Merlin musings, mainly about Morgause
Oct. 12th, 2010 10:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vanessaramaAm back from Perth. Am weary. Have seen far too much of planes lately.
Now. Merlin.
First, I found the latest episode very awesome. I also was struck by Arthur's reaction to his sudden lack of arrow-in-the-back interesting; it seems to be the strongest evidence so far that might indicate Arthur knows about Merlin's magic, or at least knows something out of the ordinary happened and is choosing not to nag Merlin about it. Interesting.
The thing that really got me about this episode, though, was the light it throws on Morgause and Morgana and the difference between their motivations. It's so clear to me that Morgana is being horribly manipulated by Morgause, and I have a feeling that Morgana herself will discover this later on, and it'll be the ultimate blow of betrayal for her.
I actually don't think Morgause cares about Morgana as much as she cares about conquering Camelot. Her words say that she cares, but when you examine her actions, it's clear that she is manipulating Morgana skilfully, just as Morgana is now manipulating Uther and Arthur.
Morgause knew Morgana was her half-sister; yet it was Morgana who made the first contact, even not knowing the relationship between them. Morgause didn't bother to seek her out even though she was on the verge of leaving Camelot. Even Morgause's words to Morgana when they said goodbye were all about herself; "I hope you will remember me fondly." The only caring gesture she made was to give the healing bracelet to Morgana; of course this also had the useful result of making Morgana trust her. (And oh, show, why must you be so stupid? Surely Morgana, who was devoted to Gorlois, would recognise the symbol of his house on the bracelet? Surely it would be clear that healing bracelet = magic?)
Morgause initially showed little interest in Morgana because she was far more interested in Arthur, who is heir to the throne. It was only after her plans for Arthur were destroyed that she began focusing on Morgana. Morgana is a readier string to her bow; passionate, easily manipulated, full of resentment. I have no doubts at all that Morgana, if the vision Merlin saw of her on Camelot's throne was true, will be Morgause's puppet queen, just as she'd intended to make Arthur a puppet king (or possibly, not king at all, since regicide and patricide would undoubtedly have led to a kingdom in chaos, ripe for the picking).
The thing that staggers me the most, that really makes me think Morgause doesn't care about Morgana, is that she used Morgana as a dupe, as the focus for a spell, and then left her in Camelot to view the consequences without telling her what she'd done. She didn't even say "Strange things will happen, but fear not, you will be safe." To leave one's sister, alone and frightened, in the midst of a town in chaos watching people succumb to sickness one by one, not knowing if she will succumb too or why she's been spared? To let the town then be invaded by hideous constructs which are evidently instructed not to kill her but which threaten and terrify her anyway? That is not the gesture of a caring, loving sibling. It's not the gesture of someone who hates either; it's an act of pure indifference.
And lastly, Morgause was either blind to, or didn't care about, Morgana's obvious distress when she discovered Uther was her father; all she saw was the political advantage. Morgana is saying "He's been lying to me all these years", trying to indicate her understandable disgust and pain; Morgause immediately jumps to "But this is glorious news" Morgana says "You don't understand"; she is hurt and miserable, and Morgause does nothing to comfort her or even sympathise that her pain is justified, because she's all focused on the claim to the throne. She urges Morgana not to act with haste only because she sees how she could turn Morgana's parentage to her advantage.
Morgause wants to get herself on Camelot's throne and is trying different methods to get there, all of which involve manipulating other people to do her work for her - Arthur, Morgana, Cenred. And she doesn't care how many bodies she has to clamber over to get there, or whose they are. This is borne out not only by her actions with Cenred's army but by things like her killing a bunch of guards when she first turned up at Camelot, and continuing to kill at least one every time she visits. I thought it was very telling that the show presented Cenred as refusing to see his men die for Morgause, whereasshe herself didn't care. Morgause is a fascist rather than a diplomat. I can see her engineering a regime just as brutal as Uther's, but with a different target.
Don't get me wrong; I think Morgause is a fantastic character and an extremely worthy foil for Team Camelot. But loving sister, freedom fighter, or liberator of oppresed masses, while they might be roles she plays, aren't true reflections of her at all. I think she's going to turn on Morgana in the end, and it will be very interesting to see if it's this rather than Uther that tips Morgana over the edge into real, deep-set "evil".
