vanessarama

OK, I loved this episode. My first reaction was "fcnedfnjvnfjmvnjnjnnnnngggh!!!" and I have become only slightly more coherent with time and a second viewing. There is no particular order to this wibbling.

Oh, Arthur and Merlin, you boys. They do snarky affection so well. I adored the little smile on Arthur's face when Merlin showed him the rope. Why didn't Merlin just magic the rope longer? I'm sure he knows how.

Merlin: THERE IS NO MORE ROPE!
Rohan: "Surely the guards could hear that?"
Merlin: I DON'T THINK I CAN HOLD ON MUCH LONGER! NNNGHHH!
Rohan: "Oh, that's why the guards don't come bursting in. They think they're shagging."

That conversation in the woods, bonding over their respective absent parents, was so lovely. Once again, as soon as it starts getting too close for comfort, as soon as he realises Merlin's giving him his patented Face of Friendship with the Eyes of Deep Understanding, Arthur changes the subject to practicalities. Poor Arthur.

I have been looking forward to the Double Pendragon Showdown since the trailer with it first came out months ago and it did not disappoint. For some reason, although I hate boxing movies and action movies and most manly violence, Arthur and Uther in a swordfight with all that emotion swirling around them is the sexiest thing in the world. My legs were trembling during that whole scene, I was so involved.

Morgause rocked. I wonder how old she is supposed to be - she has a face that could be 20 or 40. Her taut energy, the fact that she used few words, her energy and the way she spoke to Morgana were all appealing. And yet, even though she helped Morgana, it's clear her main purpose was to get Arthur to (at the very least) turn on his father, not to help anyone. I am sure we have not seen the last of Morgause, but I am still kind of disappointed, even though I loved her. I was really hoping that for once we'd have a sorceress who is NOT evil. At the moment the magical world seems to consist of powerful sorcerors (evil), powerful sorceresses (evil), Druids (dead), common folk who may or may not practice magic but get executed for it (dead), and Merlin.

Actually, I wonder if this is a theme, that power corrupts and very powerful magic corrupts absolutely? Is Merlin's humble position in life and the Dragon's endless harping about destiny, and his bond with Arthur, the thing that's going to keep him non-evil? In other words, is Arthur there to keep Merlin from being corrupted by absolute magic, just as Merlin is there to keep Arthur from being corrupted by absolute power?

I liked the interaction between Morgana and Morgause - the way Morgana sought her out, especially. We haven't seen the last of that bracelet. I wonder if she has enchanted it so she can summon or communicate with Morgana in future, perhaps through her dreams.

Bad Gaius! He DOBBED MERLIN IN. For reals. He finds Merlin's bed unslept in and he goes straight to Uther to tattle on him? I'm surprised Uther wasn't more pissed off about him smuggling baby Morgause out of Camelot, and I'd like to know the story behind that, too. Was this before or after magic was banned? Why was one child given to the old religion and the other one not? I get the impression Morgause is supposed to be older than Morgana but it's hard to know for sure.

Uther: poor Uther, he really does love his son. During the swordfight he was so clearly on the defense, not trying to harm Arthur at all, and you could feel the depth of emotion. And yet Uther has no trust of anybody. One of the most tragic things about Uther comes from that last scene with him and Merlin. He offers thanks; he praises Merlin's loyalty; but then he makes a threat. This displays, again, the tragedy of Uther and his perceptions of others. He thinks Merlin is behaving from duty and loyalty and a proper respect for the Crown and the hope of later reward, and he doesn't trust Merlin not to gossip without a threat over his head. He has no idea at all that Merlin would never do such a thing because he loves Arthur too, that Merlin's actions are always born from genuine feeling - affection and love and respect, but respect for Arthur the person, not Arthur the prince or Uther the king.

Merlin: poor Merlin, the one thing he wants more than anything, to be understood, to be treated by Arthur as an equal, to be appreciated, and not to have his head constantly under threat; it almost happens and then it's taken away from him. I love that when Merlin gets up a head of steam he doesn't even talk, like when he tried to punch Arthur in the dungeons last week, and when he charged at the doors this week. Merlin, tearful and desperate to save Arthur, and when Merlin's voice failed him on "Everything -" I nearly teared up. Bloody hell. Merlin saves the day, the King's life, and Arthur's sanity, and for once everyone knows it. Even Rohan said "I hope Merlin gets a promotion". And then to get praised by Uther on one hand and then threatened with hanging on the other; gah. At least all this goes far towards cementing Merlin as a valued member of the household in Uther's eyes as well as Arthur's. Merlin's head may be safer, but isn't this just going to make things worse when Arthur does find out?

Sigh. I was so hoping that we wouldn't get a magic reset button with regards to Arthur's attitude to magic. At the same time, though, much of what Merlin was saying is true. We don't know that was really Arthur's mother; we don't know that her words were not given her by Morgause; we don't know that Uther really did betray his wife and go behind her back to use magic (although given that Uther didn't actually answer Arthur's demand that he swear to it, it wouldn't surprise me). And the thing Merlin said which was clearly very much the truth is that Morgause intended to get Arthur to kill, or at least turn against, his father.

Arthur: damnit, Bradley James, you really outdid yourself and then some in this episode. That was fucking amazing. I nearly cried when Arthur knelt at his father's feet and choked out "I'm sorry". Poor Arthur; after this, despite his cool and measured words to Merlin about magic at the end there, he is very messed up. I am going to cling to the belief that some of what his mother (or the vision of her) said will stick with him, that he's going to continue becoming his own man and forming his own opinions about things.

Also, Rohan wants it to be known that Arthur has a Sontaran helmet in his room.

All up: best episode this season, I think. Love.

NEED MOAR MERLIN ICONS.