining and the direction. The writers really just follow their templates though a good writer who actually gets who the characters are, can save a daft template. Though sometimes theres no way to save it. And when the basic heart and soul of the characters is being changed season to season, and even week to week, to suit various agendas, the whole thing just goes completely adrift. :(
I don’t know if anyone else has read the professional reviews at other locations, but most are praising the show and how it’s really showing the relationship between M/A in a positive light; that they are closer than ever and that Merlin is really moving into the advisor role.
When I read these, I get two reactions in my head:
One: Yeah! The show’s popular! That’s always good.
Two: Boo! What show are YOU watching?????
It makes me wonder what direction next season will go in because of the positive feedback to these last eps that have been difficult for so many of us. Don’t misunderstand. I am soooo pleased Merlin is doing well. I just don’t understand, sometimes, how. But, I still watch. I wish for a strong King Arthur representation and a Merlin who is one seriously BAMF with his magical army and dragons, not a pussy-whipped King and a Merlin who is mostly the brunt of jokes. We’ve seen how amazing this show can be. Eps 1-7. It CAN be done, and done well. The A/G and A/M together can also be done well. I await those days. Until then, I’ll just rant with the rest of you about my lovely Merlin, keep watching and hoping for the best.
You’re not the only one closely watching and reading over the reviews, eventually, puzzling over them. Just when the show is going somewhere we don’t really understand, they praise it! I don’t know what to say. Oblivious idiots the lot of them. But then reading a comment from Den of Geek actually sort of answered that question. Some or most of these people have not really watched Merlin as faithfully as we have. They are watching the show only now that it got heaps of praises from the start of Season 4. They are watching it as it is NOW and not as a continuing series that consistently falters on continuity and characterization.
Those reviews? It is only their job and they won’t be devoted to the show like those core fans from S1. That’s why I really respect Julia. She is the one brave enough to speak frankly (though sometimes I would disagree with her to some extent).
It is a live experience of “the Emporer’s new clothes”, isn’t it? Only the one pure at heart dare to speak the truth.
ok do this writers read the script a head of there’s, to see where the plot is headed. because twice this season in the darkest hour part 2 and his fathers’s son, arthur made the decision to sacrifice his life for camelot,once to seal the vail and second when he decided to nominate himself for untill death battle,in each of this cases,gwen was not even afactor in his decision,yet now we are to believe that gwen is more important to him that a kingdom he was willing to die for twice without a second thought,not once did gwens name even come up in his descision making.
Sorry I liked the episode and no I didn’t want Gwen to stay with her kidnapper. I am sorry but I like the A/G relationship call o
It the romantic me but I also like the bromance (friendship of a/m) and although Morgana is stunning how could any good person be attracted to her with all the evil she has done
Oh yeah, because Morgana was already evil since season 1. And please remember that Morgana did not reveal herself as evil to EVERYBODY until the end of season 3.
I must also add this one of the most negative sites I have come across
Well I think thats what I’d call honest critical reaction Sabrina. If you look back at the reviews and responses here at the start of S4 you’d find pretty much universal positivity, and all the way you’ll see much greater depth of analysis and knowledge of the programme and characters from Julia, than you find on just about any review site. I think its great for you that you like the episodes and ship Arthur and Gwen. I wish I liked it too – because its much nicer all round when one of your favourite shows is delivering. But when it isn’t on pretty much any front, I think its perfectly reasonable to say so. I’m certain that Arthur and Gwen enthusiasts would react negatively, if they felt the came way?
Not everyone dare to speak the truth and sometimes the truth is TOUGH.
This site is not “negative” Julia is well versed in the show’s history and knows these characters and all the events of their past – the concerns voiced in these reviews and by many who post here is that the scripts do at times fail to address character continuity and maintain the wholistic integrity of the story – based on the earlier events of these peoples lives.
we were all here raving fanatically from 4.01-4.07, so the fact that reviews are apparently “negative” from about 4.08 to 4.11 shows that julia does not blindly criticise but has legit concerns that you should not dismiss, but can totally disagree with.
beinif you ship arwen you’ll probably think julia is being overtly harsh because she is a merthur shipper. but honestly i don’t think julia particularly singles a/g out all the time. moreover, arwen in this episode has disgustingly come at the cost of king arthur being stupid (giving up lands! honestly!) and stupidly moody (i’ll exile you!), which distorts arthur’s character as a WISE king and thus affects the entire show. if you have seen 4.12, that was good and really sweet a/g where arthur misses gwen a whole lot better and their reunion was good. subtle and more endearing without a need to even freaking kiss. even if one ships a ship, one can still handle criticism of it/ know when writers are writing them slightly off? merthur gets both of these too.
if you liked the episode, brillant. but julia helps people like me who feel extremely strongly about the show express all my ~FEELINGS~ about it. if you think her outlook on the entire affair WRONG then go read the people you feel RIGHT and indulge in the mutual happiness of the episode. Don’t dismiss julia’s (and our) views lightly and attempt to label them as being ‘negative’. honestly.
and you aren’t a romantic because you ship arwen- i think merthur is as romantic. and i don’t recall julia saying anything about liking morgana- we have seen her evolve, wronged (by merlin), know (roughly) her motivations so she is character that can be sympathied rather than cast as a one-sided stock villain, at the very least.
I fully agree with you on the A/G part. If the TBTP had done it gradually and with convincing story telling and subtle, I think I will like it. However, ever since the beginning, they just push it TOO MUCH. They desperately want to make it look EPIC and they desperately want to make people to like them, however, in the end, the whole story is kind of shallow and ARTIFICIAL. And not to mention destroy the integrity of both Arthur (most of the times) and Gwen (a lot of times) and Merlin (somtimes).
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