Now. Merlin.
First, I found the latest episode very awesome. I also was struck by Arthur's reaction to his sudden lack of arrow-in-the-back interesting; it seems to be the strongest evidence so far that might indicate Arthur knows about Merlin's magic, or at least knows something out of the ordinary happened and is choosing not to nag Merlin about it. Interesting.
The thing that really got me about this episode, though, was the light it throws on Morgause and Morgana and the difference between their motivations. It's so clear to me that Morgana is being horribly manipulated by Morgause, and I have a feeling that Morgana herself will discover this later on, and it'll be the ultimate blow of betrayal for her.
I actually don't think Morgause cares about Morgana as much as she cares about conquering Camelot. Her words say that she cares, but when you examine her actions, it's clear that she is manipulating Morgana skilfully, just as Morgana is now manipulating Uther and Arthur.
Morgause knew Morgana was her half-sister; yet it was Morgana who made the first contact, even not knowing the relationship between them. Morgause didn't bother to seek her out even though she was on the verge of leaving Camelot. Even Morgause's words to Morgana when they said goodbye were all about herself; "I hope you will remember me fondly." The only caring gesture she made was to give the healing bracelet to Morgana; of course this also had the useful result of making Morgana trust her. (And oh, show, why must you be so stupid? Surely Morgana, who was devoted to Gorlois, would recognise the symbol of his house on the bracelet? Surely it would be clear that healing bracelet = magic?)
Morgause initially showed little interest in Morgana because she was far more interested in Arthur, who is heir to the throne. It was only after her plans for Arthur were destroyed that she began focusing on Morgana. Morgana is a readier string to her bow; passionate, easily manipulated, full of resentment. I have no doubts at all that Morgana, if the vision Merlin saw of her on Camelot's throne was true, will be Morgause's puppet queen, just as she'd intended to make Arthur a puppet king (or possibly, not king at all, since regicide and patricide would undoubtedly have led to a kingdom in chaos, ripe for the picking).
The thing that staggers me the most, that really makes me think Morgause doesn't care about Morgana, is that she used Morgana as a dupe, as the focus for a spell, and then left her in Camelot to view the consequences without telling her what she'd done. She didn't even say "Strange things will happen, but fear not, you will be safe." To leave one's sister, alone and frightened, in the midst of a town in chaos watching people succumb to sickness one by one, not knowing if she will succumb too or why she's been spared? To let the town then be invaded by hideous constructs which are evidently instructed not to kill her but which threaten and terrify her anyway? That is not the gesture of a caring, loving sibling. It's not the gesture of someone who hates either; it's an act of pure indifference.
And lastly, Morgause was either blind to, or didn't care about, Morgana's obvious distress when she discovered Uther was her father; all she saw was the political advantage. Morgana is saying "He's been lying to me all these years", trying to indicate her understandable disgust and pain; Morgause immediately jumps to "But this is glorious news" Morgana says "You don't understand"; she is hurt and miserable, and Morgause does nothing to comfort her or even sympathise that her pain is justified, because she's all focused on the claim to the throne. She urges Morgana not to act with haste only because she sees how she could turn Morgana's parentage to her advantage.
Morgause wants to get herself on Camelot's throne and is trying different methods to get there, all of which involve manipulating other people to do her work for her - Arthur, Morgana, Cenred. And she doesn't care how many bodies she has to clamber over to get there, or whose they are. This is borne out not only by her actions with Cenred's army but by things like her killing a bunch of guards when she first turned up at Camelot, and continuing to kill at least one every time she visits. I thought it was very telling that the show presented Cenred as refusing to see his men die for Morgause, whereasshe herself didn't care. Morgause is a fascist rather than a diplomat. I can see her engineering a regime just as brutal as Uther's, but with a different target.
Don't get me wrong; I think Morgause is a fantastic character and an extremely worthy foil for Team Camelot. But loving sister, freedom fighter, or liberator of oppresed masses, while they might be roles she plays, aren't true reflections of her at all. I think she's going to turn on Morgana in the end, and it will be very interesting to see if it's this rather than Uther that tips Morgana over the edge into real, deep-set "evil".
